Jamie Does The District
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Showing posts tagged politics
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A little pride for my city…
There has been a lot of anger directed at Washington, D.C. lately. With economic woes abound headlines have screamed “Anger mounts at Washington” and “Americans dissatisfied with DC.” There was even a Twitter hashtag a while back proclaiming “#fuckyouwashington.
All of these things have made me angry. The city of Washington and Congress are two completely separate things. I know it might be a tad easier and more dramatic to say DC instead of Congress, but is it really that complicated?
Blame it on the pride I feel for this city I have only recently gotten the honor to call home, but you can also blame it on intelligence. If you’re really unhappy with the direction this country is headed saying “Fuck DC” isn’t accurate and really isn’t helping anything (though I can appreciate a good venting session). It’d be like me saying “Fuck you Morganton” (my hometown) because I was unhappy with Rep. Patrick McHenry (though actually, this might be more accurate than the “Fuck DC” things, and we’ll get to that in a minute).
What I think people fail to realize, or forget in their anger, is that while members of Congress do their work in DC they represent their home states/district. They don’t live here full time (Hell, they aren’t even here one fourth of the time I’d imagine). If you’re unhappy with what Congress is doing, look to your own representation in your own state. Though, most people like their representatives and think they’re doing a good job, however think Congress as a whole is disaster. Which is interesting.
The larger point that I see in all of this is the fact that DC receives no voting representation in Congress. That’s right, those of you who didn’t take a beginning political class in college, DC does not have voting representation in Congress. The District, which has a population of over 600,000 (more than that of Wyoming, mind you) has one representative in the House, though she can’t vote, and no representatives in the Senate. I’m not about to get into the legality of this or whether or not it should be changed. The simple fact is that you place blame on DC the city when we don’t even have a person who can exercise their voting power for us. Do you not think we’re angry? We have to sit by and watch all your screwed up representatives come in and vote for crap without a voice.
I know it is silly to get worked up over simple words, especially when “DC” and “Congress” are likely being used interchangeably. However, they aren’t interchangeable. I love this city oh so much, but realize it has faults, just like every city. I can acknowledge that. What I can’t acknowledge is people blindly placing blame on this one area for all of America’s ills, when in reality the District has had nothing to do with the voting policy in Congress.
The one positive out of all of this is that people are taking notice of government and are getting angry. Turn that into something productive y’all! We’ve got a big Election coming up in a short 14 months (and trust me it’ll fly by).
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Hateful rhetoric…
When Rep. Gabby Giffords was shot a little over a year ago, there was a call (on both sides of the political aisle) to end the violent and hateful rhetoric which has plagued the political system for years. A call for respect even in times of disagreement. A pledge, that though we might disagree we don’t have to be disagreeable.
Seeing the progress Rep. Giffords has made in her recovery has been inspirational and incredible. However, I’m embarrassed her sacrifice has done little to nothing to change the course of rhetoric in our country.
I come from a relatively small Southern town. A town filled with a lot of good people, but also a town filled with a very vocal minority. A minority who lets themselves be known daily in the hate-speech they display publicly on Facebook and other mediums.
One member of the minority is a man I went to high school with. We weren’t necessarily friends, but were friendly. I’ve known his political leanings were vastly different than mine, which is just fine. What is not acceptable is his post on his public Facebook page during The State of the Union Address Tuesday night calling President Obama a “monkey” and wondering why he “hasn’t been shot yet.” This posting drew four “likes” and one comment in support. I do have to give him credit for actually watching the address (I know many peers who did not). However, his comments are disgusting and borderline illegal. He may disagree with the president, but now if he were to ever make an actual point they will fall flat to me and just be attributed to his overt racism.
Multiple members of the minority showed their ugly sides yesterday on my hometown newspaper’s Facebook page. Gov. Bev Perdue announced yesterday she would not be seeking reelection and the newspaper ran an article about the decision. (For full disclosure, I’ve met Gov. Perdue and admire her greatly, but given happenings over the past four years, I do find this to be the right decision for the Democratic Party as a whole in North Carolina) Out of the 50+ comments 98 percent were in favor of her not seeking reelection, which is fine. Though, if these people were really opposed to her and were mobilized enough come November her running again shouldn’t matter, they should have been able to defeat her, but I digress. The problem came when people were reduced to name calling, repeatedly calling her a “bitch.” One going so far as to call her a “clown mouthed bitch,” whatever that means. That is misogynistic and sexist. Not one of these people gave any reason for their hatred of her, or why they were so happy she would not be seeking reelection. It is safe to assume the problem people had, based on their language, is merely the fact that she’s a woman. And not just that she is a woman, but a strong, independent woman in a position of power.
