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Living in Society

Winter Layering

Trail walking.

The number one tip for helping seniors stay warm indoors during winter is wearing layers of clothing. Begin with a tank top, a t-shirt next, a woolen shirt, then a light jacket. As we age, we tend to be chilly in winter. Cocooning with layers can help.

We also have a tendency to get stir crazy, as evidenced in the questions callers asked during Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ telephone town hall on Tuesday. One woman was in a hospital room for the previous two days and was concerned about Medicare not paying for treatment of a family member’s Alzheimer’s Disease. She could not be consoled, and seemed distraught, even after Rep. Miller-Meeks said a relative of hers had Alzheimer’s and Medicare paid for treatment.

The questions were mostly good, although people need to do a better job asking them. Focus people! You are not in your media bubble at home! Try out your questions before joining the call. Practice! I know, it is a lot to ask.

I made it through to the end. The parts Miller-Meeks read, about the new golden age, energy dominance, and the like, were hardened talking points she used previously in her newsletters. Her way of saying these things drives me crazy. It’s like she’s paying tribute to the MAGA gods before getting started with her shtick, the way a priest says a prayer and does the sign of the cross before approaching the altar.

I took away a couple of things:

  • They are working on passing the budget through reconciliation, not regular order.
  • She is all in on DOGE.
  • Current Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid will not be cut now, but any enhancements from the Affordable Care Act are on the table.
  • No answers on what to do to bring more manufacturing to Iowa.
  • USAID is not supported by her and others and will likely be cut dramatically or eliminated.
  • She waffled on the question about privatizing the VA.

I spent worse hours, like the time my boss made me listen to Rush Limbaugh while we were driving around Pennsylvania back in the day. At least I know how to stay warm in winter.