Any post election predictions, Sam?

We have seen defiled our sacred American symbols and iconography, such as Big Bird, seen reviled our exceptional achievements such as the National Endowment for the Arts, and even free expression, in the form of National Public Radio, has not emerged from this bitter conflict unscathed.

Our national Treasury has been depleted by obstructionist politicians, the God-given natural right of marriage has been denied to a large segment of our population, and no part of this land has escaped some consequence of the vicious campaign against the Union brought about by the Republicans, and most notoriously their ignominious Reactionary front, the Tea Party.

The People have spoken; their choice has been heard. It is not enough to declare our victory. No, the struggle has truly only begun. Now it is necessary for us to contemplate a somber and weighty measure of what comes after:

What form of Reparations shall be made!

The death knell of these political delusions tolls a somber note that Republicans are loathe to hear: change, change, change

“It is pleasant, when the sea is high and winds are dashing the waves about, to watch from the shores the struggles of another.”

I was pleased that the right wing torturer Alan West was rejected in his bid in Florida, but unfortunately the Texas nut job Cruz won as Senator. Given the stronger Democratic majority in the upper house, I have a feeling that Cruz will be marginalized but I am concerned that his rabid ideologies will continue to envenom the political process in his freshman term.

It is also noteworthy that Texas, as the great bastion of the right wing war machine, took a staggering blow with a surprising surge of Democratic voters. Although the Republicans swept the elections, the races were very close in almost every example, from judges to state legislators and minor local offices.

This is a shock to many in Texas, and it suggests that within a few election cycles, the status may shift from Red State to Blue State. This is very relevant for national politics and keen observers will see that the Texas Democrats are going to become politicos to watch on the national arena in the near future. Don’t be deceived by the Republican victories: they are running scared and already trying to rethink their strategies.

Hopefully, this election will break the Tea Party’s parasitical sucker-lock on the veins of political power in America, and usher in a new era of political contribution from the party of obstruction. It is good to see the reactionary movement defanged.

Because you refuse to do that, i am getting the impression that you simply made your claim up.

In any case, i really do not see why it matters – because the feds take benefits fraud very seriously they would investigate any suspicious spike or pattern in questionable disability claims. And you are simply wrong that all it takes is to have a child be declared to be “not quite right” to get disability (maybe it will get the child beaten to “beat The Devil” out of her or put on medication but it won’t get her on SSDI). Thus, if there really are so counties (which i kind of doubt because i’m definitely not going to take your word for it) the real question you should ask is what went on in that county to create so many disabled adults? Most likely candidates are pollution, industrial accidents, and injuries during military service (the number and percentage of disabled veterans is depressing).

Which county(s), Sam?

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Sam, the original source of your joke is a Harpers Weekly December 2, 1865 political wood engraving on page 761 entitled SOLUTION OF THE LABOR QUESTION IN THE SOUTH (caps original).

An “inquiring stranger” on horseback in a stovepipe hat and Lincolnesque beard asks two groups, black and white, what they will do for a living, now that the war is over.

The “Ex-Slaves” say “Why, Master, we’s gwine to draw.” “Draw what?” “Draw rations, Sir.”

The “Ex-dominant Race” says “I reckon we’ll run–” “Run! After what?” “O! we’ll run for offices of some sort–Congress, Legislature, Constables, or Notary Public, or any thing!”

I recognized it at once because I have an original of this woodcut print in my office. Just goes to show how a bon mot can pass the test of time.

http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs.....11/ky.html

That is a rate of SSDI which is twice that of Virginia but as Virginia’s numbers here show:

http://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs.....11/va.html

the disability rates in coal country are much higher than in say a suburban county where most people work in offices (compare Lee County with Fairfax County in VA).

In fact, high rates of disability tend to be present in areas where a high rate of people work in extraction industries (mining, oil drilling) or construction/industrial work, etc. because that work is more dangerous. Dangerous work tends to lead to disability claims. See also worker’s compensation claims.

And even with those actual numbers – i seriously doubt that you can show any county where there is 25% of the population receiving SSDI and that there is a large number of fraudulent claims (and yes sweetie that is exactly what you are trying to claim – obviously you have never ever dealt with Social Security if you think you are going to get a fraudulent disability claim past them – and SSDI recipients also have to recertify periodically that they remain disabiled) believe me if there was such a county and doctors giving a large number of questionable claims the feds would be in investigating and sending people to prison.

Basically honey the burden is on you to prove your claim. You have the actual numbers – here is a link to the official CEnsus figures for all Kentucky Counties – http://quickfacts.census.gov/q.....y_map.html – show an actual county where 25% of adults are on SSDI (obviously the disability column). i don’t have time to do your homework for you unless you are going to be paying me to do it.

I am a case in point. I am 56-years-old and I could get on disability if I wanted (although even when you are very disabled, it often takes a couple of years — this idea you have that just anyone can get on disability is very odd and not what I have seen or experienced). On a good day, I have a blood oxygen level of around 87%. If I was in a hospital, they would be calling a code on me. I have pulmonary fibrosis, which means that my lungs are filling up with scar tissue. This condition, in my case, is the result of rheumatorid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder that can attack more than just your bones. I also have a bad heart and suffered a silent heart attack last year.

Although I am very tired much of the time and am really only functional 8 hours a day total (and that means the entire amount of time I can be out of bed), because I am well-educated and have good creds as a writer and consultant, I can get by, working a few hours a week. There is no way in the world that I could work in an office or work part-time somewhere, even. (Actually, I do work a six-hour day every few weeks at an antique shop that a friend of mine owns, but it wipes me out and that is absolutely ALL I can do that day).

