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Post by nightpurse99 on Oct 23, 2009 0:38:03 GMT -4
I have two freinds with different takes on the , almost, same situation.
1. first guy works at a Union Job got hurt and collected for 2.5 years while he got better. He was hit in the head and claimed he had seizerues daily. ( I saw a few and they were fake) Sat at home played video games all day. He got paid for all of the 2.5 years, until they went to court and ended that. Now he is back at work doing just fine.
2. next guy first generation African. I talked to him about his tribe and injured trible members. He said it's simple, First they figure out how bad he is hurt and they FIND him a job to help out the tribe. The tribe will take care of his needs for him as well as his kids and wives. If he does not like THAT job then thats O.K. they will find another job. Now here is the catch if he does not like the second job or preforns in a lazy way then they take him off to the woods / jungle and leave him there... to become cat food.
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Post by nightpurse99 on Oct 23, 2009 0:50:49 GMT -4
My take is if you are on govt. funding lets say unemployment then: 1. you do get a check from the taxpayers to help you out for no more then six months. 2. you look for work Mon- Fri 3. You work for your monies on the weekend picking up trash, cleaning up parks ect for the community, from 7am to 7pm EVERY Saturday and Sunday. 4. if you miss a work day you forfit this benifit for 5 years.
after six months of no weekends you'll find some work plus you would have put in 576 hours of comunity service. My son has an adult friend who is mentaly slow, he worked with melwood and got a job at BWI cleaning bathrooms for $16.50hr, he does a great job and has been there for 3 years now. So in the end what I am saying is unless you are bed ridden you can work! if you read this on this board and type a response the you have a skill, you CAN work. Too many people take advantage of the system, but it's hard to give up what seem like free money. I know I did when I took advantage of cash for clunkers.
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Post by kl on Oct 23, 2009 6:21:51 GMT -4
My take is if you are on govt. funding lets say unemployment then: 1. you do get a check from the taxpayers to help you out for no more then six months. 2. you look for work Mon- Fri 3. You work for your monies on the weekend picking up trash, cleaning up parks ect for the community, from 7am to 7pm EVERY Saturday and Sunday. 4. if you miss a work day you forfit this benifit for 5 years. after six months of no weekends you'll find some work plus you would have put in 576 hours of comunity service. My son has an adult friend who is mentaly slow, he worked with melwood and got a job at BWI cleaning bathrooms for $16.50hr, he does a great job and has been there for 3 years now. So in the end what I am saying is unless you are bed ridden you can work! if you read this on this board and type a response the you have a skill, you CAN work. Too many people take advantage of the system, but it's hard to give up what seem like free money. I know I did when I took advantage of cash for clunkers. Exactly. And if you can't spell, or have a problem with punctuation, you have a skill. Not a good one, but a skill...
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Post by nightpurse99 on Oct 23, 2009 6:31:56 GMT -4
Ya I need to find the spell check on this place. I can do all sorts of stuff but spelling is not one of them.
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Post by bchevy on Oct 23, 2009 6:36:15 GMT -4
Ya I need to find the spell check on this place. I can do all sorts of stuff but spelling is not one of them. it's to the right of the button you hit to make your post, 2nd button over I think If you hit the modify button on your post you can also still hit the spell check, hit modify post again when you're done
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Post by nightpurse99 on Oct 23, 2009 7:56:11 GMT -4
I don't have them?? All I have is "Post Reply" nothing else. I can see the Modify but that is AFTER it's been posted. What am i missing?
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Post by AquaHolic on Oct 23, 2009 8:01:43 GMT -4
On the left side of my reply page I have:
NOTE: you click Reply...and then all this shows up
Message Icon: Add Tags: Message: Characters Remaining: Bookmark: Disable Smiles: and across the very bottom...Post reply, Preview, Spell Check, Reset (these are all buttons)
Is that what your reply page looks like?
