It is looking more and more like the horrific tax deal struck between the president and Republicans will get passed despite some entrenched Democratic and Independent (Bernie Sanders) opposition. It will add nearly $1 trillion dollars to the deficit AND will supply the deficit hawks with even more ammunition by which to eviscerate the federal budget. When the federal budget gets slashed, the problems faced by the majority of Americans will only compound because, hand-in-hand with those cuts, states, counties, cities and school boards will have to gut their budgets too!
However, while I have committed a lot of space on this blog recently to this draconian tax measure, even if it miraculously disappeared, things remain very bleak anyway. As all of my American readers know, severe budget cutting is going on across the nation right now. The vaunted social safety net is being ripped to shreds.
If you don't happen to be egregiously rich and powerful, you've probably already borne some of the impact. If you somehow have escaped thus far, allow me to let you in on a little secret: Things will grow far darker in 2011 and beyond.
Today, I received in the mail a glimpse of this dark future. As a disabled person, I receive health-related services through the federally-funded Medicaid program. In the past, Medicaid has covered the entire spectrum of medical practices and procedures. Beginning in 2011, this will no longer be the case.
I have been informed that the following services will no longer be covered by Medicaid:
However, while I have committed a lot of space on this blog recently to this draconian tax measure, even if it miraculously disappeared, things remain very bleak anyway. As all of my American readers know, severe budget cutting is going on across the nation right now. The vaunted social safety net is being ripped to shreds.
If you don't happen to be egregiously rich and powerful, you've probably already borne some of the impact. If you somehow have escaped thus far, allow me to let you in on a little secret: Things will grow far darker in 2011 and beyond.
Today, I received in the mail a glimpse of this dark future. As a disabled person, I receive health-related services through the federally-funded Medicaid program. In the past, Medicaid has covered the entire spectrum of medical practices and procedures. Beginning in 2011, this will no longer be the case.
I have been informed that the following services will no longer be covered by Medicaid:
- Dental Services (teeth and dentures)
- Hearing Devices (hearing aids)
- Hospice Care
- Foot Care
- Outpatient Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapies
- Vision Aides (glasses and contacts)
- School-Based Medical Services for Children in Special Education
That is a lot of stuff that's been tossed to the side of the road. It means that poor and/or disabled citizens are going to suffer because they won't be able to get many basic health needs met. Of course, all these cuts are being instituted BEFORE the draconian tax measure becomes law. Imagine all the other services that will be added to the above list once the federal government has even less taxes at their disposal.
Who knows? A year from now I may be lamenting the end of the Medicaid program altogether.
Hey, I won't be too upset, though. My cockles will be warmed knowing that the stinking rich got their "needed" tax break and there is still enough money to fund the war machine.
Who knows? A year from now I may be lamenting the end of the Medicaid program altogether.
Hey, I won't be too upset, though. My cockles will be warmed knowing that the stinking rich got their "needed" tax break and there is still enough money to fund the war machine.
It loks like a ploy to keep the former beneficiaries from hearing evil, speaking evil or seeing evil.
ReplyDelete...or a ply to kill off the weak and powerless a bit more quickly.
ReplyDelete