Voting Day 11-6-2012
Romney or Obama…who is the better choice?
My mind had been made up for quite some time as to who would
get my vote.
Although born in the US, we left South Bronx, NY and
relocated to Puerto Rico at an early age. As far as I can remember, we lived
there for quite some time and for some crazy reason, my mother and step-father
decided to leave Puerto Rico and out of all the places in America, they decided
to land in Rochester, NY. I remember
when we first moved here, it was winter. The winter coat I had, the pockets had
wholes and we lived just within the radius of me not qualifying for school
transportation. You do the math – we lived above Tito’s Corner Store (Rohr and
Bay St) and I was assigned to attend school #33. YES – dead of winter with a
coat that could hardly do its job and to top it all off, I had no boots! I don’t recall how long that lasted, but I
remember often being cold. Yes, my
mother received assistance. Growing up I remember standing in line waiting to
get that ‘welfare cheese’. Don’t front – I know I’m not…that cheese yielded the
best grilled cheese sandwiches in the world! And being true to our Puerto Rican roots – cafe
con leche, galletas con queso (coffee w/milk and crackers & cheese) – those
were the days!
Thankfully, that was not the life my parents envisioned when
they left the comfort of Puerto Rico; where we owned our own house, land and
many animals. They moved to America to
live the American dream.
As I ventured
on my own (due to a teenage pregnancy), I found myself applying for DSS. I had no choice, I was 18 and
pregnant! And do yall know how much it cost to deliver a baby? Craziness. I
digress! I remember when I went for my
appointment, the worker asking me all sorts of personal questions; where’s the
father, who’s the father, where are your parents, this and that. Wait a minute –
hold the train I said to myself. Is she serious? Asking me all these questions!
And me being me, I asked HER why she needed to know all that? Her response
changed my life…to an extent at least. She said, if you want government help, we need
to know this information. Seeing things growing up, I realized that to get
assistance I had to lie; so I answered in a way that would allow me to get
benefits. Something inside however, felt
strange. I desired more. I did not want to live my life waiting for the 1st
and 16th of every month (that’s how it was back then). I wanted to
work and have my own money and not have to worry about telling people my
business. So I enrolled at the REOC and got a General Office Skills
certificate. Shortly after delivering my healthy bouncing baby boy – I was
hired by the organization where I did my internship and started on the road to
joining the working class! I did find
myself several years later on a couple of occasions applying and receiving food
stamps. But I was damned if I asked for anything else – because see as a
working class member, I had a reputation to uphold. Benefits don't come easy to those that work for a living; but those that choose to live off the system, everything is handed to them. I had to find work as soon
as I possibly could and I’m thankful that I always did. Had I not chosen to have some dignity and
desire for a better way of life, I could have sat on my couch collecting DSS
and not use the time to further my education; receiving benefits and being
enabled by the system to be a lazy member of society.
As someone who grew up poor, standing on the ‘cheese line’,
having cars repo’d, the bank taking the house away…there’s a
consistent reminder in all of this – we ALL have a choice to make. We can choose
to play the cards we are given or we can give those cards back and ask for a
re-deal.
I remember when I met my ex-husband, I was working, a single
mother and because I was a single mother and I was not making ‘enough’, I
qualified for food stamps and section 8. My rent used to be $12 a month (full
rent was $340) in the south wedge area for a 2bdrm – not bad. I loved that
apartment. Anyways, when we decided to get married, he said we’re moving. I
told him I couldn’t because I would lose the section 8. He said “well get a job
making more money so you don’t have to worry about government stuff”. And so I
did. When I was pushed out of my comfort zone, I discovered there were
opportunities; but I was not being challenged to change; so why would I? From that point on, I looked at the
government differently.
Today - we have one man who believes people should be more
responsible for themselves and not rely on government assistance – and dag gone
it I agree 100%. Then we have another
man who believes the government should help those that are less fortunate. And again,
as someone who grew up on government assistance – I agree 100%. Help those that REALLY and TRULY need it. The
lazy folks, make them get a job but at the same time, since you, the government
have enabled them to live such a lavish lazy life – don’t cut off all the
assistance at once. Teach them how to be responsible. Teach them how to budget.
Teach them how to pay bills. You got them here; take them further.
Then there’s the health care part. One man wants to make all
businesses have to offer health insurance OR face a fine. The other man wants
for people to make the choice for themselves whether or not they want
insurance. I disagree with both views! Healthcare is expensive as a you know what! Forcing businesses to have to offer health
insurance can be detrimental to smaller organizations, non-profits, etc. It
will literally force many to close down.
Then again, I don’t agree that it should be up to each person whether
they want insurance or not. Some people are not responsible enough so many
children will continue to go uninsured.
All I can say is that I’m thankful to have insurance available at my job.
Education: One man believes all children – equally should be
allowed the opportunity to have their parents choose where the child goes to
school; whether it’s city, suburbs, private, charter, online…while the other
believes there should be some restrictions. On this one – although I see the
former views…I agree with the latter. Many people pay high, very high taxes to
be in a good district. Why should they have to fork up the money for
non-district pupils?
This is a tough choice. I was convinced driving to the
polls. I gave my vote a lot of thought. I even consulted with my 10 year old
daughter…after all…she is part of our future America! Together we decided…we filled in the bubbles…we
put our form in the privacy sleeve…we put the sleeve in the machine…and casted
our vote!
Life ~ it’s certainly interesting.
Today I voted!
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