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Post by Frank on Oct 23, 2009 8:58:28 GMT -4
My take is if you are on govt. funding lets say unemployment then: 1. you do get a check from the taxpayers to help you out for no more then six months. 2. you look for work Mon- Fri 3. You work for your monies on the weekend picking up trash, cleaning up parks ect for the community, from 7am to 7pm EVERY Saturday and Sunday. 4. if you miss a work day you forfit this benifit for 5 years. My thought would be to pick up trash M-F, and get paid hourly. Don't show up - don't get paid. I bet they wouldn't be picking up trash for too long. They would go find a job. This country enables people to abuse the system by making it too easy to do so.
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Post by kl on Oct 23, 2009 9:46:20 GMT -4
Ya I need to find the spell check on this place. I can do all sorts of stuff but spelling is not one of them. You are your own spellchecker. ;D
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Post by rudyhayesforever on Oct 23, 2009 10:20:17 GMT -4
rubyhayesforever........Let me please do more twisting for those who lack your intelligence. Government agencies in trusted to solve a problem are faced with a dilemma. Solving the problem will cost them their job. Do you agree? These are elected officials who vote on proposed solutions. Hence, why I said the problem with all of the hand outs is that enough people believe they are necessary. This topic has nothing to do with seatbelts or vandalism, go back to the shallow end.
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Post by funnel101 on Oct 23, 2009 11:51:13 GMT -4
I was struck by a program I saw on TV about a woman who was born with a birth defect that left her without the entire lower half of her body (from about the waist south). Despite her tremendous disability, she still supports herself and her family (including her mentally disabled brother) by working as an auto mechanic. This woman rolls around on a skateboard using her arms only and climbs her way up into the engine bay of customers' cars turning a wrench for a living. I'm not saying that there might not be some people who need more help getting through life than others, but I really think a lot of people need to re-think their definition of disability and give more consideration to their need to be more self-reliant. I had a co-worker who lost both of his legs in a mortar attack in Iraq. Yep, still at work...still a solid performer...still hunting bad guys; only from behind a desk instead of out on patrol. I can't tell you how angry I get when I hear about people who suffer some sort of physical injury or condition and are simply unwilling to undergo some sort of occupational re-training to find a new way to earn a living that is compatible with their new circumstances. Yeah, I know of people like this and think they're awesome. My particular problem is that it's my whole body that's in bad shape, so I can't compensate by, say, using my arms instead of my legs. I definitely don't spend all day playing video games--I actually can't play video games on any sort of regular basis because they hurt my hands. I do some freelance web design, but the most I can do is about 15 hours a month. And doing so little makes it very difficult to be competitive, frankly.
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Post by stephadele on Oct 23, 2009 16:22:34 GMT -4
I dont think the problem is 'partially" diisabled people not wanting to work....The problem is them finding work thats suitable for them and their capabilities. Ive was a rehab counselor for a few years in the late 80s when things were bad under Reagan and all the cuts......Most I saw wanted to work but there were no jobs they were qualified to perform. Getting help with training from the Rehab Commission is tedious and beaurocratic....Sometimes it takes them years to find a job. My agency provided a career program that assisted disabled people finding the appropriate employers and jobs and training....An example of a good use of your taxes, in my opinion..We were able to employ about 75% of the disabled people in our program. So when you see someone disabled and unemployed, dont assume that its not because they dont want to work.....Often nothing is further from the truth..most do.. Sometimes one negative situation of one person milking the system makes people think ALL are doing this, or that there are alot more out there milking it than there really are...I saw very few doing any milking of the system....Most were bored and depressed and would have given anything to have a job.
