WHO CARES IF SICK, POOR KIDS ARE AN ENDANGERED SPECIES?

SICK POOR KIDS AN ENDANGERECSPECIES? WHO CARES?

BY

MATTHEW LUCAS BECKETT

At the capital building of Texas, The Republican controlled House of Representatives met in a closed door session and was gaveled to order by The Speaker.
“Our state faces a budget shortfall of almost a quarter trillion dollars,” he said. “We must have a balanced budget, and since it would be a mortal sin to even discuss raising taxes, we must cut somewhere. Cutting from the top would cost us campaign contributions, so we must cut from the bottom, since they give no campaign contributions anyway.”
“So,” interrupted The Democratic Minority Leader, his conscience not allowing him to remain silent any longer. “You would balance the budget by taking away poor children's right to see a doctor, further endangering those already most at risk if they get sick?”
“It's not like the Human Race is endanger of going extinct,” said The Chair of The Appropriations Committee. “If a few children whose parents refuse to shoulder their responsibility to care for their children when their children are sick die, so be it. It won't cause our species to go extinct.”
“The Human Species no,” came the retort of The Ranking Democrat of The Health and Human Services Committee. “But poor children are becoming something of an endangered subspecies within The Human Species, and taking away their only option for getting Medical Care except for Emergency Room Care, at which point it it is often too late, will further endanger them.”
“Do their parents contribute to our campaigns?” asked The Speaker..
“Of course not,” replied the other. “Their barely scraping by for their own families needs.”
“Are they contributing significantly to society?”
“That depends on your definition of contributing,” replied the other. “Financially, of course not. But in other ways. . .”
“Then who cares even if sick,poor kids are an endangered species? Who cares if they go totally extinct? It would teach their parents to do their jobs and take care of their own, so let it be so if it is so. Who cares about sick, poor kids?”
“I do,” said The Minority Leader, standing.
“So do I,” said another high Ranking Democrat, standing as well.
One by one, every Democrat in the room and a few highly Religious Republicans stood, the last reluctant to break from their party but feeling from their Consciences that their professed Faith compelled them to do so if it was to a Faith of anything more than lip service, a Faith of any real substance.
Even with these defections, however, there were still enough Republican votes in The House to force it through, and so it passed, went to the senate where it passed with even less vocal opposition, even though every single Democrat and a few very Christian Republicans voted against it, and then it was signed by The Governor with no opposition but great fanfare.
“Well,” said The Minority Leader. “I guess that we can add sick, poor children to the endangered species list, at least here in Texas and in the mood sweeping the nation soon the rest of the nation as well.”
His senate counterpart nodded. “They'll be extinct in less than ten years if this keeps up, and it shows no signs of abating.”
All nodded somberly, not knowing how to change this trend, even though they knew they should make the effort.
ENDANGERED CHILDREN JUST BECAUSE THEY'RE POOR AND SICK? HOW ISTHAT LIVING UP TO ANY OF OUR IDEALS? THINK ON IT, AND THINK WELL. HERE I END.