First I admit I'm a smoker. I made that choice many years ago to smoke. I made that choice like many people make unhealthy choices such as drinking or eating fatty foods, etc. There are lots of unhealthy things and in fact the world is just an unhealthy place in general. I don't personally care what people do since I am pro-choice when it comes to an individual deciding what they can live with, what they choose to live with. I don't and wouldn't walk up to a person eating McDonalds fatty food and telling them, "That's going to kill you." but I have had people feel that it is their right to walk up and tell me that about cigarettes (as if I didn't know that information and it isn't telecasted and plastered on the side of my cigarette pack). Maybe we should just put a warning lable on everything because everything is a hazard? Or maybe people should tend to their own nasty affairs and not give free advice as if it was their privilaged place and job. If everyone told everybody what they thought, what they should and shouldn't do there would be a world of offended people. Somehow society has planted the notion that it's okay to offend people who chose to smoke.
Now aside from that I am just going to throw this out as well. I do want and hope for universal health care BUT I have a bone to pick concerning the cigarette tax going to pay for other people's offsprings health care. What about people who NEVER have children, who make a conscious choice to not have them? Why should those people pay for someone elses choice or lack of choice in having children that they can't afford health care for? What about older adults who have grown adult children? Should they have to pay for someone elses childs health care? What bother's me is the inequity in the cigarette tax paying for someone elses child. What do smoker's get out of it. Forget social conscious since people are rude to smokers and lack the conscious to mind their business. Forget that everyone actually cares for every child because they don't.
There are plenty of unwanted children that people have spawned for multitudes of reasons. Plenty of churches support pro-life but NEVER support the unwed mothers financially over the years as they struggle financially to take care of the child. Society has no rules concerning how many babies people can randomly spawn and have the system pay out for them and believe me I have seen plenty of women in my area who know full well that by having that extra child they can raise their income through programs. You wanna talk about irresponsible behavior vs cigarette smoking. How is it that it's okay for people who cannot afford children to demand that society take care of their children rather than use BIRTH CONTROL. Every health department will hand out bag fulls of free condoms to those who can't afford them. I am offended that people can make the unhealthy choice of spawning babies like rabbits, who take no responsibility as to how they intend to pay for those children and it falls upon society to figure it out. I suggest that there should be a limit on how many children people can have based upon income and if they are currently recieving any type of government assistance for the current children they have they should be told that if they have more than those children that they will not recieve assistance for any further pregnancies.
I've heard the idea that raising cigarette tax may make people quit smoking. Well maybe if people knew that they weren't going to get further assistance for having extra babies they'd quit having them. I'm not so socially concerned that I am just dying to take care of other people's choice to have children that they cannot afford medical care for. Frankly I am offended when I made the personal choice to have ONE and only one child because I knew I couldn't afford more than that one but there were no rewards for that choice. Have you ever noticed that the right choices never reap reward? No one is paying for my bad habit, and I'm not asking for help to pay for it. I chose to smoke, I pay for those cigarettes and I know that I can die. In truth, there are moments that I am content to chose my poison I'm fine dying since I am going to die anyway. Even the job I have being a convenience store clerk puts me in danger of death from robbers who could shoot me down in a heartbeat. If I get in a car I could die. Realistically I'm headed that way and I personally don't care about the last ten years of my life since they will likely be a burden on society and my family since those years lack quality and generally demand a lot of health care.
Here's my question - What do I get out of paying that tax? As a person who no longer has any small children and won't have any small children, what is my gain? Don't give me the social goody two shoes talk because I frankly don't care about other people's children that they chose to have and chose to support. Oh and the notion that it will make people quit smoking is kind of inane because think about this, if they all quit smoking then where will the money come from to pay for all those children's health care. People should be thanking smokers for doing their part as American citizens and smoking their lungs out for all the little kiddies who don't have health care. We smokers should be recieving some kind of reward for doing our part and giving back or maybe when all the smokers quit the government will pick on your habit and make you pay out the ass to take care of someone elses problem child.
