America: The Great Disconnect Between Government and the People

We are a country that has become disconnected from a government who cares little for its own citizens. The last 4 Administrations have been primarily involved in enriching themselves with petro-dollars at everyone elses expense. They have no idea how many of us face massive injustices as a part of our daily lives. Because of this we no longer can say America first. We can no longer say we are a kinder, gentler nation, nor a caring one. I’m frustrated and infuriated by it all. Let me explain.

There was a time when immigrants who came to our shores, weren’t seeking handouts or anything but a chance to live free and make a living. My grandmother Josephine, fled Franco’s Spain and came to San Francisco. Like so many others, she had no help, nor expected anything but what she found. By the dint of hard work and sacrifice she became established on her own here. My uncle Carlos pushed gardening tools around town in a cart, gardening when he could find work, and managed to raise 3 fine sons, all full Professors of Higher Mathematics today. I admire the Asian and Hispanic communities for espousing that same strong work ethic that speaks to embracing what we are here-or were.

Contrast this with the new type of immigrant, who comes here, sponsored by relatives or friends who get them signed up for aid, housing, grants or SSI. Or they bring bags of cash or even gems, purchase blocks of brand new homes, and settle right in. It got so bad here in California, lenders decided not to honor this type of sale, because born Americans couldn’t compete for housing. The safety nets designed to protect citizens now encompass immediate assistance and housing grants for certain classes of immigrants.

My best friend, a mother of two teen boys, is divorced and disabled. she gets SSA and $100.00 a month in food stamps to feed two boys. In order for her to keep receiving this assistance, she must answer questions that are down right insulting. Such as, on the SSA form “”Are you now, or have you ever plotted against our government?” Never mind that a hundred bucks for two boys who play team sports is ridiculous and demeaning. Can she get housing? She is number 3000 on the housing list.

My husband, who has worked the last 6 years as a highly paid engineer, has cancer. Our union paid medical runs out Feb 28th at midnight. Oh, did I hear you say what about COBRA (continuation of benefits act)? That will cost us $1000.00 per month, something our union paid while he was employed. In order to ensure he got Social Security Disability filed, I had to hire an attorney online to fill out his paperwork and file it. This was the only way to avoid the 12 month waiting period, and dance of denial/appeal most go through.

Meanwhile, I know a man from Pakistan, who routinely fills out newly arrived family and friends forms for them, to get them everything from welfare to housing or SSA/SSI. We have here in Sacramento many immigrants from eastern bloc countries who come here, get brand new homes, cars and businesses. And trust me, it is causing enormous resentments among many in our city. Between the homeless, the working poor and disabled Americans-many of them veterans, born here, it is just too much to bear at times.

We must start focussing on issues here and make enough noise that government listens to its citizens. It is a disgrace that anyone dies here from hunger. It is a disgrace that we, born Americans cannot afford housing or get help, without tremendous difficulty. It is an injustice watching newcomers, who are not even citizens come here and get benefits AMERICA’S own cannot get. It is heart breaking watching a friend struggle on $1300. a month and $100 a month in Food Stamps, and then see someone from another country getting up to $500 for the same thing.

This Administration, as with past Administrations, has done ordinary folks an enormous disservice. We are good enough to fight for and die for our great country, but not evidently good enough to lend a hand up to. I am not suggesting we ignore other countries or miminize the War On Terror in any way here. For those things speak directly to our lives . It is obvious that through 4 Administrations, that they got their slice of the pie alright. It is past time for our Congress to become accountable again to the people they are supposed to be serving-you and I folks.

Speak with your votes, and get people in office who are compassionate, realistic, fiscally responsible and above all else, ethical. The bloated dinosaurs who have grown wealthy and corrupt by prolonged Congressional terms, need ousting, and healthier more considered people placed in office. It is ironic that so many people used to fear our intelligence community, and now fear their own elected officials instead. I no longer trust my elected officials to care for us, the way I used to. I no longer believe they act out of civil concern for us.

The land of the free is just that for many newcomers to our shores- a free ride to instant wealth. America wasn’t founded on that concept. It was founded on this instead “And liberty and justice for all” Oprah Winfrey’s photo op shock over conditions in New Orleans made me ill. What planet does she inhabit, disconnected and insulated by her wealth? She is a poster child for what is wrong with us here in the United States. A gross and utter indifference to the plight of ordinary Americans.