I have opportunities to fly passengers for Angel Flight.  Today’s was a pick up from Denver to fly a family home to Durango.  The patient was a four year old girl who’s mother, high on drugs, beat her into a comatose state.  She has to go to Swedish Children’s hospital in Denver and the drive is about 6.5 hours compared to a flight of 50 minutes.  

Her grandfather is now the guardian of her and her 8 year old brother.  She is only responsive to light and we had to transport her wheelchair and feeding device with her.  She can’t sit up so we secured her, with blankets to the floor.  Her brother was excited at the opportunity to fly “upfront“.  

Grandpa earns some extra money as Santa during the Christmas season. He’s 66 years old and 6’6” 285 lbs.  I’m sure in his youth he’d be a handful.  

Social Secunity and Medicare/Medicaid make it tough on this family but I’m sure we need to spend money on sending people to Mars, electric cars and bullet trains.  Let’s throw in public pensions,the USPS and Amtrak while we are at it.

So tonight it’s #badword# the R’s and D’s.  As the most prosperous nation in the world we can’t figure out that these are the people we need to help.  Not gender study grads that can’t pay their college loans.  Not people who want to buy a Tesla that need a rebate.  Not stadiums for rich sports team owners. Not additional tax breaks.

I don’t really care if it’s Rick Scott or Bill Nelson. I don’t care who it is.  Take care of people like Imara.

Days like today make you re-examine your priorities.