It is Time for a LOT of Changes
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| Also listed in: 2008 Presidential Blog | 50 state strategy blog | Democratic Talk Radio | Democrats with disabilities | Disabled Democrats | Standing Up for Feingold in 2008 |
This historic moment in our time as a nation calls for even MORE advocacy on all our parts. We must be more than ready to fight for the things we know need to be done and the people we know we must care about and care for.
The coming Democratic Presidency and Democratic Majority in Congress will allow us to make right those things that have been unjust and unfair to people in need. Intrigued? Read on...
Being a person with a disability I receive basically $600 a month from the Federal Government and about $100 from my state in SSI payments. When you are on SSI you are confined to a certain amount of rules and regulations and limits just because you are disabled. Here is the list-
1)A single person can have resources worth up to $2,000 and still get SSI. A couple can have resources worth up to $3,000.
and what are counted as resources you ask?
*Wages from your job, whether in cash or another form;
*Net earnings from your business if you are self-employed;
*The value of food or shelter that someone gives you, or the amount of money some gives you to help pay for them;
*Department of Veterans Affairs benefits;
*Railroad retirement and railroad unemployment benefits;
Annuities, pensions from any government or private source, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance benefits, black lung benefits and Social Security benefits;
*Prizes, settlements and awards, including court ordered awards;
*Proceeds of life insurance policies;
*Gifts and contributions;
*Support and alimony payments;
*Inheritances in cash or property;
*Interest earned, including interest on savings, checking and other accounts;
*Rental income; and
*Strike pay and other benefits from unions
2)You can have up to $1,500 in burial funds for you and up to $1,500 in burial funds for your spouse.
3)You may have only one car and one house, any more than that and you are penalized.
SO.. you disabled? Too bad, so sad, sucks to be you. Penalize the people who need the most help.
Tell me. Who can live on $600-700 a month? If your spouse works, you get penalized and if you make too much money then you also lose your medical benefits.. what is too much money? Usually more than $940 a month for most individuals.. $940! that's it..
We are penalizing people for being disabled. Lets keep 'em all in poverty right? People with Disabilities don't count anyway right? WRONG!
And this is just ONE injustice! Where is the "teeth" in the ADA laws? Where is the assistance to disabled veterans who are homeless? Where are the centers and places for people with mental health issues to go and be cared for?
Where is the justice???
These laws and rules must change and improve in 2009 and beyond. Period. Yes we can? We better!
The coming Democratic Presidency and Democratic Majority in Congress will allow us to make right those things that have been unjust and unfair to people in need. Intrigued? Read on...
Being a person with a disability I receive basically $600 a month from the Federal Government and about $100 from my state in SSI payments. When you are on SSI you are confined to a certain amount of rules and regulations and limits just because you are disabled. Here is the list-
1)A single person can have resources worth up to $2,000 and still get SSI. A couple can have resources worth up to $3,000.
and what are counted as resources you ask?
*Wages from your job, whether in cash or another form;
*Net earnings from your business if you are self-employed;
*The value of food or shelter that someone gives you, or the amount of money some gives you to help pay for them;
*Department of Veterans Affairs benefits;
*Railroad retirement and railroad unemployment benefits;
Annuities, pensions from any government or private source, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance benefits, black lung benefits and Social Security benefits;
*Prizes, settlements and awards, including court ordered awards;
*Proceeds of life insurance policies;
*Gifts and contributions;
*Support and alimony payments;
*Inheritances in cash or property;
*Interest earned, including interest on savings, checking and other accounts;
*Rental income; and
*Strike pay and other benefits from unions
2)You can have up to $1,500 in burial funds for you and up to $1,500 in burial funds for your spouse.
3)You may have only one car and one house, any more than that and you are penalized.
SO.. you disabled? Too bad, so sad, sucks to be you. Penalize the people who need the most help.
Tell me. Who can live on $600-700 a month? If your spouse works, you get penalized and if you make too much money then you also lose your medical benefits.. what is too much money? Usually more than $940 a month for most individuals.. $940! that's it..
We are penalizing people for being disabled. Lets keep 'em all in poverty right? People with Disabilities don't count anyway right? WRONG!
And this is just ONE injustice! Where is the "teeth" in the ADA laws? Where is the assistance to disabled veterans who are homeless? Where are the centers and places for people with mental health issues to go and be cared for?
Where is the justice???
These laws and rules must change and improve in 2009 and beyond. Period. Yes we can? We better!
And all will benefit--including the wealthy, but not just the wealthy.
We will build a better world together. I believe that we will. our largest challenge is often seeing things from other people's viewpoints.
And understanding the other person's viewpoint is the starting point for our foreign policy. We have had such a "me first" attitude toward other countries that it is damn embarrassing.
Think about this for just a second: What if you were an Iranian. The USA is telling you that you can't have the raw materials to build nuclear power plants because these same materials are easily converted into nuclear weapons. (and maybe that IS what they have in mind, I don't know) But then consider that the USA also happens to be the only country in the world who has ever used nuclear weapons against humanity. Then consider that as an Iranian your close neighbors, Pakistan and India BOTH have nuclear weapons AND GOD knows what kinds of warheads that Israel has pointing at you--after all Israel may as well be another US state--in fact Israel gets more of our federal money than any of our US states receive. But try to really think about it. Is that right? I don't think so. Why should the USA Pakistan and India and Israel have nuclear weapons and not Iran? [Actually I think no one should, but that is not the point here.]
I don't have solutions, but we must begin to try to understand the world from more than just our persepctive and only then can we have meaningful commpromises.
Ask 17 Million Plus Hillary Voters
Several steps left in the rules process.
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton 08
The Inclusive Choice
Electable in the General Election
Experienced.
Beloved by the International Community.
Hillary Clinton is like that. She has helped so many people. And, she does not need to be in poverty to have compassion. That is empty logic.