I was watching the rioting in Cairo on the evening news last night and it reminded me of some information that my son passed on several months ago regarding the treatment of poor and disabled people in the United States versus elsewhere.
My son is an airline pilot and occasionally flies with a co-worker who was born in Egypt and now is a naturalized US citizen. On long flights they often talk about world conditions and how people in the United States define “poverty.”
A Census Bureau report in September said the percentage of Americans living below the poverty line in 2010, 15.1 percent, was the highest since 1993. The poverty line in 2010 for a family of four was defined as having an income of $22,314
Ron Winter
But that is “income” and doesn’t take into account the other forms of assistance that are available to America’s poor, such as food stamps, fuel assistance, rent assistance, and free public schooling that often includes free or discount meals for poor children.
Even the homeless have choices of shelters where they can stay out of the weather if they so desire, and soup kitchens that serve nutritious meals.
Compare that to Cairo, where my son’s friend says people defined as poor can be found on the streets, begging for food or money, clothed in filthy rags, with no prospects of shelter, jobs, or meals. And, they are virtually ignored by those who are better off and simply step around street beggars as if they are just another nuisance.
An income of $22, 314 would seem like an impossible windfall to people living in such squalor.
I received an email from acquaintance on this very subject just the other day, and his message correctly noted that many who are considered to be living in “poverty” in America still have homes, big screen television, cars, high end sports apparel, especially for the children, cell phones, cable, and air conditioning.
Our elderly citizens, including those living on fixed incomes, often stay in the homes they purchased decades ago, unless they are no longer physically able to care for themselves. In that case, they then have numerous options ranging from retirement villages to elder care facilities.
For those whose pensions or social security income is no longer sufficient there still is Medicaid’s Title XIX, which pays all expenses in nursing homes, at a rate of about $12,000 per month and upwards if specialized care and programs are needed.
Senior Centers dot the American landscape offering our elder citizens opportunities to socialize through daily activities that range from card games and billiards to exercise classes, wellness clinics, book clubs, shopping trips and outings to sporting events or fall scenery tours.
When the senior center in my community was closed for several weeks last month due to flooding one elderly man told the local newspaper that he goes there nearly every day for programs, meals and companionship.
I live in a small community, less than 10,000 people, but our seniors have an extensive list of programs available to them, and we are not unique. Americans have made a point of ensuring that our elderly, our disabled and our less fortunate still have avenues open to them.
Tomorrow being Thanksgiving, we can rest assured that the elderly and shut in will not go without a meal if they want it. If they don’t eat at their own homes or with family, there will be numerous churches, synagogues and other houses of worship in most communities where the kitchens will be open to serve full-course Thanksgiving meals to the needy.
Shut-ins will receive visits that will include dinner and the simple fact is, no one has to be alone or go hungry in America on Thanksgiving Day unless they want to or simply won’t make a call for help. In America, if help is needed, and help is wanted, help is available.
There is no question that our country has its share of difficulties. Some 25 million people are out of work or underemployed, even if the “official” number of 13 million people get benefits for nearly two years.
Tens of thousands of American servicemen and women, as well as civilian contractors, are serving away from home, often in hostile environments. Several American cities are the targets of “occupy” protestors, who may not be doing well at articulating exactly what it is they hope to accomplish, but nonetheless are making a point about our rights to assembly and free speech.
(The news says that the next big “occupy” deal, apart from hanging around the sometimes occupied tent cities, is a plan to thwart shoppers from taking advantage of Black Friday deals the day after Thanksgiving. Frankly, having seen the mob scenes of fanatic shoppers racing to get the best deals for their Christmas presents, I wouldn’t even consider standing in front of them when the doors to their favorite stores open. But that’s just me.)
There is a point here and it is simple. We live in a country that is by no means perfect, but where perfection is seen as an attainable goal. We have the same problems as other countries inhabited by human beings, but have the brainpower and willpower to solve those problems.
Our population is aging, but the primary focus on the elderly is how to make their waning years safe, enjoyable, meaningful and even productive. We will be holding an election next year in which the people will decide whether the government of the least three years is worth of keeping for another term or replacing with new people and new ideas.
Every effort will be made, I hope, to ensure that all who are eligible to vote, will be able to vote. That includes the elderly who should at least be offered a ride to the polls, or at worst be certain that absentee ballots are delivered to them.
Whichever decision is made, it will be done in a voting booth, not in a street riot. For that we can all be thankful. Happy Thanksgiving.
