I'm thankful for healthcare

I'm thankful that with health insurance reform, I won't lose my insurance if I get sick, I won't be denied coverage for a pre-existing condition, women will no longer have to pay higher premiums for equal coverage, and that I can keep my insurance even if I change or lose my job... I'm hopeful that this reform will go through, because the current health insurance situation isn't cutting it for me!

On Wednesday, we spent some time at the Hennepin County Medical Center (a few blocks from my property) to protest the cuts of General Assistance Medical Care by being part of a never ending emergency room line around the hospital. Poor people don't stop getting sick when you cut off their preventative care, they are just forced to show up at the emergency room where they cannot be turned away by law...thus a really long emergency room line and higher costs than a normal doctor.

Here's the thing...I know we are on a tight budget....but cutting preventative care is only going to create more chaos for Minnesota. Forcing people to go off their psych medication is going to lead to more homelessness, which often leads to more police action and unnecessary jail time. It is going to increase visits to the emergency room dramatically. It is going to make people decide whether to buy food or their medication, which often leads to an increase in petty crime. The bottom line is...our tax dollars are going to pay for people on GAMC whether we cut it or not...so why not treat people with respect and dignity? No one should die because of lack of health care...and I think if these budget cuts go through...it will happen...and it will affect many of our residents a great deal.

Sorry for the rant...but it had to be said.

I'm linking the testimonies St. Stephen's Human Rights (the people who organized the protest) have gathered over the last couple of months....it's pretty powerful stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJbQvK5MlvY

In the Spirit of Thanksgiving

sooo I looked at the blog today and realized that my last couple of posts have been super depressing...and that ain't right. For the most part, things in Minneapolis are awesome (except this rainy Saturday morning weather)...so in the spirit of November, the month of Thanksgiving...here is a list of things I am thankful for:

1. coffee and doughnuts (esp when they are free!) on a lazy Saturday morning
2. being able to wear my uggs on the weekend
3. smart wool socks...they keep my toes warm when the heat gets shut off :)
4. having the heat fixed in our house!!! being warm never felt so good
5. snuggies...don't knock em until you live in the equivalent of Siberia like I do :)
6. Hennepin County Library Catalog...and their ability to get all the books my heart desires...and deliver them to the library a block away from me
7. having an amazing support network of family, friends, roommates and co-workers who keep me sane and always know how to cheer me up on a bad day
8. living in a city where I am constantly able to network with other people in the social service sector
9. my car. oh my goodness how would I get around this city without it!?!?
10. change...and the things I am learning from it

Love,
Maggie

Blogging Faster than Miranda

I don't have a lot of time to put thought into this post, because I am blog-racing Miranda Morgan. I hope I win.

Here are some pictures from retreat. I don't have any pictures of all of us in our Halloween contests together, but here are some winners.

I see that I lost the blog race against Miranda. Oh well.

Quotes from today

"Wouldn't it be kind of fun if we all got sick together?" -Maggie

"I'd kind of like to get H1N1 right now" -Andi

These were taken slightly out of context, but, to be honest, I really wouldn't mind if I got H1N1 right now either... I mean, it wouldn't be convenient, and I'm sure it sucks once you have it, but we could all watch Freaks and Geeks all day if we were sick.

Wow, that was a long sentence. I can't really think of much to say, but I will include this:

Yes, this is the Imani House as the Rejected Spice Girls: Retired Spice, Blue Collar Spice, Minnesota Nice Spice, Sweaty Spice, and Angsty Spice!

I'm definitely thinking about wearing my sweater again. I almost want to have an ugly sweater party just to honor it's awesomeness.

being worthy

“You do the right thing even if it makes you feel bad. The purpose of life is not to be happy but to be worthy of happiness.” -Tracy Kidder

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about this quote and what it means in the context of this year. Over the last week or so I've been feeling really disheartened about my place in the world. I'm feeling a little bit burned out. I'm having a lot of negative things kind of shoved down my throat...and they aren't feeling good. I think it would be fair to say...I'm feeling pretty bad.

I'm feeling bad about the thousands of people sleeping in the streets tonight.
I'm feeling bad that many of my single residents will soon be evicted because emergency assistance has been cut off indefinitely, many who may not have the ability to fully care for themselves.
I'm feeling bad that in March health care for the people of Minnesota will be so compromised by cuts that people (maybe some of my residents) are going to die.

I'm feeling bad because I simply have the ability to feel bad and then continue on with my life.

I have the ability to sit in my nice warm house, in my nice warm bed, with a cup of hot cocoa and walk away from work at the end of the day. I think I am probably on the verge of swine flu...but if I get sick, I know I can go to the doctor. If I became really really sick, my family would help take care of me, and help pay my medical bills. This is the reality of my life. but do I really deserve it? What makes me so worthy of these privileges? What makes me so different than the kids I saw in a homeless shelter yesterday? How did I get so lucky, while so many did not? I just can't seem to figure it out.

I'm trying to do the right thing even if it feels bad. I'm trying to sift through these thoughts even if they make me uncomfortable. I'm pushing through work even though I am feeling pretty burned out. I'm trying to be an advocate for those who don't have a voice in this battle against poverty and oppression....and I'm just hoping that it makes me worthy of the things that I have been given and the joy I receive everyday from those I surround myself with.