Thank you for your work and for sharing this informative explanation. As a teacher and a single mother of two children, who has worked hard all my life to learn and give back to my community, who has taught for 30 years, and who has children who are about to enter their college years, I wonder how we will continue. They may not be able to go to college in the United States and without an education, how can they contribute meaningfully to the needs their generation will face?
We need to remember that this won't make rich people happier or healthier--an obsession for wealth will never be satisfied with a little more wealth.
So on one side, we're making people miserable by pulling healthcare, housing, food and an opportunity for a better life. On the other side, we have wealthy people who will never be happy because they lack the mental health and humanity that could make them happy.
Hopefully, this Big, Bad B.S. Bill will not pass in the Senate. Congressional Republicans in the House have once again proved they are Trump ass kissers.
As I read Rev. William Barber's and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove's latest Substack concerning new laws that will affect certain benefits that my friend Gene receives, I want to just tell a bit more of Gene's story.
Gene came to Wilmington, NC in the fall of 2018 because family members in western NC convinced him to sign over the property rights of his home that his parents willed to him - they promised him money for that home that they never gave him. After living with them for several months, the situation became intolerable for Gene because of their abuse and broken promises. He got in his van and drove to Wilmington where he planned to end his life on the beach.
Instead of going to the beach, he stopped at NHRMC (at the time it was our county-owned hospital) and stayed in the parking lot for several days praying to get up the courage to go into the ER. He finally walked in and the hospital kept him for 4 months because they had no where to send him - he had NO family - NO FAMILY. Not one single person on whom he could count on.
That's when he became our first guest at Hope Recuperative Care (at the time, it was brand new respite home that our church, The Anchor UMC, had opened to house homeless hospital patients for a time of rest so that they could get back on their feet after a medical crisis). I was the new director of the program and at HRC, we housed Gene for several months, cared for him and helped him obtain permanent housing - which he has lived in since June 2019.
Also being his SS Disability case manager, I had his SSI case for FIVE years and ended up taking him in front of a judge and arguing his case. We finally won benefits that Gene should have had his entire life, but only started receiving at the age of 55. Thank God for the state of NC's TCLI program, which has provided housing for Gene for all these years and who bridged his expenses until he had SSI income of his own.
Gene lives on $967 a month in SSI income, about $400 a month in SA In-home money (he qualified for this additional benefit because it was determined he needs a higher level of in-home care to help him) AND (by the way - that money was delayed this month by almost three weeks!). Additionally, his food stamps have just been reduced to $23 a month. He pays 1/3 of his SSI income in rent, has a cell phone plan and home internet (both the cheapest plans out there), uses Uber to go to and from the store and he likes to eat food (don't we all?) and shop at Walmart for things he likes.
This man is living on about $347.50 a week.
I wonder if there might be a day when Gene will have to come and live with me or a time when I'll have to assume some of his financial responsibilities? I just don't know, but know that there are real people out there, living real lives who need help, support and can't be successful without supportive services, financial assistance, health insurance (I had Gene to two doctor appointments just yesterday and we need to go for blood work, PT, an MRI and then do a follow up appointment in a month!) and the disability income that they have absolutely qualified for, need and deserve. My heart is torn thinking about Gene's future and all the others.
This amoral Administration cares about only two things -- maintaining power and control and inflating the bank accounts of the top 1 -5 %. Perhaps some Senators with a conscience will sink this Titanic giveaway to the rich and infamous.
Despite the fact that the majority of us don’t want this, and will be directly harmed by it (I know I will be, for all I know I may end up with no place to live or at the very least, no heat next winter), it’s likely to pass. Trump is firmly in control, and I don’t hold out much trust that the Senate will do what the people actually want. My biggest concern, however, is whether we’ll even have the mid-term elections we keep hearing about as the “solution” to get ourselves out of this fascist regime. They are so far in the future, and the destruction is happening so fast it’s mindboggling. And when bills are passed in the middle of the night . . .
I’d like each billionaire America to answer how they feel about taking healthcare away from others, devastating their lives, in order for you to receive a tax cut.
Moral ambition is a better term than moral fusion which nobody understands at first glance. Just say it and benefit from the fact that someone else is also pulling together coalitions who care in the secular world, Rutger Bregman.https://www.moralambition.org/about-us
"...the rich will get richer and the poor poorer..." " (Jesus Matthew 25:29) but Allah IS Most Merciful and Most Compassionate. Accept Islam Now! That is REALLY the only way forward. Amen?
This oligarch photo and Congressional legislative atrocity reminds me of the Evening decision by Pharoah to discard What the people needed and as a result, what was most dear to them (their) companies, there “first borns” to be forfeited to eternity. Tariffs, threats to Walmart is emulating the analogy of making bricks without straw.
It is said, there is nothing new under the Sun. Perhaps this patternization may play out as in the deep past once more🤔
The highest decile is not just billionaires. It includes doctors, dentists, lawyers, business executives, and so on.
Worse, Robert Reich posted here pointing out that the bill will prevent courts from holding the executive branch in contempt in a little-noticed section. Meaning there will be no restraint whatsoever on what Trump wants to do. The Supreme Court already ruled a President cannot be impeded or charged when he is doing his job.
Thank you for your work and for sharing this informative explanation. As a teacher and a single mother of two children, who has worked hard all my life to learn and give back to my community, who has taught for 30 years, and who has children who are about to enter their college years, I wonder how we will continue. They may not be able to go to college in the United States and without an education, how can they contribute meaningfully to the needs their generation will face?
We’ve got to link arms & stand together for all of our children.
Link arms and stand together and do what?
