A few extracts from day 1 of British journalist Chris McGreal's journey along Route 66 in America, recalling Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath" in order to compare today's recession with the great depression of the 1930's:-
"....people work all the hours they aren't sleeping and still cannot afford to go to the doctor "
"...modern beasts.....vast multinationals discarding American workers in favour of cheaper labour in Mexico and health insurance companies that cut off medical lifelines to the gravely ill "
" Tulsa's Friendship Baptist Church......offered free consultation and medicines to those whom Oklahoma's hospitals don't want to see because they can't pay. In the bible belt, religious organisations step into the breach: charity care comes with god thrown in. "
" free clinics see a lot of children, a lot of elderly, a lot of single mothers and a lot of the working poor in need "
" the patients are encouraged to pray while awaiting treatment. The staff introduce god as part of what the organisation describes as holistic care."
" Hospitals have an interest in promoting charity as an alternative to President Obama's plans for getting healthcare to the uninsured. "
" Even with the spiritual help they may die, but for those of us who are christians and believe in god intervening directly in people's lives, we've seen many answers to prayer where medicine falls short. "
A few observations from my socialist viewpoint:-
Heartless capitalism, that in America means you must not fall ill if you are poor.
The " modern beast " global capitalism which has no allegiance save global pursuit of profit, to the advantage of the few.
Capitalism that forces the most vulnerable into reliance on " charity " because the state has closed the door in their faces. And who typically opens the door?....the church, which offers relief providing god is worshipped as payment for the aid offered.
Capitalism and religion...both rotten to the core.
"....people work all the hours they aren't sleeping and still cannot afford to go to the doctor "
"...modern beasts.....vast multinationals discarding American workers in favour of cheaper labour in Mexico and health insurance companies that cut off medical lifelines to the gravely ill "
" Tulsa's Friendship Baptist Church......offered free consultation and medicines to those whom Oklahoma's hospitals don't want to see because they can't pay. In the bible belt, religious organisations step into the breach: charity care comes with god thrown in. "
" free clinics see a lot of children, a lot of elderly, a lot of single mothers and a lot of the working poor in need "
" the patients are encouraged to pray while awaiting treatment. The staff introduce god as part of what the organisation describes as holistic care."
" Hospitals have an interest in promoting charity as an alternative to President Obama's plans for getting healthcare to the uninsured. "
" Even with the spiritual help they may die, but for those of us who are christians and believe in god intervening directly in people's lives, we've seen many answers to prayer where medicine falls short. "
A few observations from my socialist viewpoint:-
Heartless capitalism, that in America means you must not fall ill if you are poor.
The " modern beast " global capitalism which has no allegiance save global pursuit of profit, to the advantage of the few.
Capitalism that forces the most vulnerable into reliance on " charity " because the state has closed the door in their faces. And who typically opens the door?....the church, which offers relief providing god is worshipped as payment for the aid offered.
Capitalism and religion...both rotten to the core.
A man is born to a virgin mother, lives, dies, comes alive again and then disappears into the clouds to become his Dad. How likely is that?