In the process of raising taxes on Cigarettes the government has likely single handedly put even more people out of work. The tobacco farmers, the truckers who ship it, the manufacturers, the reps who go to retail stores to set the displays, the retailers who rely upon the sales of cigarettes. All these people will find themselves displaced with nowhere to go if this stupid make up the loss by once again taxing cigarettes persists as the mode of fixing money problems in Washington. I'm somewhat amazed at the stupidity and well if they are going to start taxing unhealthy products there are plenty of them. Over and over it's been noted that Americans are among the fattests people worldwide and that obesity brings a myriad of health issues with it, but I don't see them raising taxes on fast foods and other unhealthy food products that will lead to high cholesterol, heart disease, diabetes and other health issues and health care costs. I don't see them raising the taxes on alcohol which causes health problems as well as multiple car accidents causing injury or death as well as alcoholism which means health care costs. I don't see a lot of healthy looking representatives in Washington D.C. who look fit and lean. They look fat and as though their publicly paid for lunches at expensive restaruants that use highly fatty food products has worked a little too well. I don't think that American's should have to pay for any of their lunches by them pulling resources for "business meetings". They should have to pay their own way for their own lunches because why should I as an American have to pay for a Senator or Congressman to eat with unhealthy habits as they often do.
Oh come on, when does this kind of thing end and where does it end. We all know that the prohibition era didn't succeed but actually increased the volume of crime. I can tell you that the elevated cost in cigarettes will actually cause more crime in lower income areas as people will seek to obtain money to keep their habits. So this whole thing of how the Government planning to fix taxes for medical by raising the taxes on Cigarettes again has and will actually make more problems in the process. Stupidity seems to run rampant in D.C. once again. People will do their bad habits regardless but once you pick on one eventually someone will point out your bad habits as well and so the great game of equalizing will begin again. Which while we're on the subject of equality lets put religion in there as well. If one wants to be separated from the State then why try to envoke your beliefs upon those who do not believe, i.e. alcohol being sold later on Sunday's or not at all in some places on Sunday. There is no legal justification what so ever as to why Sunday morning is any different or has more potential for harm by purchasing alcohol at the same time as any other day. What happens on Sunday that doesn't happen any other day? Church! So the rest of the community that doesn't believe in Church or God are living under the inforced alcohol sales time that basically religious people have pushed for. Those same Churches that pay no taxes! Hey, how about we start getting a little back from the Churches who scream and shout for equal rights but don't pay into the system like every other community or individual or group.
What about the millions that go into paying for women with children. Women who don't and haven't used protection to keep from getting pregnant multiple times but will get money for their irresponsible behavioral habits. Why not limit the amount paid into these programs? Why not limit the amount of children that will be covered by programs such as these? Any responsible parent won't have more children than they can afford so why is society allowing women to have multiple pregnancies that they can't afford and paying for it? If people knew that they wouldn't get help they would likely use protection in order not to feel the burden of responsibility in paying for what they can't afford but if people think they are covered they will continue to perpetuate the same habit. I knew of a girl in my apartment complex who was a druggie that kept having children in order to get money and it happens a lot that way. I knew of some women who were working and on food stamps but they used all their excess money to go out with their boy friends to gamble on dog fights. Why is it that they seem to afford food but have money to pay in on an illegal dog fight? So when the Government charges working people more and more with taxes and yet lets people slide who abuse the system it makes me livid with hateful anger.
Okay, I know that there are valid situations where people do really need supplemental help but there should be limits set especially where some situations could be helped such as multiple pregnancies. Birth control is free at any clinic for the lower income groups, and the health department gives out free condoms to those who cannot afford them so there really isn't an excuse. See how it goes? There is no end to these kinds of thing and the Government needs to find better ways to fix the financial problems we have because it hasn't worked and it's not working. People in Washington D.C. is out of touch and they need to get out there and research. Not in the wealthy communities but in the middle and lower income communities to find out what problems are there and where they could be fixed. Wait, visit the wealthy communities too and find out what excess needs to be cut and tax them for once in their greedy lives like the rest of America. I'm working hard long hours and I resent more tax hikes seeing as my income is not more than about a thousand fifty monthly.
Barack Obama will win.
This is the day that Barack Obama wins!
It has been a while since I posted on this blog. I have been unwavering in my support of Barack and have been instrumental when I could.
There is much I have wanted to say. That can all wait. I may take some time tomorrow to catch up with posts and tell my stories.
That can all wait.
