Watermark

Poverty

 

      

 

 

[Click the image to see credits & larger sizes at flickr.]

 

Was Romney talking about me?

Well, let’s see.

I worked my way through college (waitress, clerk, secretary.)   Some of those jobs were with government agencies. And I did use food stamps during at least one difficult semester.

And I took out a federally insured student loan during graduate school. Oh, also, during my undergraduate years I had a job that was paid for with funds from a law enforcement grant.

So yes, he’s talking about me.

Then, as a clinical social worker, medical social worker, program manager, and agency director, I had jobs in both the public and the private sectors. And, during one period of a few months when I did not work, I collected unemployment benefits.

So yes, he’s talking about me.

My whole life I’ve used public transportation, public education, public libraries, and an entire list of other publicly provided services that I don’t even notice. Public parks. Sidewalks and roads. FDA-approved medications. Relatively safe (thanks to government oversight) food and consumer products. Public (and private, though largely publicly-funded) hospitals and emergency services. The postal service. The internet.

So yes, he’s talking about me.

When I became ill and the doctors said I could not work, I delayed applying for Social Security Disability benefits until I had nearly exhausted my assets. I did not want to think of myself as disabled, and I did not want to accept “handouts”.

Yes, he’s talking about me.

Now my life depends on Social Security and Medicare, and (I’m quite sure at least partly publicly-funded) Meals on Wheels. Since my income is now entirely from Social Security, I no longer pay taxes.

Yes, he’s talking about me.

I believe in redistribution, as in a progressive tax system, as we have here in the USA. I will vote for Obama. I will not vote for Romney.

Who, yes, is talking about me.

Is he talking about you?

On waking from a nightmare, Sept. 11, 02012

 

      

 

 

[Click the image to see credits & larger sizes at flickr.]