This stark photo taken this week in Knoxville tells a very different story about the economy

[mahatmakanejeeves]

David Fahrenthold Retweeted

This stark photo taken this week in Knoxville tells a very different story about the economy

Link to tweet

[nocoincidences]

1. Those faces are

heartbreaking. This is America! This is not what we stand for!

I really hate Trump and his minions, for everything they have done to create this situation.

[pangaia]

71. Republicans have been causing things like this for decades.

They get off on it..

[sandensea]

75. +1

And it's not just GOPee lawmakers.

Most Republican voters these days are so sadistic, they will applaud this as "fairness" even knowing that they themselves could very easily be in this same situation.

Mental illness.

[DownriverDem]

105. repubs

don't care. They believe it is up to you to take care of your medical needs. This is why we need to get rid of them. They are planning on using "Socialism" as their way of attacking. How dumb. They think it will work this time when the country favors Medicare for All and Milinnials see nothing wrong with socialism.

[FiveGoodMen]

107. "This is not what we stand for"

When the Nazis started rearing their heads, we didn't even try to shut them down.

In other words, we don't really stand for anything.

[Sherman A1]

2. That is just G**Damn Sad

There is no excuse for this in this county, absolutely none at all.

[Larrybanal]

51. but the rich are happy happy happy

[Mars and Minerva]

58. And these are the people who came out...

I imagine there are many more desperate people who could not get there.

[MagickMuffin]

3. I'm pretty sure it looks like this across America

People without healthcare taking advantage of other people's kindness.

This would be an excellent place to be able to talk with these people and try to educate them that the Democrats are for the working, downtrodden people who have been lied to by the republicons. Because it IS the republicons who don't care about the American people.

The republicons only care about Corporations (I mean people since the Supreme Court decided that corporations are people) and billionaires.

[jayschool2013]

69. But, but

gunz and bortions, man. Gunz and bortions.

[bluecollar2]

81. You left out gays...n/t

[Desert grandma]

4. This is maddening and very sad.

It is maddening because the only reason this is happening is because Tennessee is one of those states that did not expand Medicaid. This was preventable. It is sad to see so many of our fellow citizens in such dire circumstances.

[volstork]

65. Exactly.

...and our worthless former governor (who turned down FREE MONEY in the form of Medicaid Expansion under the ACA) was mayor of Knoxville. He's also a billionaire, as his family owns Pilot Oil, so "Fuck you, he got his".

[area51]

5. This is what a third-world country looks like.

Medical care is rationed on ability to pay. It's far past time to transition to single-payer/comprehensive Medicare for All.

[appalachiablue]

73. 3rd World is right, as the UN Rapporteur Found in 2018,

>U. N. Report: With 40 Million in Poverty, US Is The MOST UNEQUAL Developed Nation, June 22, 2018
https://www.upi.com/UN-report-With-40M-in-poverty-US-most-unequal-developed-nation/8671529664548/

June 22 (UPI) -- A study for the U.N. Human Rights Council has concluded 40 million people in the United States live in poverty -- and more than half of those live in "extreme" or "absolute" poverty. The 20-page report by Philip Alston, U.N. special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, says U.S. policies benefit the rich and exacerbate poverty.

> "The United States has the highest income inequality in the Western world, and this can only be made worse by the massive new tax cuts overwhelmingly benefiting the wealthy," Alston said in a statement about the report. The report cites vast numbers of middle-class Americans "perched on the edge," with 40 percent of the adult population saying they would be unable to cover an unexpected $400 expense.

Alston criticized the Trump administration for stigmatizing the poor and saying those receiving government benefits are lazy and should be working. The report found just 7 percent of benefits recipients are not working. "The statistics that are available show that the great majority of people who, for example, are on Medicaid, are either working in full-time work -- around half of them -- or they are in school or they are giving full-time care to others," Alston said.

The report also criticized President Donald Trump's $1.5 trillion tax cut package, which Alston said overwhelmingly benefits the wealthy and worsens the situation for the poor. "The share of the top 1 percent of the population in the United States has grown steadily in recent years," the report notes. "In relation to both wealth and income the share of the bottom 90 percent has fallen in most of the past 25 years. "The tax reform will worsen this situation and ensure that the United States remains the most unequal society in the developed world."...