Right now all I really want to do is to give my condolences to the Obama family for the loss of Barack's grandmother. From the little I know about her, she was an incredible woman. I wish she could have lived one more day to see her grandson become president. But, I am sure that her spirit will be there -- be watching him as he takes the stage.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Barack and Michelle.
/lisa
LISA SINGH
Busy Day at the spin-off office in Hampton, New Hampshire. Over a hundred volunteers out canvassing, passing out campaign literature, and waving signs. About that number at the other two Hampton area offices. In they come, from Cambridge, Martha's Vineyard, hampton Beach, Newburyport, by the dozen. And we got our routine down: meet & greet, please sign in, thank you for coming, get your turf from Lloyd, then go to that room for your briefing, get your snack and don't forget to sign out. "Wow, are you guys organized!". Things are heating up.
We just heard Barack's pep talk, via conference call. Jon Carson started the conversion off by telling us the dish from the field - "in North Carolina, we have a half million early voting advantage. In Nevada, we have a 13 percent advantage in the early vote. In Florida, we have 3.8 million early votes caste."
Then Barack came on the line, from Missouri. He mentioned that four months ago "we were behind in all the swing states but look what you're hard work has done. You have made me so proud of you". Of course he reminded us that every vote counts and ask us to double down our time committments - "you can sleep after the election" - bring all our friends, especially the young voters, and to help keep peoples spirits up as they waited in very long lines. "You are the life blood of this campaign. And it would be a terrible shame to have come this far and just fall short." Barack encouraged us to keep up the good work until the end.
"Thank God he didn't say Remember New Hamshire!", said a woman volunteer as she input data into the Vote Builder.
It both saddens me and disgusts me that these 2 are using so much anger, fear, hate and lies to divide us at a time when understanding, honesty, unity and courage are what we need. That is what would be best for our country! So, I'm asking them to follow their own 'slogan' and put our country 1st for a change!!
Not to mention the RNC and their robocalls! Unethical and unacceptable!
What would you ask them to do to show us that they are putting 'country 1st'?
looking forward to hearing from you!
Gail/Obama in the Heart, Peoria, IL
... and I thought I would take the time out of the busy day to get at least one blog entry in before the great historical event. It all seems good out there but clearly none of us can take anything for granted. Tehre will be no "well, he is a shoo in so I don't have to vote today" thing like the Obama Girl back in the Primaries (shame on her! Party the day after!)
I could vote early but I want to see what the polls look like on the day ... it's a ... different feeling and I want to really experience this in totality ... history and being part of it ...
I wonder what it will be like ... And wht happens to all this once it is over?
Here and now... savoring it ... when "then" comes ... I will svor that, too.
In my local paper someone sent in an editorial condeming a negative cartoon about Palin in the editorial section and called the newspaper unfairly biased to Obama. They also praised McCain for his military service and denounced Obama for his lack of military service. Here is my editorial response:
To the Editor:
I response to Hawksley of Foxboro's editorial on Oct. 9th.
First let me say in defense of The Sun Chronicle, who may or may not be in the Obama camp. The job of a newspaper is to report the news as it comes, and to let the local people express their views. I believe the cartoon your speaking of was in the editorial section which directly represents the opinions of the people. They did publish you letter. Keeping that in mind you would have to agree that the lack of pro-McCain ramblings in the Sun Chronicle would be due to the peoples lack of support for the Republican Ticket.
Secondly as far as the attacks against Palin, which are pale in comparison to the fraudulent attacks on Obama. Her speeches lack substance and resemble pep rallies not presidential addresses, and that is causing the attacks. Yes she has been a good Governor of Alaska, but she has not been extraordinary. Not to discredit Palin's experience but Alaska has about the same population as the City of Boston. Would you be just as supportive for Mayor Menino as VP?
Now I do respect McCain for his honorable service to our country, but it is not an entitlement to the presidency. My disgust lies with the lack of respect for Obama's humble beginnings, and the view of him as an elitist. He was son to a poor single mother on food stamps, and somehow graduated from Harvard. Instead of choosing a high paying job on Wall Street he choose to serve his community. You said Obama has not fought for his country, I disagree. He has most certainly fought for his country by fighting for its people and their livelihood. America would be nothing without its work force. Who do you think supports the troops overseas? Is this not honorable? Obama's personal story is proof that the American Dream is still alive and it displays the possibilities available to all American citizens.
