Our vocational high school was a rough place to work; although it was rural and the students were unsophisticated, our jobs were entirely dependent upon the central high schools sending students to our classes, so enrollment was more powerful than tenure for job security. Some of us were able to be charming enough to the students and parents, willing to take the worst of the problem kids from the home schools for at least half of the day and still run a program for virtually no money beyond what was available from VETEA Grants.
The teachers who survived, and were able to retire healthy, meet on the first day of school to keep in touch. I thought one of the retirees whom I most enjoy the visit with wouldn't be making it, but at the last moment, she arrived and ordered some over-easy eggs and raisin toast.
She brought up health care after learning that one our regulars has passed in August. She was so worried, it seems that someone from CBN had informed her that now, once you hit 65, that you will no longer be treated for medical conditions, and will be left to expire in some kind of medical warehouse.
This was tough for me to take; I know she was tested for cancer last year, and even though I was unable to find out her results, I could see that she was frightened that her diagnosis might lead to her being warehoused.
I had to tell her that she was being sent bad information, and that some people did that to scare others into voting a certain way, but that it wasn't true.
As we were leaving, I was able to speak to her again. I told her that "we" would take care of her and not to be afraid. I quoted "We are not afraid" from We Shall Overcome, and then I repeated it, "We are not afraid", "do not worry my friend, I will take care of you.".
I know she is a elder christian lady, easily influenced by those using religion as their authority, and she knows I am a boomer, DFH, and a believer in social justice.
I hope she believes me; I am working hard to insure that we not only care for the elders, but that our society cares for every member, like the great philosopher Jesus said to do in the early history book she says she reads daily.