Just a story to share in the wee hours ...

[NanceGreggs]

I had to go to the ER at a local hospital two weeks ago (nothing fatal, I'm fine). Because I live in Canada, there was no cost for my visit or subsequent treatment.

While there, the police brought in a man - dirty, drunk, and obviously homeless - and plunked him down in front of the triage nurse, so she could get his information before admitting him.

"Have you been drinking, sir?" She asked it politely, as though there could be any doubt. "Sure have," he offered, and pulled an open can of beer from his pocket and plunked it on her desk, as though proof were actually necessary.

"Are you on any medication, sir?" This caught him off-guard, and he stared incoherently at her. She tried again. "Medication? Drugs? Are you on any drugs, sir?"

Now understanding, he set her straight right away. "Drugs? No, never touch the stuff. Have a hard enough time just keeping up with the alcohol."

The previous day, I had read a post on a Freeper-type site from a woman who was venting her outage at the liberal Democrats wanting to institute universal health care. She didn't want HER tax dollars paying for the treatment of some lazy lout, some welfare queen, some drunken idiot who couldn't afford to pay their own way.

So I looked at this man, probably no more than 90 pounds wet, and thought, "THIS is the guy who terrifies that woman, and those who think like her. THIS is the fellow human being that woman would rather see die in the streets than have a penny of HER tax dollars spent on his behalf."

The old man was admitted, probably given a shower and shave, and enough hot meals to get his strength back before he was released.

I can't think of a better expenditure of MY tax dollars. I guess that's what separates people like ME from people like THEM.

I guess I just don't share those good Christian values they're always talking about.

Thank God.

[Monkeyman]

1. K&R for your values

[UrbScotty]

2. Nicely put.

Yea, as a Christian I don't see anything 'Christian' about selfishness.

[NanceGreggs]

9. Just as I see nothing Christian ...

... about the "Christianity" preached by the RW - and I should have put quotes around the word, just to distinguish it from actual Christianity, which is something quite different.

[spoony]

21. Yeah probably could've been

better put with quotes, but I think (hope?) everyone here would know and recognise the difference. Nice thread! Maybe one day the US will catch up. :)

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Great story, Nance....

Even though you're not ranting here, this is terrific.

Just a simple story, quietly told.

Good for you.

And...thanks...

K&R, of course.


:patriot:

[Webster Green]

4. I'm with you!

Genuine Christian values are the exact opposite of what the freeper "Christians" fervently embrace.

Jesus said to help those in need of help. Actually he didn't say much more than that in his entire career. That was his main theme!

[Erika]

5. Empathy rings loud and clear

Wish it did here.

[nam78_two]

6. I like those values...regardless of what the Freeper types think

on the issue. K&R

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. Taken care of people like what you describe in the

streets as a medic

I can understand where the anger of those folks comes from, (and hate)

But it does far more NOT do do anything for them... let alone the morality

And yes, I am sure the cops had to take a shower for lice after dropping him off, and I had to disinfect my rig many a time and take a shower and get into a clear uniform every so often

But society pays a huge cost when they are just ignored and let out to die, and yes they scare them... because they are a reflection of a failure of a system where some people will "fail" miserably and end up in the streets drinking themselves silly

[TahitiNut]

8. With about 150,000,000 'taxpayers,' such a homeless man would get $1.5 million in medical treatment

... before he cost her that single penny. (But she'd rather pay many times that to send bundles of cash to Iraq.)

How fucking INSANE do people have to be?

[shance]

10. Thank you dear Nance for posting. All this money going into Cheney/Bush's pockets

could be EASILY providing top dollar healthcare for every single person in this country.

It breaks my heart.

With that said, I am grateful all is well with you and that you received good treatment, and that your "friend" was shown some compassion and treated with dignity.

Thank you so much for sharing this with us.

Posts like these are diamonds in the rough.

[WiseButAngrySara]

32. "diamonds in the rough" Beautifully expressed, as was the original

OP!