You are right Palin does deserve respect and so does Obama. A man who rose from nothing and is spending his life giving back.
Paul GaudreauSeekonk, MA
What is Patriotism? What does it mean to be Patriotic? I love this country and I would like to consider myself a Patriot, but I have one problem, I'm a Democrat. I am very confused by this notion that only Republicans can be Patriots. Is it true that Republicans are the only ones to put "Country First". If so what are Democrats putting first?
Maybe Democrats are putting "Economy First" by sponsoring government regulation on big corporations to keep them from taking advantage of Americans. Deregulation has lead to the biggest housing crises our country has seen since the great depression.
Actually Democrats are probably putting "Security First" because they disagreed with the Iraq War and wanted to spend all of our efforts going after Al-Qaida and Osama Bin Laden. Spending everything in Iraq, and neglecting the War in Afghanistan, allowed Al-Qaida to grow in strength.
No I know what it is, Democrats are putting "People First" by sponsoring government aid to actual struggling Americans rather than big corporations. Democrats will raise taxes on those who can afford it and lower taxes on those who need it. if you make $40,000 a year could you use an extra $1000? An if you make $3,000,000 a year could you afford to pay $700,000 in taxes to help your fellow Americans?
Patriotism is supporting your fellow Americans who are having trouble. Patriotism is defending your fellow Americans from invading enemies. Patriotism is protecting your fellow Americans from greedy corporations. I believe Patriotism is a love for your country and a passion for it to be the best it can be.
On November 4th, 2008 I am going to prove my Patriotism and I will be putting my "Country First" by voting for a Democrat named Barack Obama.
Paul Gaudreau
Seekonk, MA
Here's where the Obama family will live for the next eight years:
He'll be working with these people
To make life better for the people who live here
He's going to work to
and that will help the people of the
JUST PICTURE IT....FEEL WHAT IT IS YOU WILL FEEL WHEN THE ELECTION WORK IS DONE AND THE REAL WORK CAN BEGIN!
On a brisk day last fall in Prineville, Ore., Raymond and Deanna Donaca faced the unthinkable: They were losing their home to foreclosure and had days to move out.
For more than two decades, the couple had lived in their three-level house, where the elms outside blazed with yellow shades of fall and their four golden retrievers slept in the yard. The town had always been home, with a lazy river and rolling hills dotted by gnarled juniper trees.
Yet just before lunch on Oct. 23, the Donacas closed all their home's doors except the one to the garage and left their 1981 Cadillac Eldorado running. Toxic fumes filled the home. When sheriff's deputies arrived at about 1 p.m., they found the body of Raymond, 71, on the second floor along with three dead dogs. The body of Deanna, 69, was in an upstairs bedroom, close to another dead retriever.
"It is believed that the Donacas committed suicide after attempts to save their home following a foreclosure notice left them believing they had few options," the Crook County Sheriff's Office said in a report.
Their suicides were a tragic extreme, but the Donacas' case symbolizes how the housing crisis is wrenching the emotional lives of legions of homeowners. The escalating pace of foreclosures and rising fears among some homeowners about keeping up with their mortgages are creating a range of emotional problems, mental health specialists say. Those include anxiety disorders, depression and addictive behaviors such as alcoholism and gambling. And, in a few cases, suicide.
Crisis hotlines are reporting a surge in calls from frantic homeowners. The American Psychological Association (APA) and other mental-health groups are publishing tips on how to handle the emotional stress triggered by the real estate meltdown. Psychologists say they're seeing more drinking, domestic violence and marital problems linked to mortgage concerns -- as well as children trying to cope with extreme anxiety when their families are forced to move.
"They're depressed, anxious. It's affected marriages, relationships," says Richard Chaifetz, CEO of ComPsych, a Chicago-based employee-assistance firm that is counseling homeowners over mortgage fears. "People tend to catastrophize, and that leads to depression. Suicide rates go up. We see an increase in drinking, outbursts at work, violence toward kids. Before, their houses were like ATMs," as they rose in value. "Now, they feel trapped like a rat in a corner."
Foreclosure filings surged 65 percent in April compared with the same month last year, according to a report Wednesday by RealtyTrac. One in every 519 households received a foreclosure filing last month, and the number of homes with foreclosure activity in April was the highest monthly total since RealtyTrac began issuing the report in January 2005.
