Special Olympics managed to make disabled children and newborn adults feel something extremely significant: “I can.”
Three decades ago, as part of my community service responsibilities, I spent one day a week working with adults with physical and intellectual disabilities at Easter Seals in Little Rock, Arkansas, organizing sporting events and speech and drama classes.
And I liked it very much.
What was most unforgettable were the beaming smiles of pride when they got the chance to show what they could do – culminating in their participation in Special Olympics. I have always loved sports, but never as much as these great matches.
For decades since then, my family has regularly given as much financial support as we could afford to Special Olympics. And it’s always great to assist spread an incredible amount of joy in this compact way.
Can you imagine how I must have felt to hear billionaire U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos advocate cutting all $17.6 million in federal funding for Special Olympics last week?
“It’s terrifying” decided Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.).
John Kasich, a former Republican governor of Ohio, called the cut “outrageous” and “ridiculous.”
“Cruel and reckless” they were words Selected by Representative Rosa DeLauro (D-Connecticut).
“Special Olympics is… . . private organization. I love this work and personally support its mission.” he objected knot. DeVos. “But given our current fiscal realities, the federal government cannot fund every worthwhile program, especially one that enjoys solid support from private donations.”
In fact, federal funding provides only about 10 percent of total revenue for Special Olympics, which actually raises more than $100 million a year in private donations from people like you and me.
Under further grilling Sen. Dick Durbin (R-Ill.), DeVos reiterated that, “You know. . . I donated part of my salary to Special Olympics,” he added: “I hope this whole debate will encourage many private donations to Special Olympics.”
And then she said to Senator Durbin: “So let’s not use disabled children in twisted ways in our political narrative. It’s just disgusting and shameful.”
But in the conversation between DeVos and Durbin, she saw the truth. When asked if this funding cut was her idea, Ms. DeVos explained that it was not. She was merely an MP, or whipping girl, for something that was clearly politically untenable for someone else in the administration.
That’s when our president, who stops elsewhere, ended the argument announcing he “defeated my people” to save the day of truth and justice, ensuring that the money spigot remained fully flowing.
But let’s now return to the confusion to answer my initial question: How did I personally feel when wealthy DeVos suggested – or at least publicly defended – a $17.6 million cut in Special Olympics funding?
Grateful . . . for her incredibly generous donation to Special Olympics, one of four charities to which she donated her entire 2017 federal salary. I admire people who give their own money to charity more than those who insist on “giving back” other people’s money money.
Many real people have benefited in a real way thanks to Sec’s generosity. DeVos and her family, that is apparently 88th richest in the country. But in this day and age, when “billionaire” is a bad word, let’s also note this Forbeswealth rankings also gave Ms. DeVos’s father-in-law, Richard DeVos — co-founder of Amway Corporation — the highest grade for being homemade.
I am grateful for Betsy DeVos’ sense of fiscal responsibility. Or someonesense. The government should not do for people what they can do for themselves.
Let’s finance this wonderful program ourselves, without the government forcing (taxing) one cent from others.
A check, cash or credit card is always better than mere virtue tokens or gum-slapping by politicians.
