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Greg: i am a republican, i don't know rita's affiliation, but she is right on. your argument seems to have a socialist flavor to it. i am a strong advocate of private social programs. the bible tells us that much is required from those to which much has been given. given the opportunity the general public will respond to need. the last thing we need are more government programs murph brown 57/9 . On Mon, 3 Jan 2000 19:58:27 -0500 Greg Sterling <[log in to unmask]> writes: > Rita, > You're a Republican, right? If not you'd better switch your > political > affiliation. Politics aside I think your reasoning is off the mark, > although I did like your comments on volunteerism. First of all, I > don't > believe for a second that any truly disabled person, whether a PWP > or other, > wants to be "taken care of" by Uncle Sam. The majority of us want > to > maintain our dignity and self-worth, and our independence. There is > no > shame in seeking help by way of phyiscal, monetary, or emotional > support. > Accepting help from any source to soften the burden of disability is > not a > contradiction to independence. You neglected to mention the two > other > "unalienable rights" granted by the Declaration of Independence, > Life and > Liberty. Without them happiness is a moot concept. > > The gap between the "haves" and the "have nots" is widening in this > country > at an alarming rate. It makes you wonder just how long the "have > nots" and > the down-trodden are willing to sit back and collect the scraps. > > Greg > 47/35/35 > > > Rita wrote: > > Subject: Re: support initiatives for PWP > > > >Many of the programs for support of disabled are handled via the > various > >states and municipalities in a variety of ways..........the social > worker > at > >the local hospital or major medical center will be of some help and > direction > >to you to find what is available in your local area. > > > >The disabled person has a variety of needs, resources and support > >available.... > >depending on the degree of disability and the nature of the > disability > >(obviously the needs of a blind person are much different than the > needs of > a > >quadraplegic for example). Each PWP has a different set of > needs....your > >local medical community should be able to direct you to services in > your > >community/state. The need for support from many of the > agencies/services > is > >not available until the time of need (and then you get in line and > >wait)....however, funding is not available in most cases for those > who > >"anticipate" the need. > > > >I am a bit disenchanted at times to read "I want to maintain my > >independence".... > >"who will give me a ramp.....a home, a sewer, a healthcare worker, > a tax > >break, a legal advisor"...."who will pay to take care of me?" are > those > >comments not contradictory? > > > >Is it really more expensive to maintain an individual in a skilled > care > >facility than to provide tax breaks, food stamps, utility benefits, > health > >care, disability payments, van service, medicaid/medicare, home > alterations, > >home health aids, legal aid > >...........what do all of these benefits total over a year? > Someone is > >paying for these benefits....is it you? my husband? my children? > or the > >attorney down the street (is he exempt from the problems of life by > virtue > of > >his profession?). > > > >Who is saying "I want to pay more taxes so I will be assured > fulltime care > in > >my own home by the persons I select"...... > > > >Who is saying "I want all of the support of health care providers, > home > care > >services, etc".......but "I am too busy to volunteer my time to > help others > >or to contribute to your foundation/cause/agency/non-profit?". > > > >Our contributions to the major foundations supporting PD research > and > >education are the source of income for these groups....what has > been your > >financial contribution? Do you want research? education? cure? > service? > Each > >of these cost money. Don't expect "someone" to pay for these > things.....we > >all worked to earn/maintain our financial situation > > > >Our taxes are the source of income for the federal, state and local > programs > >available. > > > >The more you are willing to pay (time or money) to the > >organization/government the more these organizations will have to > give in > the > >long term. > > > >The more power/responsibility that you are willing to give to these > >organizations and institutions the more they will take care of you. > How > much > >are you power/ > >responsibility are you willing to give? > > > >Our Declaration of Independence refers to the "pursuit of > happiness" as an > >inalienable right; not happiness itself. > > > >I got it off my chest. > >Rita Weeks 55/10 > >