Don Donaca, Raymond's brother, says it's hard to understand the suicide, but he thinks the pending foreclosure led to their deaths.
"He got so deep in debt he couldn't figure out what else to do," says Don, 74, a retired sawmill worker in Prineville. "I guess a guy would have to walk a few miles in his shoes to understand."
Many other homeowners are at risk of less severe, but still significant, psychological distress: One in seven homeowners worry that they won't be able to make their mortgage payments on time over the next six months, according to an April Associated Press-AOL Money & Finance poll, and more than one-quarter fear their home will decline in value during the next two years.
ComPsych says financial concerns are now the top issue the firm's counselors are hearing in calls from clients. Calls about financial worries have surged 20 percent over last year; those related to mortgage problems have doubled.
"It's escalated to the No. 1 issue because of the housing crisis," Chaifetz says.
Half of Americans identify housing costs, such as rent or mortgage payments, as significant sources of stress, particularly on the East and West coasts, a 2007 survey by the APA says. Sixty-one percent in the West, and 55 percent in the East (compared with 47 percent in the Midwest and 43 percent in the South) reported housing costs as a very or somewhat significant source of stress.
"The problem affects the whole spectrum, not just people losing their homes," says Leslie Beth Wish, a psychologist and social worker in Sarasota, Fla. "The stress exacerbates what is already there. It brings to the surface problems that were often already there, like marital problems. There is so much blaming people for the situations they're in, and that adds to it."
One of Wish's patients was semiretired when she bought a home in 2005 in southwest Florida as an investment that she hoped to "flip," turning a profit. The woman now owes more than the house is worth and can't sell it.
Wish says her client has developed anxiety, dwelling on her financial situation from the time she wakes up to the time she goes to sleep. Other clients, Wish says, are reporting physical symptoms such as headaches and stomach pains stemming from anxiety over their mortgage situation.
ComPsych's counselors are hearing similar stories of the mental-health toll caused by the housing slump. At the request of USA TODAY, ComPsych's spokeswoman Jennifer Hudson queried counselors to come up with examples of the types of employees they're helping. One couple were going through a divorce, and the wife told ComPsych counselors that financial stress was the final trigger. They had maxed out their credit cards and were living off credit in hopes that they could keep their house. Another woman called because she suspected her husband was gambling again, apparently hoping to win big so they could repair their financial mess. She was afraid they were going to have to move in with her parents, ComPsych says.
You are amoral unethical cowardly greedy heartless capitalists! You got yourselves into this mess so why should little America get you out of it? You haven't answered the question yet. You hid behind the President's pant leg begging like a college kid for mummy to send you money because you wrecklessly spent what she sent you last month. You are nothing but snobbish spoiled high brow kids who haven't grown up yet and expect everyone to pay their way in life. You used the average consumer duping them into purchasing homes that you FULL well knew that they couldn't afford! You went to college for financial educations, not the average citizen, so it was up to you to be responsible and make sure those people knew what your dealings with them were. In truth you hoped and prayed that they wouldn't understand so that you could feed off of them like a hyena feeds off the weak prey! No one has mercy or compassion for you now and why should they!
You need to be taught a true lesson and pay the price for your own folly! No one of us average people in the U.S. could give a crap that you got yourselves in this mess. We don't want to bail you out! We paid taxes but you didn't! We don't earn over a billion a year but you do! We don't own multiple homes, multiple cars, private jets, private cruise ships. We don't have excessive savings squirrled away like you do. Why don't you do what the rest of us do and give up everything you have to save your own butt! Isn't that what you expected each and every home owner to do when you forclosed on them? If you died tomorrow no one in the United States would mourn you except for your rich mummies, daddies and possibly your Country Club friends! As for the rest of us in the U.S. we loathe you, we are sickened by your deplorable amorality and greed and we don't feel any sorrow or mercy for you! Some of us are not hear to even speak to you because under the strain of losing everything they committed suicide out of the hopeless dispair in losing their lifelong family homes that you convinced them to refinance without warning them of possible downfalls because you were GREEDY!
