One of the bugaboos of the right wing is entitlements. All of the troubles, real or perceived, are laid on the door of too many government giveaways to those referred to as the 47% by Romney...or as he said, the takers. The trouble is that everyone I know has access to at least one of the government entitlements except they don't usually recognize them as such.
The farmers don't see the farm subsidies as entitlements. They wouldn't survive without them. Heat assistance? Without it, the high cost of fuel would break those who sign on for it. The older folks don't see social security as an entitlement, since they figure they've earned their monthly checks. Medicare? Again, not an entitlement. An entitlement, it seems, is something somebody else gets and therefore doesn't deserve.
This morning, as I was waiting for my yearly Medicare physical, I got to thinking about the entitlements I've taken over the years.
In 1970, my husband left me and drove off with our only car. He took all the credit cards and all the cash we had. I was in a trailer park in South Dakota with almost no food in the house. It was then that I had to go on food stamps. It was only for a month in which I reorganized my life. By then, I had a cheaper trailer and had started my teaching assistant job at the University of South Dakota. I've never been on food stamps since. I've never even been to a food pantry.
The next time was in 1991. The menopause from hell had hit me. Without getting too graphic, I was bleeding to the point that I could no longer go out telling stories (I would frighten small children)and I certainly couldn't look for a 40 hour a week job. I was anemic almost to the point of fainting. One doctor, a feminist, told me it was a normal part of aging and accept it. However, when I checked with my sisters, I realized it could go on for a year or two. I needed surgery but the sparse insurance I had did not cover the pre-existing condition....of being a woman. I applied for Medicaid but found out I couldn't get it without going on welfare. The only other option I could think of was suicide.
I went on welfare, got Medicaid, found another doctor, and had the surgery. It turned out the tissue removed was pre-cancerous. I'd made the right decision. The following day I walked out of the hospital and a week later was off both welfare and Medicaid.
And that was it until I got Social Security and Medicare plus Senior Care for prescriptions. Medicare paid for cataract surgery when I was 65 and Senior Care paid for the necessary eye drops. Other than yearly physicals and mammograms, plus one colonoscopy, I've had no further use for Medicare or Senior Care though I pay out about a hundred dollars each month.
When I consider all the years I've paid taxes and put money into these entitlement programs, I've never gotten as much out, nor do I expect to. I am far too healthy.
My contributions over the years go to others who need the care. That is as it should be. Yes, there are those who abuse the system, but that is no reason to take away from people in trouble. I figure we should take care of those in need and get them back on their feet, so they in turn can help others.
They are entitled.
The farmers don't see the farm subsidies as entitlements. They wouldn't survive without them. Heat assistance? Without it, the high cost of fuel would break those who sign on for it. The older folks don't see social security as an entitlement, since they figure they've earned their monthly checks. Medicare? Again, not an entitlement. An entitlement, it seems, is something somebody else gets and therefore doesn't deserve.
This morning, as I was waiting for my yearly Medicare physical, I got to thinking about the entitlements I've taken over the years.
In 1970, my husband left me and drove off with our only car. He took all the credit cards and all the cash we had. I was in a trailer park in South Dakota with almost no food in the house. It was then that I had to go on food stamps. It was only for a month in which I reorganized my life. By then, I had a cheaper trailer and had started my teaching assistant job at the University of South Dakota. I've never been on food stamps since. I've never even been to a food pantry.
The next time was in 1991. The menopause from hell had hit me. Without getting too graphic, I was bleeding to the point that I could no longer go out telling stories (I would frighten small children)and I certainly couldn't look for a 40 hour a week job. I was anemic almost to the point of fainting. One doctor, a feminist, told me it was a normal part of aging and accept it. However, when I checked with my sisters, I realized it could go on for a year or two. I needed surgery but the sparse insurance I had did not cover the pre-existing condition....of being a woman. I applied for Medicaid but found out I couldn't get it without going on welfare. The only other option I could think of was suicide.
I went on welfare, got Medicaid, found another doctor, and had the surgery. It turned out the tissue removed was pre-cancerous. I'd made the right decision. The following day I walked out of the hospital and a week later was off both welfare and Medicaid.
And that was it until I got Social Security and Medicare plus Senior Care for prescriptions. Medicare paid for cataract surgery when I was 65 and Senior Care paid for the necessary eye drops. Other than yearly physicals and mammograms, plus one colonoscopy, I've had no further use for Medicare or Senior Care though I pay out about a hundred dollars each month.
When I consider all the years I've paid taxes and put money into these entitlement programs, I've never gotten as much out, nor do I expect to. I am far too healthy.
My contributions over the years go to others who need the care. That is as it should be. Yes, there are those who abuse the system, but that is no reason to take away from people in trouble. I figure we should take care of those in need and get them back on their feet, so they in turn can help others.
They are entitled.
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