[aquart]

11. I love this story.

[redacted]

12. Nance, it's racism too. The GOP doesn't want non-whites to have healthcare.

Dr. Tim Johnson called the Kennedy-Dingell plan "politically brilliant" on Good Morning America this morning. And it covers EVERYBODY with the same choices Senators and U.S. Representatives get.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

13. As Kurt would say if he were still with us...

"There's only one rule that I know of, babies—God damn it, you've got to be kind."

[driver8]

14. It is much better to spend our tax $$ on bombs and bullets so that we can

kill people in foreign lands.

These so called "Christians" are the biggest hypocrites in the world. They spout all this bullshit about "love thy neighbor" and "good will towards men" and they wouldn't piss on a homeless guy if he was on fire.

[dweller]

15. "unto the least of thy brethren"

eom is the only thing i can add.

dp

[NanceGreggs]

17. Amen. n/t

[tblue]

16. Thank you for sharing that story. I'm with you 100%. I honestly believe people like that woman have

a different physiology, something biological, some chemical balance or missing chromosome something, that makes them different from people like you and other liberals. It's like they are another species.

Here's a story for ya:

One of my in-laws told me there's an immigrant family who lives in an apartment down the hall from him. There are three generations in this household. The grandma receives free hot meals from Meals on Wheels. But, so he tells me, she gives it to the teenage grandson, and that really annoys this in-law of mine. "That," the in-law told me, "is why I'm a Republican." How warped is that? Now check this out: This same in law's wife had to go to the hospital a few months ago, and they had no health insurance because he'd failed to fill out the papers his employer gave him and that delayed their coverage for almost a year. So they are applying for 'Charity Care' (from the gov't) to pay the hospital bills. And he's still a freaking Republic. And there you have it. A classic Bu$h Voter/21st Century Neanderthal. And that's why we are where we are today.

[NanceGreggs]

18. "And that's why we are where we are today."

You nailed that one, my friend. Well said.

[SeattleGirl]

19. Guess I don't have those good Christian values either, Nance,

'cause I'm fine with whatever of my tax dollars go to help people who need it and can't afford it.

[LuckyLib]

20. A great illustration of one of those moments of humanity. I'm also fascinated by folks

who rant that they won't give money to panhandlers because they'll spend it on liquor or drugs. I make a point to say that giving is what you do from the heart, one human being to another. What the receiver does with what you give is not your worry. Thanks for a thoughtful reflection.

[tavalon]

25. I totally agree

I don't give if I can't give with a free heart. Luckily, most of the time, it is easily given and I don't give a single thought to where the money goes except to say a quick silent prayer that it benefits the person I gave it to.

[OneBlueSky]

22. it almost seems that the word "conservative" has become a synonym for "selfish" . . .

or even "self-absorbed" . . . more and more, what seems to distinguish us from them is a concern for the common good as opposed to a concern only for one's self-interests -- and an often misguided concern at that . . .

[mntleo2]

23. These Are *Not* Christian Values

In our Bible it says never to turn away anyone because "you might be entertaining angels unbeknownst to you ..." (Hebrews NT) I think neocons are not practicing Christianity because they are all about so much that is the opposite of what their own messiah taught.

I know Nancy you are saying much tongue in cheek, but honestly, many of us actually do try to practice a much more thoughtful way, we also accept other religions as just as legitimate as our own and also believe in separation of Church and State.

Also I wonder why this woman is not so mad at the rich whose "entitlements" take away from most of us and add to their over sized bank accounts? Welfare is less than 2% of the budget, while corporate and wealthy tax breaks and returns are literally hundreds of times more of a drain on our budget.

Why, oh why are these people so focused on blaming the poor for taking all their resources when right under their noses the rich are stealing them blind by the millions and they don't bat an eye?

Rich man: "I think I'll take some more of your hard earned money to add to this huge pile of money I already have, I deserve it more that YOU and certainly more than anybody who is poor and homeless! gimme it NOW!" The idiot you speak of: "Here, take it all, you deserve it more than that ...that struggling single mom over there!"

GRRRRRRRR!

Cat In Seattle

[tavalon]

24. No, you have real values

and I doubt you need some daddy style authoritarian God to enforce them for you. I suspect you are fairly spiritual though - you just have that feel. But your no "Church Lady" determined to moralize all over everyone.