But I would like to continue along, working, because I like to work. Most other people who have crappy health aren’t lucky enough to be able to work at home a few hours a day and make enough to live a middle-class life. Instead, they would need to work full-time, which many people with chronic health problems are unable to do. Part of this has to do with the way benefits are set up (as Erika explained), but a lot of it is because employers aren’t exactly understanding regarding health issues.

Over the past 6 months I have been doing a lot of writing on demographic trends, which means that I have been slogging through a lot of health data. A large percentage of folks in their forties and fifties are in really bad health. And once you fall through the insurance net (unless we do get Obamacare–Goddess willing), your health declines even further and faster. I can’t yet afford insurance and still support myself, but in my case, it doesn’t really matter. THe only remedy for my lung condition is a lung transplant, and I don’t want one. (I know that sounds weird, and I think it’s great if other people get them, but I wouldn’t go through that myself).

This is, indeed, a serious social issue, and it is likely to get worse as the general health of the population deteriorates and wages continue to be depressed so that it’s harder and harder for people to support themselves. There are remedies — such as higher wages, more flexibility in work hours for people who aren’t well enough to work part-time, access to better medical care to prevent chronic illnesses.

Or we could all go and die. I know that this is the popular solution among many Republicans now (unless you are pregnant, then you have to have the kid so everyone knows you are a slut and had sex, but once the kid is out, oh well — it’s on its own, and you can just die). Is this your position as well? I didn’t ask to be disabled, and I am doing my level best to be productive and live my life. Are you doing anything to help? Or are you just bitching about people who are already leading tough, difficult lives? We’d all like to know.

Why is it that these people promise doom whenever a Democrat might get elected?

COuld it be similar to the reason why the Koch Brothers-Fox News controlled Tea Party suddenly showed up in 2009 complaining about the deficit which simply wasn’t an issue when Bush was running up a huge deficit?

In fact, could it be that these paranoid right wing nuts are being paid for by right wing corporate interests in the service of Mammon to try to scare people to vote Republican out of fear of a radical right wing invasion?

It is extremely hard to qualify for government disability payments – the burden of proving disability (which under the Social Security standard requires that you must show that you are unable to work) is on the patient. The vast majority of disability claims are rejected and often people have to file several appeals to qualify.

Now is it possible that some people on disability can in fact hold a job – yes, of course it is. However, generally to do that requires continued treatment which requires health insurance. For example, a person with bipolar disorder might be able to work if they take mood stabilizers which would cost hundreds of dollars per month without health insurance. However, unless the job provides health insurance coverage the person would not be able to afford the medication even making more than the SSDI amount. So even wanting to return to work, the person with bipolar disorder has to stay on SSDI and maybe SSI to receive medication. Thus, a person may want to return to work and be able to work if medicated but be in the position where they cannot afford to take the medication which is required for them to work if they are working. If the person goes back to work and then is not successful it is also very difficult to get back onto SSDI.

That is why the feds have developed the Ticket to Work program. The Ticket to Work program allows people to return to work gradually and be able to keep their SSDI and more importantly their Medicare (SSDI) and possibly Medicaid (SSI) which is their health insurance. Unless the job provides both “substantial gainful employment” and health insurance, the feds know that a person is not going to be able to work because the person with a disability cannot work without insurance. It also enables a trial work period where a person can keep their benefits while seeing if they are successful at returning to work.

Another factor which keeps people particularly with mental illness or intellectual disability from working is the fact that the state and local governments have a strong incentive to keep those populations which require expensive treatment (ever see the price of anti-psychotic medications?) being elgible for Medicaid (which is to say receiving SSI) because then the federal government picks up the bulk of the cost. In ID, almost all services are only provided if a person is receiving Medicaid (SSI) which again requires a showing that they are unable to work in gainful employment. Often people with disabilities want to work but their care providers who would lose money if they are able to successfully return to work block them. Many care providers (as well as the state and local governments – and even the feds are using these things) also make money through day programs and sheltered workshops which can legally pay less than a minimum wage under Title 14c of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Thus, it is not as easy as just going out and finding a job. There is the fact that the treatment needed to be able to work – and possible accomodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act also cost money. Going on disability as being unable to work provides health insurance. Working even if able does not provide health insurance and often leads to more health problems and social costs.

Thus, the best way to enable people with disabilities to return to work is to assure health insurance coverage – such as the feds have done through the Ticket to Work program in a limited way. And of course, the health care reform does that through the Medicaid expansion and the employer mandate. In fact, enabling people with disabilities who almost always want to return to work but can’t and stay on disability because it is the only way to get insurance and treatment which might enable them to work and receive health insurance without receiving SSDI and/or SSI is likely to save a whole lot of money in the long run.

Basically Sam you are completely misinformed and are basing your views on the stereotypes given in the right wing media. Try actually knowing people.with disabilities. Or just study Title 14c of the Fair Labor Standards Act and Sheltered Workshops. Start your education here: http://www.ndrn.org/images/Doc.....loited.pdf and here: http://www.ndrn.org/images/Doc.....loited.pdf

Understand 14c and health insurance issues and you understand why so many people are really receiving SSDI and SSI.

(and if you need a translation, SSDI is Social Security Disability Income which is disability based and SSI is Supplemental Security Income which is income based and pays next to nothing).