Kansas and Missouri politicians have failed the working poor—The COVID-19 pandemic proves it

By SJ Otto

The COVID-19 pandemic is bringing out the worst in our political system and the creepy politicians who have contributed to it. That is not to say that such politicians weren’t obvious in their actions before the pandemic, but with this virus and the many deaths and illnesses, we can see just how terrible our political systems is.

For example, in an article in The Wichita Eagle[1]: “Pandemic, Medicaid shortage hit poor in Kan., Mo.,”

This article looks at the life of Melissa Dodge, who is without health insurance, who works in Derby, Kansas. She is taking all kinds of precautions to protect herself and her four children. According to The Wichita Eagle:

Getting sick means having to calculate the risk of skipping a doctor’s visits versus paying out of pocket. The coronavirus pandemic has amplified those concerns.

“That has only increased that anxiety tenfold” Dodge said. “The risks of getting exposed and having to manage that financially in the immediate aspect and also in the long-term as those bills start coming in… It’s a fear.”

The rest of the article looks at the COVID-19 pandemic and how it is being handled in Kansas and Missouri. Politicians in both states, largely Republican, have routinely ignored the needs of the working poor. Both have rejected the idea of expanding Medicaid as so many other states have. Ignoring the needs of the working poor have left many vulnerable to medical problems in the past and now that this entire country has been hit with one of the worst medical emergencies of the century, such greedy, hateful mean-spirited politicians have been exposed for what they are.

The whole idea of denying working poor people Medicaid in this time of pandemic need is ridiculous. I countries, as Cuba, poor people have complete access to health care. Here many are prevented for their health care needs because we live here in a system where the ability for insurance companies, pharmacies and other medical establishments are concerned about making a profit. Many politicians, such as our President Donald Trump and even his possible Democratic political opponent, in the next presidential election, also defend the rights of the medical establishments over the needs of the working poor.

Now is the prefect time to push for the idea that politicians need to support poor people’s medical rights over those of the medical establishment. Medical care is a human right and not just a privilege.

Pix by Viruses: What They are, How They Spread, and How We Fight Them

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[1] Bryan Lowry, Jason Hancock (Kansas City Star) and Jonathan Shorman,

 “Pandemic, Medicaid shortage hit poor in Kan., Mo.,”

The Wichita Eagle, March 29, 2020, Volume 148 No 89, PP 1A, 14A.