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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAn Open Letter to Paul Ryan (very good read from Salon.com)
This may have been posted already in the past 48 hours, but this is a good essay on poverty, not just directed at Paul Ryan, but to anybody who doesn't understand what it's like to be poor in America.
Hi, Im right here: An open letter to Paul Ryan about poverty and empathy
Nicole Larson was the kind of person whose smile always made you want to smile back. It was only after a while that it struck you: She always smiled with her mouth closed.
It had been six years since Nicole last sat in a dentists chair, seven since her last full exam or X-rays. Childhood dental visits had been rare: Her parents low-wage jobs never had insurance, and after paying for rent and heat and food, there was rarely much left. As an adult, she worked long hours as a waitress and hotel housekeeper, but those jobs lacked insurance, too, and the meager pay always ran out before the month did.
So Nicole learned to white-knuckle it through toothaches, popping handfuls of ibuprofen. She brushed constantly, rinsing with every oral rinse the drugstore sold. And she perfected a dimpled, twinkle-in-the-eye smile that always got a smile in return but didnt require her to open her mouth.
But today all that was about to change. She had landed a new job still minimum wage, but this time with dental coverage. She sat in the waiting room, praying that today would be the day the pain finally stopped for good.
The dentist called Nicole into the exam room, poked and prodded a bit, and listed some treatment options. Nicole crossed her fingers.
But then he stood up and shut her file abruptly, not even trying to hide his disdain. Look, there are plenty of things we could do, he said frostily, hand on the doorknob. But if youre just going to let everything go to hell like this, theres really no point.
And the door clicked shut behind him.
Link
Beaverhausen
(24,467 posts)sheshe2
(83,344 posts)It was a heartbreaking read. So many are blind to the reality of what is happening in front of them.
Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)Was about those of us who are "poor early" in our lives.
I went to college. I lived off ramen noodles and store brand everything (including store brand ramen noodles). But I knew it was temporary and that I had a whole network of family and friends that I could fall back on. The "boat" analogy really resonated with me.
Brigid
(17,621 posts)This is DU at its best: Finding gems like this to share with one another.
Scuba
(53,475 posts)sendero
(28,552 posts)... a waste of time for Paul Ryan to read this, but for everyone else I highly recommend it!
madaboutharry
(40,153 posts)but I fear it only preaches to the choir. I don't see republicans clamoring to read Salon.com or even getting the message of this article if they did read it. I truly believe that the republican party, its philosophy, and the way its members see the world is all hard wired without an empathy chip. I think the bottom line is that Paul Ryan and people like him just don't give a shit.
Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)But we need to enlarge the choir. There are a lot of Independents and even Republicans who are Decent Human Beings (tm). With regard to those conservative values-voters, it wasn't that long ago that being a Christian meant more than being anti-abortion and anti-gay. If we can remind these folks that the bearded dude who they worship (other than Kenny Rogers) had some pretty important things to say about how we treat the poor and the helpless, at least some of those folks might see the light. I remain optimistic about that.
lark
(23,003 posts)How truly repugnant and sad.
oldandhappy
(6,719 posts)If we flood his email, someone will notice. We can do it!
sinkingfeeling
(51,279 posts)"It is one thing to be a brave, precarious little boat when you are surrounded by the Coast Guard. It is quite another when you are surrounded by boats sinking faster than you are, looking to you for help."
Brigid
(17,621 posts)That's often how I feel.
GoldenMezzoDiva
(79 posts)Ayn Ryan's just a mouthpiece for ol' Daveyboy & Chunkypants anyway. Man, he's all Koch'ed up!
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)this Open Letter will go ignored, as it's target audience isn't interested in the people living in the "problem" they are trying to solve ... they are only interested in how the "problem" might affect them.
graywarrior
(59,440 posts)Mr Dixon
(1,185 posts)The part of the story about the dentist is an everyday poor and middle class persons issue. The insurance is for shit maybe 10% and the cost for crown and root canals can be upwards of 3000.00 per tooth are you fucking kidding me? My last visit I was prepared, I already knew I needed and tooth removed and nothing else pull the tooth give me the bill, when they did the exam I could swear they were trying to damage my other teeth or I could just be paranoid. The free consultant said I needed a crown and a few other things which totaled close to 6000.00 even with insurance ROFL and she said this with a straight face. They even offered and credit plan with over the top interest for the poor fucks who cant pay out of pocket, that would be me. So needless to say I paid my bill and I have not returned, I look forward to wearing dentures bring it on. IMO the letter writer sure report the dentist on YELP and see how his business works out.
OnionPatch
(6,169 posts)For some reason teeth seem to be considered a luxury when it comes to insurance. It makes no sense that dental isn't covered to the same degree as all other health issues. Are they not part of your body that can get diseased and cause serious health problems?
And so most working class people struggle enormously to keep up with dental issues.
My sister got the same attitude from a dentist once when she had to postpone getting a crown. She had scraped up the money for a root canal to stop the infection but the crown was another $700 that she simply didn't have.
Edited to add: my sister worked full time as an admin at a school when this happened and was not one to blow money on luxuries. The minimum wage she earned was just inadequate to support a person.
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)functioning_cog
(294 posts)barbtries
(28,702 posts)but to Paul Ryan? waste of time. others however may gain from it.
Jeff In Milwaukee
(13,992 posts)A text message to Paul Ryan on the subject would be a waste of time.
calimary
(80,699 posts)Reading some of the comments reinforces that, unfortunately. There's some libertarian on there who just simply WILL NOT HEAR, much less be open to, anyone else's argument.