To Live is to Live in Defiance
Our government hates poor people. Structurally, this hatred is racially coded and built into the bones of society. Socioeconomically, it is laid down in the glass ceilings built to keep lower classes in their places. It's binary in terms of gender identity. The disparity of our country is so ingrained that it was built into the very schematics of our country as its success was literally built on the backs of the enslaved. 240 years after we declared our independence, the country still seems to be struggling with these mysterious issues that other countries have long since improved upon.
Almost 24 Native Americans and Alaska Native families lack clean water. While corporations are draining California dry, there are about 100 communities who do not have safe drinking water, either. A number of states spend more on prison than education even though study after study shows an increase in educational spending leads to a decrease in prison spending. Roughly 42 million Americans aren't sure how they will feed themselves. There are enough empty homes to give every homeless person 6 of them. Material death rates have decreased in every other developed nation but are increasing in the US.
Either we're brilliantly stupid or we routinely ignore the plight of the most vulnerable within our own country.
In May, the Republican-led House passed a healthcare bill with presumably the primary purpose of killing more poor people than the Democratic healthcare law passed in 2009. In response to the Republican-led House voting to kill more poor people, the Democrats celebrated because aside from those pesky poors killing their buzz they were certain that it would only lead to political victories in future elections.
You see, poor person, legislation has nothing to do with you. I mean, sure, legislation will impact your daily lives by making you sicker, poorer, with less representation, and over-policed... but these laws have nothing really to do with you. You are collateral damage. You are a statistic for either side to weaponize against the other. Republicans will argue that you're proof the poor want handouts whereas the Democrats will argue about you're being victimized by those darn Republicans. No one in this discussion is talking about you, as a human, and the rights you deserve based on being human.You become the token they exchange for political capital. A type of currency in which your suffering is valuable to others who have found a way to capitalize from it.
The Republican health care bill is phasing out the Medicaid program that was expanded under the Affordable Care Act. "Phasing out" is the polite description for stealing the health insurance plans for approximately 11 million Americans who are already at least 128% below the percent of poverty. They're adults who work multiple jobs to stay afloat. Adults who are too disabled to work but not disabled enough to be recognized for it. Students who do not have the luxury of having an insured parent. Single parents who cannot afford to take a sick day. Adults who are struggling to keep their head above water in the tumultuous currents threaten to carry their existence.
But merely kicking the poor off insurance is insufficient. People are clever. So, to add insult to injury, there are penalties for not having continuous coverage. Republicans will kick you off insurance knowing that you cannot afford insurance elsewhere and then allow insurances to charge you 30% more for your insurance because you had a lapse in your insurance coverage.
The next step in the process to kill poor Americans by kicking them off insurance is that the bill must pass the Senate. The Senate's version of the bill might be ready Monday night. So how do the Democrats respond? They're trying to leverage the health care bill's passage for support on a Russian sanctions deal.
That's right you pesky poors who won't just die already... the Democrats are going to sell your lives in exchange for penalties on Russia. There is no real interest in attempting to slow down the bill procedurally because you just aren't that important to them. Sure, the Democrats might tweet angrily and talk disapprovingly to journalists but know that deep down they're celebrating the possibility of your demise.
How how delicious the story of your tragic death might be during the election cycle. The Democrats will lecture voters on the consequences of voting Republicans and the Republicans will tout folksy bootstrappy nonsense. Neither will ultimately sacrifice the insurance industry in order to save your life. Your life will always come last. A means to an end that is far more attractive to the person using you.
To live is to be a stubborn reminder that you will not just die quietly. To live is to live in defiance.
Almost 24 Native Americans and Alaska Native families lack clean water. While corporations are draining California dry, there are about 100 communities who do not have safe drinking water, either. A number of states spend more on prison than education even though study after study shows an increase in educational spending leads to a decrease in prison spending. Roughly 42 million Americans aren't sure how they will feed themselves. There are enough empty homes to give every homeless person 6 of them. Material death rates have decreased in every other developed nation but are increasing in the US.
Either we're brilliantly stupid or we routinely ignore the plight of the most vulnerable within our own country.
In May, the Republican-led House passed a healthcare bill with presumably the primary purpose of killing more poor people than the Democratic healthcare law passed in 2009. In response to the Republican-led House voting to kill more poor people, the Democrats celebrated because aside from those pesky poors killing their buzz they were certain that it would only lead to political victories in future elections.
You see, poor person, legislation has nothing to do with you. I mean, sure, legislation will impact your daily lives by making you sicker, poorer, with less representation, and over-policed... but these laws have nothing really to do with you. You are collateral damage. You are a statistic for either side to weaponize against the other. Republicans will argue that you're proof the poor want handouts whereas the Democrats will argue about you're being victimized by those darn Republicans. No one in this discussion is talking about you, as a human, and the rights you deserve based on being human.You become the token they exchange for political capital. A type of currency in which your suffering is valuable to others who have found a way to capitalize from it.
The Republican health care bill is phasing out the Medicaid program that was expanded under the Affordable Care Act. "Phasing out" is the polite description for stealing the health insurance plans for approximately 11 million Americans who are already at least 128% below the percent of poverty. They're adults who work multiple jobs to stay afloat. Adults who are too disabled to work but not disabled enough to be recognized for it. Students who do not have the luxury of having an insured parent. Single parents who cannot afford to take a sick day. Adults who are struggling to keep their head above water in the tumultuous currents threaten to carry their existence.
But merely kicking the poor off insurance is insufficient. People are clever. So, to add insult to injury, there are penalties for not having continuous coverage. Republicans will kick you off insurance knowing that you cannot afford insurance elsewhere and then allow insurances to charge you 30% more for your insurance because you had a lapse in your insurance coverage.
The next step in the process to kill poor Americans by kicking them off insurance is that the bill must pass the Senate. The Senate's version of the bill might be ready Monday night. So how do the Democrats respond? They're trying to leverage the health care bill's passage for support on a Russian sanctions deal.
That's right you pesky poors who won't just die already... the Democrats are going to sell your lives in exchange for penalties on Russia. There is no real interest in attempting to slow down the bill procedurally because you just aren't that important to them. Sure, the Democrats might tweet angrily and talk disapprovingly to journalists but know that deep down they're celebrating the possibility of your demise.
How how delicious the story of your tragic death might be during the election cycle. The Democrats will lecture voters on the consequences of voting Republicans and the Republicans will tout folksy bootstrappy nonsense. Neither will ultimately sacrifice the insurance industry in order to save your life. Your life will always come last. A means to an end that is far more attractive to the person using you.
To live is to be a stubborn reminder that you will not just die quietly. To live is to live in defiance.
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