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Jeff In Milwaukee

(13,992 posts)
Thu Mar 13, 2014, 10:43 AM Mar 2014

An 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, I’m 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 dentist’s 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 didn’t 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 you’re just going to let everything go to hell like this, there’s really no point.”

And the door clicked shut behind him.


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An Open Letter to Paul Ryan (very good read from Salon.com) (Original Post) Jeff In Milwaukee Mar 2014 OP
Excellent Beaverhausen Mar 2014 #1
Thank you for posting this, Jeff. sheshe2 Mar 2014 #2
The part that was consciousness-raising for me.. Jeff In Milwaukee Mar 2014 #9
Definite K & R. Brigid Mar 2014 #3
Kick. Scuba Mar 2014 #4
It would probably be.. sendero Mar 2014 #5
Beautifully written article, madaboutharry Mar 2014 #6
That's true enough... Jeff In Milwaukee Mar 2014 #7
I think a whole lot of Repugs would sympathize with the dr. lark Mar 2014 #17
cope, paste, and send to him on email. oldandhappy Mar 2014 #8
This should be etched on a plaque and sent to Ryan. sinkingfeeling Mar 2014 #10
Or you're a little boat surrounded by sharks. Brigid Mar 2014 #11
paul ryan GoldenMezzoDiva Mar 2014 #13
Unfortunately ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2014 #12
Thank you! graywarrior Mar 2014 #14
IMO Mr Dixon Mar 2014 #15
It really is crazy. OnionPatch Mar 2014 #23
Thanks..K and R no text Stuart G Mar 2014 #16
This is important. Empathy is the key. functioning_cog Mar 2014 #18
it was good. barbtries Mar 2014 #19
I think that the general purpose of an "open letter" Jeff In Milwaukee Mar 2014 #22
Fantastic read. Not sure it'll get through to the hard-headed or hard-hearted, though. calimary Mar 2014 #20
kick nt Voice for Peace Mar 2014 #21
This brightened my day. I could write a book on this, really. That's all. n/t freshwest Mar 2014 #24

sheshe2

(83,344 posts)
2. Thank you for posting this, Jeff.
Thu Mar 13, 2014, 11:05 AM
Mar 2014

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)
9. The part that was consciousness-raising for me..
Thu Mar 13, 2014, 11:58 AM
Mar 2014

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.

sendero

(28,552 posts)
5. It would probably be..
Thu Mar 13, 2014, 11:15 AM
Mar 2014

... a waste of time for Paul Ryan to read this, but for everyone else I highly recommend it!

madaboutharry

(40,153 posts)
6. Beautifully written article,
Thu Mar 13, 2014, 11:22 AM
Mar 2014

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)
7. That's true enough...
Thu Mar 13, 2014, 11:49 AM
Mar 2014

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.

sinkingfeeling

(51,279 posts)
10. This should be etched on a plaque and sent to Ryan.
Thu Mar 13, 2014, 12:09 PM
Mar 2014

"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."

 

1StrongBlackMan

(31,849 posts)
12. Unfortunately ...
Thu Mar 13, 2014, 12:40 PM
Mar 2014

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.

Mr Dixon

(1,185 posts)
15. IMO
Thu Mar 13, 2014, 12:59 PM
Mar 2014

The part of the story about the dentist is an everyday poor and middle class person’s 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 we’re 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 can’t 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)
23. It really is crazy.
Thu Mar 13, 2014, 07:34 PM
Mar 2014

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.

Jeff In Milwaukee

(13,992 posts)
22. I think that the general purpose of an "open letter"
Thu Mar 13, 2014, 02:34 PM
Mar 2014

A text message to Paul Ryan on the subject would be a waste of time.

calimary

(80,699 posts)
20. Fantastic read. Not sure it'll get through to the hard-headed or hard-hearted, though.
Thu Mar 13, 2014, 01:42 PM
Mar 2014

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.

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