The Lingering Scent of Conflict
Conflict smells vague and bitter—like day-old coffee, sulfur before a match ignites, or uncollected trash lingering too long on a sweltering day. It clings to frozen sidewalks on a frosty morning, settling into the cracks of daily life. Left unattended, conflict can shudder a window, shut a door, or close a once-open heart.
When Politics Harms the People, We Love
On this Valentine’s Day—a day that celebrates love in all its forms, not just romance but also the love of family, friends, community, and country—we face an unsettling question:
What happens when the people we love and respect make political choices that could unintentionally harm those they cherish?
One of the many discussions concerning government programs being cut or altered by the current US government administration and Congress is Medicaid.
Medicaid provides funding for programs ranging from health care, support, and supplemental food sources for those lacking resources to provide opportunities to help them independently and for physical assistance for people with disabilities.
As discussions appear in the media about these Medicaid cuts, families feel the sting of an uninformed remark, the off-the-cuff dismissal— “They will never cut Medicaid. Not for people like Mikelle. She needs it — while every headline and policy discussion suggests otherwise. Those words cut deep for those who rely on Medicaid as a lifeline and a tie to the community.
Wounds fester, and trust between friends, colleagues, and loved ones begins to erode from the constant drip of an unending news cycle, which fosters misunderstandings of potential impacts on real lives. Distrust takes root in the dark, dank alleyways of ignorance, anger, and even hate.
How, then, will love prevail?
As policymakers discuss and make decisions, tension rises like tectonic plates grinding against each other. Issues like immigration, the national debt, or access to healthcare at first seem like distant policy debates—until they are not—until they become personal.
For those depending on programs like Medicaid, decisions are being made—BIG decisions that may have monumental impacts on individuals, families, and communities. These decisions will determine whether people like my daughter, Mikelle, can continue to remain vibrant members of her community.
Mikelle has worked on and off since she was sixteen. is buying her own home. She pays taxes. She employs five women—who also pay taxes. She may be the first quadriplegic nonverbal podcaster heard across Australia, the United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium, Egypt, China, Japan, Canada, and the United States. Her podcast interviews range from subject matter experts in the field to various people with lived experiences with disabilities, multicultural perspectives, building an effective support team, and just having fun.
Then there’s Amy, a quadriplegic media producer who produces high-end media and communication content for various organizations—all from her wheelchair.
Without Medicaid, neither Mikelle nor Amy could get out of bed, go to the bathroom, eat a meal, or sip a glass of water. Because of her high-earning job, Amy even pays into the Medicaid Buy-In program—investing in her care so she can work.
Not all people with similar needs, have these options but receive aid through the Long-term care system under the Home and Community Based Services Medicaid waiver.
Without Medicaid, Who Will Care for Those Who Need It Most?
What about the 89-year-old mother who still cares for her 75-year-old son with a genetic condition and an intellectual and developmental disability? They both rely on Medicaid and Medicare.
What about the veterans who stood up when asked to serve? Not every vet benefits from just the VA. Forty percent of them depend on Medicaid—for wheelchairs that help them move and for prosthetic limbs to replace the ones lost in battle.
What about the young man who is eager to explore the world and dives into the lake on a summer day? His strong hands slice through the water—until the moment his neck snaps and his limbs go limp. His friend’s rescue saves his life, but in an instant, everything changes. Surgeries follow. His once-athletic body no longer responds, yet his mind remains sharp, and he is eager to work. With Medicaid, he works full-time. A caregiver arrives each morning and evening so he can live at home rather than in an institution setting.
What Matters More: Politics or People?
Are immigration issues more critical than ensuring hardworking and capable people—all contributing to society—can get into their wheelchairs in the morning?
What about the 60-year-old construction developer whose forgetfulness slowly unraveled his business? He built homes, and communities, but now the bridges and structures of his mind are deteriorating. His savings buckle under the weight of $6,000 to $9,000, the average cost of memory care in Denver, Colorado.
During the five years, the disease progressed to the point where he could no longer recognize the people he loved. He can no longer dress himself. Medicaid protects his family from taking on the care and fiscal responsibility affecting their retirement needs.
Tell me: Which issue is more critical to our communities? Healthcare or tariffs? Immigration or hospitals?
Healthcare Deserts Are Growing
Hospitals, on average, rely on Medicaid for 21% of their revenue. In rural areas, that number is even higher.
What happens when small-town clinics close? When is the nearest emergency room three hours away? When a farmer in eastern Colorado suffers a heart attack, and there is no trained EMT nearby?
Just a 5% cut in Medicaid rates could close thirteen clinics in eastern Colorado alone, turning the eastern plains into a healthcare desert.
What Does “America First” Really Mean?
Tell me, what does America First mean when our neighbors die from neglect? How does this make America great again?
As my eyes witness current events, my tongue struggles to praise them.
On my knees, I am desperately searching for common ground. My fingers are worn, and my nail beds are dirty. My eyes lift toward the heavens for hope, and my heart searches for guidance.
Together, we can and will find common ground and protect our families, our veterans, and our rural communities.
This is not just my fight. It is our fight.
Join me.
Citations:
https://www.definitivehc.com/resources/healthcare-insights/hospital-payor-mix-state
https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/fy2025-26_hcphrg1.pdf