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The Inconvenient Americans : Newsweek Opinion by IA Rep Josh Turek
The Inconvenient Americans
Opinion
Josh Turek, Iowa State Legislator
The images of disabled Americans in wheelchairs being zip-tied and dragged out of the halls of Congress for protesting imminent and devastating cuts to Medicaid are blatant demonstrations of a cold lack of empathy from members of Congress, who defend gutting health care and food assistance to pay for large and absurd tax breaks for the rich.
For far too long, Americans with disabilities have been treated by those in power as the Inconvenient Americans, a virtually silent and invisible minority group. Disabled Americans represent, at minimum, 15 percent of the population. In my state, one in five Iowans is either blind, deaf, physically, or intellectually disabled. We are also arguably the most under-represented group in local, state, and federal government.
I know this directly as the first and only disabled representative in the Iowa Legislature. Because of this lack of representation and political power, so many issues affecting disabled Americans have been ignored or misunderstood. But on the issue of Medicaid cuts, we can no longer be silent because it is literally life or death.
...
The vast majority of people on Medicaid are, in fact, poor children, the physically and mentally disabled, and the elderly. These are the most vulnerable individuals in our society. We have a moral and ethical duty to protect them. Services like direct care workers or personal care attendants are not covered by private insurance. So, in many cases Medicaid is the only option disabled Americans have for health care. Without Medicaid, many disabled Americans literally could not even get out of bed, let alone find employment and live full, dignified lives. We, the Inconvenient Americans, cannot exist without it.
And Medicaid is already stretched far too thin. States like Iowa have incredibly low reimbursements, years-long waitlists, a lack of providers and caregivers, and health facilities and rural hospitals closing all over the state. This along with dramatic increases in delays and denials to services and supports due to privatization. Our Medicaid system is already terribly broken and underfunded and now they want to make even deeper cuts.
...more...https://www.newsweek.com/inconvenient-americans-opinion-2097963
Opinion
Josh Turek, Iowa State Legislator
The images of disabled Americans in wheelchairs being zip-tied and dragged out of the halls of Congress for protesting imminent and devastating cuts to Medicaid are blatant demonstrations of a cold lack of empathy from members of Congress, who defend gutting health care and food assistance to pay for large and absurd tax breaks for the rich.
For far too long, Americans with disabilities have been treated by those in power as the Inconvenient Americans, a virtually silent and invisible minority group. Disabled Americans represent, at minimum, 15 percent of the population. In my state, one in five Iowans is either blind, deaf, physically, or intellectually disabled. We are also arguably the most under-represented group in local, state, and federal government.
I know this directly as the first and only disabled representative in the Iowa Legislature. Because of this lack of representation and political power, so many issues affecting disabled Americans have been ignored or misunderstood. But on the issue of Medicaid cuts, we can no longer be silent because it is literally life or death.
...
The vast majority of people on Medicaid are, in fact, poor children, the physically and mentally disabled, and the elderly. These are the most vulnerable individuals in our society. We have a moral and ethical duty to protect them. Services like direct care workers or personal care attendants are not covered by private insurance. So, in many cases Medicaid is the only option disabled Americans have for health care. Without Medicaid, many disabled Americans literally could not even get out of bed, let alone find employment and live full, dignified lives. We, the Inconvenient Americans, cannot exist without it.
And Medicaid is already stretched far too thin. States like Iowa have incredibly low reimbursements, years-long waitlists, a lack of providers and caregivers, and health facilities and rural hospitals closing all over the state. This along with dramatic increases in delays and denials to services and supports due to privatization. Our Medicaid system is already terribly broken and underfunded and now they want to make even deeper cuts.
...more...https://www.newsweek.com/inconvenient-americans-opinion-2097963
Representative Josh Turek is the first permanently and disabled state legislator in Iowa's history. He is also a 4-time Paralympian and 2-time gold medalist representing the United States in wheelchair basketball.
