It did my heart good to see all the silvered heads and grey beards in Montpelier today, lending their voices to the “Healthcare is a Human Right” rally. From where I stood, it looked like they comprised half the crowd. This makes a statement about who we are, uniquely, as a state. It’s true that we’re trending older right now, as Governor Douglas is fond of lamenting in his litany of Vermont’s supposed short-comings; but so are the majority of states in this country. The difference is that Vermont seniors overwhelmingly seem to care about the welfare of the generations rising up to follow us. The hatred, ignorance and paranoia that fuels the Tea Party Movement in other states has not found particularly fertile ground here. Demographically, it would seem that we should rival Florida for the worst of “old white guys’ syndrome;” but we don’t. In fact, we’re all the way at the other end of the spectrum.
Those grey-haired healthcare advocates gathered on the Statehouse lawn were not there for themselves. Most either already qualify for Medicare benefits or soon will. They were there because they recognize the injustice of a healthcare system that puts a price on human suffering; and they were there as an affirmation of the enormous power of self-determination that we enjoy here in Vermont. We may be small but we’re not narrow; we may be rural, but our ideas embrace the future; we may be wintry but from our soil springs compassion, hope and justice for all.
Nicely put, Class of “68.
Somewhat off topic but there were three that I saw Gubantorial candidates out talking to the people on the State House Lawn – Markowitz, Dunne, & Shummey. Sen. Bartlett was there at the Statehouse, I followed her down on Rte 12 and her car was parked there, but she was inside working on what she’s always working on; a Budget Democrats can back in these hard times. Don’t always agree with her but she works very hard and knows her stuff.
I know several families with children who are without insurance. The children are covered by Dr. Dinosaur, but the parents are without any insurance due to job loss.
The next biggest group I know without insurance are 20 to 35-year old entrepreneurs in the Burlington area. They bring vital business and economic security to our city and state and yet cannot afford the cost of insurance for themselves or their employees. Their work encompasses software design and implementation, film making and video production, restaurants and catering, and organic farming. Just off the top of my head, I am able to count 15 hard-working, productive, tax-paying individual VT residents and business owners. At various times, each of these people has or is postponing basic medical treatment because they cannot afford the care and do not have insurance. Daily, tt is living life by walking a tightrope. Each one has aspects of their jobs that put them at risk for health issues or for injury, be it as simple as biking daily to work.