- A woman is seen in a makeshift shelter beneath the Hollywood Freeway in Los Angeles. A United Nations report delivered Friday said more than 40 million people in the United States live in poverty. (File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo)

[LibDemAlways]

82. I traveled the Hollywood Freeway between Hollywood and

downtown LA for the first time in a long time recently. Homeless encampments dot the landscape all along the embankments. The woman pictured here is far from alone. The situation downtown is dire. Tents line entire city blocks far from the traditional "skid row." Homelessness in Los Angeles is not new, but the numbers are growing. It's a travesty that politicians don't even like to mention much less meaningfully address.

[appalachiablue]

83. I saw much in the news for CA, PNW, HI, etc. only by searching.

Outrageous, the wealthiest nation in the history of the world. Thanks for the input, poverty exists as you say I'm sure. Last time in SoCal was years ago.



Homeless people on the street in Los Angeles, CA.

[ansible]

85. Even third world countries have better health care services for the poor than the US

[sheshe2]

6. This is heartbreaking.

The faces of despair.

[Aristus]

7. Didn't Tennessee go for Trump in the election?

His supporters love seeing innocent people suffer, so they must be loving this...

[Duppers]

21. They always vote R with rare exceptions.

Last edited Sun Feb 10, 2019, 10:52 PM - Edit history (1)

They even voted against their own, VP Gore, and for W!! That burned me to the max and I'll never forgiven them for that.

Yet those E Tenn mountains are home and are calling us back--simply for the beauty, seclusion and serenity.
We've found backwoods property in the Smokies' foothills. Weather's not bad either. And when you find a Dem down there, they're fierce. I've more lib friends there than here in Tidewater, VA, a military mecca.

[yellowdogintexas]

78. East Tennessee is hard core Republican and has been for a very long time

Once upon a time, they sent good people to DC Senator Howard Baker for example.

This reminds me I have postcards to write for a run off in Memphis this week.

[DontBooVote]

8. I feel sadness seeing this. I also just checked how Knox County voted in '16 & '18...

They voted for Marsha Blackburn and dotard jackass drumph.

Why do they vote for a political structure that does this to them?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

12. They vote that way because they don't make the connection.

And, poor people are far less likely to vote in the first place.

[Kurt V.]

47. +1 this.

[volstork]

67. Yep.

marsha "unqualified psychopath" blackburn soundly defeated Phil Bredesen, former Dem governor of TN who won election to two four-year terms in 2002 and 2006. He won EVERY COUNTY in the state in both gubernatorial races. Just shows how far we have fallen in TN.

[SMC22307]

9. Jesus. Straight out of a Dickens novel.

[bdamomma]

29. Geez,

that's what it looks like too. Very, very sad.

[ck4829]

90. Awful

[dameatball]

10. These type clinics occur once or twice a year in areas near me as well. SW Virginia. Cars will be

lined up for hours waiting for the traveling clinic to open. I know there are teams of nurses, doctors and dentists, as well as possibly other specialties. Pretty sad really. This has been going on for years. I assume there are similar services in other states as well. Many people just cannot afford basic health care.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

11. 2018: Northam to visit free health clinic in Southwest Virginia

{Edited:} I had not seen dameatball's post when I made this post.

Dates set for free health clinic in southwest Virginia
by The Associated Press
Monday, June 25th 2018

WISE, Va. (AP) — The dates have been set for a free annual health clinic in southwest Virginia that typically draws thousands of patients.

This year’s Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise County will take place July 20 through July 22 at the county fairgrounds.
....

Northam to visit free health clinic in Southwest Virginia
By The Associated Press
July 20, 2018 2:25 am

WISE, Va. (AP) — Gov. Ralph Northam is set to visit a health clinic in Southwest Virginia that’s expected to draw thousands of people seeking free care.

Northam’s office announced that he will attend the Remote Area Medical clinic at the Wise County Fairgrounds on Saturday.

This year’s Remote Area Medical clinic in Wise County will take place July 20 through July 22 at the county fairgrounds.

Northam is a pediatric neurologist who has treated patients at the clinic in the past.
....

