Yesterday was a disturbing and disappointing day for me on
several levels. I traveled with TOP (Texas Organizing Project) to Austin to the hearing of
the Texas Department of Insurance on a new law to regulate and control Navigators
and also, to demonstrate at Greg Abbott’s campaign headquarters, a Republican candidate
for Governor.
I am disturbed that the ACA has become a pawn in the game of
politics for the Republican Party. This pawn is used not only to gain and
maintain political control, but to degrade, dishonor, and denigrate the POTUS.
While I am aware that this is par for the course in politics for both parties,
I have never seen the level of disdain, disrespect, and dishonesty as I have
witness with President Obama.
I am disturbed that my preexisting conditions presently makes
healthcare burdensome for me, and those who are elected to serve me are willing
to sell me down the creek to pursue their self interest. While my husband was employed I was covered
and had good healthcare, however, once
his company did a Reduction in Force and he entered into retirement I lost
affordable coverage for myself. Presently healthcare costs me 1/3 to ½ of my
monthly salary for coverage. My husband and I have both worked most of our
adult lives; we have paid our taxes, and contributed to society on multiple
levels. Unlike the arguments that are seen on the media, I am not lazy. I do
work, I am an intelligent, educated, and articulate woman. I and many
others do not fit the stereo-type that the news media sell as the benefactors
of ACA.
Perhaps more than anything, I am disappointed and disturbed with
the African American Church, who is woefully missing from this struggle for justice,
parity, and fairness. Our people are
affected disproportionately in this matter. Our people who are working two and
three jobs to survive and still can’t afford health care are impacted. Our
people who rely on us, their clergy and pastors to make sense of the
nonsensical are marginalized and under-served by this issue. Somehow this
struggle for affordable healthcare appears to me to align with Matthew 25 to
serve the last, least, and lost, as well as, Micah 6:8 to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.
Today I lead other demonstrators in singing in the
tune of “We Shall Overcome” these words.
We shall have
health – care
We shall have
health – care.
We shall have
health – care
Some day
Oh Oh, deep in
my heart
I do believe
We shall have
health care some day.
Won’t you sing it with me?
