Granny Mountain

Lawmakers finally reached an agreement to raise the debt limit last night, just before the deadline. Today a final vote will set the deal and keep America running, at least for the time being. Not too thrilled with the stubborn, bickering children in Washington that we call politicians. I'm wondering if there is anyone who can fix the mess we are in. 

Very much like this overweight child, Debt has grown to giant proportions. It seems to me that all lawmakers want to do is point fingers and lay blame. Is it the Republicans or the Democrats fault? Was it the previous administration or this one? Doesn't really matter, what we have to do now is put him a diet and reduce this monster before it gets any worse.

When my Mother went into nursing care in 2005, she was private pay. She had saved diligently for old age. Honestly, I thought she had enough that she would never have to rely on Medicaid to step in. That was before I entered the realm of nursing care. It's more expensive than the best hotel you have ever been to. The meals are served on melamine plates but cost as much as a meal at Ruth's Chris. Her 24 hour care in a quality nursing facility is now paid by Medicaid. She surrenders her monthly Social Security check and is allowed by Medicaid to keep only $40 for herself, that after "paying down" her savings to $2,000. That, in a nutshell, is how the system works.

Now it's my Father-in-law's turn to navigate the Medicaid waters. He's in the same boat as Mom, diligent saver, retired military, responsible American who lived his life in such a way that he never had to rely on anyone else to pay his bills. Time will take it's toll on his savings too and he will have to step up to the Medicaid counter just like Mom did. I wonder if someday those doors will be closed permanently to any programs for assistance? It scares me because I'm in line too, just a little farther back.