{Edited a second time to add:}

Virginia Politics
Thousands flock to free medical clinic, as Washington dithers on health care
By Gregory S. Schneider July 21, 2017



Hundreds waited overnight in a parking lot for the gates to open at 5 a.m. in hopes of getting free medical or dental treatment. (Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post)

WISE, Va. — The sick and the disabled pour out of these mountains every summer for their one shot at free health care, but this year was supposed to hold hope for a better solution. ... Donald Trump won the White House in part on a promise to fix the nation’s costly and inefficient health-care system. Instead, Republicans in Congress are paralyzed and threatening to dismantle the imperfect framework of Obamacare.

[Trump’s promise to “very quickly” repeal and replace Obamacare runs into reality]

No relief is in sight for someone like Larry McKnight, who sat in a horse stall at the Wise County Fairgrounds having his shoulder examined. He was among more than a thousand people attending the area’s 18th annual Remote Area Medical clinic, where physicians and dentists dispense free care to those who otherwise have none. ... “I really think that they don’t have any clue what’s going on,” McKnight said of political leaders in Washington. “You watch the news and it’s two sides pitted against each other, which in turn just makes them pitted against us, the normal person.”

About 1,100 such people descended on the fairgrounds Friday, with more expected Saturday and Sunday. Medical personnel from across the state were there with makeshift examination rooms in tents and sheds. Sheets hung from clothespins for privacy; giant fans pulled hot air through buildings intended for livestock shows. ... These events are staged nationwide, but the Wise clinic is among the biggest, drawing people from throughout Appalachia and casting Washington’s sterile political debates into the starkest human terms.
....

Stan Brock, the English philanthropist who founded the RAM clinic program more than 30 years ago, said there was one more visitor he’d like to see at the clinic. ... “It’s absolutely imperative that the president of the United States come and visit one of these events,” he said. “I believe if he did, he would take some immediate action.”

Greg Schneider covers Virginia from the Richmond bureau. He was The Washington Post's business editor for more than seven years, and before that served stints as deputy business editor, national security editor and technology editor. He has also covered aviation security, the auto industry and the defense industry for The Post. Follow https://twitter.com/SchneiderG

[underpants]

22. Yep that's it.

I had heard about this but one day I happened upon several vehicles getting ready to go to the central meeting spot. I gave them $40 for gas.

[dalton99a]

33. "Like you'd expect to see in South Sudan or Haiti"

A family sleeps outside in the early morning as they wait to enter a free clinic on July 22, 2017 in Wise, Virginia

[pangaia]

72. "I really think that they don't have any clue what's going on,"...

“I really think that they don’t have any clue what’s going on,” McKnight said of political leaders in Washington. “You watch the news and it’s two sides pitted against each other, which in turn just makes them pitted against us, the normal person.”

Larry, hate to break it to you, but it is ONE SIDE- Republicans-- who are pitted against YOU !!!

[underpants]

13. There a group that goes out to the far western end of Virginia

At least once a year. They load up 20 vehicles or so and go out to Wise and Tazwell. It's a 3 or 4 day thing and the lines are all day.

Sad.

BTW that's at least a 5 hour drive from Richmond. Probably since it's far off I81 more like 6. Virginia is bigger than people realize. It's about 1 1/2 to 2 hours (depending on traffic and route) to the beach and then there's the Eastern Shore. It's a 5 hour drive (traffic) to NYC from Richmond to give you an idea.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

16. The Cumberland Gap is closer to Detroit and Atlanta than it is to Richmond,

if I'm not mistaken.

Will Google.....

The Part of Virginia That’s West of Detroit
By AppalachianMagazine - August 5, 2018
....

More than 426 miles west of the location the Atlantic Ocean meets the sands of Virginia Beach is Virginia’s most western locality, Lee County.
....

Farther west than the entire State of West Virginia, Lee County forms a triangle-shaped wedge at Virginia’s western boundary, dividing Tennessee from Kentucky.

Despite its geographic oddities, however, which includes being closer to nine state capitals than her very own in Richmond, which is more than 410 miles away [Closer capitals are: Frankfort, KY (178 miles), Charleston, WV (216 miles), Nashville, TN (240 miles), Atlanta, GA (264 miles), Columbia, SC (301 miles), Columbus, OH (322 miles), Indianapolis, IN (322 miles), Raleigh, NC (331 miles), and Montgomery, AL (407 miles)], Lee County’s most notable claim to fame is undoubtedly being home to one of the most important and historic passageways in American history — the Cumberland Gap.
....

