Two weeks ago I cracked one of my last three bottom molars. I've been on a diet of mush and liquids since then while waiting for an appointment at the dental clinic which takes my state insurance. This morning I finally got in- and they couldn't do anything for it there. All they could do was offer a referral to have it pulled elsewhere.

The problem is, it and the other two bottom molars have already been previously repaired and need crowns. State insurance doesn't cover crowns, only fillings and cleanings. So I'm faced with an issue I've unfortunately been in many times before: what can I afford to do? And the answer looks like I should get used to drinking my meals...

Pulling a tooth costs $90 - $120, and getting a crown costs $1000 - $1500. When you're out of work and have no savings, even the first option is difficult. But when you're in pain and can't afford being so distracted while job searching, you sell something and get it pulled. For people in America, poverty ensures ongoing medical suffering.

Payment plans (in-house financing) depends on credit and income, so someone in my position doesn't qualify. The dental schools seem to have stopped accepting willing poor guinea pigs due to COVID. I have called around, but the pricing is pretty consistent- only one is willing to honor an expired summer special and charge just $950.

Those with the means can invest wisely in their futures to maintain a quality of life. Those without the resources are forced into making necessary short-term "choices" that negatively affect long-term and psychological well-being. It's that boot story: rich men buy boots which last years, while poor men can only afford the six month ones.

Of course, these days the rich can just invest in boot stocks and live off the profit returns as poor workers continually ensure more sales... does that sound like a high-tech modern version of slavery to anyone else?

So teeth are special bones that only privileged people can keep, I guess. My partner is in the same situation. All our funds are tied up in a multiple-shop snowballed engine-repair-turned-replacement at the moment, and after that we need to pay bills, do house repairs, and rebuild our emergency funds. Who can afford $6k in crowns?

This sort of crap is why I fought for Bernie during both his runs. I'm leftist, but not the Blue Team's right-wing Leftist Lite version- you're not representative of Leftism if you're carrying corporate water and repeating their talking points, IMO. And it doesn't somehow turn us into Red Teamers just because we see this game for the farce it is.

There isn't any actual freedom in America, just tiers of purchasable privilege with the illusion of a meritocracy to justify it. There isn't a functional form of representation in America, when beneficiaries of our rigged system are the insulated minority running it. Both parties defending the status quo against a majority is not democracy.

Real freedom would mean universal healthcare, including teeth and eyes. Real representation would be if majority-wanted policies were allowed to manifest politically. Real democracy would mean serious real-world day-to-day issues such as this were made a priority over 1% foreign wars for profit and their insurance lobbyists sponsors.

But like my teeth, we're expendable. A surplus commodity. Is it any wonder some of us are skeptical when our oligarchic owners decree new commandments for "noble, life-saving reasons"? They've been fighting us tooth and nail on that front for decades, but we should suddenly buy into their "we are authoritarian humanitarians" act?

Healthy skepticism isn't conspiracy theorism when it's warranted. I would gently suggest that anyone who doesn't feel it's warranted in America educate themselves, and quickly. Neither duopoly religion serves the ideals they pretend to, nor us; only the almighty dollar. They're a paid firewall for elites to manage their public relations.

Now if you'll excuse me, I think it's time for a dinner yogurt...