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Post by lynn on Oct 23, 2009 17:23:19 GMT -4
So... I should stop getting Medicare and SSDI because it's not a temporary situation? Funnel -I don't believe Lynn once made reference to eliminating programs such as you mention. Her frustration seems to be aimed at those "perceived" as being a gift for those who can do for themselves. Lynn, only an assumption, don't mean to put words in your mouth. I don't know your situation, but if you are able to work and receive medical benefits through your company that can cover what you require, I wouldn't expect you to receive those same benefits through the programs you mention. Obviously, if you cannot work or have no means for other medical benefits, there should be a resource (i.e.,medicare, SSDI, etc) available to assist you. I personally know individuals milking the system that should/do have the capability to not rely on the taxpayers money. Personally, my biggest heartache is those that are more than capable of working, but collecting unemployment. Even with the economy as it is, there are jobs available. Just my 2 cents. Thank you Shadow1. You were right on. Funnel, I wasn't addressing people on disability in this thread, but since you brought it up, I will address your comments in a second. My concern is of some citizens (and non-citizens) thinking it is acceptable to get bail out money from others. All of this money isn't just coming from nowhere, this "Obama money" as some of the Chicago folks stated, is our money. The clip on tv about the folks in Chicago getting money was quite appalling with people jumping up and down proclaiming they are there to get their "free money" and their "Obama money". I know times are tough, but SOME folks just aren't trying hard enough to help themselves first. Why do I say this.... well, look at some of the people who say they are struggling. I get my nails manicured about once a month or once every two months. I don't get the fake nails, just a basic manicure and polish on my short nails (I keep my nails short because it is easier for my work, something I highly value). While I am there I always talk with the other ladies getting their nails done (the ladies who work there all speak Vietnamese). I was getting my nails done this week and a lady was sitting next to me and was getting a manicure and a pedicure. She had a ton of jewelry and was having her long fancy nails with little jewels replaced. Her teenage son came in and demanded some money from her so he could go next door and buy some shoes. She handed him a $50 and told him that is all he was going to get. After he left she complained about her son and how he thinks all of her money is his money. While getting our nails done, I could tell from little bits I overheard from her phone conversations and from the bits that she shared with me that she was out of work and was also having some kind of financial difficulty and was waiting on an additional government check to arrive. I couldn't help but wonder, if she is having any kind of financial problems, why is she getting her nails done and buying her son new sneakers? I'm just using this one woman as an example of how I think some people really have their priorities backwards. Some people seem to have blinders on and have the mentality that everyone else is responsible for their well being and that they are owed something... so out goes their hands. Using money of other people should be an absolute last resort. If my tax money is going out to people because they are struggling financially, I want them to actually be struggling and I want to know that they have done absolutely everything else prior to taking the money. I don't want them to have new cars, expensive cars, fancy jewelry, or going on any vacations while they are out of work. I want to see these people selling their gold, gold is worth a fortune right now - sell it all. Go to the dentist and have her pull out those fillings. Sell your jewelry, your fancy cars, your blood, your plasma, and sell all of your extras. I'm completely serious about this. I remember one semester in college, I did not have enough money left over to pay for my extras. I slept at different friends homes each night (for an entire semester) showered at their homes or at the gym and I sold and pawned almost every item I had that was worth anything. My being a poor teen wasn't anyone's fault and it wasn't anyone's responsibility to provide me with housing or food. I got a job, worked hard, studied and lived off of the little I had... and I did not complain and I did not beg others for any money!
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Post by bchevy on Oct 23, 2009 18:45:21 GMT -4
The Problem as I see it is not with the legitimately disabled that can't work. It's with the ones (disabled or not) that can work but choose to abuse the sytem because they are too lazy to get off their cheating sorry welfare a$$ and get a job like the rest of us.
There really needs to be checks and balances, and swift & hard punishment for those caught cheating. If it's an inside job, double the punishment.
All too often gov't workers are caught in the act and not even fired. There are plenty of honest people that would love to have a 9 to 5 job with good pay and bennies that wouldn't abuse it.
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Post by bchevy on Oct 23, 2009 18:47:33 GMT -4
"It kills me to see the ads on the internet where Obama is urging mothers to go back to college. For What? " He's urging them to go back to college so they can take advantage of the "free" financial aid that we "middle class folk" are paying for There's ads there now where Obama wants FATHERS to go back to college......