[underpants]

19. Cumberland Gap TN - Richmond 409 Atlanta 272 Detroit 486

I didn't know that.

Atlanta is further west than Detroit. An interesting fact, at least to me.
Same with Savannah GA and Pittsburgh as well as Reno NV and L. A.

[Recursion]

97. The far southwest corner of VA is farther west than Toledo

Also, the farthest north corner of WV is on the same latitude as Brighton Beach, NYC.

[MarcA]

31. Our own domestic caravans facing a wall of unaffordable healthcare. n/t

[X_Digger]

60. I grew up in Buchanan County.

Amazing country, but I'll never go back.

[RightiswrongTn]

14. This is life in District 13

Right outta the damn Hunger Games. That's what happens under Repugnant Rule. Blackburn, Dejarlais, Flieshman, hypocrites one and all!! I hate what they are doing

[underpants]

23. Spot on

Sad but true

[democratisphere]

15. This is drumpf healthcare and he owns this whole sh'tty disgraceful mess.

Just one more reason to FIRE his ass.

[pangaia]

74. Not just trump, but ALL republicans...

This has been going on for a long, long time...

[ck4829]

91. +1

[bullwinkle428]

17. This is DEPRESSION ERA-looking stuff. Just infuriating. If I hear another billionaire

whine about the cost of ensuring everyone has basic medical coverage, I'm going to be seething with rage.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

34. Yes, and if the pic was in black and white would really look like it. Yes, incredibly

sad - didn't trump stop advertising Obamacare? I used to get emails every other day.

[calimary]

84. That's what it reminds me of, too.

It’s really shameful.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

18. As if the USA economy could not afford to help everyone in it.

Who cares if any are freeloaders. Get help to those who need it and if a few cheaters cheat too bad. Funny how Republicons are always strict Law and Order about the poor and the oppressed but it is look the other way and give favors to the 1%.

[zipplewrath]

104. Difference between GOP and Democrats

Republicans worry every day that someone, somewhere, is getting something they don't deserve.

Democrats worry every day that someone, somewhere, isn't getting something they NEED.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

20. Here's the event: Remote Area Medical's 'milestone' 1,000th free clinic

Remote Area Medical's 'milestone' 1,000th free clinic to feature Stan Brock exhibit
Kristi L Nelson, Knoxville News Sentinel Published 4:32 p.m. ET Jan. 28, 2019

Stan Brock's office sits exactly as he left it. A row of clocks on the wall set to different world time zones still tick; papers sit in stacks on his desktop, a ceramic mug in their midst.

But the computer screens are black and silent, Brock's chair empty. Brock, former host of "Wild Kingdom" and founder of Remote Area Medical, died Aug. 29 at age 82 in the nonprofit's Rockford headquarters, where he lived in a modest on-site apartment.

Only now are his successors beginning to find the extent of what he left: Behind that locked apartment door are 25 filing cabinets full of photos and handwritten records dating back to the nonprofit's beginning in 1985. Three milk crates hold emails Brock printed over the years. And there's more to discover, said Robert Lambert, RAM's media relations and development specialist. ... Finding the documents has been "great for us, because now that he's gone we wouldn't have known all this information if not for his stuff," Lambert said.

This weekend, RAM will hit its milestone 1,000th free clinic, which will be Friday through Sunday at Chilhowee Park. RAM leadership thought that was an ideal time to unveil some of Brock's artifacts in an exhibit dedicated to his memory.
....

[mountain grammy]

24. Capitalism at its finest right there.

[lynintenn]

25. I would bet every voting age person in this photo voted republican

Living in Tennessee all my life , a state that didn't support native son AL Gore, I see people like this every day. I have friends who can't afford medicine but think Trump is wonderful and are all in for building the wall. Driving the backroads in East Tennessee you can see shacks that look almost uninhabitable with Trump signs still in their yards. Marsha Blackburn rode in on his coattails of ignorance.

[redstateblues]

32. Our State House and Senate in TN are bastions of ignorance

Working overtime to have people carry guns in bars and many other regressive laws.

