Saturday, May 27, 2017

Living the American Dream

three eggs, one box of mac-n-cheese, one
pack of chicken, one half-gallon
of milk, full box of cereal, one loaf of bread
one half jar of creamy peanut butter,
four slices of generic, individually wrapped
American cheese.

Pay day is in two days
but rent must be paid
and the electric
Kerosene is $3.39 a gallon

Government assistance is in two weeks
of $189 for a family of three
for the whole month.

She makes the kid a grilled cheese
and she eats one spoonful of peanut butter

She goes out to the kitchen
opens the fridge
closes the fridge

opens the fridge
hoping cake appeared
behind half empty ketchup

No cake.

The peanut butter isn’t all that filling
She drinks water
until it sloshes
around in her stomach
and checks the fridge one last time.

Friday, May 5, 2017

What is it About Healthcare

The internet is an uproar about the AHCA that barely passed the US House yesterday. It bothers me too. Because you know what I see? I see 435 people who can't work together and only want to pass party agenda. How did it get this point.  The senate isn't any better.  Chances are this bill won't pass the senate because there is not enough votes. I know Casey will not vote for it and Toomey will because he is a sheep. Actually they are both sheep.

My congressman, Glenn Thompson, said that he voted for it because he wanted healthcare that works for all Americans. That is funny because this new plan DOESN'T. Neither did Obamacare. It was flawed. I understand the price of what some people have to pay for their premiums and their deductibles and it is not right.

I don't care how much the big insurance companies cry about their loss of profit, even though they are still pulling in billions of dollars in profits. And if you think that your premium will go down if this is passed, you are sorely mistaken. Because looking at it from their view point, you are already paying for it then you will continue to do so. It will also make up for all those who drop their plan because of expense.

If this bill is passed, it will directly affect my parents who are in their late 50's and early 60's. It will directly affect me. So I think about it. If I lost my insurance, then I would have to pay more should I get it again.

Not that I hold a lot of stock on what DT says because I think he doesn't know what he is saying half the time, he did say healthcare for everyone. I really wanted to believe that. I really did. But just like most things out of DC it is a  pile of steaming shit.

I also love how so many people are rejoicing because they believe their premiums will go down (they won't,  because the CEO needs his fourth Lamborghini). And how the lazy, poor people will just back to the ER, which by the way costs more to the taxpayer.

Please tell me,  why are some of you so afraid of universal healthcare? Afraid of communism? Afraid of socialism? Afraid of losing your freedoms? Well with the new religious liberty act, only one group apparently has religious freedom and those are the Christians and the rest of just pay taxes for the supposed greater good.

For some reason we have a ton of money to make nukes, you know because that is so important. But we can't do universal healthcare. Our priorities are fucked up. But what do I know? I am  just one of millions of people that is ignored by our representative.

Dear Glenn Thompson, News Flash!!!! People want healthcare. They also want it affordable. They want to go to the doctor's without worrying about medical bills. I don't know why you got into office because it seems like you do nothing for anyone in our district. I am one of those people that used to go the ER for something simple like bronchitis because I didn't have insurance. You think I am the only one? Why not visit some of your rural areas and ask them what they did before the ACA. How many of us used the ER as our only place to get medical care. How many women had a gynecology exam, perhaps their first one in years because of the ACA? How many people are living better lives. Since you don't make an appearance in the district, then you have no idea. Just like your cohorts in congress, none of you have an idea of what the people want.  I know it doesn't matter, because some how in 2018, you will still get elected but it won't be because of my vote.


Monday, May 1, 2017

Girls Who Work in Smoke Stores

sandwiched between the displays
of lottery and the cigarette pack
lined back wall, she scurries
between smokes and the register

lonely, jobless men jibber- jabber- gossip
saying shit
no one has time to hear or wants to hear

and she has to let them hang out
there drinking their coffee playing
their lottery saying whatever they want
to say because the customer is always
right and she needs this job because
the owners keep dangling
some kind of promotion
that she will never get

she looks at me with dark, tired eyes
she wishes they would all go away
and give her five minutes to breathe
It seems like I could be her salvation
wave  a magic wand and buy a winning lottery
ticket then  pass a few grand
to the girl who sold it to me
and I would too
because she knows there is nothing else for her
except for maybe that promotion

someday

I’m not any better than you
just a different set of circumstances
in the end, honey, we burn down to the butt
and turn to ash.

***
Hey all, a day late but oh well. Here is poem 30, which completes the NaPoWriMo challenge. I struggled. I had stuff come up. I had school work. I was blank, my brain was mush but some how I created some good poems. Sure, I created some shitty ones too. But I suppose one of the best things about writing in general is that you get a re-do (or fifty) in most cases.  I am still thinking about collecting some of the best poems on this blog and making a book, what do you think?

Till next time...