My friend returned last weekend from a trip to the Texas/Mexico border. Said friend is a National Guard member who helps patrol border towns in an attempt to find illegal immigrants. However, his team are not hunting illegals down to force them back to Mexico. Quite to the contrary, they are providing free medical and dental services to any takers. "We don't even ask them for ID," says friend. "We take over churches, hospitals - whatever - with the express goal of giving immigrants free medical."
A noble cause, to be sure - but it's bullshit.
It's bullshit because another very close friend of mine recently lost his job (ergo his medical and dental insurance) and now has a problem with a tooth that needs dire attention. He can't eat solid food his tooth is killing him so much. The costs to correct this issue will easily mount to $800- 1000.00 even with discount generic antibiotics and (hopefully discount and generic) painkillers.
I'm all about helping other nationals who need help - I have no problem with the IDEA of illegal immigrants (especially if they pay taxes, though many do not) - but you know what? If an American citizen in need can't find help and our military (reserve or otherwise) is PROACTIVELY offering medical assistance to <em>non-citizens</em> we have a severe problem.
Anyone who can suggest methods of assistance for my friend would be much appreciated. In the meantime I'm going to go dunk my steaming head in cold water.
5 comments:
I wasn't sure how I felt about illegal immigration until I spoke with a friend of mine who came here legally and went through the system. He is livid pissed about the fact that certain people do it illegally while he and his whole family had to jump through hoops to come here.
Your friend is not alone. There are hundreds of thousands of citizens of this country (some young, but especially the old), that can't afford decent medical or dental attention. The whole thing is total bullshit.
Like Mike, I have a friend who came here to complete a residency in Pediatrics. She got a 3 year visa to work here. However, fell in love, married and had a child. She proceeded with legalizing her status, but was sent back to Mexico for a year before she could return to work. She did everything by the book and still got deported. Yet she treated hundreds of illegal immigrants in the clinic who were not only getting medical care, but money from our government too...Pathetic.
And I think what may even be worse is that our government can't or won't do anything about it one way or another. This is not rocket science. I think that as the economy here worsens, this is going to become a huge issue.
I see Mike Judge's "Idiocracy" coming more and more true everywhere I go.
It's unfortunate. Really, really unfortunate.
Sorry - just blurted a random thought there.
Mike, old chum: Nothing is ever equal, is it? Always a way to milk our system. Our government seems to have become so bloated that we can't find out leaks. I think people on either part of the party line will agree that.
Kerstin, old chap (har har?): Way to scare away an honest, working future citizen. Tear the ones who try to cooperate with the system away from their families and provide freebies to those that avoid the system. Honestly, I'm all FOR the providing freebies - I just think it's important to provide that free, quality medical care to citizens as well.
We gotta kiss our own asses before we kiss everyone else's.
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