You Want to Know What I Think?

Well, I am irritated. Many of you have seen the story about the twelve year old boy who just died because of a 'toothache' that didn't get taken care of soon enough. This resulted in an infection that travelled to his brain, eventually killing him. I imagine that there are a lot of people out there who will chalk this up to bad parenting, but I urge anyone thinking that way to pause, read the story, and look at the crisis that is a lack of quality healthcare in America.

While working with foster kids last year, it was always a struggle to find a dentist who would take them on, even when they had teeth in obvious need of care (which was often). Most kids came in with plenty of cavities and decay, and it would still be three months out before they had a chance to sit in a dentist's chair. I had one kid with a tooth abscess, on the Oregon Health Plan, and they still wouldn't take him on a walk in emergency basis. One month after he joined our program, he was still dealing with issues related to his tooth because no dentist would complete needed treatment in one session. It was ridiculous. Deamonte Driver's death could have clearly been prevented.

On another note, I am increasingly irritated that I have to witness another 20 months with Bush as our president. I feel that he is fighting a war that his daddy left behind when he got the short stick in 1992. How does this man acquire so much power to do what he wants, whenever he wants, when so many people disagree with him. Can't someone stop this sputtering idiot? I have friends who have been a part of this war, probably disagree with me, and enjoy their time in the service. I just think too many innocent people are dying. How can we justify little kids and innocent bystanders getting bombed, maimed, and killed.

Okay, a little more. I am starting to see commercials for school loans that you can get OAC and then pay off after college. The one I have seen showcases an African American man who says he never thought he'd have the resources to go to college. THEN, I watch a 20/20 episode a month ago that follows a family with a teenage son going to high school full time, working every other waking moment, and hoping he can go to college, but thinking there is no way he will be able to afford it. So my reaction...why is Federal Aid for college so under advertised? I remember being a young teen thinking there was no way in the world I would ever be able to go to college because my family didn't have money. All the movies I watched showed struggling kids who only made it on athletic or academic scholarships, but never the FAFSA. Most kids I worked with last year had no idea what a FAFSA was. High schools and social programs need to make this funding source more available and user friendly to their kids.

On that note, ANY OF MY FRIENDS IN SOCIAL SERVICE...you can get a refund on your school loans for working with at risk youth and low income families. I found this out in the fall, filed paperwork, and had a BIG credit on my school loan 6 weeks later. You can apply every year, and it is easy. Contact me if you need help doing it.

And lastly, having worked in an office setting for the past month, I clearly realize that I need to work in social service again. I feel guilty everyday for not working with kids and families. Its like a part of me is missing. True, social service has its moments of absolute burnout, but I just don't think the corporate slave culture is going to ever cut it for me. And why is everyone in corporate culture so damn pissed all the time. The camaraderie among coworkers is quite lacking in comparison to the 'warm fuzzy' liberals I have worked with all my life. Not to say there aren't some nice people, but it sure is a different environment than what I am used to.

Okay one more lastly...I am currently in a flood and flash flood warning zone here in Ohio. See, all this snow has been sitting around in freezing temps and suddenly the temp has spiked to 45 degrees with tons of rain. What the fithifuh? Man, I miss me some Oregon.