I don't usually send out political messages, but this just got me too irate.
On 9/11/2001, many first responders went far above the call of duty to respond to need. Hours turned into days turned into weeks of desperate work. The cost to them? Now many suffer from health problems directly related to that work - onset of cancer and such. However, they are not adequately covered by insurance to cover the health care costs and many are on disability - which means lower pay - so that they are struggling with hundreds of dollars in medical bills each month.
Republicans in particular have use 9/11 as a political rallying point. However, Republican senators are too selfish to pass a bill giving 9/11 first responders health care benefits before Christmas. They do not seem to care that what may be the last Christmas for some of those responders is spent facing debt and hopelessness, because it would be "disrespectful" to the holiday to work until the new year.
Their party posturing has gone too far. Check out Jon Stewart's tribute to them voting no on a stand alone bill for it:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mo...-f--k-congress
Jon Stewart also talks about how US mainstream media has largely ignored the issue, despite a history of screaming about anything 9/11 related. Remember the "mosque on ground zero" - an islamic community center a couple of blocks away? Mainstream media got folks to hold rallies against muslims and talking about burning the Qur'an. Why do they not care about those first responders who actually did something about the disaster? Have the Republicans bought out mainstream media?
Here's the last Daily Show episode for 2010, which was dedicated to this issue.
http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-epi...-mike-huckabee
It includes a discussion with some of those first responders about how they are being treated.
I was honored to spend a day in September 2001 as an ambulance volunteer in NYC to provide a little relief to those working so hard. I have never seen another area so in need of support, nor any more dedicated people. I wonder now how many of those I interacted with on that day are dead or dying from their efforts. How can anyone allow political posturing to slam these people and their families??
Republicans refused to extend unemployment benefits for those actively looking for work until those who caused the economic crisis got to keep their tax breaks. Now Republicans are refusing to give 9/11 providers the Christmas gift of direly needed relief for their health care bills. Personally, I think all those Republicans who voted "no" after using 9/11 as a rallying point should be removed from office.
Please check the information for yourself to learn the truth. Then, if you are willing, I would love for you to forward the truth on to as many people as you can. I think we need to kick out the greedy, obstructionist nay-sayers if real change is ever to happen.
Thank you for putting up with my rambling,
Melanie