Well, we are all going to die.
We also all deserve better than this.
Mama Tay is mad, dear readers.
The political has become increasingly personal.
Friday in an Iowa Townhall, Republican Joni Ernst defended Medicaid cuts saying, “Well, we are all going to die.”
I watched her respond to the angry crowd with a chilling cruelty. She even smiles, exasperated at the audacity of the passionate audience. The lack of empathy hit me hard.
Because I know this is what so many leaders, politicians, heads of insurance companies think - People are expendable.
But it’s high time we evolve past this shallow, backwards way of thinking and move toward the idea that we are all connected and we all deserve care and dignity.
As I repeat often, everyone will be a patient. If we don’t prioritize quality patient-care, we aren’t taking care of each other.
What’s the point of a massive defense budget (besides money and power), if we just don’t care if our citizens die.
To be clear, they are cutting Medicaid (a huge life-saving resource reducing death by 21% according to The NY Times as I’ve shared before) to give billionaires tax breaks.
The cruelty is out in the open. People die. So who cares…?
I do. I care. And I care A LOT.
Dear Politicians and Insurance Companies…
…you have a job - to help us live.
Somewhere along the way, people in power got distracted by money. I get it. It’s distracting. They sold us out to get there.
But this greed and unchecked avarice must end.
And I’m still here to help get us there.
Last week I read in the Guardian how United Healthcare secretly paid nursing homes to send less people to hospitals. Read the article. It’s so bleak.
“No one is truly investigating when a patient suffers harm. Absolutely no one,” said one current UnitedHealth nurse practitioner who recently filed a congressional complaint about the nursing home program. “These incidents are hidden, downplayed and minimized. The sense is: ‘Well, they’re medically frail, and no one lives for ever.’”
The selfishness. The audacity. The cruelty.
And the point of view, that we all will die, is running rampant as a way to justify greed.
So what do we do?
We contact Senators. Medicaid is in their hands now as the budget bill in with them. Especially reach out if you’re represented by Collins (ME), Willis (NC), Sullivan (AK), Husted (OH), Moody (FL), Cornyn (TX), and don’t forget our least favorite senator of the day - Joni Ernst (IA). These are the most vulnerable Republicans in the Senate.
Call or email or both: 1-202-224-3121
We get loud on socials. We speak truth to power. Democracy dies in complacency. We stand up to this kind of cruelty. We share our stories in an effort to demonstrate how the political is personal. Share media from credible sources.
We vote and we encourage others to vote.
We fight insurance denials. Only 1% appeal, and they bank on us not pushing back. I’ve got resources to help. Most denials are overturned.
We support news media that does due diligence. If you have the means, keep these organizations growing and thriving.
We keep our empathy. Anger is a map - let it lead us to a better world, but don’t let it turn you cold. The world needs our anger as fuel, but don’t burn it down in the process.
Put more ideas in the comments!
I ranted a bit about this on IG yesterday if you want to see my mad face:
Have you ever had a question for me? Maybe a burning curiosity or advice on a situation? Click on Ask Rare Disease Girl, ask an anonymous question, and I’ll respond to in a post.
Are we friends on Instagram ?? Let’s connect there!
COMMENT OF THE WEEK
“Yes! Media literacy is so important! Thank you for all the helpful tips on how to navigate researching a diagnosis.” Kristen
Hey Dr. Google - How to Avoid Misinformation
After our doctor appointments, we all hop on Google. So let’s talk about it.
If you’re new here and wondering, “what happened to this lady?” read:
Welcome to my disease. What is atypical Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (aHUS) or Complement-Mediated Thrombotic Microangiopathy (CM-TMA)?
Hi, If you’re new here, I started writing a book six months ago when I was on dialysis. It’s intended to be both memoir and a practical tool to help folks who might be going through something similar or those caregivers and family supporting someone with a challenging diagnosis. I hope to include excerpts here as I write. NOTE: This is not intended to r…
I started writing this when I was on dialysis. It’s intended to be both memoir and a practical tool to help folks who might be going through something similar or those caregivers and family supporting someone with a challenging diagnosis. NOTE: This is not intended to replace actual medical guidance. Please consult your doctors on your individual challenges and situations. Please talk to your clinicians before adjusting any of your care protocols. Also names have been changed for most of my medical staff.
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Thank you, Mary M! I appreciate you answering my call for support. It matters so much to our family.
Thank you to Katie McUpton, Dienna D’Olimpio Harada, CC Couchois, Roy Lenn, and Dr. Richard Burwick for your founding level donation.
Yes! I care too. As you said, we may all die but we deserve better than this. They don’t need to help us get there faster.
I want to see universal healthcare for all. I know that’s a lofty goal in the US, but it’s high time they start treating healthcare as a basic human right. Stop lining the pockets of billionaires, and help the other 99% survive and thrive.
I'm Canadian, and I care! I have cared along time about why a country so proud to show their power would let people die or fall into ruin because they get sick. Now, you're losing medicaid and significant medical research, the secretary of health seems determined to eliminate routine vaccination. It's almost unbelievable, but it's not, it's real and it's happening right now in broad daylight. Thinking of you all. Stay safe and healthy.