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I've been disabled for over a decade, and it's the only real income that is covering our rent at this point. Husband is working a part time job that has been cut by 25%, so we're even poorer than we were when the stuff first hit the fan.
We've managed to keep our kid insured through schip, and medicare covers me, but many of the doctors in my area just won't see medicare patients. Not unless they have the medi-gap insurance, which I can't afford at the moment. I spent 4 hours in the emergency room yesterday, because of a sinus infection that was charging through my face, and wasn't going to behave itself so I could go to a clinic on Tuesday. We saw a LOT of really sick folks in the ER, many of them unemployed with no insurance. The checkout people were surly, because I couldn't pay the fee for the hospital because I needed to fill the prescriptions to get the swelling down in my face.
We've had to tap into food pantries, and go to groups to get help paying utilities. And from our experience, I've come away with a really bad attitude towards many of the faith-based groups who have received federal funding. They are the ones that force people in our situation to jump through the most hoops, and it seems (at least to me) they could give a damn about how bad it is for people right now.
We were extremely surprised to have the Salvation Army set up rules and regulations, and then suddenly turn them on their head. DH went to the location they told him to go, 2 hours ahead of the door opening, to get help. When the door opened, he was informed that he had to call on a certain day, and be one of the first 9 callers. Totally opposite what he had been told when he called.
Catholic charities has been the angels for us lately. We called the local church, and the same day St. Vincent de Paul called us, and they came to our house, sat down with us, and said that they would cover the bills we needed covering for the month. No hoops, no hurdles - just help. After months of getting run around from other *charitable* organizations I broke down and wept. Not for me, but for my husband. He's had to face job interviews AND deal with getting *help*. This man who worked his entire life, who doesn't want to have to ask for anything from others, has taken a huge beating for months, trying to keep us going.
I've gotten really short-tempered with all the * the economy is getting better* BS coming out of Washington. It's NOT. It's getting worse. And many, MANY of us are suffering, while bankers are being bailed out and Congress pisses around about healthcare. One of our friends who is a nurse called me the other day, to remind me about my son's clinic appointment. And she told me her husband was now out of work too. She's frightened, and they are trying to live off her salary. I told her I'd bring in my list of organizations that help, and give her some idea of what she may have to face if her job goes the same way. And that may happen, because the hospital is starting to lay off people.
Part of me is numb. I think I'm past the rage (anti-depressants help) - but another part of me really wants to poke anyone in the eye who buys into the *we've seen the bottom of the recession* song and dance. It's NOT true. More and more businesses are going belly-up locally. I see more people heading to the County mental health to get medicated, because many of them don't see a way out of this.
It's been a hard lesson, but we're surviving. Barely. But I'm NOT the person to talk to if you want cheerleading about our government in Washington now. BOTH sides have stiffed the working class. And both sides are going to have to answer in the next election. And in 2012.
All the pretty terminology in the world isn't going to buy the votes so easily next time.
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