All the Poor

down in Poor-ville

Liked affordable health care a lot ...

But Guv’ner Grinch,

From his mansion north of Poor-ville

Did NOT!

The Grinch hated the federal mandate! The whole Christmas season!

He must protect innocent doctors, that was his reason!

It could be his priorities were not quite right.

He pandered to the haves, considered the have-nots a blight.

He stood there on Christmas Eve, and spoke to the Poor,

“Alabama needs a doctor, and I am the cure.”

On the Bible of Jeff Davis, he placed his left hand.

Swore to fight for states’ rights and all the South land.

“God’s on our side, as history has proven.

“From Civil War to Civil Rights, we keep right on moving.”

Guv’ner Grinch stood in the hospital doorway, declaring secession,

Joined a confederacy of dunces to teach Obamacare a lesson.

Then he scowled, with an idea, that he thought quite cunning.

“I MUST find some way to stop health care from
coming!”

A quarter million in
Poor-ville awaited Christmas Day,

They languished in the ER, as was the merry way.

They wondered if they deserved the same care as the rest,

As good as all those who had been better blessed.

Would they live? Would they die? Would they all be forgotten?

Would they be denied by a greed that was smelling quite rotten?

Annoyed by the noise, Grinch hatched an idea!

The guv’ner got a wonderful, awful idea!

To the health insurance exchange, his answer was “NO!”

To Medicaid expansion, it was never a go.

“You can’t make us!” he yelled at the top of his
lungs.

“We’re proud to stay here on the very bottom rungs.”

The former doctor and deacon and Sunday school teacher.

Sneaked into the homes of every Poor creature.

Preventative care, he stole for his own.

He ignored pain and suffering, disregarded each moan.

“Get a job with good
benefits, that’s all you have to do!

“Just stop being poor, then you’ll have health care, too!”

A jolly story of Christmas, I had hoped to be sending,

But it won’t come to pass without lawyers unending.

Alabama will be forced to join those who are smart.

Then perhaps Guv’ner Grinch will rediscover his heart.

Executive Editor Scott Morris can be reached at 256-740-5721 or scott.morris@timesdaily.com