Almost more troubling than their words were they had no problem saying such things attached to their names, pictures, places of employment, etc. I’m pretty open with my Facebook postings, but my profile is also private and accessible only by friends (and sometimes postings are limited to certain friends). To have a gentleman call Gov. Perdue a “bitch” and another poster a “fag” and openly display his place of employment as the NC Department of Corrections is mind-boggling. I hope this doesn’t speak to a greater issue that this type of speech is acceptable and people can use it without facing any sort of punishment or reprimand. I’d shudder to think that my tax dollars would support this kind of speech in his workplace. But unfortunately that is probably so.
Another individual who troubled me in the same set of comments didn’t outwardly use any derogatory language. However, he found nothing derogatory about the word “bitch” used in the context it was used in, and in fact found my opposition to the word to be offensive. This individual’s profile is also public and on it he has numerous references to his Baptist faith. Including Bible passages, references to his Christian high school, a picture representing the Baptist Fellowship, etc. Yet this man, whose faith obviously plays a huge role in his life, has no problem with people using language to demean women. Is that what Jesus taught? Absolutely not. We are all people. All equals. And should be treated as such.
I think all of this was especially disappointing given that this week Rep. Giffords stepped down from her Congressional seat. She did so with such honor that it was hard not to tear up watching.
By the hateful rhetoric displayed in my little hometown up to that displayed in the presidential election and everything in-between, we should be embarrassed. There is no place in political discourse, or life in general, for this type of behavior.
So I urge you all, don’t stand for this kind of language. Whether it be from you (I admit I have used demeaning language before, and I need to better control that side of me), a friend, acquaintance, someone you don’t know, or an elected representative. Let them know their hate has no place here.
We can and must do better.
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The ACA and Me part deux
I’ve already talked on this blog about how the Affordable Care Act affected my life. I don’t, however, think many people realize how it impacts them or their loved ones (especially those in opposition towards it). While there is little we can do at this point, regardless of tomorrow’s outcome you can still let your elected representatives know how the ACA has affected you (if the Supreme Court rules to uphold the ACA, even parts of it, Congressional Republicans have vowed to repeal it).
The nonprofit I work for has kept our eyes on how overturning this could hurt Americans, with an emphasis on children. Through that research I’ve compiled this list of what will happen if the ACA is overturned tomorrow:
A return of pre-existing coverage exclusions for children and adults
Under the ACA, children could not be denied healthcare coverage due to pre-existing conditions, some of which were developed before they even took their first breath on earth. This is absolutely cruel and gives the families of these children, who are sick by no fault of their own, no protection if extensive care is needed.
Adults are also subject to this too. As I saw first hand, moving insurance companies with being diagnosed with something under one does not mean the second one will cover your condition. Odds are they won’t. Leaving you in hundreds or thousands of dollars in medical debt.
A reduction in coverage through the Children’s Health Insurance Program
Overturning the law puts at risk federal funding for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (also known as CHIP) that was extended through Sept. 30, 2015 to provide states with additional funding to ensure children have access to this program. This puts into risk the coverage of the 8 million children who get their health coverage through CHIP.
An end to the pediatric benefit package that includes oral and vision coverage for all children
The ACA requires coverage of not only basic pediatric services under the new health plans, but also oral and vision needs starting in 2014. Many health plans do not provide coverage for needed child health services, and 12 percent of children have not had a doctor’s visit in the last year. One in four children has untreated tooth decay, which is now the most chronic illness among children. Good oral health must be started early and doing so can lead to the prevention of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It also is cost effective for people to have access to dental care, as last year nearly 1 million people went to Emergency Rooms for dental problems that were easily preventable with regular annual exams. Forgoing vision care treatment can also be costly in the long run, as a child’s eyes can deteriorate without corrective lenses. They can also see long-term medical issues, such as headaches, glaucoma, etc.
An end of the effort to improve quality care for children
The law develops children’s quality priorities and promotes children’s quality measurements and reporting to improve care. A recent study found that children receive recommended care less than half of the time.
A denial of coverage to families without employer-based care
The law provides health insurance choices through state-based health insurance exchanges to families without job-based coverage and provides tax credits to those who can’t afford it. Expanding insurance to all children will enable them to access needed care, which is proven to enhance their development and learning, laying the foundation for a healthy life. Children who are uninsured have decreased access to well-child care, immunizations, basic dental services, and prescription medication. Overturning the law could lead to lifetime health burdens to children denied coverage. As I well know not all employers have to supply (or are able to supply) health coverage to their employees, leaving them the burden to find very expensive private insurance, which is often not a feasible option. Those who do not have employer-based care, are often in part-time or lower income jobs, making it very difficult to afford their own private healthcare.
