See this? All these people (and more who don't fit into the picture frame) are waiting to get into Remote Area Medical program, held yesterday in Virginia in Wise, a town of about 3,000 near the Kentucky border. The Washington Post reports that 4,000-plus people had shown up by 4 AM for free medical and dental treatment. Some waited 30 hours for care.
Governor McAuliffe visited, too. Yes, we cats know he has a Medicaid expansion to push, but we hope Richmond Republicans — who, we're sure, must enjoy excellent healthcare — take a moment to read some of the stories of the people who depend on RAM.
If they do, perhaps they'll be heartened by this: Many members of the generally white, low-income crowd in Wise yesterday weren't big fans of President Obama — despite the fact that Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act is meant to help people like them. "Obama is closing all the coal mines, so now the mines can't afford to offer us insurance," said one.
Um, no.
What are we cats to think? We certainly want our fellow Virginians, whether they admire Barack Obama or not, to get affordable, dependable healthcare. It helps them, helps hospitals, helps the economy, and helps us all. It's a no-brainer. But we can't understand how people can stand in line for free medical care and tell a reporter things like, "We're hardworking, hillbilly mountain people. We're too proud to beg and bum."
Ma'am, you are begging and bumming. We're happy you can do so, because RAM once a year is better than nothing. But it's the Republicans in Richmond who are keeping you begging — instead of allowing you year-round access to a government program that you need and sincerely deserve. We cats HISS.
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