Finally, we can breathe a sigh of relief. The country has avoided going over the fiscal cliff. Of course, this has come after the U.S. has gone through a major shut-down.
I'm not sure how everyone else felt, watching the possible cliff zoom closer and closer, but I alternated between being furious with the Republicans, a feeling a sheer hopelessness, and wanting to head for Canada.
Okay, so I wasn't pissed off at all of the Republicans. There are plenty of them - most Republicans I personally know - who are, for the most part rational, centrist sort-of people who, when push comes to shove, can sit and have a decent talk about life and politics without going into hysterics. Most, like most of my left-wing friends (and yes, I'm a left-wing Democrat), will admit that if we don't agree on politics, then fine, as long as we both agree to let each live his or her own life without berating the other or kicking each other's dog or cat. It's just certain members of Congress (the non-Democrat ones), the ones who are so far to the right that they make Rush Limbaugh seem liberal enough to be the head of the Barack Obama/Nancy Pelosi fan club, liberal enough to have cried when Abbie Hoffman died. Speaker John Boehner definitely heads up my list of people who make me see red and want to change my last name to Spitfire.
Why? you ask.
The government shut-down!
Okay, I know, Boehner is upset about the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare. Fine. Be upset about it. Some Americans are. There are a few points about it that I'm not wild about, but then, as with most things voted and signed into existence, there's bound to be some fine-tuning along the way. I personally know several people who are irate about Obamacare and who liken it to socialized medicine, replete with "death panals."
Note: Obamacare isn't the first program that detractors claimed would end democracy as we know it. When Social Security and Medicare were first implemented (the first by FDR, the second by LBJ), both were considered dangerous: "...[O]ne program would end freedom in American, and...another was akin to socialism."
But getting back to Boehner, Congress, and the shut-down...Several days ago, while watching the national news, the shut-down and possible fiscal cliff were mentioned; hey, it was big news and on everyone's minds, right? But when even John McCain was shown telling Congress that they needed to end the shut-down and avoid the fiscal cliff, you'd think Boehner would listen. But noooo... Of course, when a shut-down has been planned, with rich backers, it gets even dicier. Then, there's the fact if the shut-down wasn't resolved by October 17, the U.S. would go over a fiscal cliff for the first time in its history. What does that mean? Well, for one thing it's entirely possible that those on Social Security - including disabled Americans on SSDI - may not get their checks in November.
No way? you say?
While not too many news sources were flat-out saying it, several were hinting around that it was a distinct possibility. Can you imagine trying to get by on Social Security to pay all your bills and having to worry about not getting that money because some millionaires in Washington are arguing about healthcare?
While we're at it, the federal government is holding billions to help expand Medicaid as part of the ACA...if only Florida Governor Rick Scott and the Florida legislature would take it. Mind you, we're talking about a bunch of legislators who pay $8.34 a month for their health insurance, or, if they include their families, $30 a month. But God forbid they allow Florida's families who fall under 133% of the poverty level to get Medicaid.
But getting back to the feds: Friday, I was on Facebook, trying to forget about the possibility of the fiscal cliff, when wouldn't you know, someone posted John Boehner's Washington phone and fax numbers.
"Where's the phone?" I asked J. He gave me a look that indicated he knew that tone of voice and was glad he wasn't the one I was pissed off at.
"It's somewhere on the table," he said. Then, looking over, he picked it up and handed it to me. "Who are you going to call?"
"John Boehner's office," I said, pointing to the number on the computer screen. J. looked over, rolled his eyes, smirked a little, and went back to working on the other computer. He knows better than to get in my way when I'm in war-path mode.
Long story short, I waited on hold for a long time...a very long time. During the first half hour, I must have heard the recording of Boehner maybe a dozen times. I listend as the recording said that if I want to hear about this issue, press one, that issue, press two...if I want to leave a message, press five or six, or, to talk with one of his representatives, simply wait. During the waiting period, I listened to a selection of patriotic music: the national anthem, When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again, and several others. After an hour, it became a matter of principle; I'm going to talk to that representative and have my say! But by the time I'd waited an hour-and-a-half, J. glanced over and asked, "You're really still holding?"
"Yeah," I said. "I keep getting a recording that says I can leave a message on Boehner's voice mail or keep holding for a representative."
J.'s jaw dropped. "You could've left a message? Mom, what if, because of all the furloughed workers, there is no representative?"
That thought had started to wander around my mind...Finally, after an hour-and-forty-five-minutes on hold, I left a message. I started with my name, spelled it out, gave my phone number, then mentioned that if the U.S. went over the fiscal cliff, there would be many Americans who rely on Social Security (including disability) who might very well become homeless, not to mention the thousands of furloughed workers, etc. "You guys voted the ACA into law, the president signed it, and now a bunch of rich people in DC are going to totally screw the economy because you're p.o.ed that the people who elected you want health care like you have?"
About this time, a recording told me I had maybe fifteen seconds to wrap it up. I did, without resorting to any foul language, which, as angry as I was, is a minor miracle.
Then, at the last minute, the senate and congress started voting to reopen the government, keeping us - at least temporarily - from falling off the cliff. While that may have been predictable - the whole last minute vote - it still did a number on many of the people I spoke with and saw posting on social media over the past week or two.
I have no doubt that many of the same people will remember this at election time. We remembered 17 years ago when Congress did this during Clinton's time in office.
Here's hoping that the next time, we get people who understand empathy.
For a brief bio of Arthur Joseph Altmeyer, aka "Mr. Social Security," click here. For a very brief historical Q&A on Social Security, click here.
The information from the note was taken from October 1's NBC News/business.
No comments:
Post a Comment