Let em die

Since the 'let em die' response to Ron Paul's suggestion that we should let people sink or swim when it comes to health care, there has been a lot of talk about charities taking the place of our Medicare safety net under a republican administration.

This leads me to ask several more questions ( not that anyone answers any of the ones I ask, lol):

Who are we talking about?

• the unemployed (employment based insurance is great until you get laid off and and can't find new employment or get sick in the interim)
• The elderly - hmmm no employment, living on fixed income, usually ss (unless that is also canned and the elderly are forced to rely on 'charities' for food and clothing)
• The disabled - see elderly above
• The working poor - How many corporations and small business either can't or won't provide health insurance for these 'part time' employees who make just over minimum wage)?
• Poor children - if Abortion and Contraception are made illegal, we are quite likely to see a lot more of these little guys

I would imagine this population would add up to a rather high number.

Who would finance the charities?

Without Medicare and Medicaid, wouldn't all these charities be overwhelmed with people needing medical care? Where would the money come from? There are just so many folks willing and able to support these organizations? It seems to me that they would have to turn people away despite any good intentions on their part.

Speaking about turning people away, what Charities are we talking about:

• Catholic Charities - Great unless you are Gay or Lesbian in which case they don't care if you live or die. Didn't they stop covering all employee spouse's health insurance so that they would not have to provide that service to GLBT employees in states where it was mandated? How charitable!
• Protestant Churches - Will it become standard to have to accept evangelical preaching just to get life saving medications? What if you don't convert? Would there be just so many allowances for medical needs before you are kicked out as a lost cause?  What if you are Jewish? Gay? (See Catholic Charities above)
• Salvation Army - OH you mean the ones who fired a Jewish worker for not signing a statement that she accepted Jesus?
• Community based Charities - Tax increases? If not, I ask again, where is the money supposed to come from?
•  Political Organizations - can you say vote buying? I knew you could!
• AH! I know! THE PRIVATE SECTOR! - we all know how charitable these folks are! All you have to do is look around at bank foreclosures, energy speculation and a host of other charitable work done by these philanthropists.

It seems to me that until and unless these issues are resolved, doing away with Medicare and Medicaid is just another way to say 'let em die!'

- addendum - I just found this article and enclose the link. It pretty much sums up my feelings on the subject but with a bit more solid information...daily kos - let them die

just asking

Do Tea Party conservatives celebrate Labor day?

The shoe on the other foot

I am continually amazed at how religious conservatives live in a parallel universe. This morning I read two articles that made me want to grab one by the collar and shake him/her yelling 'What the F* is wrong with you!"

The first article detailed how representative Duncan Hunter from California wants to introduce a bill that would essentially enshrine discrimination into the military. In essence, he objects to the repeal of DADT and wants to insure that religious conservatives in the military can discriminate against gay soldiers even if they have to serve with them See the article here:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/02/1013033/-Rep-Duncan-Hunter-introduces-legislation-to-keep-homophobia-legal-in-the-military?via=spotlight

The other article discussed how some anti gay groups are appalled, even outraged about a boycott aimed in their direction, even though they have sponsored numerous boycotts against business that they perceived to be 'pro gay':

http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2011/09/01/hypocrisy-unlimited-anti-gay-groups-denounce-boycott/


 What part of 'the shoe is on the other foot' don't they get.

These folks are the same ones that object to anti bullying laws because the laws would not allow gay kids to be brutalized and humiliated. They feel gay kids should not be discouraged from committing suicide.  They object to t-shirts reading 'Gay is OK'  and try and force them to be removed from schools simply because they don't believe it. They attempt to keep kids from learning that there really are families out there with two moms or two dads They try and keep gay/straight alliance groups out of the schools and object to anyone trying to teach tolerance. Heck, In Tennessee, you can't even say the word 'gay in class.

Let me ask them a question:

How would you feel if it were considered legitimate to bully kids who were professed Christians?
How would you feel if Christian clubs could not meet on college campuses?
How would you feel if the word 'Christian' could not be mentioned in School?
How would you feel if a Tshirt saying "Christianity is OK' would be banned from schools?

Outraged? Insulted?

Why do you feel your outrage is any more legitimate than some one else's?

Not everyone believes as you do. If you have the right to be bigoted against someone else since they have different beliefs or lifestyles, doesn't it make perfect sense in America that they have the right to be bigoted against you?

No?
Why not?
What makes you so special?
Your religion? Your religion is just one among many.

If it wasn't so pathetic, I would laugh when these folks rail against the 'homosexual agenda' and say gay activists are trying to 'force' their beliefs on every one else.

Isn't that what conservative Christians do?