I usually write about the law and its relevancy to my practice areas. However, I just started to think about how so much of my work (and my clients) are impacted by external forces that are beyond our control. These forces affect how effectively I can  do my job and how my clients will live. We are living in very difficult economic times, that some people refer to as the worst economic depression the United States- and the world– has seen in years (second only to the Great Depression).

All of us,  to different extents, have had to practice “austerity”- i.e. the tightening of the purse strings,  doing more with less, putting ourselves on a spending “diet,” and using less plastic and more green –or in many instances, counting our pennies and putting them away.

We have also felt the repercussions of our fragile economic state in the programs that support the most vulnerable in our population- children and the elderly. In my 30 something years on this Earth, I have learned that when times get tough, programs benefiting children and the elderly are always the first to get a good trimming or axed altogether. I admit that these programs are very expensive to administer, however I refuse to look at everything as dollars and cents all the time. I think it is important to look at the dividends these programs yield- that have absolutely no monetary value.

Some of these programs give children a “head start” in life –literally, or provide their parents the opportunity to work and better their lives while the children are being cared for in government subsidized day cares, or allow them to feed their family when they can’t afford groceries.  Others, allow otherwise home bound seniors to receive a nice hot meal, once– or sometimes twice– per day.  Or they run the risk of eating poorly,  not eating at all or burning down the house. I could go on– and on- about the  issues, but I realize this is a blog post not a chapter in a book . And I COULD write a book about my thoughts (just ask any of my close friends, if you know them)

My point is this, if you offer children better opportunities as they begin life you are leveling the playing field and giving them a better chance at having a brighter future.  If you cut off their opportunities early in life, you are basically telling them they aren’t worth the effort– not as much as more affluent children.   If you offer the elderly basic human services as they enter the twilight of their years, you are bestowing upon them the dignity and respect they deserve after contributing to our society during their most productive years.  They are old; not disposable.

Whenever I see someone going through rough times, I say to myself, “There but for the grace of God, go I.”  And it’s true. Anything that is given can also be taken away. Never think it  can’t be you– or someone you know and love. I just wish our legislature saw it that way too…my next post will be about the proposed cuts to existing programs- like Medicaid and home care– for the elderly…which has me scared for my elderly clients. Coming soon.