[TNNurse]

26. Remote Area Medical (ramusa.org)

is headquartered in the county where I live just outside of Knoxville. It was founded by the late Stan Brock in 1985. It conducts clinics around the southeast. People line up at midnight the night before to get inline.

It is needed.

And yes, the people here are Republicans for generations. They voted for Trump, Blackburn and the horrible Tim Burchett for the House. We had good solid Democratic candidates but the people are blinded by the lies.

Of course, many of them will not be much affected by the terrible new tax laws since they have no income to tax.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

44. Changes in food stamp requirements may kill many mountain folk or...

drive more into drugs and crime. Children - our future generations - are suffering the most. I was raised by low-income folks and in my youth, I never saw poverty in TN at this level of desperation.

I've sadly watched my original home state go downhill for over 50 years. I can vaguely recall the Al Gore, Sr. days and at least in middle TN, all everyday folks voted Democrat and had forever. The only Republicans were the wealthy. That was before the Southern strategy.......

RAM is a good cause and has been worthy of a contribution from us in the past. These days in retirement, supporting both charity and political causes is becoming beyond our capacity. I think that's where Republicans want us to be.

PS: My best friend in college (TTU, around '65) is from Greenback!......

[Mars and Minerva]

55. That is such a shame. I used to visit Knoxville on business 30 yrs ago...

It seemed like a pretty Liberal town. Lots of artists and young people. When I was there last they had a Chocolate Museum. How could people who idolize chocolate be republicans? It seems wrong.
Do you live in the area that paints the lines in the road pink during Azalea time? I'm so disappointed that those folks are Trumpsters.

[TNNurse]

59. I live in Blount County.

in the country so, now we do not paint pink lines on the road. They are for Dogwoods not azaleas. It is a beautiful area and there are more and more of us who are liberal Democrats. But the redness is deep ingrained in some.

[Mars and Minerva]

80. It really is just so beautiful there. And everyone seems so open and friendly...

I hope all your neighbors get woke PDQ.

[SeattleVet]

27. Reminiscent of Dorothea Lange's photos of poverty in the Depression.

The expressions in many of her Dust Bowl images are strikingly similar to those on these people.

[Duppers]

28. Have a physician friend in Knoxville who

Regularly volunteers with RAM, the group founded by a saint, Stan Brock. Ron made trips into Mexico and S. American countries with Brock.

These poor folks always vote against their best interest.

[3Hotdogs]

30. 60 Minutes did a segment on the clinics --- maybe 15 years ago.

Little has changed.

[ZeroSomeBrains]

35. We are not a civilized country

These images show us what Republicans think of the lower classes in this country. They don't care if you don't have enough money for medical care. Even with the reforms from the Affordable Care Act, there are still far too many without medical care in this country. Maybe we will finally do service to the least of these amongt us and provide medical care to every man woman and child in a Medicare for All system.

[TexasBushwhacker]

36. Of course, Tennessee didn't expand Medicaid

Leaving over 160K of its residents without any kind of health coverage. Of course, worse case scenario, people can go to ERs for medical care, and get hit with a ridiculous bill. I could be wrong, but I'm guessing that a lot of these folks are waiting to see a dentist. Short of antibiotics for an infected tooth, there's no such thing as an ER for dental care.

[lynintenn]

49. Tenncare nor Medicaid provides dental care nor eyecare except for children.

I worked in the ER for 25 years. Usually we gave antibiotics for an infected tooth but without followup it's a temporary fix. I saw a young man last week working as a clerk at a supply store. I thought he was very handsome until he smiled and spoke. He had some severe dental issues for such a young person. I'm sure you can't afford dental care on a minimum wage job.

[TexasBushwhacker]

54. And it will be hard to get a better job with really bad teeth

He may have bad teeth through absolutely no fault of his own. I had a friend whose teeth would decay from the inside out. Half her teeth were gone by the time she was 35. She finally saved up enough for a down payment on dentures before she turned 50 and she's still paying for them 3 years later.

[scarytomcat]

38. It is way past time for health care for all

How is this even possible in a country as rich as we are?
The wealthiest among us need to step forward, pay and stop amassing unlimited wealth that they can never spend.

[Grasswire2]

110. also time for Medicare to cover dental and vision and hearing.

Particularly dental issues, which can cause other more serious medical problems.

