Medicaid and the Government
If you are opposed to welfare and government spending, you should probably leave now, oh, and get hit by a truck while you are at it.
Sorry, but something has happened that has really made me upset. “Why?” You ask. Because the government has once again led to the destruction of an innocent child.
A couple Sundays ago 12 yr old Deamonte Driver died of a toothache.
“A toothache?” You ask. Yes, he died from an infection beginning in his tooth that spread to his brain. One Saturday he was fine, spending time with his mother, the next day he was dead.
His mother was receiving public assistance for him and his brother. (Because that is how the U.S. Welfare system works. The money is given so that the children in families do not suffer. You would think that the government wouldn’t kill them as a money-saving alternative.)
After Clinton’s Welfare Reform in 1996, millions of families were taken off the welfare roles (just a term for who is part of the system).
“That’s great!” You say. Have you lost your mind? These families haven’t suddenly discovered millions of dollars in a hidden bank account. They have become poorer, homeless, and lost the basics that they need to survive, including medical care.
There is no constitutional or statutory entitlement to welfare, however, you would think that there is a moral requirement that we do not allow our children to die if there is an alternative.
Deamonte’s mother was concerned with trying to get her younger son dental care because he had 6 rotted teeth. I do not blame her for not noticing that he needed attention as well.
I do however, blame the Maryland and Federal (and other states) governments for allowing this family (and many others) to be structurally removed from the system to the extent that a poor 12 year old child cannot have an $80 dental procedure.
I’m also disgusted with the people who try to blame this poor mother for her son’s death. Who is to blame?
Our glorious Federal government who gives tax breaks to the rich that they do not need; allows businesses to continue to hire illegal workers who depress wages everywhere, not only in the U.S., but also in Asia, Europe, etc.; and denies the people who really need support the help they need.
President Bush is proposing an amnesty program (although neither he, nor his fellow Republicans are willing to call it that), that will allow 12 mil (at least) illegal immigrants the chance to become legal and work here without fear of deportation.
Now, I’m not against immigrants, I love everyone, but I strongly support enforcing the laws. If people are going to blatantly and consistently break the law, they should not then be given a free pass to do so.
In the end, President Bush only wants to support his fellow businessmen, especially those in Agri-Business, and our poor people will continue to be poor.
“Why?” You ask. Because they will continue to be uneducated, they will continue to lose financial aid from the government that the desperately need, and they will continue to be exploited by businesses only looking to make profit, regardless of the disastrous effects they impose on the labor market.
Finally, I want everyone who supports the new amnesty program to tell me what they will do when we get flooded with even more immigrants, wages are once again decreased, and some Republican proposes yet another tax cut which only benefits the top 5% of the population.
17 Comments
Very thoughtful post. It is certainly a shame that the boy had to die of a severe mouth infection – caused by a toothache, of all things. It is also a disgrace that we are one of the richest countries in the world and still do not have a universal health care system. It’s crazy how many people do not have health care, let alone dental and eye care plans.
Welfare, I agree with to a certain extent. I do not think it is fair that welfare is given to people who abuse the system or take it for granted – i.e. those who kept having kids because they knew that they would be paid more for every child they had in their family (which is why they had to put a limit on that) and those who hardly make an effort to better their lives (and when I say this, I can think of a few people that I know that this applies to.)
I understand that, but it is actually a myth that there are so many people abusing the system, why?
But, I’m sure there are those who do abuse it; however, they are the outliers. There are so many who need it, but they have lost out, and you can only get it for a total of 5 of your adult years, so after that, you’re stuck.
I used the system when I went through pregnancy with Angel. Afterwards, Angel received care. I do agree with you. Now that I have insurance with my job for health care, my son uses the state. Because of the fact I and Luis combined make a lot of money, they charged us $100 per month for Angel’s health insurance instead of $15. This is twice the amount that Luis and I pay individually. We hope to get Angel off tha expensive program… they are literally screwing us now.
that was a very thoughtful and interesting post. i dont live in the states, but i can almost imagine if they did do that in india how it would effect the people. but im at a lack of words right now and im not sure why. i think i need to sit on it and think about it. but thanx for informing me about it.
Thats really sad. That poor child died from a rotten tooth! We really do need to redo the Welfare system so it works better.
It makes me very happy about the welfare system here in Denmark. Poor kid!
Aww, that’s sad about the boy. Next time I get a tooth ache I am going to be paranoid.