A return of lifetime caps on coverage
The law ends all lifetime limits on how much insurance companies cover if beneficiaries get sick, and bans insurance companies from denying coverage when they get sick. The ACA also restricts the use of annual limits in all new plans, and existing employer plans this year, until 2012 when all annual limits for these plans are prohibited. Two-thirds of middle class families with access to employer-based coverage said their child remained uninsured because they could not afford the health plan. Overturning the law will raise health care costs for families and lead to more uninsured children. You shouldn’t be cut off from your insurance coverage at a time when you need it the most.
An end to the extension coverage up to the age of 26
The law allows young adults to stay on their parents’ health care plan until age 26. Millions of young adults continue to have coverage as a result of this law (something from which I can relate to first hand). Overturning it could lead to insurance companies dropping those young adults as soon as they can, leaving millions of them uninsured just because they have been deemed “too old” for their parents to cover them (even if their parents have no objections to doing so).
An end to investments in women’s health
The ACA prohibits insurers from charging women substantially more than men (women pay $1 billion more each year in individual health insurance costs even though they tend to take better care of their health than men) and requires insurers to offer preventative services—including contraception (hallelujah!)—at no additional cost.
An end on discounts for seniors on brand-name drugs
Pharmaceutical manufacturers are required to provide a 50 percent discount on prescriptions filled in the Medicare Part D coverage gap. Seniors have already saved $3.5 billion on prescription drug costs thanks to the Affordable Care Act provision.
An end to temporary coverage for the sickest Americans
The law established temporary national high-risk pools that provide health coverage to individuals with pre-existing medical conditions who cannot find insurance on the individual market (such as people with diabetes, cancer, HIV, cardiovascular disease, etc.). In 2014, they will be able to enroll in insurance through the exchanged. Over 67,000 individuals have already benefited from the program.
This list isn’t even all of the benefits we’ve seen (and will see) under the ACA nor does it provide the comprehensive details from each of the items listed here. Bottom line, the ACA helps save lives. Your life. The lives of your brothers, sisters, cousins, friends, co-workers, etc.
We make laws for the betterment of mankind all the time, laws that require you to have insurance to operate a vehicle, laws that require you to wear a seat-belt or a helmet, laws that ban texting while driving, laws that make it illegal to drink alcohol until 21 or smoke until 18, etc.. We pay into Medicare and Social Security with every pay check, even if we don’t plan on using those services. We have mayors banning large drinks to promote healthy citizens.
If our laws are made to help people and make lives better than the ACA should be a no brainer. It has already helped millions of people and when all of the provisions are able to take affect it will help millions more. How can you turn your nose up to that?
I will be out at the Supreme Court bright and early tomorrow with my colleagues, and what I expect will be hundreds of others, to show our support for the ACA. Regardless of tomorrow’s outcome (and I honestly don’t know what that outcome will be) I can assure you that this isn’t the end of the fight. If it is upheld, Congressional Republicans have vowed to repeal it. If it is overturned, advocates, like myself, will push Congress to adopt a new version of it. The battle is only beginning.
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An Open Letter to the North Carolina Legislature:
Before I get into the nitty gritty, I just want to get something off my chest. I love North Carolina. Truly I do. It took me a long time to get there, in part because moving to a new town when you’re 10 is hard and I didn’t want to allow myself to love this new place. But I do. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I have found that to be almost painfully true as someone who is no longer a resident of North Carolina. I find myself often longing for the cool mountain breezes, ice-cold creeks, sweet tea, and southern hospitality. I wear a pendant of the state around my neck, publicly displaying where my heart lies, and that while Washington, D.C. might be my home right now, it’ll never actually be home.
Yes. I don’t live in North Carolina anymore. I left for “greener pastures” so to speak. I come from an area that has some of the highest unemployment in the country and was just listed as the fifth most miserable metro area in the country. I needed to get out, and D.C. presented fantastic opportunities for a twenty-something girl, both professionally and personally. That being said, I’ve always thought North Carolina would someday become my “forever home.” While I’ve grown to love my new city, I’m not sure it has the staying power in my heart North Carolina has. I’m not sure it’s where I want to build a life with a partner and maybe, someday, have a few children.
