I’m angry. As many of us know, what’s often behind anger is hurt. So, I’ll admit that my anger is stemming from feeling hurt. Why? Because the political is personal.
I live with a chronic disability. For over 10 years now, I have struggled to get the care I need. First, because of the for-profit medical industry, it took years to get proper testing for the very thing I walked into the first doctor’s appointment asking to be tested for. Then, it was getting for-profit insurance companies to cover my treatment. To this day, I still battle with them suddenly cutting off my meds and demanding me to defend my need of them. So, my treatment is frequently disrupted. For the first time in 10 years, I had more than 6 months of uninterrupted treatment, and then, without warning, the pharmacy said the claim had been denied and my medicine would not be shipped. When will this end?
Of the two most competitive candidates for the Democratic nomination, which one is more dedicated to the push for universal health care and the reining in of corporate greed? Hint: not Clinton. She was actually talking about how it couldn’t happen until the Sanders campaign was having so much success that she had to change her tune. Do I trust that she’ll actually fight against pharmaceutical companies to get the profit-motive out of our medical care? (My medicine costs an unimaginable $7k to $17k per week depending on “the market.” Clearly, it doesn’t need to cost more than $7k for the company to make a profit, but if “the market” will pay them, they’ll charge that much.) Do I believe that she’ll fight the insurance industry to get access to medical care out of their for-profit hands and ensure that everyone is covered via a public plan? No, I don’t. She talks about expanding medicare, but only because the Sanders movement forced that onto her agenda.
There is a candidate who is passionate about these things. He has a long history of integrity when it comes to having a social justice agenda. He has not pursued vast personal wealth along the way. I absolutely trust that were he in office, he would have no qualms about using that bully pulpit and the backing of the 99% to face off against the monied interests. The majority of those in the Democratic party are apparently opting for the other candidate.
I am hurt that there was a clearly better leftist option, someone pushing a more humanitarian agenda, one that directly impacts people you know - me, for one - and Democrats opted for a neoliberal bourgeois faux feminist war hawk who supported the gutting of welfare, the end of bank regulations, unjust trade agreements and so many other things that are not progressive/democratic/leftist. In doing so, I personally receive the message that you don't care about those of us who are directly suffering under her cruel form of capitalism.
As my health declines of late, I could not afford to go see my neurologist. Clinton isn't going to fight for the medical system overhaul that would have given me any hope that my situation might get better. So, thanks for showing your true colors.
Secondly, I'm mad as hell that immediately upon feeling that Clinton has secured the nomination, Clinton supporters, who knew that Sanders was always a safer bet against Trump, start turning on Sanders supporters with name-calling and the coercive claim that if they don't get behind Clinton, it's their fault if we end up with Trump.
No. It's the fault of those who chose Clinton. You created this dilemma. You fix it. Start by being apologetic for what you've done (because if you're feeling so panicked, you know you screwed up.) Be kind to those you screwed over. Don't start by answering the painful cries of those you left behind with "but Trump!" Don't start by telling me I'm an idiot if I don't vote for Hillary. Don't start by claiming I'm ruining this country with my purity. (Funny how integrity is derided as purity.) And don't start by claiming I live in Fantasyland, while you're the realist. Realists knew Sanders is the stronger candidate with a far better chance of drawing independent votes.
You don't deserve to know whether or who I will vote for. You said "fuck you" to my life when you opted for the brutal status quo vs the slightly less brutal status quo. (Bernie is part of the system. Has been for decades. He knows how to get shit done because he's been doing it as The Amendment King. He's not all that radical. Just a bit less mean and with a lot more integrity.) So, either engage my concerns or keep your mouth shut. My vote is my business. Not that it matters. You made sure I don't matter. So don't think you can bully me into supporting your candidate. If you voted for or supported Clinton in the primary, you lost standing in my life and nothing you say has any persuasive power. For every "but Trump!" or "we have to support her", I'm going to get louder about how awful she is. One form of particularly damaging abuse is when someone hurts someone else and then says, “I’ll give you some time to heal and then we have to work together.” I’ve seen this patronizing sentiment from Clinton supporters. Just stop.
So, you decide. How will you talk to those you screwed over? Will you blame them for the dilemma you created? Will you use your winning power to bully them? Or will you actually help push for their concerns to be addressed? And what will you do when she veers right in the general election? Because she will. She's already indicated that she feels she's got the left votes "because Trump!" and that she'll need to attract Republicans who can't stomach him. Besides, her agenda has always been Conservative, so a right turn will be quite suitable to her. How will you talk to those who wanted a candidate we knew would stay left?
If you voted for Clinton this is all on you. Don't you dare get snippy with me and then justify it because you're so afraid of Trump. I may be disabled but I'm nobody's scapegoat.
By the way, today, I learned that the costs of EpiPens is skyrocketing. I have serious allergies and must have EpiPens on hand.
“Pharmaceutical companies have really changed the way they price medications. It used to be related to the impact of the medication. And now it has really changed essentially to how much they can get for a medication.”
Can we stop calling it a health care system? They don’t care about people’s health. It’s an ill-health exploitation system. Is Hillary going to stand up to the greed of the pharmaceutical industry? Hasn’t she taken quite a bit of money from them? Thanks for this, too.
** Please note that due to how horribly I’ve seen people treat each other over the primary choices here, I will likely not participate in the comments. My Anti-Capitalist meetup comrades will be be here. **