We need to talk. It's about how we treat the most vulnerable of all of us. Not just the children... but, adults who have some physical and/or mental handicap. You and I could easily add to their ranks. I could slip and fall on my head. You could get in an accident and loose your job. You understand.
I think many are coming to their senses on the subject of Universal Health Care. We have tons to do to fix the mess we are in but, I think the causes, the effects, and the possible answers reach into every aspect of our culture. There are parts of this multi dimensional problem which need some fine tuned scrutiny. Health Care is more than just for the body. Some people just cannot support themselves. They have low mental capabilities, or they have mental issues that are anti-social (not violent - just not socially acceptable) and there are people who are physically handicapped to a degree that it is... hard for the general public. Here is the story....
My dear friend who works for a large beverage company, works seven days a week to pay bills. His buddies all do the same and have done so for years. Their salaries have been flat for a decade but their workload has more then doubled. Their medical benefits are not as good as they used to be and in just three years my friend's medication has gone up 400% (new corporate contracts with insurance companies). They see their ranks dwindle in the Company and their prospects for personal advancement die like poisoned weeds. But, they are not the ones who are at the center of this story. However, without these union guys, their buddy, Carlos, would be on the street.
Carlos is in his sixties and works as an outside contractor for this beverage company. He is mentally challenged. Neither he nor his 'benefactors' at the plant know what exactly is wrong with him. Carlos says he has "regular" siblings but they left Carlos to fend for himself years ago. He works as a janitor for the giant beverage company. The guys at work have nick named him, the 'Rodent'. The guys leave food for him in the fridge and on the tables when they see him in the break room in the morning. He is always there to ask. " ... are you going to finish that sandwich?" as he takes out a plastic box to save it.
No, he doesn't make enough money to live. And his "Daddy" needs help taking care of Carlos.
"Daddy" works full time at the same Company, but he is not related to Carlos. "Daddy" is just like the rest of the men who clock in and clock out loading boxes and fixing equipment and driving trucks and changing out broken parts and fixing the Company's air conditioning and and and. They keep the Company running. And, many are up nights worrying whether the house they bought a couple of years ago will be taken from them in this recession and unregulated hedge fund bust. Many worry whether their paycheck will pay the child support and their rent and the car payments and the food they eat. Thank goodness for the 401 K....
About two years ago, when buying and flipping real estate was at it's peak, Carlos was thrown out of his apartment... All of Carlos's possessions were strewn about while the new owner painted the apartment for more money per unit. The last time Carlos's apartment was painted was when he moved in. The owners never fixed his heating system when it broke the first year he moved into the apartment. With nowhere to go, he ended up living in the basement of his church. When the church ran out of charity and wanted him out, and the new owners wanted Carlos to get his stuff out of the garage, Carlos called his "Daddy".
My friend and "Daddy" got the apartment owner to take Carlos back at the original rental price (it has gone up every year since then). My friend and "Daddy" got in the apartment owner's face and said, "WE will take you to court and WE will win. Do you know why? Because Carlos is a senior and handicapped and this is a rent controlled community!" However, there has been more trouble for Carlos.
Carlos's buddies pooled together enough money to buy him a twenty year old car so he could get to work, about ten years ago. Recently, Carlos said that his car no longer worked. On top of that, the car repair guy charged Carlos's B of A credit card thousands for work he never did. My friend opened up the engine compartment found the original decomposing seals, and hoses, and such. With a change of oil, filters, and a small tweak, the car purred like it did when the guys at work turned it over for Carlos on his birthday. The plant 'organ' had a small story about the generosity of the employees to a fellow employee. That was some party. Carlos doesn't want the car anymore. It made his credit cards bad and people call him all the time.
"How did Carlos have two B of A credit cards?" my friend asked. Who would give a man like Carlos two credit cards? Both cards are thousands of dollars in the red. Carlos gets the bills and just stacks them on the table. He does not know how to deal with such things! "Daddy" and my friend called the credit card companies to lower the payments about three thousand dollars. But, Carlos sent a small check to one of the credit cards so now, B of A won't lower the amounts. So "Daddy" and my friend told Carlos not send any more money to the cards so "Daddy" can bargain with B of A again.
Well, "Daddy" is ready to retire. He wants to leave the city. He made Carlos an offer, he would buy a trailer and park it in the back yard of his house's lot and Carlos could live there the rest of his life next to "Daddy" and his wife. But Carlos said, "No." My friend didn't understand why he said "no". I told my friend that Carlos doesn't understand what "Daddy" is offering. My friend said HE could not afford to help Carlos alone after "Daddy" retires. My friend has a hard time taking care of his own increasing needs. Many guys who used to take part in taking care of Carlos at the plant, are mostly now retired.
Carlos needs to understand that he may end up not having a place to live. And, there will be no one to watch over him. His church has very clearly told him to never ask for assistance again - can you imagine?
This is were we stand. I can tell you Carlos is a lucky man to have been helped by these men. The agencies which were called to help, didn't do too much... certainly not like the two guys with mortgages and other bills... have done over the years.
Could I say, if I were down and out, I would have people trying to help me? I doubt it. My friends could do some, if I asked (that would be very hard for me to do). My family may but, they all have mounting debt and other responsibilities.
But really, what should we be doing along these lines in this country? Let the lions eat those who can't fend for themselves?...but you and I both know more needs to be done.
I used to work for the City of Los Angeles in the 70s and traveled all over to the various shelters, orphanages, and homes for people who had physical and mental problems and who were not able to care for themselves. Many of those places have been shut down, thanks to Federal tax shuffling. The homeless I know have mental issues more then drug issues. Many homeless look down on those who use. By the way... How is that Welfare Program working these days? how's the Food Stamps? Medicare? One homeless guy I know, a real Vietnam Vet, with severe mental handicaps, took classes in typing and computers.... to get his food stamps. What was that work program???? He is about 6' 4" about 250, heart problems, and prefers not to bathe, so, he is still on the street.
I predict that this problem will get worse. I predict that the numbers of people who need assistance will increase beyond the normal percentage of needy people in large societies like ours. It is a two pronged problem; economic and health/societal related, And we have the vets who are seriously injured who will be 'mainstreamed.'
I want to know how to include these issues into the political conversation. Perhaps, it needs to be addressed with Universal Public Health Care.