Tag: healthcare

By on

 

adult-blur-cameraman-1464205.jpg

January 25th marks the 35th day the federal government has been “shut down.” The reasons behind the shutdown and why it happened in the first place –The SAGA to MAGA.

This is the longest government shutdown in history, aside from the 1995 shutdown of 21 days.  The effects of a government shutdown are immediate, but as more and more time passes, the effects are more and more noticeable to all Americans, not just federal employees missing their paychecks.

As if putting any working American in a position of involuntary servitude is not bad enough (800,000 being effected) a slew of government agencies and programs have had to scale back employees or close up shop due to the shutdown.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has stopped most of its operations, affecting all forms of broadcasting. The Securities and Exchange Commission is currently running on a skeleton crew.  This affects the stock market, which is a major part of our economy.  Investigations into securities violations are being impeded due to short staffing, leaving the door open for predatory practices.

The Environmental Protection Agency, who is tasked with governing the air we breath, is only open to address major health threats and disasters.  The Department of Agriculture has had to close agencies across the country tasked with helping America’s farmers at the county level. America’s farmers are already feeling squeezed due to Chinese tariffs. There are many other government agencies that have had to scale back workers or close due to the shutdown.  Also, many museums and federally funded art galleries have had to close-including the Smithsonian.

Airports around the country have had to limit service due to TSA workers opting out of working for free. If the shutdown continues, Federal Courts may lose funding and will have to postpone adjudication of part of their caseload.  Immigration hearings have been cancelled in mass since the shutdown began-upwards of 42,000.

A government without funding, cannot continue to function. 38 million people are looking at losing food stamps if the shutdown continues into February. Many rental assistance programs expire in February-over 2 million low-income families will cease to get rental assistance for March and beyond. WIC, a federally funded food assistance program, is only funded through January-affecting as many as 7 million low-income pregnant women if the shutdown continues.

Until the federal government agrees on a budget, the situation will continue to worsen. Shutdowns often cost the government heavily-not just in closing agencies and services. The 16 day shutdown of 2013 cost the federal government over $2 billion in lowered gross domestic product (GDP) and less productivity. Not to mention, lowered confidence by Americans in the federal government is often a direct result of shutdowns- less spending and investments.

The shutdown would have to continue to September to have more severe effects, as many government agencies are funded until then, but let’s hope Congress can agree before it gets even close to that benchmark.

Coming through on an outrageous campaign promise seems way more important to MAGA followers than millions’ ability to eat and have a place to sleep. President Trump has promised to make sure we all get our tax refunds even without a funded government- so there’s that. Too bad the IRS isn’t going to be staffed well enough to be able to field consumer questions or issues.

By on

20181110_185514.jpg

The 2018 Midterm Election results were promising for America no matter what side of the aisle you stand. The election made history with high voter turn-out. Members of the LGBT community took office, as well as women and representatives of varying ethnic and religious backgrounds took office for the first time. With Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives, there is hope that needed legislation could be brought to the forefront that otherwise may not be addressed under current administration. There is much ground we still need to cover, but there is hope.

America made history in the 2018 Mid-Terms:

  • 113 million Americans voted, equating to 48% of the eligible voting population casting their ballot November 6th. America has not seen such high turn-out at the Midterms in nearly 50 years.
  • Colorado elected the first openly gay man as governor. Oregon re-elected an openly bisexual woman as governor who was originally elected in 2016.
  • Kansas elected the first Native American woman to congress who is also Kansas’ first openly gay representative. New Mexico also elected their first Native American woman to congress.
  • Tennessee elected their first female senator to office by a close margin.
  • Texas elected two Hispanic congresswomen for the first time.
  • North Dakota elected their first female governor.
  • Maine elected their first female governor.
  • Guam elected their first female governor
  • Connecticut for the first time elected an African American woman to Congress.
  • Massachusetts also elected an African American woman to Congress for the first time.
  • Iowa elected their first female representatives to the House of Representatives.
  • Michigan elected the first Muslim woman to Congress along with Minnesota electing a Muslim Palestinian-American congresswoman.
  • New York elected the youngest congresswoman ever at 29 years old.

Nearly a century ago, woman did not have the right to vote, let alone take political office. With many women taking the highest office in their states, it is a clear sign America is evolving and appreciating women equally as their male counterparts.  Not only was the gender barrier broken in many states, but religious, sexual orientation and barriers in ethnic were broken as well.

A Democrat controlled house essentially ushers in a more equal system. It is also promising in regards to healthcare and wages.

The Affordable Care Act is flatly insufficient.  Many Americans still go without health insurance  and basic care. Citizens utilizing The Affordable Care Act also do not have access to vision or dental coverage.  President Trump has also allowed states to make exceptions for what is provided under the federal Affordable Care Act legislation. Prescription drugs are also prohibitively expensive for many that need them the most. The freshly elected plan on pushing aggressive legislation to help curb the cost of pharmaceuticals. Also, with a Democrat controlled house, there is hope for legislation to open the door for vision and dental coverage to Obamacare subscribers as well as expanding coverage as a whole.

The current federal minimum wage is $7.25/hour, which is approximately $15,000 a year. For the vast majority of Americans, this is not enough to make a living necessitating many to work multiple jobs. Democrats have promised to raise the minimum wage- proposing an increase to $15/hr.  Democrats also want to propose paid leave for families for medical reasons.  America is currently the only major world power that does not offer such paid leave.

The Midterm Election results demonstrate a move for progressive change. The diversity that makes up the U.S. is more represented and recognized. Also, there is opportunity for growth in the areas of healthcare and wage earnings for citizens.  Let us hope the promise for change of this win comes through.