Am I worthless because I'm disabled?

[Ladyhawk]

The system sure makes it seem that way. OK, maybe I'm only mostly worthless. After all, I do get $790 a month. Maybe that's more than I deserve.

I finally got subsidized housing, but I live hand-to-mouth and worry constantly, especially since the chimperor has his eye on "fixing" social security.

Is $790 a month plenty enough for the likes of me? I don't deserve any more because I can't work and benefit society? When I'm not so depressed I become a hermit, I share my voice. Isn't that something? How about my off-the-cuff silly one-liners...don't they benefit society somehow when I'm able to at least attend chorus and a class at the local community college?

My worth is entirely measured by the fact that I can't work. With $790 I can grease by if nothing unforseen happens. With $790 a month, I'm probably going to have to sell my snakes because I can't afford to feed them. With $790 a month, I'm going to have to give up one of my birds.

It must be my fault I got sick. That's it. Why else would the government decide I was worth $790 a month? Just enough to keep me alive, just enough to squeeze by last month on a box of Cream of Wheat. Just enough to keep me from going completely insane with worry.

It's December and since I no longer have family, I bought a little gift for myself for $30...shame on me. I'm overcome with guilt. What if I don't have enough money to do the laundry this month? And how will I manage with my back and neck hurting like this? My animals' cages need cleaning and I can't be sure I won't hurt myself badly when I try to clean them.

So, the laundry and the cages remain unclean with $790 a month.

[diddlysquat]

1. Where do you live, Ladyhawk? n/t

[Ladyhawk]

6. California. n/t

[7th_Sephiroth]

2. $790 a month is more than i get

....

[Fiona]

3. Your worth isn't measured

by how much the government gives you.

[Deja Q]

4. I hear ya totally.

The Chimp can say all he wants about our supposed "culture of life", but his actions prove he's just trying to cull those he* has decided are undesireable.

I'm headed toward the same boat as you are due to my own health issues. (I've a protruding disc and I do have all the symptoms (though not always at once) of Ménière's disease: http://oto.wustl.edu/men/mn1.htm - I'm damn grateful I'm slowly regaining my balance, but I wish the convolescence could wait until AFTER the EEG gets done. If nothing shows up, the counselor and the rest of the "brain gang" will decide it's all anxiety. And it isn't. Maybe some hystrionics are exacerbating the issues, but I am not filfully creating the issues.

The problem is not with you at all. It's with a cruel society that claims to be one thing but acts the exact opposite. I feel you're worth a lot more than any given corporate CEO.

We lefties need to stick together and even form 'communes' where we all pitch in as much as we can to pay the bills and be happy as our own mini-communities. I've a coworker who is a close friend who convinced me of this, the way our "culture of bacte life" is heading. Unless Americans wake up, we have to find new ways to work within the so-called "system". (it's really not much different than living in an apartment complex...) As had been asked already, where do you live (PM if you'd prefer).

:hug: Giving up a pet is no fun, I hope things get better for you so you won't have to do that. Especially birds, which are very loving creatures.

I wish I could offer advice that would help your immediate crisis, but I'm about as clever as the squirrel that didn't make it across the road. But don't do anything stupid like ending your life. A close friend of mine reminded me of the same thing. All of us DUers are here for you online, if not more locally for some.

[Ladyhawk]

9. Thanks, HypnoToad.

BTW, I have always enjoyed your posts immensely.

I'm sorry about your protruding disc and the balance issues and I really hope you don't have to go on disability.

Is it just my imagination or are people having worse health problems at younger ages?

And what about those who have lost their jobs and can't find another?

Sigh.

[Ladyhawk]

5. Sorry, I'm just feeling a little grumpy. n/t

[lgardengate]

7. I'm disabled and i don't get much more

I have just over 10,000 a year. I would be on the street with all the meds i need but i live with my family. They are conservative repubs but i'm lucky because they are very good to me.They don't have alot but because of them i have my meds and live in a nice home.

Does your family refuse to help you?

[AlienGirl]

8. I feel the same way much of the time

:hug:

I wish I had answers but I don't. I often think my life was meant to end in 2001, and I've messed everything up by not dying of cancer. I'm in enormous amounts of debt, I will never own a house or a new car, and I don't have my kids--my kids have a new Mom now, and I frequently wonder wtf is the point of my continued existence?

Tucker

[Frogtutor]

10. Hugs for all of you...

:hug:

I'm so sorry that anyone, in this wealthy nation of ours, has to exist in such a way.

I'm not disabled, but I have experienced poverty, and all the crap one must go through to get little, if any, help.

The whole thing just sickens me; I especially can't stand people who bitch all the time about "welfare recipients" sitting on their asses, and getting paid to have babies. Stories of fraud get blown out of proportion, so everyone thinks it's rampant. People just don't have a friggin' clue.

I wish everyone in this country (especially congressmen and the president) would be required to live off $790 for one month, just to get a little taste of what it's like. Maybe it would open some eyes.

I work from home for an on line tutoring service; they require tutors to have at least a bachelor's degree, or be currently enrolled in a four-year university. If you meet these qualifications and are interested in tutoring kids from 4th grade through college in math, English, science, social studies, etc. let me know, and I'll send you the info for applying. It's not a lot, but any extra money helps, as I'm sure you know.

My prayers are with you all