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Post by lynn on Oct 23, 2009 23:01:44 GMT -4
Being a "Paul" should be a temporary situation at most, not a new lifestyle. So... I should stop getting Medicare and SSDI because it's not a temporary situation? Again, I was not talking about this, but since you asked, I will answer with my opinion. .... Yes!!!! Yes, I believe that you should not get any support from the government for your disability. I don't say this because I don't believe you. I do believe you. I believe you when you say your condition is as serious as it is. My statement has nothing to do with you specifically or with your specific condition. I feel like it is a very hard line to draw.... who gets benefits... who does not. If I could make the rules, I would say, the only people who would get benefits would be: mentally retarded people, blind people, and people who are missing both hands. I am one of the people who believes families should take care of their own family; however, if you are a member of one of the above mentioned three groups you would qualify for some benefits. Anyone who says they can not find a job or can not work a job because they are too ill, would automatically get a low level government job which they would be able to do. I don't care if a person suffers from Narcolepsy, they would still get a job (I know the people at the Glen Burnie DMV sleep all of the time anyways). God gave everyone talents and anyone who honestly believes that they have nothing which they can contribute to society I truly feel sorry for. The problem is too many people are not creative enough in their resources and constantly make excuses for what they can not do. Steven Hawking is a world renowned physicist and he is a quadriplegic! About 10 years ago I was extremely ill for a long period and could not work. I did not get any help from the government. My husband took on more work, we used some of our savings, and we sold our one sports car. We did what we needed to do. My illness was extremely painful and sad, but it is nothing that was the fault of anyone. Why should my neighbors pay for me because I can not work? My husband married me for better or worse, during sickness and health. My friends, neighbors, and family brought over food, helped with errands, etc., but this was something that they did out of love not out of a demand. Again, my point is not focused on you funnel and I mean no personal attack by saying if I had the choice I would not cover you. I would even cut off some of my extended family. I know some who are collecting benefits who would not work even if they could! It is a hard line to draw to say who would be covered and who would not be covered, so in order to avoid our country from going broke, I would limit the coverage to just the above 3 groups.
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Post by Water Lady on Oct 23, 2009 23:36:03 GMT -4
Lynn - I agree with you. We are probably both going to pay for this but I agree with you. I too, suffered from a long term illness; like 4 years of cancer, driving from Easton to Annapolis 3 to 4 times per week for treatment, getting to know the toll-takers at the bridge on a first-name basis because that's as far as I could make it on my way home before I had to pull over to...vomit...not everyday, but most days. I was SICK, SICK, SICK. And guess what, I still worked and earned a living and paid my mortgage and all my other bills. If I had been unable to work, I believe my family would have assisted me, but only until I was able to care for myself again. We were not raised to ask others to care for us. My family immigrated to this country from Russia a little over 100 years ago and they have never asked for help from the government. They assimilated into our society and became (and are) Proud American Citizens. No one is saying there are those who should not be assisted and cared for in our society because of "special" needs. The problem is, in my opinion, that too many people believe their need is so special that everyone else should be "forced" to care for them and provide for them. Sooner or later, the basket will be empty and before that happens, those of us who are constantly replenishing the contents will start finding ways to take care of ourselves when that day comes... Many of us are getting pretty tired of how much the government is asking (excuse me - I meant requiring) of us!
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Post by funnel101 on Oct 24, 2009 12:04:39 GMT -4
[This post is a reply to Lynn's.]
Stephen Hawking became a world-renowned physicist before he became disabled, and he gets a LOT of help. Most people with his condition aren't given access to the same amount of help he's given and aren't able to work.
If you think it would be cheaper for the government to hire me than to pay me Social Security (under $300/month), I think you're very mistaken.
Let me lay it down for you. There is NOTHING I can do for more than 2 hours every day on a regular basis (except sleep, but that's difficult for me, too, because of pain) that does not end up putting me into some kind of flare or creating an injury or getting me sick that makes me unable to do that activity for several weeks, if not months, after. As for me not being creative enough to find ways to "contribute to society", I don't believe the only way one can contribute to society is through paid work. And as for not being creative enough to find paid work, how would you suggest I find a way around my joint issues? I've tried dictation through Dragon NaturallySpeaking to allow myself to type when my hands have been bad; after two months of that, my jaw was in so much pain I could barely eat or speak. I'm unable to do any real amount of walking, I can't lift anything heavier than 10 pounds without injuring my shoulders or my wrist replacement.
So, if you think I can "work" any sort of full-time job, prove it to me.
Oh, and did I mention that I have an immune deficiency and one of my arthritis-controlling drugs lowers my immune system? I've NEVER missed fewer than 6 weeks of school each year from kindergarten through college because of sickness or health issues. The more stress I'm under, the sicker I get.
