Oscar Wilde gives blood

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1357208

Oh.....damn.

Cyrano  (1000+ posts)        Fri Jun-24-11 04:37 PM
Original message

The last pint of blood

A few months ago, one of my neighbors, a lady in her mid-80s, moved into a senior care center. She’s a wonderful lady who is fully with it mentally, but can’t physically care for herself any longer. (And she’s on Medicaid which our prick of a Florida Governor, Rick Scott, is trying to take away from her.)

I stopped by yesterday to say hi, and she asked me to read her phone bill which she could not understand. (Her eyesight is failing.) There was an extra charge on the bill for $3.25.

I called AT&T and found out that the charge was because she had asked an operator for help in reaching a number she was calling. I asked if they could wave it due to her circumstances. The answer was, “**** off,” although the actual words used were, “We don’t do that.” (In olden times, thieves used a mask and a gun. Now they just send you a bill.)

The care center she is in takes her entire social security check, but lets her keep $35 a month. It’s not enough for her to get her hair washed, dried and set each week. (Friends chip in so that she can have a phone.)

For anyone who doesn’t yet get it, there is no longer a social safety net when you get old. Dignity in old age is a thing of the past. Our government has sold us out. And while the Republicans would call this lady “a welfare queen,” the Democrats don’t seem to give a rat’s ass if she lives or dies.

Those who rule us really do want that last pint of blood. It’s about all that far too many have left, but what the hell. It’s probably worth something in the “free market.”

patrice  (1000+ posts)        Fri Jun-24-11 04:55 PM
Response to Original message
 
1. My family could tell you horror stories that add up to:

Elder care is such a pressure-cooker; there is such a high HIGH level of need all of the way across the economic spectrum; answers are so very very specific to the tiniest little personal details; staffing shortages in nursing and amongst CN/MAs are so intense; and people are so needy and hence accepting of answers, ANY answers, even wrong ones or CYA answers, that valid care which authentically and appropriately supports quality of life requires such absolute and utter diligence that most families are NOT able to provide, no matter whether their loved one is in somekind of care facility, in transition, or at home. And, believe it or not, money does not necessarily buy you what you need and you may not recognize that fact until it's too late and you're faced with some very very hard end-of-life decisions that involve systemic dependence upon the use of morphine.

Cyrano  (1000+ posts)        Fri Jun-24-11 05:18 PM
Response to Reply #6
 
7. For so many, suicide is preferable to old age and/or helplessness.

That really tells us the horrifying truth about what America has become.

Oh geezuz, Oscar.  Slit the wrists right now, end it all quickly.

MouseFitzgerald (15 posts)      Fri Jun-24-11 06:35 PM
Response to Original message
 
12. I know senior citizens who are eating cat food to survive. No joke.

Cyrano  (1000+ posts)        Fri Jun-24-11 06:44 PM
Response to Reply #12
 
13. No, it's not a joke. I see it in the supermarket.

I have run into a couple of people in the supermarket who live in the same complex in which I do. And I see cat and dog food in their carts, but they don't own pets.

Welcome to a very ugly, uncaring, despicable America.

And welcome to DU, MouseFitzgerald.

Looks like Oscar fell for something there.

BeHereNow  (1000+ posts)      Fri Jun-24-11 06:58 PM
Response to Reply #13

14. I agree with "Ugly & Despicable."

I listen to Washington Journal every morning.

Some of the callers know the tune and can call it what it is, but a surprising number of callers are hateful, ignorant ****tards who blame their economic woes on people who use food stamps.

You know, elderly citizens who can't afford to eat.

Or young people, who are increasingly living in squatter communes because they can't get a job at Starbucks or McDonalds.

We are a disgrace as a nation when senior citizens and children and young adults are hungry, unemployable (with or without college/high school degrees) and let's not even get into healthcare.

Meanwhile, the never ending wars continue- no funding problems there.

That people like the Palin clan, and other millionaire pop icons, are even given airtime is disgusting and an insult to the people who are suffering in this country.

Saith the primitive with a luxurious swimming pool in her backyard.

[vadawg]

mmmm  why catfood or dogfood, they are more expensive than cans of beans etc, now im not one who will turn down an alpo curry but i need a lot of shine beforehand and wait until im finished before you tell me.

[Celtic Rose]

mmmm  why catfood or dogfood, they are more expensive than cans of beans etc, now im not one who will turn down an alpo curry but i need a lot of shine beforehand and wait until im finished before you tell me.
[/quote

That's what I don't get about "the elderly are eating pet food" stories.  I can almost always find some soup or type of beans on sale 2 for $1.  Dried beans are even cheaper.  Oatmeal is cheap as well.  The dollar store always has all sorts of food for sale. 

[franksolich]

That's what I don't get about "the elderly are eating pet food" stories.  I can almost always find some soup or type of beans on sale 2 for $1.  Dried beans are even cheaper.  Oatmeal is cheap as well.  The dollar store always has all sorts of food for sale.

I think the MikeFitzgerald primitive was pulling Oscar Wilde's leg, and Oscar swallowed.

[Chris_]

Beans and rice... if I had all day to plan my meals, I could probably eat twice a day for less than the price of a cup of coffee.

[vadawg]

Beans and rice... if I had all day to plan my meals, I could probably eat twice a day for less than the price of a cup of coffee.

Ramen noodles, what a dollar for ten packs (unless you are in jail then its a dollar a pack) throw in some canned tuna and you can eat for a week.  not brilliant but better than friskies breath..

[Chris_]

I worked at a place that did an awesome black bean.  Bacon, peppers, spices.  That and some white rice would probably cost about a dollar and you could eat yourself silly.

Don't write off white rice and soy sauce.  Dark soy sauce is good stuff.

[Duke Nukum]

Cryonandon is such an idiot. He doesn't even understand what the free market is. If there is no longer any safety net it is because the Marxists don't want one. And weren't the DUmmies just complaining on another thread that "old people" born from the 1930's-1959 where the racists/sexists/homophobes and they needed to all die off so all the children could come out of the closet and be gay? Or something?

[JohnnyReb]

The safety net used to be your family until liberals decided the government could do it better...and liberals were more than glad to be relieved of the responsibility of taking care of mom and pop...WTF did the old folks ever do for the DUmmies anyway.

[BEG]

The safety net used to be your family until liberals decided the government could do it better...and liberals were more than glad to be relieved of the responsibility of taking care of mom and pop...WTF did the old folks ever do for the DUmmies anyway.

Exactly H5

[Splashdown]

I'm surprised bobo hasn't pulled up in the Buick. She's homeless, you know.

[JohnnyReb]

I'm surprised bobo hasn't pulled up in the Buick. She's homeless, you know.

What?...homeless you say...I'm shocked...I didn't know that...

[Freeper]

You would think the DUmmy could spot her the $3.25 what a cheap bastard.