Independence Day thoughts
Rob and I passed a “tea party” demonstration on our way to the city’s July 4th celebration yesterday, and I watched for a moment and wondered why so many people would vote against their best interests.
But then I realized I do agree with them on some things, as liberal as I am.
The working class has gotten the short end of the stick in so many ways the last 30 years. As business has been deregulated, the power of the worker has diminished and the tax burden has increased. The wealthy and powerful got more while the rest of us got less.
The same has happened to health care.
My friend Joanne, a nurse-practitioner, believes we can do health care for everyone without adding to the national deficit, which is more than we can say for the Wall Street rescue.
It won’t come easy — I didn’t like the sound of some of her suggestions, and the tea party people won’t like some other of her ideas.
But a workable compromise — and the key word here is workable — usually leaves both sides a little unhappy.
As the fireworks went off it occurred to me that this is a country that prides itself on being able to accomplish anything.
If we are indeed the greatest country on Earth, we can do this.
We’re America, after all.
Patient Pals & Family Friends
Life o' Mike has a peer support program for people with one or more serious or chronic medical issues or disabilities.
We aim to reduce isolation and fear among people who have conditions, including psychiatric illness, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, mild dementia or other cognitive disorder or disability, thereby reducing depression and complications as people learn to improve self-management of their medical conditions.
Patient Pals help alleviate feelings of isolation and frustration. They can help people develop a list of questions to ask the doctor and then accompany the person to the doctor to make sure all the questions are answered, taking notes to be sure the person understands the doctor’s answers.
Our trained volunteers also accompany their “Pals” to art exhibits, movies and walks outdoors, meet for coffee, call to check in and more.
Our Pals have experienced weight loss, improvement in diabetes, HIV, psoriasis, depression and more, just because they have someone who cares about them. Some relationships develop into longer-term friendships; other Pals move on to more independent lives.
Family Friends are there to help caregivers and other family members grow into their new role.
We need volunteers, who are asked to donate a minimum of one hour a week. Training is free and includes information on active listening, ways to help and when to know more help is needed.
And of course, we need funding.
To learn more, call Leslie Boyd at 828-243-6712 or e-mail lifeomike@gmail.com.
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