In the end, we should all revolt against you and Washington D.C. and demand that you get NOTHING from any U.S. citizen as you gave us NOTHING when we needed your help! Thanks for nothing and may you rot in your filthy mire and live with the guild every day of the rest of your hopefully shortened greedy life knowing that America HATES you and could care less if you are in trouble now! There are good neighbors who reach out with loving hands to meet the needs of their community, but you are not a part of the American community and you don't deserve our support or help! Shame on all of you for even suggesting that we Bail you out! You are the most disgusting lowly bunch of losers that I think I've ever known of! Shame on Bush for supporting you and expecting us to foot your foolhearty disaster!
The Magnitude and Meaning of the Proposed Bailout:What $700 Billion for Wall Street means on Main Street
NPP Provides Analysis of $700 Billion for Taxpayers
The plan proposed by President Bush and Secretary Paulson for a $700 billion bailout of Wall Street is difficult for most people to comprehend. At NPP, we've been crunching the numbers and offer this analysis of what $700 billion means to taxpayers.
A healthy and productive economy requires substantial investment in affordable housing, health care, education and renewable energy. Taxpayers in the United States will be required to pay $700 billion for the Wall Street bailout. They should also know that for the same amount of money, they could secure the following:
51.6 million people with health care for four years OR
181.2 million homes with renewable electricity for four years OR
2.9 million elementary school teachers for four years OR
27 million four-year scholarships for university students
$700 billion is more than what is currently allocated for the U.S. war in Iraq. This amount would allow us to repair all of our nations 77,000 deteriorated bridges and still have $519 billion to spend; or it would allow us to rebuild all of our nations 33,000 deteriorating schools and still have $664 billion to spend. For more analysis and trade-offs at the State and Congressional District level, please visit National Priorities Project's Trade-offs page online (www.nationalpriorities.org/tradeoffs).
Take action:
Call the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121
First of all I believe that everyone seeking bailout should be required to reveal ALL sources of income that they have. This includes properties, other banks, boats, cars, homes, everything!
Next I believe that they should be required to liquidate those addition assets to pay back us taxpayer's for the debt that we covered bailing them out. They should NOT be allowed to keep an excess of more than two cars and one home! That's what most of us have so it should be good enough for them too! ;p
A thorough investigation of each party involved should be conducted and should any of them be found in illegal activity they should not be allowed access to ANY bailout funds as this would be aiding and abetting criminals.
All parties involved in getting bailed should technically be treated like any person applying for SSI. Which means that they must give up the largest portion of assets in order to recieve help from the U.S. Gov. they may not have more than 2,000 dollars in a savings account and can only own 1 house and 1 car. Other than that they shouldn't get any more than what the government allows the average citizen that needs supplemental assistance which is below the poverty level.
Okay that should help Wall Street to NEVER again have this kind of problem once they realize that there are no FREEBIES and they have to give up EVERYTHING to get help like the rest of us working citizens who pay taxes. Oh and they need to start paying taxes like the rest of us. Then we would all be on an even playing field for real!
While Washington finds time to hastily bail out Wall Street U.S. Citizens are dying and begging to get their SSD or SSI benefits that they paid taxes into for years! It is a disgrace and shameful fact that Washington will let thousands of Americans go hungry and homeless, lose ALL their income waiting in line for help due to some catastrophic illness but they will help Wall Street Bankers with heafty incomes and savings account out of their CHOSEN folly! Why are American's so complacent to go along with rescuing people who don't need rescuing while allowing our fellow citizens to suffer? It is ignorance and the fact that these disabled individules stories are hidden from us. Our Government makes its promises of giving back to us what we pay in. In truth they are liars and should you ever need ssd or ssi good luck getting it! All that money goes to the wealthy bankers and Washington buddies who don't need it!
