Can the Middle Class Be Saved? http://www.theatlantic.com/...
It's cloudy and rainy this morning in Seattle. Your right, a normaI day here.I look outside
my window and see many workmen working on blowing leaves off the sidewalk, doing
odd jobs. Every man working is Mexican-American. Construction of $400-500 thousand
Dollar homes are thriving. I live 30 miles from Seattle. The closer you get, the more expensive the house. Mexican-Americans seem to be involved in the landscaping of new
construction.
It's afternoon and still an ugly day.. My youngest son needed help going to an urgent
care. He was told to have an x-ray taken 24 hours after he broke his rib on Friday.
The nurse asked to see his insurance card and promptly told him to go to the county
hospital. I leaped up from my chair. I showed her paperwork saying to get an x-ray
today. She sarcastically said "we helped yesterday, now you want our help today.
"He has insurance, " I said, to which she said this kind all of have to pay.
"I had no idea Republican's own this hospital."She took my son back to get him his x-ray. The receptionist said, "sometimes charity cases have to push for service." You're
saying the largest hospital chain In Seattle views this insurance as charity? I asked.
The hospital doesn't make as much treating my son as they do others.
I share this story to remind folks with insurance or no insurance to demand medical
care when needed. A medical problem is the same for the rich and poor and the type
of treatment, should be the same for all. Don't take no, or the runaround if you need care.
There are fewer and fewer middle-class jobs. No matter what your age is, get
education in nursing, elderly care, anything technical. There are jobs available
but at low wages. I pay $1,975 a month for a nice small duplex. Elder discrimination
is a huge problem. Make yourself needed and educated.
I buy coffee from a 75-year-old, folks that age or older, work at fast food places.
Maybe they clean houses like my 68-year-old lady friend.
This country has become the land of the "haves and have not's."Our battle must start
today from all of us, not bought and paid for politicians. Sign every petition, write letters,become an activist.
Our country has become mean and ugly.
-I felt like the luckiest kid in the world.
And I was. I was growing up middle class in a time
when growing up middle-class in America,meant
there would be jobs for my parents, good schools
to prepare me for a career, and if I worked hard
and played by the rules, a chance to do anything I wanted.
-Al Franken