by Angel Gober—Pennsylvania
This story speaks for itself, and unfortunately, is probably all too true for lots of people across the country. I spoke with an elderly couple who suffer from a variety of health problems that require (insanely expensive, increasingly costly) medication. Because prescription drugs are so expensive, they have to choose, each month, who can get the medicine. They can’t afford to buy the medication they both need to treat their conditions, so every month they must decide whose problem is more severe. They told me of how they are forced to argue each month about “who gets the meds this month?” This couple should not have to go through this in this country. They are senior citizens! They have already paid their dues to this country. When will this country repay their hard work and sacrifice?
Tags: Health Care, prescriptions, seniors
by Libby Klancher—Ohio
Yesterday evening I had the opportunity to knock on the door of a single disabled grandmother with five grandchildren. All five of her grandchildren are directly affected by Bush’s veto of
SCHIP. She joined as a member, and I asked her if she would be willing to make a dues donation. Although her pocket book contained nothing but five dollar bills, she was so enamored with our cause that she gave it all.
Not only did she also write a letter to Voinovich, but she gave me the most sincere thank you I have ever received!
Tags: children, Health Care, membership, SCHIP, seniors
by Jessica Yates—Pennsylvania
I spoke with an elderly woman. After she signed up as a member, I asked her if she wanted to make a $5 dues donation. She said she was tight this month, but insisted she give me her birthday money, and said, “If it helps, it’s worth it.” I felt very humbled, to say the least. It’s folks like that who make me want to make it worth it.
Tags: membership, seniors
by Rabecca Gainey—Kentucky
Earlier this week George W. Bush was in New Albany, Indiana, to make some sort of B.S. speech criticizing Congress. Later that same day I was out canvassing in New Albany. I met a few people who were upset that Bush had come, and one man in particular was very mad. He was an older gentleman in his early eighties, and after I knocked on his door and told him why I was there, he signed up right away.
“I hope this makes a difference,” he said, “because that fool in the White House is making things terrible for everyone. He’s got a lot of nerve coming down here and acting high and mighty. I’ve got no use for him, if I had my way I would’ve been down there with a torch and pitchfork just like they did to Frankenstein in that old movie. That man’s a monster, I can’t wait until 2008 when America finally wakes up and gets him out of there.”
Tags: membership, seniors, taking action
by Jennifer Schlicht—Michigan
On Halloween night, before the kids started out, I met a sweet older woman at a door. She helped out with a bit, and we started talking about progressive causes. She was a MoveOn.org member, went to DC to protest against the Iraq war, was involved in local groups—overall, was way more involved than many people my own age. And she became an activist for our causes, too.
The next night, I met another retiree in the same city who was also involved in progressive causes. Her son let me in the house, and she read every goal one by one and agreed enthusiastically with each. She was a retired social worker, and had worked with homeless shelters, food banks, and had even founded a few programs in the area.
She was ready to take action, too.
Tags: membership, seniors, taking action
by Andy Hartwig—Pennsylvania
If anyone has canvassed New Jersey before, you know you might be headed for an adventure. As soon as the van was parked, the sky opened up and let loose a torrential downpour. I knew this was going to be quite a night to reconnect with Working America members about the upcoming state assembly races in New Jersey. The first several doors seemed completely fruitless. No lights on. No cars in the driveway. Just me and a soaked walk packet. I thought all was lost as I looked down at my next name—a retired union member approaching her 99th birthday. I knocked on the door expecting a younger person to let me know that they had moved in a few years ago after she had passed away. To my surprise, that very woman answered the door. She grabbed me and brought me in out of the rain. She insisted on putting my sweatshirt in the dryer and made me a cup of tea. We chatted for a few minutes about her days working for the state in Trenton, her time in AFSCME, and her role in negotiating a new contract after a state-wide strike. I probably spent a little too much time at her door, but my time with her made the downpour seem like a sunny day. My only hope is she lives another 98 years.
Tags: membership, seniors, unions
by Jessica Yates—Pennsylvania
I spoke with an elderly couple and they told me that he couldn’t retire from his mechanic job because they can’t afford health insurance otherwise, and she has so many prescriptions that she has to pay 100% for them.
Tags: Health Care, seniors
by Wes Gadsden—Pennsylvania
If anyone’s in search of some motivation to continue fighting for health care, consider the case of a woman I spoke to a few weeks ago. This woman told me what she and her husband were facing and I couldn’t believe it. The couple recently found out that due to the husband’s failing health, he would need to undergo dialysis once a week. When their insurance company found out—they cut them BOTH off, refusing to pay for the treatment and leaving them with no options—at the tender age of 90. We need to get out there and change the world one door at a time and put our foot down on the kind of corruption that leaves our seniors in situations like this. Let’s make something happen!
Tags: Health Care, seniors, taking action
by Brian McAnally — Maine
A woman I canvassed about health care in the Bangor area told me that she, at 80 years old and on a fixed income, pays over $600.00/month for health insurance. When this woman became ill and was in need of emergency medical attention she was told at the hospital that her insurance would only cover 10 minutes of emergency care. A physician was not available, so a physician’s assistant spoke with the woman for 10 minutes, then discharge papers were placed in her hand and she was wheeled into the parking lot. Having gone to the hospital by herself she had to wait for a passerby to call her a taxi to take her home.
Tags: Health Care, seniors
