My Mother's Life Dedicated to the Only Woman I'll Love, My Mother.

The CBC has a report on the Guaranteed Income Supplement issue.  According to Jack Layton, it is why he refused to support the Harper Government. He wanted $700 Million added, instead of the $300 Million that Harper added.

Honestly, I don’t believe Jack Layton & the NDP defeated the Harper Government, over a $400 Million dollar difference, do you?

In reading the story it seems that the dollar differences really aren’t that huge, which makes me question the accuracy of the figures used.  It states that 5.8% of Seniors live in poverty, but again, what is that level?

Is Mom living in poverty?  I’d have to say NO, but I would also have to say, that without the financial contribution both David & I make, she wouldn’t have the basics.  So I suppose that is indeed living in poverty.

Yet what galls me is two comments, one from a 23 year old and another from some guy who thinks, well, tough titties for those who didn’t save when they could. ( oh yeah, you just know I added my comments to those remarks ) What these comments do, is make me wonder, about the attitudes we have today.

When I was growing up, I was taught that you helped those who didn’t have as much as you. Even if all you had was a loaf of bread, and someone had none, you shared that loaf of bread. I would say, that was the Judao Christian ethic that built this country, or am I wrong?

Whose responsibility is it, to help those who, for whatever reason, are unable to help themselves, such as my Mother?

David & I earn well under $30,000.00 a year. Mom has no private retirement income, no assets even, so whose obligation is it?  I think both David & I do our best, but when your Hydro bill is $300 a month,  your cost for her medications is about $200 for the first six months of the year, who helps when we can’t manage?   And if we are paying for all this, how can we be expected to put aside a nickle for our old age?

It is easy to say, save now, but given the cost of living today, the real issue is… HOW?

We don’t drive a fancy new car, hell our car is a 1982 diesel. Be nice to have a new laundry machine that was energy effecient, but where do I get the $1500 for them?  It isn’t like I can go get a job, because I have to be home, to change her depends a few times each day. I have to be here, to help her to the bathroom, to fix her lunch, dinner. If I don’t, she won’t eat, even if she could get around to fix something.

So whose responsibility is it?   I pour my time, what little I earn, into the household as does my wife, David.  It isn’t fair to him, yet he does it. I mean she is My Mother, not his, but I know if his parents need help, when they are older, we’ll do the same for them. 

You see, that is my obligation, that is my duty, because I am my mother’s son, and my wife’s son in law. It is what we do, it is what should be done, but you know, there are times when you need help. Our old age is screwed, because there isn’t that help now. There wasn’t when they grew up, because back then, the Government told everyone that the CPP would handle it all.   They believed their Government back then, but we know better, don’t we?

I don’t have the answers, I wish I did. I just know that we need a Government that makes some effort to understand our needs. Not the needs of some Corporate Executive, who has two or three houses, who drives a new Lexus every six months. I want a Government that will look at Social Security, and strengthen it, not dismantle it like Mr Harper wants to do.

I want a Government that will support our social programs, not tear them apart.

It is why I know that on May 2nd, I will  VOTE FOR ANYONE BUT HARPER