State of the Union

Both in our state of Illinois, and in the nation as a whole, the condition of our society is much lower than most of us think. How do I know this? By working with people in need and hoping for a better day. For them.

When we encounter a problem, we turn to someone for help, at least information or a direction to follow. We think we will find a solution during our trek through the maze of social services. But no.

What I’ve learned over the past few months, and starkly from yesterday’s post, social services are few and far between. The government of the state has defunded most of their safety net. You will not know this until you need it, or want to help someone else who needs it. It doesn’t exist.

Endless internet and phone listings of departments that once were, but at least their skeleton remains, with more endless recorded answering services telling you where the office is located, but no phone numbers to call for help. You call a higher office and the overworked clerk says “we don’t do that anymore; try XYZ department; here’s their number.”

Of course the phone is answered by a machine and gives a litany of non-help. Defunded. Not in business.

Over and over again these results are encountered. The old and infirm become disoriented by the maze. They are unable to continue the search. They turn to family and friends for assistance. Some comes their way. Much doesn’t. even family are turned off by the maze and leave parents and aunts/uncles to fend for themselves.

We think these services exist. They don’t.

Private charities and nonprofits do exist. They are not in network to help sort the phone calls, though. All they can do is say, “try so and so for help; we don’t do that.” No funding from state or federal agencies to provide the network; just a cut off of funds.

This is America in 2018. Safety net shrinking; some important parts already gone, zero left.

When you hear a politician say ‘eliminate the waste’ they mean, eliminate cost and return tax dollars to the taxpayer. To you and I that may be $50 to $200 dollars. To the rich that means $50,000 to $100,000. It is the rich making the proposals and paying politicians to support their wishes in votes in legislature and congress. They get what they want. You and I get little or nothing.

This is America in 2018. Don’t believe me? Try helping another family gain access to needed services. You will find very little; maybe nothing.

Sad.

Please vote the makers of this folly out of office before it is too late for you.

And we argue about bathroom rights of transgender people as though that is the true threat we face? Bosh! And more Bosh.

October 26, 2018