Social Security Disability Reform
To: US Government Money is taken out of your paychecks every week for Social Security, and SSD and as of January 2003 the US government GAO has designated Social Security Disability a HIGH risk area for 2003. You could face homelessness, bankruptcy and even death trying to get your benefits when you need them the most. Anyone could suddenly find themselves in a situation where they need to access this fund – such as an accident, catastrophic illness, a victim of a crime, military personnel, veterans and now we have the threat of terrorist attacks – these are unfortunate realities of life. Millions of people across the country become disabled unexpectedly - 12,000 per week in this country apply for long-term disability benefits. What happens if your work disability insurance runs out, if you don’t have it, or worse yet become unemployed? You will then need to turn to the most mismanaged system in the country – the Social Security Disability System. What you will find is that the current system is set up to kill you so they don’t have to pay you. Billions of dollars are being spent in foreign lands and on pork barrel programs, and we want the government to focus on and fix this growing problem here at home now. Here are just a few of the major issues we would like to see addressed:
We are concerned about what transpires from the first point of contact, the filing for benefits, and the final outcome or status. Disability benefits determinations should be based solely on the physical or mental disability of the applicant. Neither age, education or any other factors should ever be considered when evaluating whether or not a person is disabled. Discrimination of this form is highly illegal in this country, yet this is a standard practice when deciding Social Security Disability determinations and should be considered a violation of our Constitution. This practice should be addressed and eliminated immediately. Many people who apply for disability don’t “look” sick - you can’t tell if a person has cancer, heart disease, diabetes or any other debilitating diseases just by looking at them. We did not chose this fate it was forced upon us! Yet we are treated as “disposable people” and often viewed as lazy or frauds. The extraordinary time it takes to process a claim from the original filing date should be eliminated. Why should we have to become homeless, bankrupt, starve, lose our healthcare coverage, suffer untold stress on top of our illnesses, and even die trying to get our benefits? We are now being told that because of the backlog that these are the only circumstances that anyone will even look at our paperwork now no matter how sick we are. Why should we have to file for welfare, food stamps and Medicaid after we have lost everything due to this backlog - another horrendous process - because of the inadequacies in the Social Security Disability offices and then have to pay Social Services back from our measly benefit checks? Nobody else who files for public assistance has to do that – why are disabled people being discriminated against?
If we provide sufficient medical documents when we originally file for benefits why should we ever be denied at the initial stage, have to hire lawyers, wait years for hearings, go before administrative law judges and be treated like criminals on trial? Too much weight at the initial time of filing, is put on the independent medical examiner’s opinion who only sees you for a few minutes and has no clue how a patient’s medical problems affect their lives after only a brief visit with them. An even worse problem is the poor review of cases by DDS caseworkers which causes too many unjustified delays and denials. Decisions should be based more on the treating physicians opinions, and medical records. The listing of diseases that qualify a person for disability should be expanded and updated more frequently to include newly discovered crippling diseases such as the many autoimmune disorders that are ravaging our citizens.
We have contributed our hard earned money to this system hoping we would never need it until we were ready to retire. Where is the money going that has been robbed from our paychecks every week? Disease and tragedy does not discriminate based upon age, race, sex or any other factor. The disabled citizens of this nation have been forced to tackle a very daunting system . We challenge you to do the same and expose and correct this problem on a national level. The Social Security Administration, a Federal program, administered by the states will admit that our elected officials have the power to reform the system. Why should we have to become homeless, bankrupt, starve, lose our healthcare coverage, suffer untold stress on top of our illnesses and even die trying to get our benefits? We the undersigned say to all members of the US Government:
For everyone of us that starves, becomes homeless or loses our healthcare during this process – we blame you! For everyone of us who files for bankruptcy during this process – we blame you! For the unfathomable stress and suffering we have inflicted upon us during this process – we blame you! For everyone of us who becomes more ill or worse yet dies during this process – we blame you!
We want to know why our elected officials seem to be ignoring this crisis and doing nothing to reform it? We want to know what, if anything is being done to correct this critical issue that affects millions of sick and dying Americans. Please start taking care of the US citizens living in this country whom elected you into office. It is your duty as elected officials to serve all those that voted you into that office and even those of us who didn't. When the next election comes around we will not forget those who have forgotten us. The government may be trying to rob millions of disabled people from their money, and also neglect us, but remember we millions of citizens still have, and will use our right to vote. A country is only as strong as the citizens who live in it. On behalf of the Social Security Disability Coalition we ask, disabled and healthy Americans alike, that you please do something to fix this serious problem now!
Sincerely,
The Undersigned
http://www.petitiononline.com/SSDC/petition.html
ATT: BE AWARE THAT WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW CAN DESTROY YOUR LIFE!
AMERICANS ARE NOT GETTING THE BENEFITS THAT THEY HAVE EARNED AND PAID FOR!
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY NIGHTMARE - IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU!
http://www.frontiernet.net/~lindaf1/SOCIALSECURITYDISABILITYNIGHTMARE.html
