JEFFERSON CITY -- It was a day that anyone, who loves the exercise of a free democracy at work, would be proud to have experienced. Well, that is, unless the lover of democracy promotes cutting the services of people with disabilities. Then it was an embarrassing day served with a warm lunch of crow on the plate and egg in the face. But most anyone else with common sense would have been proud to have witnessed the day.
Hundreds of persons with disabilities traveled to Jefferson City yesterday to fight for their civil rights to be treated as contributing members of society. Not an easy trek, considering that last year, the Missouri legislature voted to cut the health insurance of thousands of persons with disabilities. When you lose services, it becomes very difficult to live day-to-day, let alone finding a way to travel to Jefferson City and spend the day walking the Capitol talking to legislators. But because of many non-profit agencies, many people were able to make the trip. Medicaid, you should know, is not welfare and is not a monthly check delivered right to one’s mailbox. Medicaid is a fancy term for health insurance.
My friend, Tim, had to quit his part time job last August. He worked for my non-profit agency for over six years. He has a spinal cord injury, very similar to Christopher Reeve, with the exception that Tim can breath on his own. He wasn’t getting rich mind you. He was working 20 hours per week for less than McDonald’s wage. Basically, Tim paid for his own apartment with the money made from his job, allowing him to live with dignity and pay taxes like everyone else. But after their cuts to the Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD), he had to quit, apply for housing assistance. Now he pays no taxes through his pay check, but relies utterly on the State of Missouri. This year, our Governor says we have a surplus of money. That money was leveraged on the backs of persons with disabilities.
Last year there were multiple rallies and protests at the Capitol, but the ears of the conservatives were tightly shut (as the Democrats unanimously opposed the cuts). The Republican mantra: No one who really needs the services will be cut. That fear is a liberal media scare tactic. Well, both sentiments have now been proven wrong. It should also be strongly noted, that many, many conservatives in the communities have also opposed the cuts to MAWD and other Medicaid programs, which I suspect was really the key to getting the cuts reversed, but I digress.
People with disabilities went back to the Capitol yesterday to voice their concerns. The legislators have come to their senses, and are quickly passing a bill to reinstate some of the MAWD program. The Republicans now say that they cut too deep. The new program will not be as expansive, but it is a great start. Too bad the cuts were made to begin with.
The reinstatement of the MAWD program is not the real victory. The exercise of democracy, the fight of the good fight, and the determination of an oppressed people to fight for their civil rights is the victor here. Yesterday, apathy and disenfranchisement ended. This is something very hard to achieve in all communities, including the disability community. Believe it or not, according to the Census Bureau, disability is the largest minority population in the United States. African Americans come in next, followed by Hispanics and Latinos. Yet people with disabilities are the first to be cut, when budgets are concerned.
It was honor to participate in yesterday’s rally. It is good to know that there are people who work hard to make the world a better place. You see, I wasn’t the one working and fighting. My agency simply coordinated the participation, the transportation, so those who really count could make their voice heard. Politics is not really enjoyable for me, but the exercise of freedom is an honor to behold, and I am privileged to have been able to participate.
Hundreds of persons with disabilities traveled to Jefferson City yesterday to fight for their civil rights to be treated as contributing members of society. Not an easy trek, considering that last year, the Missouri legislature voted to cut the health insurance of thousands of persons with disabilities. When you lose services, it becomes very difficult to live day-to-day, let alone finding a way to travel to Jefferson City and spend the day walking the Capitol talking to legislators. But because of many non-profit agencies, many people were able to make the trip. Medicaid, you should know, is not welfare and is not a monthly check delivered right to one’s mailbox. Medicaid is a fancy term for health insurance.
My friend, Tim, had to quit his part time job last August. He worked for my non-profit agency for over six years. He has a spinal cord injury, very similar to Christopher Reeve, with the exception that Tim can breath on his own. He wasn’t getting rich mind you. He was working 20 hours per week for less than McDonald’s wage. Basically, Tim paid for his own apartment with the money made from his job, allowing him to live with dignity and pay taxes like everyone else. But after their cuts to the Medical Assistance for Workers with Disabilities (MAWD), he had to quit, apply for housing assistance. Now he pays no taxes through his pay check, but relies utterly on the State of Missouri. This year, our Governor says we have a surplus of money. That money was leveraged on the backs of persons with disabilities.
Last year there were multiple rallies and protests at the Capitol, but the ears of the conservatives were tightly shut (as the Democrats unanimously opposed the cuts). The Republican mantra: No one who really needs the services will be cut. That fear is a liberal media scare tactic. Well, both sentiments have now been proven wrong. It should also be strongly noted, that many, many conservatives in the communities have also opposed the cuts to MAWD and other Medicaid programs, which I suspect was really the key to getting the cuts reversed, but I digress.
People with disabilities went back to the Capitol yesterday to voice their concerns. The legislators have come to their senses, and are quickly passing a bill to reinstate some of the MAWD program. The Republicans now say that they cut too deep. The new program will not be as expansive, but it is a great start. Too bad the cuts were made to begin with.
The reinstatement of the MAWD program is not the real victory. The exercise of democracy, the fight of the good fight, and the determination of an oppressed people to fight for their civil rights is the victor here. Yesterday, apathy and disenfranchisement ended. This is something very hard to achieve in all communities, including the disability community. Believe it or not, according to the Census Bureau, disability is the largest minority population in the United States. African Americans come in next, followed by Hispanics and Latinos. Yet people with disabilities are the first to be cut, when budgets are concerned.
It was honor to participate in yesterday’s rally. It is good to know that there are people who work hard to make the world a better place. You see, I wasn’t the one working and fighting. My agency simply coordinated the participation, the transportation, so those who really count could make their voice heard. Politics is not really enjoyable for me, but the exercise of freedom is an honor to behold, and I am privileged to have been able to participate.
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1 comment:
Could it be that the Republicans are scared witless that this is an election year and the cuts went over BADLY for them?
"We better change course quickly or we're going to lose our advantage," is what I'm guessing lots of planning meeting went like.
I love watching politicians squirm when an election is on the line.
Thanks for the update Chris. I don't think I saw anything on the new about this rally. Imagine that!
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