This Is NPR

[AngryOldDem]

13. That wasn't my take at all.

I listened to the "This American Life" episode -- "Trends With Benefits" -- on my way to work this morning after seeing this thread. I came away with the following:

1) There are many theories about why people are on disability. Freeloading is one among them.

2) People on disability want to work -- but what they are qualified to do most often involves some kind of physical activity that they cannot do. Hence, their employment opportunities are limited, both from an ability and educational standpoint.

3) Along with 2) some people are of the age where they are just unemployable -- like the injured man in his 50s who was interviewed.

4) There are many people -- lawyers mostly -- who will take advantage of people with disabilities to make a quick buck off of the government, and the government enables them.

5) People are forced to make a decision between working or losing their benefits, because they won't get benefits if they work, but the work they can do won't pay a living wage.

Instead of broad-brushing people on disability with some kind of elitist, rightist agenda, I heard just the opposite. If anything people on disability are caught in the middle between the system and those who want to "help" them.

Just my opinion from listening to it.