Some more of the astute members might notice 12 posts on the political board in the discussion titled, "NY Times: After frentic day, Wall Street banks falter." A logical question is why this threat on a 12 Step or recovery board. My hope - prayer - is to try to impress the imperativeness of the choice we have in November and how this particular issue - collapse after collapse of financial giants - might effect every one of us personally. Through all the complicated economic explanation, it boils down to this: the bailouts of some of the firms that have fallen come from federal funds, i.e., taxes you and I pray. Right now, though, there aren't any funds; we're rescuing by adding to the country's federal deficit (now more than half a trillion dollars). What this federal shortfall means is that there are monies left to appropriate to government services we've come to depend on; public health insurance programs like Medicare and Medicaid; road and highway repairs; funding of public works projects; funding of medical programs, such as drug and alcohol treatment, to help under- and uninsured sufferers get treatment. Further, if public funding of insurance programs is cut even deeper, insurance companies (which, arguably, are allowed to dictate medical treatment) could eliminate altogether such medical services as drug and alcohol rehab, medications to treat conditions that companies could say are "self-induced," such as alcohol-linked depression and other drug psychoses. If public opposition to cuts is ferocious enough, the alternative will be even more taxes to us individual. I don't know what value I've had here in my two years or so with the group; now, more than ever, though, I hope I can help someone to understand that this country and we as individuals in it are in deep, deep trouble. When you decide enough is enough, PLEASE let your vote be decided on something other than a candidate supposed making reference to putting lipstick on a pig! |
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