Attention

Politics don't really interest me... frankly I find them rather frustrating. Brent is the guy that finds politics and government interesting. However since having the girls I had to start to care.

Right now because the right holds most of the power in this country it comes off that I hate the right which isn't true. I am a swing voter. I voted Kashic in the primary so I must not be the crazy liberal I have been called multiple times since Trump winning.

My news feed tonight has me frustrated.

First is bill H.R. 620. It significantly weakens the Americans with Disabilities act, making it easier for buildings to be less accessible. I challenge anyone to spend a few days with us in public and I can point out to you all the ways our country already isn't accessible enough. The extra 20min wait at a restaurant for an accessible table,  the pillar at the end of a ramp, the door opener at the children's museum that has not worked in months if not years. Bills send a message, choices send a message. Places can choose to do the bare minimum (if you are a church in this country you don't have to follow ADA at all, nothing like saying we don't care about people with disables and their salvation if it inconveniences us...) or if this new law passes they can choose to build buildings and not have to follow ADA at all and not have to fix it until someone makes a formal complaint. Why should we have to write a formal complaint for every new building built that my kids can't get into. Yes it sends a message when places choose to or not to be truly accessible, and yes I know I have the right with my money to choose what places I support however there are many have to places in this country, places that are less easy to just avoid... what if suddenly the places I would have to submit these complaints to is no longer accessible?

And then there is a proposal for life time caps on medicare. This isn't defined yet and still has so many ways it could go but it is a very slippery slope. I know everyone is so worried about the people who abuse the system, I get it, I hate when money is wasted, but the people who get hurt in these rules are the people who truly need the services, the people who scam and cheat are always going to scam and cheat. I am not saying we have to make it easy for them, but trust me, if you have filled out Katie Beckett paperwork in Wisconsin you will see how many hoops you have to go through and how many checks are in place. Brent has a good job that he works hard at with insurance most people would consider good, but the reason we still have a house to live in is because of Katie Beckett (medicaid). I don't know what the future holds for the girls but the reality is they might likely use medicaid for a long time and if that is the case then so be it, that is why it is taken out of my husband's pay check every month, but the 4 year max limit some people are proposing could hurt kids like mine. I am all for spending less of our GDP on healthcare, but this is not how that happens. I saw people's comments on the articles that if it went through then it would be up to the states to decide and if your state puts a cap on then you could just move, but they don't understand the logistics. Our doctors are in this state. My husband's job is in this state. We own a house so just picking up and moving isn't an option. Housing for people with disabilities is hard to find, they can't just hop from state to state. I see so many people celebrating the extra few bucks they are getting from the tax bill but all I can think about it the things that were cut and the people it will hurt. I see people saying that with extra money then they can best chose how to help people, and I'm sure small percentage will do that, but I have met people and we are selfish and often have great intentions but the shiny things get us. I worry about the search for everything for "me" in this country and who gets hurt in that process.

Before the girls I would get annoyed with some laws (on both sides) but I see a whole different wold now. A world we desperately need people outside of the disability community to join us in standing up for all people. Government isn't a person, but in our country our government is supposed to be for the people, by the people and the people have the choice to love and care for their neighbor. They have the choice with their votes and with their voice to stand up and say when something isn't ok. I am often a tank when it comes to the girls medical stuff but I will be completely honest, the political and social issues around disabilities is much harder on my heart and my brain then days on end in the hospital. We need other people to stand up too, because tired parents can't be the only ones trying to stand for loving people, the businesses will try to push us down every time in the sake of money, thats what both of the bill above are about...

So I urge you to contact the people who represent you. I have a raging allergic reaction across my face and its 10:30 at night, but tonight before I can sleep I will write another letter explaining why these things are important. We have the gift in this country that we are able to respectfully participate in our government, a right we all too often waste. For the love of the people in our country will you join me?