And I can't drive more than twice a week without damaging my ankles, hips, shoulders, and hands. And I can't drive more than 60 minutes at any time, and a drive approaching that I can only do once a month or less without hurting myself.
So, if you can find me a job that would allow me a minimum of 6 weeks sick time from the get-go, that I could do at home or would provide me with transportation to and from, with work that I can do without injuring my joints or connective tissues, let me know what it is.
And I know you have this conception of me because we were in a belly-dancing class together for a month, a class I had to drop out of because it was making my knee joints swell. Since then, I've been constantly trying to belly dance on my own for at least 3 times a week at 30 minutes each time. Guess how often I've been able to do so. In the last 3 years, I've been able to belly dance that amount for fewer than 8 weeks. Total. In fact, I haven't been able to belly dance now for a month.
The other issue I have is fatigue, and fatigue is one of those issues that able-bodied people tend to have trouble understanding. Fatigue is not the same as being tired. Fatigue is waking up after 8-10 hours of solid sleep and having no energy. Fatigue is your eyes burning after waking up from a full night's sleep, your brain unable to think straight because you're so tired, your body unable to recognize where it is in space thus causing you to walk into walls, your muscles so tired they ache constantly... You've had the flu before? A bad, bad flu? That's how I feel pretty much all the time.
Oh, and as for my family covering me, my mom is also disabled and unable to work. My sister has severe bipolar that limits her ability to keep a full-time job. My husband works full-time, does all the cooking and cleaning, and does as much as he possibly can for me.
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Post by funnel101 on Oct 24, 2009 12:18:42 GMT -4
By the way, I apologize for thread-hijacking. I don't particularly care what Lynn thinks of my ability to work. What I do care about is how beliefs like Lynn's--namely that people without those specific conditions she mentioned can work--affect people like me. There are millions of disabled people who live in this country who look able-bodied. I just want to encourage you all to think twice before judging whether or not someone is disabled. Unless you're a doctor involved in the treatment of that person or otherwise intimately acquainted with that person's limitations, chances are high that you're judging that person on false information or misconceptions.
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Post by lynn on Oct 24, 2009 13:31:57 GMT -4
By the way, I apologize for thread-hijacking. I don't particularly care what Lynn thinks of my ability to work. What I do care about is how beliefs like Lynn's--namely that people without those specific conditions she mentioned can work--affect people like me. There are millions of disabled people who live in this country who look able-bodied. I just want to encourage you all to think twice before judging whether or not someone is disabled. Unless you're a doctor involved in the treatment of that person or otherwise intimately acquainted with that person's limitations, chances are high that you're judging that person on false information or misconceptions. Funnel, when I started this thread, the focus was on a "general portion of the population" thinking handouts are acceptable. Nowhere was I focusing on the disabled or your specific situation. You are the one who brought the subject up, so I gave you my honest answer to how I feel and how I would "draw the line". I know there are many people who look perfectly normal and are not able to work. I have several family members who have neurological disorders and they are unable to work any longer. I would even cut them off of medical assistance at this point. Right now our system is riddled full of cases of people who are collecting benefits and should not. The slate needs to be wiped clean to get an honest assessment of who really needs the benefits. So, if I had a choice, I would draw the line. Again, I am not saying that I don't believe you. I remember the dance class and how you had trouble and had to sit some dances out or could not do some of the moves. I feel very fortunate that I am able. I am in a fun dance and aerobics class right now and I am always thankful for what I can do. Everyone is different, there are things I can't do and things I can do, and that is the same for every person. We have discussed this same issue in other threads funnel, so I am surprised you brought up the question. You know I how feel about the economic state of our country, yet you quoted me and asked me a question. I did nothing but give you my honest answer. Please don't take everything I say as a personal affront against you, I am really not that kind of a person.
