Indra’s Drishtikona (Viewpoint)

US Observation #5: People are same in US or India

Posted : February 22, 2005 at 8:44 am [IST]

I was surprised when I read a news item- Many middle-class and wealthy seniors transfer assets to their sons and relatives, impoverish themselves, and then qualify for Medicaid, primarily introduced as a safety net for poor mother and their children, to pick up their nursing home bills.The administration in US is trying to crackdown on what it sees as a major abuse in the system. Why should they do it? Why is so much love left for sons and daughters at the fag end of the life that makes them take such a mean step? The same old traditional feeling of a responsibility to leave some thing for the offspring to make their life better is the motive behind these illegal actions.

Another story in February 21 issue of Business Week also moved me. It relates to the younger Sandwich Generation that cares for both parents and kids. The story Between a Rocker and a High Chairis by Andrew Park who works for Business Week. Adding an adult with special needs to a busy household is arduous. Not surprisingly, caregivers are higher risk of depression, sickness, and financial instability, and two-thirds have to cut back their hours at work or take unpaid leave to maintain their multiple roles. Still, I would never trade the past three years. It might be because I spent my adolescence watching my parents care for my grandmother the same way.I never thought, the younger generation in US is so considerate, when in India the older parents are finding it difficult to lead peaceful life. But it is the same everywhere. There are always some who carry out responsibilities of their old parents with all problems. Some dont as if they will never grow old.

And today when I walked along the Lick Mill, I found again at least three carts of Safeway- the provision store chain lying in different places on Lick Mill Road itself. These carts are meant for using inside and in parking area of Safeway. But there are some irresponsible people here too. They have brought these carts up to their apartment for their convenience and left them on roads. Anand says it must be non-Americans who would have brought them. They may be any one, but on the whole human beings are same all over the world. Our behavior requires certain discipline and improvement.

- Indra

Category: IRS in US '05 |