Short term: call you Senators & join us June 2 for Moral Monday. https://secure.everyaction.com/ApnxbEa9U0yff72sWvsAjw2
Midterm is all about the midterms: we need a change in House leadership in 2026.
Longterm: we have to build the kind of coalition that can reconstruct American democracy. It’s the work of a generation, but it’s worth it.
Ok, but short term the DNC has to get rebuilt
Thank you for your prophetic moral witness.
We need to remember that this won't make rich people happier or healthier--an obsession for wealth will never be satisfied with a little more wealth.
So on one side, we're making people miserable by pulling healthcare, housing, food and an opportunity for a better life. On the other side, we have wealthy people who will never be happy because they lack the mental health and humanity that could make them happy.
It is truly immoral, horrifying, and devastating for the majority of Americans. I have no words. Thank you for continuing to speak truth.
Hopefully, this Big, Bad B.S. Bill will not pass in the Senate. Congressional Republicans in the House have once again proved they are Trump ass kissers.
Thank you for making this post accessible to people who literally have to pinch pennies. It allows us to be informed and active.
As I read Rev. William Barber's and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove's latest Substack concerning new laws that will affect certain benefits that my friend Gene receives, I want to just tell a bit more of Gene's story.
Gene came to Wilmington, NC in the fall of 2018 because family members in western NC convinced him to sign over the property rights of his home that his parents willed to him - they promised him money for that home that they never gave him. After living with them for several months, the situation became intolerable for Gene because of their abuse and broken promises. He got in his van and drove to Wilmington where he planned to end his life on the beach.
Instead of going to the beach, he stopped at NHRMC (at the time it was our county-owned hospital) and stayed in the parking lot for several days praying to get up the courage to go into the ER. He finally walked in and the hospital kept him for 4 months because they had no where to send him - he had NO family - NO FAMILY. Not one single person on whom he could count on.
That's when he became our first guest at Hope Recuperative Care (at the time, it was brand new respite home that our church, The Anchor UMC, had opened to house homeless hospital patients for a time of rest so that they could get back on their feet after a medical crisis). I was the new director of the program and at HRC, we housed Gene for several months, cared for him and helped him obtain permanent housing - which he has lived in since June 2019.
Also being his SS Disability case manager, I had his SSI case for FIVE years and ended up taking him in front of a judge and arguing his case. We finally won benefits that Gene should have had his entire life, but only started receiving at the age of 55. Thank God for the state of NC's TCLI program, which has provided housing for Gene for all these years and who bridged his expenses until he had SSI income of his own.
Gene lives on $967 a month in SSI income, about $400 a month in SA In-home money (he qualified for this additional benefit because it was determined he needs a higher level of in-home care to help him) AND (by the way - that money was delayed this month by almost three weeks!). Additionally, his food stamps have just been reduced to $23 a month. He pays 1/3 of his SSI income in rent, has a cell phone plan and home internet (both the cheapest plans out there), uses Uber to go to and from the store and he likes to eat food (don't we all?) and shop at Walmart for things he likes.
This man is living on about $347.50 a week.
I wonder if there might be a day when Gene will have to come and live with me or a time when I'll have to assume some of his financial responsibilities? I just don't know, but know that there are real people out there, living real lives who need help, support and can't be successful without supportive services, financial assistance, health insurance (I had Gene to two doctor appointments just yesterday and we need to go for blood work, PT, an MRI and then do a follow up appointment in a month!) and the disability income that they have absolutely qualified for, need and deserve. My heart is torn thinking about Gene's future and all the others.
And Gene's one of the lucky ones. Can you believe it? What America has become under Trump?
This amoral Administration cares about only two things -- maintaining power and control and inflating the bank accounts of the top 1 -5 %. Perhaps some Senators with a conscience will sink this Titanic giveaway to the rich and infamous.
Despite the fact that the majority of us don’t want this, and will be directly harmed by it (I know I will be, for all I know I may end up with no place to live or at the very least, no heat next winter), it’s likely to pass. Trump is firmly in control, and I don’t hold out much trust that the Senate will do what the people actually want. My biggest concern, however, is whether we’ll even have the mid-term elections we keep hearing about as the “solution” to get ourselves out of this fascist regime. They are so far in the future, and the destruction is happening so fast it’s mindboggling. And when bills are passed in the middle of the night . . .
I’d like each billionaire America to answer how they feel about taking healthcare away from others, devastating their lives, in order for you to receive a tax cut.
Moral ambition is a better term than moral fusion which nobody understands at first glance. Just say it and benefit from the fact that someone else is also pulling together coalitions who care in the secular world, Rutger Bregman.https://www.moralambition.org/about-us
Let judgement day for the lovers of mamon come swiftly and with extreme prejudice. Remember Ezequiel 25:17, their day is coming
"...the rich will get richer and the poor poorer..." " (Jesus Matthew 25:29) but Allah IS Most Merciful and Most Compassionate. Accept Islam Now! That is REALLY the only way forward. Amen?
This oligarch photo and Congressional legislative atrocity reminds me of the Evening decision by Pharoah to discard What the people needed and as a result, what was most dear to them (their) companies, there “first borns” to be forfeited to eternity. Tariffs, threats to Walmart is emulating the analogy of making bricks without straw.
It is said, there is nothing new under the Sun. Perhaps this patternization may play out as in the deep past once more🤔
Thank you for you work. I will subscribe. 🙏🏿
The highest decile is not just billionaires. It includes doctors, dentists, lawyers, business executives, and so on.
Worse, Robert Reich posted here pointing out that the bill will prevent courts from holding the executive branch in contempt in a little-noticed section. Meaning there will be no restraint whatsoever on what Trump wants to do. The Supreme Court already ruled a President cannot be impeded or charged when he is doing his job.