[LaStrega]

26. I had a kinda sorta similar occurance last Monday ...

I was sitting in the courtyard of the STrib as Twins fans poured out of the Metrodome, in a bad mood as the Twins had lost to Cleveland.

I witnessed something that made me cringe ... to the point of pain. A man was lumbering up the sidewalk. He approached another man then asked "Can you help me out with a couple bucks to get a sammich?" to which the reply was "Fuck off nigger."

I couldn't believe I'd heard what I'd heard. Sheesh.

I promptly stood and approached the two, as one shook his head indignant and the other walked away seemingly full of himself and ... proud? Ach.

I called to the full-of-himself guy ... "Ever been hard on your luck?" The indignant man was vehemently hushing me. I wasn't gonna let it go. "Ever been hungry? How much did it cost you to see the game tonight? To park even? You feel okay to pay that much yet not give a fellow American a helping hand?" "Fuck off, bitch," was his response. To which I grinned and said "I'm okay with that. Drive careful toots." Then his female companion called me a cunt, I shrugged, smiling even broader. I told the gentleman (who was hungry) to wait I'd get him some dinner. I retrieved from my pocketbook a $10, then walked with him to a nearby Subway. He had a 12-inch sub and some chicken noodle soup. We talked. He's a Vietnam Vet. Very articulate. Worried about (to say the least) our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I'd had a bad night at work, that entire exchange turned my night around. I later drove home feeling okay about myself, listening to The Pixies (Surfer Rosa) on CD and smiling.

[mike_c]

27. k&r-- I agree 100 percent-- THAT is social responsibility...

...and I'm happy to see my taxes spent toward it!

[SammyWinstonJack]

28. She better hope that, for whatever reasons, she doesn't end up like that man.

I am sure she thinks that homelessness and substance abuse/addiction could never happen too her, of course she would be wrong there.

[tjwash]

29. Thanks Nance. Great story. My wife's a homeless advocate and has many such tales of tribulation...

...that people who are on the street tend to go through.

The ones who tend to scream the loudest about where their tax dollars are going, tend to forget the fact that they are only one or two missed paychecks, or a sudden accident or illness away from being right there along side of those that they hold in such disdain.

I had a slight accident, and even with what many consider excellent insurance, still ended up paying almost a thousand dollars out of my own pocket.

It's absurd.

[bigwillq]

30. Thanks for sharing this story.

I am in total agreement with you.

:hi:

P.S.-Your posts are always awesome.

[CrispyQ]

31. I've always liked that saying, "There but for the grace of God, go I."

And I'm not even a believer.

Years ago I went from being healthy & financially secure to totally screwed almost overnight. I had a serious health issue & trusted someone who took advantage of my situation. Fortunately, I regained my health fairly quickly, but it took years to get back on my feet financially.

People like the resentful woman you wrote of, wallow in their self righteous belief that something bad will never happen to them. They have small, tiny hearts & their god is small & tiny.

[WiseButAngrySara]

33. And it's not just their mock 'Christianity' it's also their supposed

love of 'Freedumb' ...

K & R for another great post.

[bvar22]

34. "Americans are ALREADY paying for Universal HealthCare....

...thet are just NOT getting it!!---Dennis Kucinich

Americans pay MORE for LESS HealthCare than ANY developed country in The World!
Dennis Kucinich is the ONLY candidate who supports REAL single payer Universal HealthCare (Medicare for ALL).

[Control-Z]

35. And they will never

stop and give thought to or try to understand what brought this poor soul to where he is today.

[Th1onein]

36. You always hit it out of the park, Nance!

My daughter, who sees me, firsthand, buy things necessary to "getting on one's feet," or just simply necessary to life, for other people, said to me, "Mom, you are really good with your money." She believes (thank God) that helping those who are down at the bottom, is a good use of money.

I'm proud of my daughter.

