Tuesday, October 7th, 2008 my wife and I traveled do Columbus, Ohio, which is only about an one hour jog down U.S.23. It was a beautiful day to take a drive. We are having unusually warm weather for this time of year. The leaves on the trees haven't even started to turn yet.
We went to Columbus for doctors appointments. First, we went to Westerville, a northern very nice suburb and home to Otterbein University to visit a neuro surgeon since my wife has been having back trouble for quite some time. They are going to be doing steroid injections into her spine and that has her rather nervous.
We sat there in the waiting room and I contemplate how lucky my wife and I were to have such great health insurance. The company she works for, Gordon Food Service, out of Grand Rapids, Michigan takes very good care of our family. They have provided us with health insurance coverage that is extremely affordable, has optical, dental, prescription drug, pyschiatric, medical and other types of coverage with a very low deductable.
My thoughts wandered to those folks who had no insurance at all. I remember having made the odd trip or two to the emergency room at Marion General Hospital in the city in which we have lived since 1990. I remember seeing many people there who had no coverage. How did I know that? Unfortunately, the windows where you sign in are not very private. It's possible, in spite of the HIPPA Privacy Rule, we could still here what was going on at the desks.
Just like many people in small sized cities in Ohio, we here in Marion (population 38,000) have lost so much industry. When we first arrived here in '90, we got her in time to hear the anouncement that Quaker Oats was closing up a pet food plant and moving it south of the border. Quaker employed about 700 people and had been here for years. Many people lost parts of their pensions. Many people were left just a few years shy of retirement. Many people had little luck finding a job. Many people left town all together.
Tecumseh left, Parker Hannifan left, Associate Hygenic Products LLC a company owned by a Honk Kong outfit now, moved out of town. At least they stayed in the USA, but none the less, we lost them. Eaton Coporation used to have a huge truck axle plant here that has been bought and sold over and over and now owned by Sypris Technologies, an American company thank God, has cut down to just a handful of men compared to the large work force that they had before.
And the greatest loss to Marion, Ohio was Marion Power Shovel. The built the huge steam shovels that dug the Panama Canal. The built the crawler that still transports space vehicles to the launch pad in Cape Kennedy. They built the largest "shovel" in the world. If I remember right, this thing could pick up a football field in one bite. They were bought out by a foriegn company and when the union contract came up for the very few, 200 men left in the plant, the company tried to cut their pay by 80% and make them responsible for half the cost of their health insurance. The union went out on strike regardless of the threats from the owners to just totally close up the plant. The strike was settled quickly and immediately after the men returned to work, the plant closing was anounced and in six weeks they were out of work.
We do have a huge Whirlpool clothes dryer assembly plant here that has mandatory over time, low wages to start, and on insurance until 6 months after employment. People beg to get on there. We do have a Verizon Landline Inc, customer call center that used to employ 800 people and is now down to roughly 500. We have gained some spinoff businesses owned by the Japanese that ship parts down to central Ohio's biggest employer, Honda of America, down in Marysville, Ohio. The Japanese force people to work 12 hour days 6 or 7 days a week and people who work at these plants are happy to do so because the wages are so low that they need all of those hours to make ends meet. They used to be able to keep the family in food, shelter and clothing on a 40 hour work week.
One of the other largest employers in Marion, Ohio, is the State of Ohio Department of Corrections. We have two state prisons here each housing roughly 2500 to 3000 men. We also have a State Juvenile Male Detention Center (prison) and a Multi-County Correctional Institute that is a combined effort of Hardin and Marion Counties (and they often rent space to Franklin County and bring prisoners up from Columbus).
One key factor, which does relate back to my story, is that most of these businesses have either very poor insurance coverage or very expensive insurance coverage. Benefits are not one of any of these industries (with the acception of the State of Ohio) strong points. Health insurance is a problem even with the few industries that we have here.
Marion County has one of the highest povery rates in Ohio. We have one of the lowest high school graduation records and a very low number of white collar workers and college graduates. The average family income is a good $10k below the state. We are a poor and deteriorating community.
John McCain snuck in and out of town during his campaign. He was traveling from Columbus and made a hush hush stop here to spend the night with her entourage at a local hotel. He didn't speak to anyone, and didn't even take the time to shake the Mayor's hand (which wasn't suprising since the newly elected mayor is a Democrat as is most of the city counsel). I thought it rude of him to not even make a public appearance. We should put up a sign, "John McCain slept, showered, shaved and shit here and then ran off."
So many people here have no health insurance at all. I have a friend who teaches in the city schools. She talks about the school begging for donations of hygiene items to teach a lot of the kids to use and take home with them. They talk about sick children being sent to school regardless because mom and dad are working 12 hours a day and can't find or afford child care. They talk about children who are not taken to doctors when ill, do not have regular physicals, have rotting teeth, and cannot get the medication that they might need when sick.
Although I am not a fan of Walmart at all because of their trade practices, we stopped getting prescriptions filled there because of the 2 to 3 hour waits to get them filled. God bless Walmart for one thing they have done and that is $4 dollar presciptions. On the first of each month, I have heard, the wait can be in excess of 4 hours. Isn't that sad?
And Senator McCain is going to give these families $5000 and tax the $5000 which effectively will take possible 10% of it away. No family can buy health insurance for $4500 a year. That might last 7 or 8 months but thats about it. And many families will be denied health insurance because of their health currently. Teeth won't be fixed--pre-existing. Twisted limbs won't be treated-pre-existing. So many urgent health needs will go un-met.
That is part of the reason, and only a very small part of the reason that I have already voted for Barack Obama. I want someone to keep industry here. I want someone to bring industry here. I want someone to give these poor folks healthcare. I want someone to regulate the slave labor and long hours that these foriegn companies are subjection people to. The Republicans have busted the unions and now we are back to slave labor. Child labor might be the target of the Republicans if McSame gets into office.
Now, I cannot even associate myself with the Republican Party any longer after seeing Palin's Lynch Mob rallies and McSames, "that one" and "you probably don't know what they are" to a man of a diverse background in the debate. He is obviously a biggot as is Sarah Palin.
Finally, I have just one question...will Malia Ann and Natasha have seperate rooms in the White House or will they be rooming together? :-)
Barack! What a beautiful First Family they will be! Michelle is a doll! Dog gone it, too bad I'm an old married man of 29 years (and very very happy, too).
Greetings to all!
A short note to introduce ourselves.
Tonight Linda & I have created a profile, joining others in support of Barack Obama's candidacy for President.
Speaking for myself an important aspect of Barack’s campaign is his ability to inspire people to participate in the democratic process.
I consider this rather significant as the current state of voter apathy is a detriment to our national democratic legacy and I believe Barack’s inspirational message and leadership will motivate many others, along with us, to take an increasingly active role in our nations future.
Best Regards,
Mic Kulkofsky
There is a lot of pressure right now. Christmas is in 7 days!!! Kids have all these holiday projects before winter break starts on friday, everything is so busy. I do regret the fact that I am literally not going to be much use this next 6 days. I have so much going on and as much as I want to support Barack in the last days I just have no control over everything else. So much I want to do but time has it's restrictions for me this week. I will do whatever I can as soon as Christmas day is passed! Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Caucusing soon after :) I am hoping all goes amazing and Barack will be our next president!!!!!!!!!!!
