Congress can sleep well tonight, knowing that but for their diligence in the pursuit of austerity the poor would be suckling at the teat of a rampantly socialist state. Not.
Remote Area Medical (RAM) is staging their 640th Free Health Care Clinic in Oakland, California this weekend, extending into Monday and Tuesday. Already they've helped about 1000 people, and hope to keep up the pace for the next three days. (The event made the front page of the San Francisco Chronicle today, so I suspect there will be no lack of people requesting assistance.)
Last weekend RAM was in Sacramento, CA, where they served at least 3400 in need (covered in my previous diary).
Here's a taste of how this weekend's event first day went, before it even began:
Geneva Clay, 51, of San Leandro worked as a project manager and had health benefits before she was laid off in 2009. She had been waiting in line since 11 p.m. Friday and was number 282.
Think about that. Two hundred and eighty one people showed up before 11:00 PM on the evening before the clinic opened, knowing full well they would have to spend all night in line. (Fortunately, it's not February in Wisconsin; still the low last night was somewhere around 40 degrees Fahrenheit).
And Congress congratulated itself on a job well done.
When all our legislators in Sacramento and Washington can manage to do is cut and slash on the backs of the poor, it's nice to know that at least there are some people out there would are trying to alleviate a little suffering:
((the staff consisted of)) 50 dentists, 15 oral surgeons, 25 hygienists, 50 registered nurses, a dozen medical doctors, more than 10 optometrists as well as opticians, optical technicians, acupuncturists, chiropractors and other health professionals.
I would like to salute all those who volunteered!
What about the people in line our representatives are supposed to be representing?
The crowd included the newly and long-term unemployed, students and people who were homeless. Some of those who had recently lost their jobs had been given the opportunity to stay on their former employers' coverage out of their own pocket, but couldn't afford it.
Might the people's representatives listen to what these people have to say?
((Geneva Clay)) "We are the middle class. We are in need of health care because of the lack of jobs," she said, trying to keep warm until her number was called. "In this country, we shouldn't have to fight for medical coverage, we shouldn't have to fight to see a doctor. We can send money all over the world, but we can't take care of our own."
"We need universal health care. People shouldn't have to stand out here all night," said Sharice Gastile, 28, of Oakland, a full-time college student and single mother who was 17th in line. She is one of many Californians who lost adult Medi-Cal dental benefits when the program was cut in 2009.
Nope.
Instead of debating universal health care, California's representatives are locked in a death battle over just how much more the poor can be made to suffer.
Instead of debating anything of use at all, Congress will soon be locked in combat over a meaningless number beyond the comprehension of most Americans -- the debt limit.
We shouldn't have to fight, but fight we must. Unlike almost every other industrialized country on the planet -- where the right to health care was won decades ago -- in the United States of America, we have a right to an AK-47 but not to get help when we are ailing.
It's enough to make you sick.
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Here's the lowdown on the RAM Oakland operation
What it is: Free dental, vision and medical services for the uninsured, underinsured, underemployed and unemployed, and those who cannot afford to pay. There are no eligibility requirements.
Where: Oakland Coliseum, Parking Lot A
When: The clinic will be open from 5:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Tuesday.
Patients are seen on a first-come, first-served basis. To be assured a spot, it's best to arrive by midnight when the parking lot opens. Numbers will be issued beginning at 3:30 a.m., and the first people in line will begin registering at 5:15 a.m.
You can volunteer here
You can donate to RAM here