And interesting story which could be true or not. For it is believable. Myself, I believe it to be true because it fits with my preconceived ideas, but in today’s world, even I could be punked; its veracity is based only on my personal feelings, my trust in the people who shared it with me, and it has no bearing to anyone else but me. But I offer it just in case any of you have sworn off a certain brash candidate but are also having reservations about supporting everyone else. I decided to fill in with this because I think it shows a huge difference between one particular candidate and all three of the others, both major parties and minor.
(And in this age of campaign rhetoric and baloney on fb from everyone you know who suddenly has come out of the closet to post memes….. reading this story from start to finish is a nice break from the madness surrounding us every four years.) Check for something to dry your eyes…
Here is the main stream media’s version if you would like to peruse it there…
“I thought for a time that Bernie Sanders might be our best option for President. I liked his radical ideas, and I believed, and still believe, that things need to be changed. But then I was reminded that some people speak well and inspire, and others actually show up and get things done. It may not be as inspirational; it may not lead to a slogan or button, but the showing up–consistently and firmly–changes lives.In February of 2007, when I was working part-time in the bookstore of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I was diagnosed with bladder cancer. I did not have insurance, and I did not have savings. The urologist who diagnosed me sent me to Planned Parenthood, where a female physician mapped out the treatment options for me. I was treated for a time by Planned Parenthood physicians, not the cartoon abortionists or criminals they are often said to be. The doctor at Planned Parenthood put me in touch with an oncologist who, when told of my lack of insurance or funds, treated me as a family member, telling me to remind the billing department and other personnel that I was her family member. Being labeled as such entitled me to discounts on my treatment.It takes a woman. Or women.I attempted to pay, as well as I could, the fees for the treatment, but the hospital chose to report me to a collection agency, which began legal action. My physician was startled, and suggested that I contact both the billing department and my senator.The billing department told me I earned too much money to qualify for Medicaid, but I could apply for financial aid offered by the hospital. However, I was told, the collection process would continue.I contacted the office of my senator, Hillary Clinton, and within two weeks I was speaking to someone in her office, who, at one point, handed the phone to the senator herself. “You did not enter a credit agreement with that hospital,” she told me, “so I cannot fathom why they are pursuing you as if you did. In addition, that hospital is aided by the state of New York and the federal government, so they are way out of line. You need to fight this cancer and get well: You don’t have time for this nonsense. Let me look into it.”Within a week, the collection calls ceased, and within a month, Hillary Clinton put me in touch with two organizations offering financial aid to people undergoing cancer treatment. These organizations eliminated half of my debt, and within eighteen months, I had paid the remaining amount, without any collection activity or annoying calls.I just re-read the letter that Hillary Clinton sent to the hospital (It was Roosevelt, if you must know), and in her indignation, she refers to me as her friend. Not a constituent, but a friend. She prevailed upon the proud history of the hospital and the medical profession to do the right thing, and adjudged the collection activity to have been an “unfortunate mistake or oversight.”On two occasions I received letters from her, and once a phone call. The doctor from Planned Parenthood and the oncologist recommended by that organization continued to treat me at discounted rates. My friends–again female–at the Museum kept my cancer a secret, and probably saved my job.I am now receiving treatment through insurance made available through the Affordable Care Act, and while I am cancer-free, there are still follow-up procedures that are necessary.And yet–Hillary Clinton and Planned Parenthood are villainous, despicable, ready for defunding or defeat. I don’t understand that, and I don’t understand how we have difficulty in choosing our next President or where our donations should go. But that’s me.That’s my time with HIllary Clinton.”
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Wasn’t that awesome? I know that every Delaware legislator has a story just like that one. I know many appointed public servants have likewise. We all know it is part of the job. We vote legislators in… we vote them out based on things other than their care or concern for other people.. Things like policy. Things like political parties. Things like religious endorsements… Silly huh?
But as I read this… I got the distinct impression that the humanity. the empathy, the motherhood here was completely missing in the GOP, was invisible at the GOP convention. And post DNC convention, all we hear from Republicans is double down toughness, hate, and an overwhelming amount of flubbering. In fact, the Republicans have no empathy for anything that is weak. Appropriately they opened the convention with a WWF personality! Got to be tough, resilient, got to smash, bash, hurt, demoralize, and destroy our “opposition”….
But their “opposition” is people. People like you. People who when born, changed their mom and dad’s lives forever. People who as children, gave their grandparents hope that better days would one day come. People who became college educated, who sought out and were given good jobs, who help make America work on a daily basis doing what ever their alloted task is to do.
These are not our enemies. Our enemies are people arrayed against us who are tough, resilient, who intend to smash, hurt, demoralize, and destroy us; our enemies have exactly the same traits as the Republican convention showed they want us to think they have…. I don’t want to be ruled by terrorists; people who act no different from ISIS.
I want to be ruled by a good king. A kind king. A wise king. A king who will call up a hospital that has overstepped its authority, and can put them in line.. I want someone who will care…. Not an asshole who says: you’re weak; toughen up…
So, who are we? Flaming assholes? Or real human beings… We support the guy who throws a baby out of his rally? Or someone who stops harassing collectors from incessantly calling?
To me, as an American. There IS only one choice. I’ll leave you in suspense until November as to who that is…
🙂
3 comments
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August 3, 2016 at 10:43 pm
Kurt J
Not particularly believable, sounds very similar in tone to those annoying chain letter e-mails you receive from friends you wish didn’t have your email, the Clinton story that is. Regarding Mr. Bernie Sanders and what many feel was a hatchet job by the Koch Brothers, Fox News and other forms of Republican Evil. June of 2015, over year ago I began reading about Bernie Sanders the run of the mill Politician whose public stance and voting record were often at odds Bernie Sanders who vilified Corporate American and Excessive wealth but hobnobbed with Billionaires and amassed comfortable wealth along the way. Bernie Sanders who was leading the Progressive wing of the Democratic Party, leading them right over a cliff. Bernie Sanders who was taking the money from the Progressives opposed to Hillary and redirecting it to Hillary and this was a year ago. Now if you were looking to Glenn Beck or Rush Limbaugh for this information, no it’s wasn’t the Evil Right it was Counterpunch – can’t get much further left than Counterpunch. It would now seem that Bernie Sanders was, is, and will be devoid of ethics for the rest of his political career. I’m glad to have read those solidly written articles and to have remained skeptical about Mr. Sanders and his sincerity, but I’m even happier that there was a lesson involved for those who so adamantly supported Sanders – next time spend your money and energy locally where you can see results. Maybe the oppressed workers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art should concentrate of wages and benefits and until they get concessions I’ll avoid that Institution.
August 4, 2016 at 11:50 am
kavips
Kurt, you didn’t leave a link so I had to find my own.
After searching Counterpunch‘s data base back to April (as far as it went on this site), I’m afraid that I could not find your beef. At best I saw a Slate‘s analysis of how his funds were spent which chided Bernie for his media consultants making money off his campaign, which I thought was rather silly. If you are going to fight a revolution, are you not going to use guns simply because they were manufactured by your enemy?
No. You use what weapons you have.
August 4, 2016 at 2:51 pm
delacrat
“I want to be ruled by a good king. A kind king. A wise king. A king …” – kavips
Such a monarchist mentality is not conducive for democracy.