I've seen President Obama and now Senator Franken in a diary on this very site claim that the new bill is going to provide 31 million americans with access to insurance.
To me that wording comes off as a lie. At least in my case as one of those 31 million it's assisting me but it's assisting me at the barrel of a gun.
I drive an 11 year old car. I live in a crappy apartment which does not have central air, has a coin operated laundry room that is shared with the whole building and has no dish washer. I've worked the same job for six years in Michigan's horrible economy (which has been in the shitter much longer than 2008), I work six days a week with no vacation days, no sick days, no benefits of any kind. My employer keeps me "officially" scheduled under 40 hours a week, though the work that is expected of me demands overtime, the schedule means they don't have to pay me overtime. I don't mean to complain, I'm far better off than many, many other people in Michigan who are unemployed. I'm just stating the facts.
I cannot dream of living the lifestyle that the many millionaires in the Senate are accustomed to. I used to dream of being rich one day, but I long since got disillusioned and realize that is an impossibility because I am not willing to fuck over other people to get there.
My 11-year old car needs repairs this week that I have no idea how I'm going to pay for. I'm probably going to have to take out a loan that I cannot afford to make payments on.
And now Senator Franken, a man who I greatly admire, and who I made a donation to in 2008 in order to help see him elected, comes on Daily Kos and tells me that this bill is a good thing for me. I'm not convinced.
I understand there are some subsidies in the bill that I will qualify for, but they're not going to be enough. I have no money to spare, I live paycheck to paycheck, even though I'm way above the poverty line. The cost to live a "normal" life in America has gotten very expensive. I'm expected and required by my job to have high speed internet access at home, that's $50/mo. I have to have a cell phone, that's $50/mo. I have to have a car and car insurance, that's a buttload per month. It adds up fast and before you know it your paycheck is gone.
But let's say I cancel my cell phone, let's say I eat ramen noodles for every meal in order to pay my mandated insurance premiums. Since I'm going to have to take the bottom-rung plan in order to afford it, there's obviously going to be huge co-pays and probably a substantial minimum out-of-pocket before the benefits even kick in.
So how am I supposed to afford to even take advantage of my new "heatlh care" plan, which is just going to be lining the pockets of millionaire health executives instead of actually allowing me to see a doctor and find out whether this red bump that's been on the top of my head for a couple of years is anything to worry about?
The reality if the situation is what Barack Obama campaigned on. I don't have insurance because I can't afford it. It's not because I'm trying to game the system or be greedy. I just don't have the money available to me. It's too expensive. This is the same problem that everyone else has and why the mandate is not a solution. It's like trying to help the starving children in Africa by putting a gun to their head and saying "Eat something!" without handing them a bowl of rice.
This bill will make my financial situation a complete nightmare without allowing me to really be able to see a doctor and get proper health care like I'd have access to in Canada or many other countries that actually take care of its average citizens instead of taking care of millionaires and billionaires first.
And that's what it comes down to. The millionaires in the Senate, sadly apparently including Senator Franken, are taking care of other millionaires and billionaires in the health insurance industry. Because they can afford the lobbyists. They can afford to donate far more to re-election campaigns than I can.
Right now I'm feeling completely disillusioned with the Democratic Party. I feel they have completely and utterly failed me, and they don't even care. They think I'm so dumb that I'll just get on board with this disaster if they tell me it's good for me. That I am too stupid to see the reality of my own situation. Well I may not be a millionaire, but I'm not stupid.
When you tell me it's providing me with insurance, you're lying to me. It's providing me with a little assistance, but it's also holding a gun to my head at the same time. Like a mob enforcing coming around collecting protection money.
"Gee this sure is a nice place you got here, shame if anything were to happen to it."
Thanks guys, I guess I was a stupid asshole for believing things would be different with 60 votes in the senate, a wide majority in the House and a President who told me he understood the problem was I can't afford it. My bad. Now I realize since I'm not a millionaire I should just shut up and take it.
Sorry about the rambling, I'm really disappointed and depressed right now.