I read an alarming statistic last week. The number of individuals who are applying for-and receiving-disability has jumped by almost one quarter. Are we suddenly inundated with folks who are losing a limb, or being struck blind? Well, no. What we have is a HUGE amount of people who have run out of every other means of supporting themselves. They have been unemployed for too long or perhaps they have decided it's more fun to sit on their computer and surf instead of going to work every day.
I know maybe seven people who are "disabled" and yet, they are surprisingly spry. One used to be a stripper-yep- and then the act of going to work everyday was so stressful that she needed medication. From that medication she needed to be subsidized. Now she is paid almost eight hundred a month to go shopping, get up at noon, and run all over the place. She has also turned disability into a family business. Her first child needs SSI because he has some sort of A.D.D. Her step son has A.D.H.D. now and some sort of problem from the Ritalin he took. Her latest husband has a bad back, a bad heart, and some sort of exotic bone problem. We have been paying her to have children- we subsidized the last two that she had.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that there is nothing wrong with her. She seems perfectly able to ride or drive in a vehicle for upwards of five hours every day. She is able to use her computer for at least 12 hours every day. While she has embraced carbohydrates and probably can't be paid to take her clothes off anymore, she still seems able to say, " Welcome to Walmart-do you need a cart?" Maybe the thought of her children being hungry doesn't stress her out enough. It would me.
I know another person who was very disabled until the check started. Now, it's a miracle! The very medicine that used to be provided for free thanks to you and me and cost upwards of eight hundred dollars a month is no longer necessary now that he only gets $1900 a month. Thanks be to God, right?
I have no problem helping someone who genuinely needs it. I stood behind a gentleman in a self checkout as he was buying a cake and some candy. The snarky comments were flying all around, and he turned toward me and said, "Today's my daughter's birthday. I've been out of work for over a year, and if all she asked for is cake and candy- then by God! she is going to have it." I offered to buy a barbie doll for her, but he said no thank you. I hope things turn around for him, I expect they will by the first of the year. I hope he makes it that long. I hope that we all do.
So the next time you see someone who is "disabled" ask yourself this- How much is that costing me? You'll thank me later.
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