Carl,
I think that the social security benefits that Trump wants to cut at the
moment, are whatever is dependent on the current tax withheld from paychecks
for the program. I haven't heard an explanation of how that would impact
current recipients.
Melanie found 2 loaves of my raisin bread somewhere or other, early this
morning. There are no cleaning products to be found. The schools in Nassau
County will be closed, starting tomorrow. I've received two automated calls
from the Town of Huntington, describing the closure of huge numbers of group
programs, including adult day care which means that someone in the families of
these very disabled old people, will have to stay home from work to care for
them.
Miriam
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<blind-democracy-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On Behalf Of Carl Jarvis
Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2020 11:46 AM
To: blind-democracy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [blind-democracy] Re: effects of Carona Virus on us, so far
Miriam,
What it tells me about the state of things is that you love Cinnamon Raisin
bread...toasted. It also tells me that we are creatures of habit.
I also have eaten the same breakfast for years. Two slices of toast, any kind
of bread will do, spread with either butter(heavy), or peanut butter, or jam.
I also have a banana every morning. And a cup of black coffee, which I drink
while sitting at my computer.
Over the years little has changed in the sort of meals I eat. What's changed
are my physical habits. Just a few short years ago I would make my breakfast
and sit at the dining room table, consume my food while listening to NPR, and
then rush out to do a bit of road maintenance or brush clearing, then look at
my email, call clients, set appointments, and if the generator is running I'd
toss in a load of laundry or run the vacuum. Today I grab my breakfast, wobble
to the office while trying not to slosh coffee on the floor, sit at my computer
and rest a bit before looking at the accumulation of email and spam.
As for the road maintenance and the brush clearing? We hire a robust young man
to do it for us.
And if Donald Trump is reelected and has his way in the reduction of Social
Security and Medicare, and if the state of Washington declares it can no longer
pay retirement benefits to its former employees, Cathy and I will be forced to
attempt to sell our home and ten acres in a buyer's market. The young man will
be out a job, the propane company will be out a customer, the local grocery
stores will no longer have our support, the doctors we've seen for years will
have to get along without our visits, the internet will lose our business, and
the birds and small critters will no longer find fresh food in the mornings.
The Jarvis' will, like millions of oldsters, have moved to a back bedroom in
one of their children's or grand children's homes, helping to pay for their own
reduced income.
With our growing Senior population, the reduction or termination of the hard
won support network will ensure that we rush headlong into our worst depression
ever.
It will add a new wrinkle to the meaning of poverty. Gads! I seem to be
talking myself into voting for Uncle Joe, despite his Wall Street leanings.
I think that if I were younger, and could learn a new language, and could
embrace colder weather, I'd move to Norway, sing Home, Home on the Fjord and
learn to love Pickled Herring.
Carl Yarvis, singing Ya Sure Ya Betcha, I dun Tank I Do!"
On 3/15/20, miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <miriamvieni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
There are shortages in the stores. Everyone apparently rushed to the
stores on Thursday and Friday. In most of the stores where we buy
stuff, there was no bread, no toilet paper, a shortage of cleaning
products. We couldn't get the brands that we usually buy. Luckily,
Melanie found my Cinnamon Raisin bread this morning, in a store where
we never buy food. It's what I have for breakfast each day. What does
that tell you about the public's state of mind? People are terrified
and it's taking the form of hoarding.
Miriam
