I am perplexed. I don't understand why one would choose to spend more time, energy and money on protecting the life of an unborn fetus, than providing the elderly who cannot care for themselves, with a dignified old age. There are many people who have lived long lives, who have contributed well to provide us with the world we have today, and through no fault of their own, whether because of cognitive or physical limitations, need to be cared for. And how do we thank them?
If you think that the elderly in long term care facilities are being honored as in the 5th Commandment, "Honor Thy Father and Mother", you have not been to a residential memory impairment unit. Certainly things are a lot better than they were when nursing homes were dreadfully smelly places. Many places try really hard, and some, if you can afford them, do better than others.
But in these lean days, even the best facilities can't afford the dance therapy, music therapy, art therapy that they provided not that long ago. Their services, which significantly improve the quality of life for people with dementia, are being cut back. Not because people no longer need them, but, as I understand it, so that free enterprise can remain unregulated.
Is this the meaning of democracy? Is it solely about the possibility for some to make unlimited profit, regardless of the impact upon others?
By cutting money to the arts and social services, teachers and fire fighters, we are not creating jobs, we are cutting them. We are depriving people of the right to right livelihood, and the people and communities they would have served of quality of life.
And all of this is so that ... do I have this straight? because we want less government? We don't need regulation. Right?
I don't think of myself as cynical, but as I listen to my dance therapy students speak of the frequently and grossly inadequate care our clients receive, be they people with developmental disabilities, mental illness, substance abuse, traumatic brain injury, dementia, autism, adhd, I am appalled at the lack of morality of too many of my fellow Americans.
I quote the Declaration of Independence, "whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends [that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happines], it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
I am not suggesting that we overthrow the government. I am suggesting that we support Congressman Jim McGovern's "constitutional amendment bill to overturn the US Supreme Court’s January 2010 ruling in Citizens United v. FEC and to make clear that corporations are not people with rights under the US Constitution". As long as corporations can spend unlimited amounts of money to "protect the free speech" of corporations, the rest of us have no voice.
It is incumbent upon all of us to speak up for the disenfranchised. And, the way that I look at it, that would be most of us.
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