[scarytomcat]

112. yes very true

dental can cost a fortune for a lot of reasons
and does cause serious problems if not taken care of

[Hekate]

39. Los Angeles Times did a story some years back. For me the enduring image was "buckets of teeth"...

As in, literally, buckets will be full of extracted teeth at the end of each day, too rotted to save.

This clinic was held in Los Angeles, California my dear DUers. The pain of the poor goes on all over this nation of ours -- it's just more expansive in some places than others.

Please don't blame the poor for their own misery by saying they must have voted for Trump.

[UpInArms]

40. Reminds me of another time in this country

[klook]

53. Exactly what i thought of

I was about to post, "Who took this photo? Dorothea Lange? Walker Evans?"

[Recursion]

93. Except they were lining up for food, not optometry

Maslow and all

[UpInArms]

96. Yes ... needs are different

... we just are not shown all those in need of food and shelter ... that is not to say that there are not those among us without those needs today, also

[Achilleaze]

41. republicans too busy counting up their TaxScam loot to pay any attention

to cold, hungry, and sick human beings.

[tblue37]

42. K&R for visibility. nt

[Aussie105]

43. San Francisco, 1988.

Last edited Sun Feb 10, 2019, 07:17 PM - Edit history (1)

I was there, as a innocent Australian tourist, just to stand on the corner of Haight-Ashbury, famous in the hippy days.

Just around the corner, I saw people lining up for food handouts.

Nothing has changed.

[Ferrets are Cool]

45. Repugs would write THIS headline...

"People wait for FREE HEALTH CARE in this wonderful United States of America."

I want to on people who voted for republican lawmakers.

[dlk]

46. Statistics Can Always Be Manipulated

Then there’s just flat out lying...Republicans have made tremendous inroads into turning America into a Russian-style oligarchy. This photo could have been taken in a number of third world countries.

[ooky]

48. Ask these people where the emergency is.

These are the faces of Donald Trump's America. Of Mitch McConnell's America. Of Paul Ryan's America. Of Mike Pence's America. Of Fox New's America.

[Kurt V.]

50. so sad and maddening.

time for major structural change.

[c-rational]

52. Heartbreaking. Unbelievable this is America. Agreed with many of the posters in this thread.

We need a structural change and we need people to vote.

[JI7]

56. MAGA

[Aussie105]

57. First I've heard of travelling health care

I'm Trump's age, but retired.

A doctor's surgery within walking distance. A visit costs me nothing. I have dental services 10 minutes away (expensive!).
I have a hospital 15 minutes away. Costs me nothing. Gall bladder out? Free. Infected cat bite requiring 3 days in hospital, plastic surgery under full anaesthetic? Free.

Why? Good health care, decent wages while working, great pension system. A government that cares.

I bet if those folks in the pictures were paid a living wage, working or not, permanent medical and dental services would spring up where they live, overnight.

Happy NOT to live in America. Sorry America, a first world country you are not.

[BumRushDaShow]

61. They have been doing this in the Appalchian mountains area

yearly (or possibly several times a year) for quite a while.

Here is an article on one that was held in SW Virginia near the border with Kentucky, in 2017- https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/thousands-flock-to-free-medical-clinic-as-washington-dithers-on-health-care/2017/07/21/07b7d1f2-6d80-11e7-96ab-5f38140b38cc_story.html

Article from The Guardian about the same event held in 2016 - https://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/nov/23/enormous-pop-up-clinic-trying-bridge-americas-health-divide

[IronLionZion]

92. Just wait until the Aussie government turns on you and you can't protect yourself

Americans can't hear you over the sound of all this freedom

[Recursion]

95. They have even smaller clinics to really get into the back country

Like, a conversion van with an RN in it and a video uplink to a doctor at the closest hospital. Really cool stuff.

[pdsimdars]

62. As Lawrence O'Donnell pointed out, yea, let's take Billions of tax payer dollars for sports staduims

and then talk about how we have no money for teachers or healthcare.

[mjvpi]

63. Fully implementing Obamacare should be private insurance's last chance

If these companies won’t do everything to make it work, screw them. The idea behind Obamacare is to mandate everyone to have insurance and in return, the companies are required to behave within certain parameters. We, as taxpayers, agree to provide welfare to those companies by providing coverage to the people who they can’t find a way to make enough money off of. The old and the poor.

