Tracknum: override
Pubdate: Wed, 13 Mar 2002
Source: Whidbey News-Times (WA)
Contact:  2002 Whidbey News Times
Website: http://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2099
Author: Kristin Kirkwood
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)

STATE BUDGET: SENIORS BEFORE DRUG ADDICTS

I was one of the protesters at Oak Harbor City Hall along with a number of 
the people that I work with at Whidbey Island Manor, as well as numerous 
people that were also from Careage of Whidbey.

Just to let you in on what we were protesting, Mr. Brown (Letters, March 
6). We weren't there to help "our" interests. It's a fact, none of us want 
to lose our jobs, but, we were there for you, your parents, and your 
grandparents. For anybody that you know that might need long-term care in a 
skilled nursing facility, and doesn't have the insurance to pay for it. We 
were there protesting the fact that our dear governor wants to cut millions 
of dollars of funding to nursing homes and residents of those homes that 
need it the most, those that are being funded with state monies.

These aren't drug addicts, these are people who fought to protect your 
rights in several wars. These are people who have paid taxes for the past 
75 years to help this country stay alive. These are people who need us now, 
in a time they are most vulnerable, and the state wants to stop paying for 
their care. This is what we were protesting.

I'm a licensed nurse; I can find a job pretty much anywhere with the 
nursing shortage, but I choose to work usually more than 40 hours a week 
giving my time, attention and love to those that need it.

I didn't vote for Tim Eyman's initiatives, but I'm darn glad I'm paying $60 
for car tabs rather than the $500 a year I was paying. And I'm sick of 
everybody in this county, city and state blaming all the losses to the car 
tab issue. We need people that know how to budget money, and obviously this 
state/county/city hasn't met that criteria yet.

I'm sick of this school district complaining they don't have enough money 
when 50 percent of the taxes on my house go to the school district. I'm 
sick and tired of the city complaining they don't have enough money, and 
want to capitalize on the Navy rather than look for other ways to bring in 
revenue or tourists.

How many new homes have been built in this county in the past 4.5 years 
that I've lived here? Where are all those new taxes going too? Sounds fishy 
to me.

Yes Mr. Brown, we were protesting cuts to the seniors in this state because 
we care. Come into our facility and volunteer some time. Many of our 
residents have no family to visit them, many have no money although they 
worked for 50-70 years of their lives, they need the funding that the 
governor was so quick to think about cutting.

Here's a solution for our governor, before handing out food stamps and 
welfare checks, as well as the money for day care and education programs 
for welfare recipients, let's make them all take drug tests, and if they 
pass, then the state can put the money out for them. Think of the billions 
of dollars saved if we weren't paying for all the drug habits in this 
state. We'd be violating their civil rights? Too bad. Whose rights are we 
violating by taking away medicine that's desperately needed for a senior 
citizen because our facility can't afford to pay for it and the state 
refuses too? I'd much rather my tax dollars go to feed a 100-year-old 
resident than a 20-year-old unemployed drug addict who doesn't know what 
birth control is. Now you know the scoop Mr. Brown, now let's work at 
keeping the money available for those that truly need it. Let's all support 
our long-term care facilities when they need it most, and let your elected 
officials know that you won't stand for cuts to our seniors.

Kristin Kirkwood, LPN Oak Harbor