Note: While I posted this nearly three years ago it seems extremely relevant to the debate -- or the lack of true debate -- over health reform and the National Good.
In “The Responsibility Era Starts Now” in the 11/6/06 NYT, Rahm Emanuel and Bruce Reed point out that as a candidate in 2000 George W. Bush pledged to usher in an Era of Responsibility. Bush and his entourage, of course, have instead gone out their way to spur an Age of Irresponsibility in government and every other facet of national life. However, as the two leading centrist Democrats point out this election may serve as another opportunity to breathe real meaning into what it mean to behave responsibly in 21st Century America.
They argue and I agree wholly that:
“Responsibility begins at the top. That means living up to the highest standards of public service. It means putting the nation’s books in balance, not running the country into debt. Above all, it means doing right by the future by making honest, good-faith efforts to solve the country’s problems, at home and abroad. Citizenship is not an entitlement program. It’s not about giving people a program for every problem; it’s about establishing the tools and conditions that will enable them to make the most of their own lives”
However, it also requires that we act on the fact that each of our fates and that of the Nation is inextricably one.
That is why I would strongly urge that that another word that has all but disappeared from our civil discourse being added to the moniker. What we must seek to usher in is an Era of National Responsibility. Lincoln and Roosevelt led our country through the hell of the Civil War and the Depression by reminding us that our strengths lies in taking responsibility for each others' lives and liberty and thus, the National Good. Not every American of their day embraced their ethic of mutual responsibility. But enough were convinced that the fates of we the people were inextricably linked to make all the difference. The challenge we face is the same. The politics of the right and unfortunately many others is to divide and atomized. Unless we reclaim the idea that we live in one Nation indivisible -- that we live in one America, rather than in "Red or Blue States", our democracy will continue to atrophy.
(Originally posted on Independently Speaking, 11-10-06)
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Why We Must End All the Waiting
Ethan Ellis’ latest blog post, “End Waiting Lists: Change We Can Believe In,” hits the nail on the head. His post focuses on the long and lengthy waiting lists that an estimated 300 to 500 thousand or more people with significant disabilities are either on official waiting lists for or go uncounted but plainly needs Medicaid community living services. However, Ellis’ piece also helps illustrate a far deeper endemic crisis: Waiting is a constant in too many Americans with disabilities’ lives. Too many of our brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers, too many of our families and community living workers are putting their lives on hold indefinitely. Endlessly:
Waiting for their freedom and to get out of a nursing home, an ICFMR, a mental health facility, a jail, a prison or some other toxic human waste bin and for the needed supports to succeed at doing so.
Waiting for community living supports to keep them free from such institutions as well as free from hunger or lying in their waste in their own homes and communities.
Waiting for two and half years (29 months) or more for Medicare coverage they should instead get before having to leave a job due to disability and go on SSDI.
Waiting for employer sponsored insurance that rarely comes with the low wage jobs where many, if not most, workers significant disabilities, their families and community supports workers are employed.
Waiting to get one more in a steady stream of denial of coverage notices from your insurer due to its favorite hyphenated hatchet, a pre-existing condition.
Waiting to lose your private and/or public coverage as a young adult with a disability and having your entire life, your health, your independence, your future suddenly jeopardized because of it.
Waiting and putting off needed care, splitting pills, enduring pain, skipping meals, not paying the rent and other basics all for the lack of coverage.
Waiting to obtain the most basic of preventive care -- mammograms, Pap smears, prostate and colorectal screenings, even getting x-rays or lying down on an exam table – either because such procedures are not affordable or accessible to them.
Waiting, in short, on a Democratic Congress to do what is right and responsible. Not just for the over the 50 million of us who have disabilities and our 20 million families but for the entire nation. They must stop waiting for the GOP, whose sole aim and that of highly paid insurance executives is to maintain the status quo at any costs. Congressional Democrats and the Obama administration must do what most Americans elected them to do nearly 12 months ago. The time for waiting and putting up with the politics of intimation, innuendo and the Big Stall is over.
The time to enact comprehensive genuine health reform legislation that includes a strong and robust public option, Senator Kennedy’s CLASS Plan, the Medicaid Community First Option and banning discriminatory practices such as pre-existing conditions and life time caps on benefits is now or never.
Reforms like these, if enacted, will not be a cure-all. Nor, will they eliminate in one fell swope the multiple barriers millions of children, adults and older Americans with disabilities face in obtaining decent, affordable health and community living coverage that we need to lead healthy, independent lives. But, taken together, such provisions are vital to first easing and then ending the intolerable waiting for what must become fundamental rights of all Americans, not just of a privilege of the rich and powerful few. Why can’t we wait? Because as Dr. King made clear simple justice in our democracy must never be made to wait.
Waiting for their freedom and to get out of a nursing home, an ICFMR, a mental health facility, a jail, a prison or some other toxic human waste bin and for the needed supports to succeed at doing so.
Waiting for community living supports to keep them free from such institutions as well as free from hunger or lying in their waste in their own homes and communities.
Waiting for two and half years (29 months) or more for Medicare coverage they should instead get before having to leave a job due to disability and go on SSDI.
Waiting for employer sponsored insurance that rarely comes with the low wage jobs where many, if not most, workers significant disabilities, their families and community supports workers are employed.
Waiting to get one more in a steady stream of denial of coverage notices from your insurer due to its favorite hyphenated hatchet, a pre-existing condition.
Waiting to lose your private and/or public coverage as a young adult with a disability and having your entire life, your health, your independence, your future suddenly jeopardized because of it.
Waiting and putting off needed care, splitting pills, enduring pain, skipping meals, not paying the rent and other basics all for the lack of coverage.
Waiting to obtain the most basic of preventive care -- mammograms, Pap smears, prostate and colorectal screenings, even getting x-rays or lying down on an exam table – either because such procedures are not affordable or accessible to them.
Waiting, in short, on a Democratic Congress to do what is right and responsible. Not just for the over the 50 million of us who have disabilities and our 20 million families but for the entire nation. They must stop waiting for the GOP, whose sole aim and that of highly paid insurance executives is to maintain the status quo at any costs. Congressional Democrats and the Obama administration must do what most Americans elected them to do nearly 12 months ago. The time for waiting and putting up with the politics of intimation, innuendo and the Big Stall is over.
The time to enact comprehensive genuine health reform legislation that includes a strong and robust public option, Senator Kennedy’s CLASS Plan, the Medicaid Community First Option and banning discriminatory practices such as pre-existing conditions and life time caps on benefits is now or never.
Reforms like these, if enacted, will not be a cure-all. Nor, will they eliminate in one fell swope the multiple barriers millions of children, adults and older Americans with disabilities face in obtaining decent, affordable health and community living coverage that we need to lead healthy, independent lives. But, taken together, such provisions are vital to first easing and then ending the intolerable waiting for what must become fundamental rights of all Americans, not just of a privilege of the rich and powerful few. Why can’t we wait? Because as Dr. King made clear simple justice in our democracy must never be made to wait.
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