Poet Rummager

Soul Searching

WQGR0456
Illustration by Poet Rummager

I’ve hung the missing posters –

stapled them to light poles.

Only the wind answers back

in haughty undertones.

Fool, it huffs, as it slaps my face,

Humanity is a runaway.

No use looking.

No one cares.

In this desolate terrain,

you’ll be soul searching in vain.

United States ranks 50 out of 55 developed countries in healthcare efficiency, life expectancy, and healthcare spending per capita (Bloomberg). Our senators and congressmen are covered under government health plans for life, yet they quibble about offering the sickest and poorest children the right to the same quality of care. Where are these people’s souls? I certainly can’t find them.

88 comments

    • From what I hear from relatives, Philippines has a universal healthcare that’s on the brink of losing funding? The doctors and medical professionals are extremely qualified and educated with many coming to America for schooling. There appears to be a shortage of doctors, though. How is your experience with the healthcare system there. Mich?

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      • Ohhh😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😣😥😥😥😥😣😣😣😣the healthcare system here is at its worst..you can’t even get a descent hospital bed..much more people are forced to subscribe for private healtcare provider which is even worst because when you need to use it…they will request you with tons and tons of documents before you even get served…and worst i had this experience when i was given to least experienced doctor giving the wrong diagnosis to my daughter…since then i stop paying for my private healtcare giver..
        The hospitalization here.is very very expensive too..there are government run hospitals but most doctors.on duty are interns..and the nurses are on volunteer mode..well i am not so sure in some other parts of the country but from where i am i swear i will never wanna be confined to a government hospital…

        And yes we are running out of effecient doctors and nurses here …because well..they are all there in the US…and you cannot blame them though..
        Sad..

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    • Sad is only the tip of the iceberg, Derrick. Are you happy with England’s public health system? I’m sure it isn’t perfect, but all permanent residents receive coverage, I hear. Taxes must be quite high.

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      • We pa compulsory National Insurance. Social and medical care depends pretty much on where you live, but everyone is theoretically covered. Privatisation means that what should be services are outsourced to agencies who operate businesses for profit with the poor and needy losing out.

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        • Hmm. Yet according to Bloomberg’s 2016 Healthcare Efficiency Index, The U.K. ranks 21 out of 55 developed countries. I suppose there are always ways to improve the system, but your country is taking better care of its people. Thanks for your reply, Derrick. Greed is a killer, and we definitely have more of that here in America.

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          • I don’t think it is simply greed. It is just that money is the main consideration. Service comes second – people think profit has to be made on everything. What we have now is that necessary aids to living, like bath rails etc for elderly people, that we once gave out freely have to be paid for by the recipient. Jackie, as a Social Worker, was told that any time spent listening to a client was ‘a waste of resource’.

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            • I wish there was a way to change that mindset. I hear about Social Workers being stretched thin in their jobs. The government could utilize volunteers (college students, senior citizens, homemakers, etc. to help around the office and other support duties. Perhaps give people small incentives for volunteering — free lunch or something like that). I think we need more creative solutions. Why not? 🙂 I enjoyed our discussion, Derrick. You and Jackie have big hearts. xo

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  8. Beautifully well put, souls? yes, where are they? Many have them encapsulated like a cancer cell to stop them sending signals of any kind, certainly empathy has been hidden deep within that cell. SAD. Gorgeous drawing, dear fab poet.

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  9. Stunning poem, and expressive of the growing divide between the ‘haves and have nots’. We are experiencing similar polarisation in the UK, and the unlikely hero of the moment is the leader of the opposition, considered radical far left, Jeremy Corbyn. Watch this space.

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  10. Well said, Rose. I just read a couple of editorials about how children’s health is severely affected under this plan. The Republicans who have written and supported this plan are the most mean-spirited people. I was thinking yesterday that McConnell and gang better hope there is no such thing as karma.
    I love your illustration!

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  11. Merril is right, they are so mean. Their humanity is indeed MIA. Perhaps if they actually read the Bible instead of getting their religion from Fox News and the Lobbyists…(K)

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  12. I love your illustration and the beautiful poem. I wish that people worldwide would stop betting on a life in the hereafter. Many of those same people fall victim to the religious rhetoric spouted by the right in their countries and end up suffering as a result. They also spread the suffering to others. There may or may not be a heaven, but there is definitely a hell, and it can be seen in the eyes of the sick and suffering. There is no excuse for not having universal health care in a country like America.

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    • If Jesus were to come to America, he would be scrutinized and probably barred since He was born in the Middle East! Well said, Og, hell is reflected in the suffering’s eyes. As far as my eyes are concerned, they haven’t stopped rolling since November 8th. They keep accumulating gum, lint, dirt, etc. since they now roll all over the ground! Lol. You know I always have to try and make you smile whenever you visit 😀 No, there’s no excuse; other than greed and ignorance as to why the U.S. doesn’t have universal health care.

      Thank you, Oggy. I hope your beautiful Irish eyes are shining. My husband’s mom was born in Ireland, by the way, so I am partial to the Irish — she was a lovely soul who just passed away in April. xo

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  16. From what I’ve gathered via the news media (and that can be questionable), under the proposed health care bill, older people not on Medicare–most on fixed incomes–would have to pay astronomical premiums. Add in the 2nd rate healthcare our veterans already receive, and it’s all enough to make one wonder if our representatives are indeed soulless. It pisses me off to no end that they (as you stated) have state of the art healthcare for life, at the taxpayers’ expense, and begrudge affordable basic healthcare for the people they represent. Grrrrr….😬
    I’ll get off my soapbox now…
    Lovely illustration, and insightful, thought-provoking poem, Rose.

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    • Yes, all that and $800 billion cut from Medicaid so the rich can enjoy a massive tax cut. Corporate welfare is alive and well.

      Lol. I think a lot of us are walking around with soap boxes tucked under our arms! It’s times like these that call for them, so no worries, darling Cathy. I completely understand. Many thanks, and I shall visit soon — I love your stories and poems. xo

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  17. Well said or written… nothing gets to me more, Can you imagine having free health care for life and then have the nerve to dictate what others will get and have to pay. It’s sickening. So let people who have less die. Karma where you now… jc

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    • I know of your health struggles, dear JC, and it amazes me how you stay positive and strong. This was my mistake, I’m afraid; I had originally written down “free” healthcare which the government officials receive, but I did more research and found that the government pays 75% of their premiums which still isn’t too shabby at all and is much more than what most of us get.

      Like you, I do invoke karma, as well! Thank you JC, and I shall visit you at your wonderful place late tonight (just keep it hush hush 😀 ).

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  18. An excellent piece of writing Rose.
    A sad state of affairs indeed.
    I think you will be hard pressed to
    find the souls your in search of.

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  31. That one for a social issue. Yes, healthcare should ideally be the same for all but in most countries, it is not. In UK, the NHS facility covers a large section of people and mandates many preventive tests. That could be a model for other countries to follow. Btw, which country ranks the highest in healthcare?

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  32. Humanity is a runaway. Oh, that verse truly resonated with me… Reminded me of Shakespeare´s “World is a stage”… Sigh (I guess certain things or “perceptions” do not change!)… excellent poem!. Love & best wishes ⭐

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