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Post by stephadele on Oct 24, 2009 13:55:11 GMT -4
Funnel..you point out several major points most dont consider when they dont want to support those who are disabled....because they dont have to live it and its not their experience....Nor do they get it that their complaints about social and medical problems: drug abuse, doemstic violence, homelessness, increased illness is DIRECTLY related to axing SS to people that need it.. People just dont connect the dots here or understand that there is a direct correlation between survivial and huge increases in social problems...They dont "go away" because they withhold funding like SS...Unfortunately, most people have to have their noses rubbed in the sh.it awhile before they "Get It". Id like for the naysayers to find jobs for people who can only work 2 hours a day...They wont find its an easy task....Have any of you ever had to do that? ..I had to do that and they have no idea how impossible it was to get employers to allow employees to work two hours a day...Lets see YOU find appropriate work for funnel and millions of others on disability who can only work very part time.. Plus when someone has a husband to support them financially because they are are married, it is managable to not work...I think alot of married people who have been that way all/most of their adult lives are clueless as to how it is for those who are single and far away from family...Friends of singles also work and cant do the day to day things you need when you are sick/disabled...churches can only do so much..When I was single and had a broken leg, I experienced this first hand....I didnt have a husband to pay for my housing and utilities and gas and food ...I found long term married women were clueless as to how difficult my situation was ... it was easy for them to be unrealistic about whats managable when their husband is paying for everything....Ditto for the young adults who still lived with their parents and had their rent reduced and their laundry done by mom who cooked for them and went food shopping for them while they bought fancy cars and ipods and iphones and tickets for concerts.....They dont have much of a leg to stand on when they are being supported financially by someone else and yet are complaining about THEIR taxes...Hypocrite comes to mind. The system is full of people who do need their SSI and a few that are milking the system..Thats the reality, not what you hear from Faux News and Bill OReilly and the fat ass pundits who's only goal is to incite fear in the public, spread division, and fuel scapegoating by targeting ill people..And it isnt them thats bankrupting the system either...what a big fat lie....Insurance company waste and pharm companies account for the vast majority of waste...why dont you target them?.....I find it amazing that people are so scared and intimidated to confront this.....Social Security for the disabled is a drop in the bucket compared to the billion dollar waste of the health insurance industries..... People against this should go talk to single people who are disabled, single mothers and the mentally ill, the homeless, people fleeing domestic violence,.... work with them, and get away from the couch and the TV set...Find out what reality is before you judge ...and vote... BWT...Ive just heard that the Upper Eastern Shore Community Mental Health Center will be closed this year due to budget cuts...We will soon see the consequences of that as people complain about increased wait lines in ERs, more drug abuse, homelessness, more people on disability because they cant get PREVENTATIVE care at a clinic thats been closed. Three years from now, I will just shake my head at the complainers and say "Oh, Oh, duh, duh, thats what you wanted and voted for...Better think about the CONSEQUENCES of your decision to ax it next time"
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Post by moosie on Oct 24, 2009 14:20:53 GMT -4
I am one of the people who believes families should take care of their own family; lynn--i don;t get it--your other issues aside--but how can you make the assumption that someone has other family? some people have no family. some people have no family able to help. there are just so many reasons why someone might need a leg up, even if just for a time. i don't see how you can be so harsh.
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Post by stephadele on Oct 24, 2009 14:25:15 GMT -4
Exackly..moosie...Not everyone lives JUST like they do and has family nearby or friends who are available.....Rather than just reacting to the problem and complaining, what do you propose that we do for those people? Get out of your dream world here and wake up..
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Post by moosie on Oct 24, 2009 14:30:30 GMT -4
Exackly..moosie...Not everyone lives JUST like they do and has family nearby or friends who are available.....Rather than just reacting to the problem and complaining, what do you propose that we do for those people? Get out of your dream world here and wake up.. the question is for whom?
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Post by funnel101 on Oct 24, 2009 15:03:17 GMT -4
BWT...Ive just heard that the Upper Eastern Shore Community Mental Health Center will be closed this year due to budget cuts...We will soon see the consequences of that as people complain about increased wait lines in ERs, more drug abuse, homelessness, more people on disability because they cant get PREVENTATIVE care at a clinic thats been closed. Ouch. I usually avoid calling politicians--emailing is so much easier--but when I heard about that being a possibility, I got off my butt and made the phone call. Guess it didn't make any difference.
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