[Oe List ...] Health care and "ideas" of what I/we can do

[Adam Thomson]

Long-term solutions to this problem, in the 
long-term, have to be STRUCTURAL. That's what I 
learnt 35 years ago at the Academy and I see no 
reason for this notion to change.

It's great that people volunteer "community 
support" solutions - but it doesn't solve the problem we are discussing.

Susan's eagerness to participate in the 
particular volunteer scheme Jon has proposed 
reflects her underlying ideological approach - 
which appears to be contrary that all I have seen 
as good in my life since I joined the Movement.

(David wasn't asking for help: he was just 
illustrating, in stark terms, the problem.)

We need structural solutions. And that includes 
the participation of the government.

Adam Thomson

END OF MESSAGE

At 02:00 05/09/2009, you wrote:
>Great idea, Jon.  David, where shall we send our checks?
>
>Susan
>
>
>
>----------
>From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net 
>[mailto:oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf Of jonzondo at juno.com
>Sent: Friday, September 04, 2009 1:20 PM
>To: oe at wedgeblade.net
>Subject: [Oe List ...] Health care and "ideas" of what I/we can do
>
>David, and everyone,
>Thank you for sharing your story.
>I am a part of a dance community that deals with these stories all the time.
>What makes us "deal" with them is love and choice.
>We are not perfect in our responses, however, we rarely no nothing.
>
>Here's a perfect chance to do something with this community...
>David, are you willing to share how much the surgury costs?  What is the need?
>If you are willing, then the next question is...
>How many here on this listserve are willing to help?
>
>By the way, Please don't respond with a yes or 
>no to this listserve.  This is a rhetorical 
>question unless the offer is accepted.  My idea may not be the best idea.
>
>I know that I am willing to give $10.00 without 
>knowing what the true need is.
>$10 is not much, but if 300 people give $10 then 
>David's daughter has $3000 to work with.
>(I have no idea how many are on this listserve).
>
>Are there other ideas out there?
>Can we think outside of the box?  outside of our box?
>
>and yes, I have a story to share too... about my 
>parents and their interactions with our health care system.
>
>Walk in Beauty,
>Jon Mark Elizondo
>
>
>
>---------- Original Message ----------
>From: David Dunn <dmdunn1 at gmail.com>
>To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at wedgeblade.net>
>Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] What do we mean by a 
>right? To Jim, Dave, et.al. re: Conservativism
>Date: Fri, 4 Sep 2009 11:00:28 -0600
>
>Colleagues
>
>I listed what I thought were the implications of 
>what Susan was asserting, among them:
>>• caring about people is the purview of civil 
>>society and not of the public sector
>
>To which Susan replied:
>>Yes, but not entirely.  Certainly I think the 
>>government has a role in caring for its 
>>citizens, but not as the grand public teat that 
>>eliminates all motivation to provide for 
>>yourself because everything is taken care of.
>
>In the clear light of Friday morning, it seems 
>to me that the much more helpful contribution I can make is to tell a story.
>
>The job my daughter Ruah was slated to begin at 
>Home Depot in Atlanta fell through without 
>explanation. The economy has dried up the 
>in-home child care that has been her fall-back 
>"plan b" in the past. She continues to diligently seek employment.
>
>She has a life-threatening condition that 
>requires surgery. $100 a month in child support 
>makes her ineligible for Medicaid. The hospital 
>to which she was referred by a social worker was 
>unable to attend to her, let alone help her. 
>Now, both her emotional wellbeing and her body 
>are at risk. And her father is writing an email 
>to a listserv when he should be working.
>
>An energetic 38-year-old single mom is now 
>medically indigent because of a series of 
>unfortunate events beyond her control: the 
>collapse of the Detroit economy; the migration 
>to Georgia in search of greater employment 
>opportunity; a recession and an Atlanta economy that has also "gone south."
>
>Because she does not have access to health care, 
>she and her children are without hope for 
>health. All of this, in a society that professes 
>belief in "life, liberty, and the pursuit of 
>happiness," but is unable to formulate a 
>workable consensus plan to provide for the 
>first, and most basic need: the lives of its citizens.
>
>What's wrong with this picture?
>
>Neither shouting about socialism, government 
>coercion, or destroying our society (at this 
>summer's town hall meetings), nor the concern 
>about a public teat that destroys motivation and 
>individual responsibility (in the present 
>dialog), speak the two most important questions in my life today:
>
>1. How is my daughter going to get the surgery she needs?
>
>2. How can I add something useful, grounded in 
>concrete, innocent human suffering, that would 
>make a difference in my daughter's prospects for a healthy, happy life?
>
>I do not have the answer to either question. I 
>acknowledge that posturing about liberal this 
>and conservative that does nothing to move us closer to the answers.
>
>I wonder how many others have stories to tell 
>about family members or friends who are without health care.
>
>David
>
>---
>David Dunn
><mailto:dmdunn1 at gmail.com>dmdunn1 at gmail.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
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