Nothing Says ‘Dignity’

Mike Johnson on Medicaid: "What we've talked about is returning work requirements ... you return the dignity of work to young men who need to be out working instead of playing video games all day. We have a lot of fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicaid." pic.twitter.com/2ZjaLrh2bg

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 10, 2025

Just using that to quote this response to the Speaker’s remarks (remarks as empty and groundless as Elmo and DOGE denouncing “waste, fraud and abuse” without ever producing any evidence of it):

“Of course, nothing says ‘dignity’ like ripping healthcare away from poor people based on outdated, classist stereotypes,” wrote Wall Street investment banker Evaristus Odinikaeze. “Young men on Medicaid aren’t ‘playing video games all day,’ they’re often underpaid, overworked, or struggling in a rigged economy. This is just MAGA cruelty dressed up as moral judgment.”

And beyond that, like the Administration, no one responsible really cares about the cinsequences.

Annie Shoup of the nonprofit Protect Our Care wrote: “We know that people on Medicaid who are able to work already do. This will only hurt people and prevent them from getting the health care they deserve, including caregivers who are staying at home caring for family members.”

The organization Social Security Works added, “Medicaid pays for two-thirds of nursing home care in America. That’s what Mike Johnson wants to rip away from seniors and people with disabilities.”

As I said about secular morality (this can’t be called Christian morality except in the sense it was uttered by a Christian), it doesn’t ask the question of Christian morality so succinctly put by Tolstoy: “Hiw should we then live?” This secular amorality only asks: “Who’s in charge?” And immediately answers its own question: “We are. So fuck you!”