I read with no surprise that the number of people filing for Social Security disability was greater than the number of people filing for unemployment last month. I guess when you have been unemployed for 99 weeks and still have no job after almost two years, you have to do something, right?
I see people in my store every day that are on disability. How do I know? They tell me. They aren't using anything to help them walk. They don't limp. They are either able to walk up or drive up to my store with no problem. One guy-who has been disabled for over two years now- rides his motorcycle to my store. I usually see them around the first of the month when they are flush. Near the end of the month I see some of them when they need to sell me something to get to the first of the month.
My Dad was on disability for the last years of his life because of his heart, and there was a time when my seizures weren't controlled and I used disability for about five years. As soon as I could, I went back to work and contributed to the system. I believe that disability is fine for someone who truly needs it, but the way it is set up now, it is completely unsustainable. Too many people look at this as free money and no work required. Does anyone wonder why we are going broke?
One customer in particular has had three children and guess what? She is trying to find something wrong with all three of them so that they can get a check also. What a bunch of little money makers! Why is it that a six year old child needs a check? Is there some job that they aren't able to do any longer? When I was six years old, my chores included dusting, making my bed, clearing the table, and rinsing the dishes that were washed. In what way did I contribute to the family that would require a check?
The thing that makes me the angriest is that while she was in jail for writing bad checks, she still received disability. Yep-we mailed her a check even though she was cooling her heals in the grey bar motel. Where is the common sense for that?
What is her disability you ask? When she was a stripper, the stress of going to work every day caused her to have acute stress. Maybe she should have learned a trade, or gotten an education. I would think the stress of my children going hungry and homeless would get those pasties on, if nothing else.
Why would she need a check for her children's disabilities, any way? Were they bringing in a check that the family depended on? Or is it just another biscuit to dip in our shrinking gravy train? I bet it's the latter.
Another example that truly grates on me is right around the corner from me. There is a guy on the corner who has a perpetual yard sale. This town has something called 'spring clean up' when people set out the things that they want to haul to the dump, for whatever reason. Quite often, there is nothing wrong with the item, the owner just no longer wants or needs it. This "disabled" guy drives around for hours a day and loads his truck with the appliances, furniture, yard toys, lawn mowers and other things that people throw away. So he can drive, lift more than fifty pounds repeatedly, make change, and sit and stand for long periods of time. How is he disabled again? He looks perfectly able to stand by a door and say "Hi, welcome to Walmart. Do you need a cart?"
Or what about the woman who won a million dollars in the lottery and continued to draw food stamps? When she was confronted-she got angry! She complained that after taxes, she didn't have more than five hundred thousand left! How in the world was she supposed to furnish the two houses she had purchased if she had to buy her own food, too? I was glad to see that she was arrested for fraud and has to repay much of the money that she received.But still-
Is there any question why we are broke? Imagine it this way-if our Republic were a person-that person found out that his or her hours had been cut at work and won't be making as much money. Instead of tightening their belt, they just ordered the deluxe cable package for a brand new 78" wide screen television they just bought, and they're hoping that it's hooked up before he or she gets back from an around the world deluxe cruise.
Do you think any of those people are trying to get better so that they can contribute instead of drain the system? Me neither.
I have no problem helping a person get back on their feet. While I don't believe all of the receipts that I see online listing lobster, steak and other luxury items bought with food stamps- I do remember that when I worked at Walmart- those carts loaded down with fantastic cuts of beef and ground sirloin (and three cases of soda) were usually food stamp orders. I remember thinking-do me a favor and buy some ground turkey like I do- but of course I couldn't say it out loud.
I have no problem helping someone. I have paid it forward on more than one occasion, we all have hopefully. It shouldn't be a lifestyle. Think about it, you can thank me later.
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