Personally, I think that our country should benefit from the diversity of the totality of the pool.

Unfortunately, the companies find it seemingly impossible to moderate in a humane way. Speaker Pelosi is telling Blue Cross Blue Shield that single payer is a non starter. It reminds me of Senator Bacus during the Obamacare debate.

[loyalsister]

64. But unemployment is down?

Everything about this is inhumane and tragic. To me the likelihood that they have jobs makes it even worse.

[panader0]

66. Recommended.

You don't dress up warm to stand out in the cold unless your need is real.

[JDC]

68. Are there no poor houses, no debtors prisons?

Jesus this disgusts me. This is who we are.

[Alwaysna]

70. Poverty, under educated population & lack of opportunity

All occur together. Too many times these people will vote against their own interest. If you ask some if they favor single payer medical care for all they might say no because that's socialism. Then ask them what socialism is and see if they know. I live in a very red county.

[McKim]

76. We Need to Keep these Photos in the Public Mind

Thanks for the post. We need to get more and more of these photos out to the public. Maybe it’s time to ask Cuba to send doctors to our low income communities.

[llmart]

77. Greatest country on earth my Aunt Tillie.

Pretty damned bad when the US of A could stand to have Doctors without Borders come here.

But hey - we've got millions and millions of dollars to spend on wars.

[YOHABLO]

79. Medicare for all will not cover dental care, nor vision care; or will it?

[Recursion]

94. Nope. Canada's and the UK's systems don't either

No idea why those are always left out, but they are.

[Roy Rolling]

86. You Know Who These People Are?

People who'd do not watch the news or follow it closely because they have no free time to spend it watching TV.

And just because they don't whine like the Trumpanzees doesn't mean their needs should be ignored. They are the 2019 Silent Majority, and Trumopalicans are the nattering nabobs of negativity.

History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme.

[napi21]

87. Th only examples of Orangie's great economy are the very rich who are very happy being

even more rich than they were. The majority of Americans are one payday away from bankruptcy or/and starvation.

[BlueJac]

88. Very sad.

There were many people here in Tampa waiting all night for free dental work. The Republican dream come true!

[ck4829]

89. K&R

[47of74]

98. our local GOP leader is whining that relatives no longer speak to her

I don’t blame her relatives one goddamn bit either. She supports crap like this by supporting fuck face and his groupies.

[SKKY]

99. And yet, for sure a large number of these folks voted for Trump.

I'm not saying they get what they deserve because I want every one of these people to be well taken care of and have their medical needs met. But damn folks. Can we stop voting off a bumper sticker and start voting in the interest of the common good?

[BootinUp]

100. Greatest healthcare system in da world! Nt

[Cousin Dupree]

101. RAM (Remote Area Medical) is a wonderful organization, founded by Stan Brock. Mr. Brock

devoted his life and money to this organization so that poor people across the world could have medical and dental care. So sad that RAM clinics are necessary in the world’s richest country.

[Grins]

102. Anyone hand out voter registration cards? NM

[StarzGuy]

103. Most Just Can't Know...

...how devastating an illness can destroy ones self worth and loss of financial stability. I am one who got too sick to work. I was fortunate to be able to work long enough as a teacher to become eligible for Medicare and SSDI. People must know that both of these are not, as the rich like to say, entitlements rather they are earned benefits that I paid for year in year out during my working life. Even now, Medicare isn't free I still have to pay my deductible from my SSDI funds every month.

Financial and food insecurity is a major factor in my life now.

[OMGWTF]

106. Rwanda has national healthcare! Rw-fking-wanda!

The only reason is that the men killed each other off in their stupid wars which left the women in charge and they created a national healthcare system because it's what smart, compassionate countries do. Put women in charge and shit gets done. America IS a third-world nation and testosterone is the most dangerous thing on the planet.

[FiveGoodMen]

108. Wonder how we'd do with Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham, Jeanine Pirro or Kirstjen Nielsen in charge?

[Liberal In Texas]

109. Hmmmm, not a Medicade Expansion State

People who vote against their own best interests. Go figure.

[samplegirl]

111. K&R

This should be posted everywhere!