That’s… sad. I’m in no place to comment about the welfare system there, but they should have done their job.
I have always thought it wrong that a country like the US does not have a universal medical system. From my understanding, and do correct me if I am wrong, the system completely favours the rich and well off.
I find it disgraceful that a country of such wealth and power can ignore people in this way.
The UK has its own problems with regards welfare but I am thankful that we have a “free at point of use” system that anybody can use at any time – pretty much!
In the UK things are incredibly different, and a lot less clinical. Because of loopholes within the law almost anyone can get welfare here, and for doing the dumbest things.
If someone here becomes an alcoholic (let’s ignore for a moment that it is a horrible affliction and consider that it is a vaguely concious choice – like with any substance abuse), they get a free house, income and free medical support. I’m sure it’s not all that easy, but at the same time I go to university. When I graduate I will be contributing to society. I don’t have a free house, I don’t have any income, and I don’t have access to any free medicine. If anything, the housing I’m in is atrociously expensive, the money the government has given me is not welfare but a loan, and don’t get me started on my medicine, which by the way, I need to live.
The worst example of welfare abuse here is teenage mothers. The UK has the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in Europe, and how do we stop them? By giving them homes and money. Tax payers money. Because I am a resident and not a citizen I have to pay taxes so that idiotic 13 year olds who were too stupid to get free condoms from the GUM clinic get to live easily in accommodation of moderate standards, and yet I can’t vote. I actually know of girls who have opted to have a bunch of kids for the free welfare in favour of higher education. And you should see the wide screen televisions (yes plural) my neighbour has. And it only took 5 kids.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t think we should turn a blind eye to alcoholics or teenage mums, but throwing money at it surely doesn’t solve things?
P.S. I’m not claiming I know everything, but I’ve seen this all through first hand experience or heard it from people that work within the council.
It’s such a shame that Deamonte died, really, of something that could be so easily fixed or prevented. I always think it’s important to provide welfare; that’s why I’m so glad to be living in Canada. The US should start making welfare more of a priority, in my opinion.
I’m definitely not opposed to welfare and government spending. I’m so glad to be living in Canada… specifically, Ontario where its citizens enjoy a fine, fine health care system.
That fine system helped pay for my Dad’s costly kidney transplant operation (my sister was the donor). The anti-rejection drugs costs $3,000 PER MONTH which is not including the cost of everything else – the operation and the checks after the operation.
Basically, without the funding, we could never have afforded it… and if my Dad had been in another country – he’d probably be dead. Now, he’s got a second chance for a good life.
I completely understand where you are coming from. I have ALWAYS had a problem with the US welfare program. It is completely screwed up. People who truly need help are denied while others are accepted.
My mother has had cancer twice and survived – knock on wood – but the treatments left her with COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and the state refuses to help her out with medical. It’s absolutely ridiculous.
That’s so sad that the little boy died from toothache of all things.
I noticed a few comments in regard to the situation in the UK and I disagree with some of it – well probably because I live in Scotland. Alcoholics and teenage mothers are not just ‘given a house’. They usually have to live in a sort of halfway house for a while, where they cannot smoke, have visitors after a certain time, have no keys to enter the main building and are not let in after 9pm and cannot have people staying. They are not just ‘given a home’. There’s also infinitives in place to obtain them jobs and housing associates to provide cheaper housing.
Don’t get me wrong, I hate that I pay nearly £200 in tax and insurance every month off my wages but I’ve been in the situation where I’ve needed the governments help in regards to money and I can appreciate it. I just don’t appreciate the people who abuse the situation.
awww the man died from a toothache that is sad no one should be the blame of her son’s death its not her fault.
YOU MAKE A CONVINCING ARGUEMENT, IM NOT SURE WHERE I STAND ON THIS ISSUE, BUT IT DOES PROVE ‘THE RICH KEEP GETTING RICHER, THE POOR KEEP GETTING POORER.’
ON ANOTHER NOTE, THANK YOU FOR YOUR HONESTY ON MY SITE; REFRESHING & APPRECIATED =) TAKE CARE
*ahem*
We don’t have that system in the Philippines. I’m sorry about what happened to that poor boy. But governments have always been self-serving when it comes to policies like this. I’m pretty sure some of the immigrants that will surely grab that chance are Filipinos. No one even has that “right/privilege” here in our country. And I blame the US government for this. …