You see, North Carolina has so much potential. When my parents moved my sister and me to the state it was due, in part, to an article listing our small town as one of the best places in the country to raise a family. Things weren’t always easy (and I do wonder what metrics they used to make that determination), but I wouldn’t trade that move for anything. North Carolina proved itself to be a fantastic place to raise a family, and the experiences I was able to take advantage of are incredible and the envy of some of my new D.C. friends. It is because of how great my childhood and adolescence were that makes me think about moving back to the state at some point.
However, my views and thoughts about moving back have changed significantly in the past few months. My heart breaks to see what you legislators are doing to my great state. It seems a day doesn’t pass without me reading an article about another horrid piece of legislation you’re trying to pass. You are letting your own personal ideological agendas get in the way for what is best for your constituents.
Take H.J.R. 494, for example. This resolution would establish a state religion in North Carolina. I think we all know what religion that implies. What a slap in the face to hundreds of thousands of people who reside within North Carolina’s borders but do not identify as Christian. What a slap in the fact to the people, like me, who would like to eventually move back (and there are more than a few of us young’uns who’d like to do so) who don’t identify as Christian. What a slap in the face to companies, who don’t discriminate based on religion in their hiring practices, who would like to set up shop in your state. Now, I know what you’ll say. You’ll say that this bill isn’t discriminatory and all of that nonsense. I’m not stupid. Establishing Christianity as the religion of North Carolina is letting all of us non-Christians know exactly what you think of us. You may not “actively” discriminate against those who have different views of God than yours, but you are damn well doing it passive aggressively.
We could also look at the Racial Justice Act and how you all want to repeal it. Yes. You want to repeal a piece of legislation that was passed in order to protect defendants from racial bias during their trials. Something which has happened in the past and the Racial Justice Act has helped to right those wrongs. Michigan State University College of Law did a study that helped prompt this act, in which they showed racial bias being used in determining juries. Now, I’d like to believe race doesn’t play a factor in anything anymore. But I’m not naïve, and I know it does and sadly probably will in some capacity for the rest of my life. It’s really discouraging we need laws like these on the books, but studies have shown time and time again that this issue is a real issue. Repealing this is a slap in the face for not only all those who are not Caucasian but for anyone who wants to see our criminal justice system as fair and as efficient as possible.
Or we could look at HB 217, which would allow youth as young as 13 to enter into the adult criminal justice system and remove judicial oversight. If this bill were to pass, it would give prosecutors complete discretion over the future of NC children (and yes, a 13-year-old is still considered a child) and strip juvenile court judges’ of their decision making power, which is the only neutral and unbiased decision maker in transfer cases. Instead you could wind up with a juvenile offender, who desperately needs rehabilitation in a safe environment instead of incarceration, in an adult prison, which has actually been shown to increase the risk of recidivism, especially among young offenders. A recent exposé on Rock Center with Brian Williams delved into this issue. One consequence of this (out of the many) is the issue that a child in an adult correctional facility is not safe with adult inmates and is more likely to be put in solitary confinement. This is something that is emotionally and psychologically traumatic, and resulted in the child featured on Rock Center committing suicide. Is that what you all want? A bunch of children being put through something so psychologically damaging that they feel their only way out is to take their own lives. Outrageous.
We could also talk about the Dorothea Dix campus. That was a royal cluster, wasn’t it? It must have really confused the business community (the ones who you say you have their backs). How are we supposed to attract new businesses to our state if you can just tear up leases because you don’t agree with the people who came before you who put them into place? That has got to be all sorts of comforting to business leaders.
I could bring up the proposed Medicaid overhaul, charter schools no longer required to have licensed teachers, or the ridiculous IDs with the “fuchsia” (apparently that is distinctly different from pink, according to the McCrory administration) bars on them for “illegal immigrants” (your words, not mine). Or, not legislatively, the initial decision to hang the Confederate flag in the Capitol. That was a real classy move.
The damage you’re inflicting right now will take years upon years to recover from. I can’t even begin to imagine how hard it’ll be to overturn the nonsense you’re proposing when we actually have some people in Raleigh who are putting the citizens of the state first.
North Carolina is quickly becoming a national laughing stock, on par with some of the more, shall we say “backwards” states in our union. Friends in D.C. often greet me with, “What the Hell is going on down in your home state?” I’m getting awfully tired of trying to defend the state as a whole with trying to write those in the legislature in Raleigh off as ideologues. It is getting harder and harder to do so.
In this “race to the bottom” my only hope is your utter disregard for what is good and right in the state helps bring people together to voice their outrage over what you’re doing. So when the time comes we’re mobilized to take our state back and out of the hands of the likes of all of you.
I know I’ll be ready.
Sincerely,
Jamison Doran
