In the nearly past ten years, some Baby Boomer or Oldster sends me a private message telling me to pass on what is called the 28th Amendment. Snopes has the breakdown of what is correct, not much, and what is more incorrect about it, which turns out to be a lot incorrect. The reason I would be cautious about even the idea around the proposed amendment is some judge will eventually find this amendment applies to employees of the federal government, and then it would destroy the lives of many people who work as civil servants in the US government, something that Hamilton and Adams, among others, would have found appalling. Note, too, that the two people who finally introduced what was initially some stupid meme includes Ron DeSantis, the newly elected racist right-wing governor of Florida.
Anyone who believes in the ideas behind this amendment, but believes Americans should have the same privileges as Congressman have gotten for themselves (not immunity of lawsuits, of course, which Congress does not in many instances, either), should instead be focused on the abject hypocrisy of voting for any Republican or even corporate Democrat who wants to deny you and me the same perks of health insurance and pensions they get. How does anyone not go up to Paul Ryan and Ron DeSantis and slap them hard in the face, and say, "You goddamn evil hypocrite?!"
I am normally not one to focus on hypocrisy, as I find it often distracts us from the substance of a situation or issue. For example, I have not joined in the criticism of Ayn Rand for her having taken Social Security and Medicare in her later and last years. She paid into it as anyone else, and so what that she was philosophically opposed to it? If it helped her, I am glad for her. That is the point of a universal program--even for those with whom we disagree or despise receiving the benefit, and even those who may not need it receiving the benefit. And yes, even those for whom it would be hypocritical to receive the benefit. It is not "means-tested" because it is not mean and you don't have to pass a test to get it. It's for everyone. Rather than pushing these silly memes, let's try to remember these congresspeople like Ryan and DeSantis are the ones who pass oppressive laws, or in the case of Medicare for All or shoring up public pensions, stop nice laws from being passed. And that is why I admit to finding it so disgusting Paul Ryan and even DeSantis are getting a federal pension for the destruction each has left in the wake of their selfish tenures as public servants.
Bottom line: The answer is not the 28th Amendment. This proposed amendment is merely a long bumper sticker. The answer remains something that eluded Baby Boomers for most of our adult lives: Stop electing people who claim to hate government, claim to hate your getting medical care and pensions through the government, yet get it for themselves. How many of these people do we have to keep electing? If you want a pension and you want Medicare for All, then vote for people who will support and pass it.
In closing, I must note I never once have received this long meme from a Millennial or younger person. Only us Baby Boomers and my folks' generations, and maybe a few GenExers, send this crap. Some education we got that we are such suckers. Think of how simple it would have been, before sending this around, to check with Snopes--and reading the links at Snopes if you're one of those who does not like Slopes.
Kids, you know what to do. Vote even more in 2020. Save us. Save yourselves. Save the planet. We suck.
