*Phrase borrowed from @ecmclaughlin.bsky.social
The federal government has been shut down almost a month now. They couldn't get a funding bill passed. This one is personal to me, because at issue is subsidies for health insurance. Without them, my insurance premiums will double next year. Yeah, double. I got notification this week.
There are others whose premiums will go up way more than mine. And mine is not insignificant.
Inflation is ridiculous right now. Groceries have gotten way expensive. As has everything else. All while the current regime is kidnapping people and sending them to concentration camps. And sending troops into peaceful cities because the cities oppose the dictator.
They have money to do that, but they don't, apparently, have money to fund SNAP. So, as of November 1st, those who need those benefits to eat won't.
People are going to starve. Because the regime wants to give billionaires tax breaks.
But they have money to tear down the White House.
Make it make sense.
(It makes sense. They want poor people to die. I don't know what that gains them, though. If there are no poor people, who do they have to do their grunt work?)
People are getting so nasty (no, they've always been that way, just not so vocal) on social media to those who have posted concerns they won't have food. I'm glad to say, and I checked, that the free school meals will still be available. That's both breakfast and lunch here. A large percentage of students here depend on it. The district provides lunch during the summer too, ages 1-18. Then, those same nasty people (not like the "Nasty Woman" Trump insulted, she wasn't nasty at all!) say not to have kids if you can't feed them, at the same time saying women have to give birth if they can't afford it!
ReplyDeleteAnd birth rates are declining, and they're having a fit about that, too. It doesn't make sense. If they could think logically, they wouldn't be in the cult.
DeleteWhat a mess and so many people are . I sympathize with you . I am a senior on Medicare and I just got the premium increase for my part B supplement . It’s not double but it is a large increase. Meanwhile we’re getting 2.8 percentcost of living increase on social Security, our drug deductible is increasing, and you can guess the rest of the story. Besides the suffering of the general population, many seniors are going to be choosing between food and medication. Fortunately, my husband and I are not in that group – yet.
ReplyDeleteDo you have a Medicare Advantage Plan? I need to find a new one, the health network (hospital, testing locations, urgent cares, etc.) are dropping the one I have now. I could stay with it, and my regular doctor, but then all the rest would be associated with a hospital with a strong religious affiliation (which probably doesn't provide the services women need to avoid those costly children!).
DeleteJohn Oliver just did an episode on Medicare Advantage plans, and their advice: don't. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejoi9yfLVCc)
DeleteHow strange. They are often free, mine is. Covers my prescriptions. Glasses yearly. Dental (not very good this year, was last). Generous OTC and gym memberships. Doctor visits, urgent care, labs.
DeleteThey're great for people like you. Someone active. In good health. It's just that once you really start to need the health insurance, it isn't great. Watch the video. It was eye opening.
DeleteI get my insurance from my employer. Open enrollment starts soon. I dread seeing how much our premiums will rise.
ReplyDeleteEmployer plans shouldn't be hit as hard. I get my insurance via ACA with a subsidy since I have a hard time affording insurance (because school districts don't insure their subs).
DeleteIts all so sad about all these world events.
ReplyDeleteTrump only cares for him self.
ReplyDeleteHi Liz - I'm glad you're letting us know some other aspects of what's happening ... I certainly feel for you over there. Take care - Hilary
ReplyDeleteInflation is a serious problem for me and my country too. Our PM has all the money to create an artificial pond of filtered water for his photo op and so on.
ReplyDeleteYeah, inflation kinda happened after all the Covid stuff, but someone's idiotic tariffs shot us in the foot. Self-inflicted wound there.
DeleteI keep seeing it likened to a hostage situation, which seems accurate. They're trying to hold the Democrats hostage by literally starving people to get them to agree to the insurance hikes. It's insane!
ReplyDeleteYup, it is.
DeleteThe ballroom hurts my heart. The destruction of the East Wing is erasing some important moments in our country's women's history, and doing it for a massive, gilded party room. It's a symbol of this administration's values/goals. PS Thanks for ringing the bell about Medicare Advantage. I hope she hears you.
ReplyDeleteJohn Oliver did a great episode on that. I had no idea until then. Yeah, lots of people are really upset about the ballroom. I don't think they realize how much of a fumble that one was.
DeleteI don't have any idea how a ballroom "is for the American people". It's for billionaires and power people, to eat fancy food, dress fancy, twirl around to show off then sit down and talk and laugh about how to screw the ordinary folks and the poor folks so they can get even richer.
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that he's really into the details on it. And that made me wonder if that's the thing the people really in charge chose to give him to distract him while they plunder the country and enact their terrible goals.
DeleteI can't believe he has the right to destroy part of the White House. It's crazy but I hope the people rose up and tell him to get out.
ReplyDeleteHe doesn't. But he's just doing what he wants because no one is stopping him. And that's the big issue here. Those who are in a position to say or do something to mitigate issues aren't.
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