It’s a shame

I work for a center that cares for Profoundly disabled mentally retarded children and adults. We are not owned by the state, but we do receive state funding. Over the past few years that funding has been cut and chopped and has become less and less. We’ve had to cut some activies for the residents and obtaining needed supplies has become more of a process since there is added red tape when trying have things like wheelchairs and braces paid for.

We get a 2% raise if they can fit it in the budget, we pay into our own health insurance.

We don’t have a union.

Today was the last day in PA for the Adult Basic Health Care Plan. It was created a little over 10 years ago by the state with money from the tobacco settlements. It was provided at 36 dollars a month to working adults who’s companies did not provide insurance plans, and could not afford insurance on their own. Unfortunatly, the state is so far in debt these days that they are no longer able to support their part, and Blue Cross is not willing to pick it up. 

So now 41,000 people will be without health insurance.

They don’t belong to a union.

Last year, our Govenor cut all funding to the local State School for Deaf and Hard Of Hearing Children. The school was to be shut down completely, leaving one other option in the state, which is 5 hours away. Fortunatly, it was taken over and is now privatly owned and opperated, but relies mostly on donations to stay open.

Nope, no union.

I’m ok with my 2% raise. At least I get one. I’m fine with paying into my health insurance. At least I have some. The company matches my 401K investment to 4%. Thats good enough for me. I know things are hard for everyone, but I look at the kids I care for and realize there are others who have it much harder. Honestly, I don’t really care if I get my 2% raise. It doesn’t make much of a differnce in my check. Which is why I have an automatic donation to the center come out of my check automatically. With so much funding being cut to the center, those we serve are in more need then I am.

The children who attend the School for the Deaf need more then I do. Those who lost their insurance today, need more then I do.

I am not by any strech of the imagination, a wealthy person. I live pay check to pay check. I don’t go to the movies. I don’t have cable or a home phone. My car has 130K miles on it and needs repairs. I eat speghetti more nights for dinner then I care to think about. This week I worked 8 shifts in a 7 days.

But I still give when ever I can to help those who have less then I do. I donate to charities, I give my unwanted things to the Salvation Army. I give what ever is in my pocket to the homeless guy on the street corner. (mind you, its never much, but even a little can go a long way)

It seems that when times are tough it is our weakest members of society who are the ones who suffer the most. And those who are better off are never willing to bend in order to help their fellow man. Unwilling to give up even a cent. Demanding that the already beaten down give them more. It’s greed. It’s selfishness. And the world will never become a better place so long as the only things we ever think about revolve only around ourselves.

Unions are not terriable things. Don’t get me wrong. They have their place in society. They can be very useful. However, I hope all these STATE union members sleep well at night knowing that the tax money that is paying them their wages, and covering 100% if their health insurance and paying for their retirment, is NOT paying for a wheelchair for a child who can not walk. Those tax dollars are NOT educating deaf children. It is NOT providing low cost health insurance to an employeed diabetic.

Anyway, I’m so tired of thinking about this….I’m going to take a nap…

 

 

 

 

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