[earth mom]

37. Great story!

Makes me think of the nurse-yes nurse-who I know who is NOT for universal health care. I really was shocked by her negative reaction to my saying that everyone deserves health care and that it should be a basic right. Now I get it that she probably doesn't want to tend to the homeless or addicted much less have it come out of "her pocket". :puke:

[kitkat65]

38. "He leads me in the path of righteousness"

Unfortunately, for many this has become more like the "path of SELF-righteousness."

[badgerpup]

39. Thank you, Nance.

Think it's pretty well summed up in the fact that "There, but for the grace of god..."
and that doesn't apply to just money.

That's a frightening and humbling concept; that all of a sudden POOF! and there they are, the despised panhandler on the streetcorner, asking for enough change so they can feed their family...and all the while everyone looks at them and thinks "Yeah, right. You just want it for drugs or alcohol."

Maybe that's why a lot of christian/conservatives are so angry and scared? :shrug:



:kick:

[Uncle Joe]

40. You rock NanceGreggs

:yourock:

Kicked and recommended

[applegrove]

41. He would only have been admitted if he was ill enough. Canadian hospitals

are not easy to get into. That isn't how universal health care works. If you are sick enough to get a hospital stay..you would have been admitted irregardless of your homelessness. That doesn't mean that his homelessness wasn't the cause of a more serious illness. Perhaps it was his liver that was in crisis. Who knows. But the idea that with universal coverage someone can be admitted because they need a place to clean up..that doesn't happen. They'd be taken to a homeless shelter if those were his only issues..and his issues sound substantial.

[NanceGreggs]

42. I never suggested that he was admitted ...

... because he needed a place to "clean up", only that his lack of money would not preclude his admission and any necessary subsequent care. I've lived in Canada for over thirty years, so I'm pretty familiar with the system here.

[applegrove]

44. Sorry.

[NanceGreggs]

45. No need.

I thought it implicit that the police wouldn't have brought him to the hospital if there weren't some indication of a medical problem. I should have been clearer.

[applegrove]

46. I was just trying to clarify. The point of universal health care is that it

is equal and efficient. More efficient to be seen if you have a problem..and are then sent home if it is not serious..than those poor americans who cannot afford to be seen if there is an issue. That is the thing with universal health care..per person..it is cheaper than the current American systerm. Americans pay $5000 per person for health care. Canadians and Brits on average about $3000 per person per year.

People always assume that a government program is less efficient than the market forces. With health care the opposite is true.

Thanks for bringing up the issue.

[emilyg]

43. Thank you

[Toots]

47. Most of the world already knows what the Democrats do, "It takes a village"

Screw the Republicans and their "Me Me Me Me Me Me Me Me" approach to life....The remind me of the seagulls in Finding Nemo...

[terrya]

48. I wholeheartedly agree. Thank you for saying this. Recommended.

[Orsino]

49. Bread, not bombs.

This is why I hope to become Canadian. As important as it is to bring universal health care to America, it may not be possible, and in the meantime I have to support the misery that is our imperialism.

[DFW]

50. Sorry I saw this so late, but check this out:

My wife is from Germany. Because I travel so much, I see her more with her
living in Germany than if she lived in Texas. She is a social worker, whose
job it is to try and place long-term unemployed back into the workforce--a
rather thankless job.

Several years ago, she was diagnosed with cancer. She had two operations,
a brutal round of chemo, six weeks of radiation, and then a month's stay at
a special rehabilitation spa in the Black Forest that was tailored to patients
recovering from treatment for breast and thyroid cancer.

Her German insurance covered everything including even her train fare from
our German residence to the Black Forest and back. The spa included aquatic
exercise, hikes int he woods, general dietary advice and PT.

If we had had to pay for that ourselves, it would have ruined us. If we had
not had the spa therapy, she might not have made the total recovery she did.
She won't be giving Dolly Parton any competition, but she is still here with
me, where I might have been looking at an unwanted solo stint if not.

Government-run health care CAN be cumbersome if done wrong. It can also be
a blessing if done right. I shudder to think what might have happened if she
had needed this treatment back home in Texas. Maybe yes? Maybe no? I don't
know if we even have such rehab spas back home in the States. And that is
scary in itself.