The Conservative Cave
Current Events => The DUmpster => Topic started by: Carl on March 17, 2010, 08:14:41 PM
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http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7942471
Lyric (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-17-10 08:42 PM
Original message
$10 an hour? Try $8 an hour while caring for a family that the government refuses to recognize.
That's what my partner and I will be faced with shortly. As soon as all of this starts, I'll be able to let you all know firsthand what the experience is like for a truly poor family--except that since nobody wants to "push" for GLBT equality right now, we'll be a family living under the rules for a single person with no dependents.
My partner and I have a soon-to-be-ten year old son. She's 43, I'm 30, and we're both full-time college students. I go to school and then stay home in the evenings with our son (because childcare would cost about as much as I'd make at the jobs available around here anyway.) Rhythm goes to school during the day, then works evenings as a cook in a local pub for $8.00 an hour. It was the best job she could find that is walkable, because we don't have a car and the bus service in the evenings around here is not adequate for anything better. It's part-time; on a good week, she might get 25 hours.
We live as a married couple with a child--a family--but the government considers us to be two single people, one of whom has a dependent, while the other (legally) does not. Our son and I receive Medicaid (for now) because the government considers my school attendance to be a "good enough" excuse for not having a job right now, although as soon as my son is considered old enough to be home by himself in the evenings, that will change. Rhythm has no health insurance at all. She hasn't seen a doctor in years, even though her eyesight is diminishing and she has an acute family history of diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. I live in terror that the diabetes and the eyesight problems are related, but we have no way to know for sure right now, and no way to DO anything about it even if we DID know.
Rhythm is not eligible for Medicaid because she's physically capable of working and does not have any *legal* dependents. We know this, because we've already tried applying for it (and my thanks to Midlodemocrat for doing her best to help us, even though it didn't work out.) She was denied. I've heard that the new rules raise the income qualification level, which is great, but thanks to the 1996 PRWORA Act (welfare reform), each state gets to decide its OWN qualification rules. The federal government's guidelines are not universally adhered to, nor do they need to be thanks to that act. On a side note, if Obama REALLY wants to make a difference for the poor, overturning PRWORA would be the most effective, humane thing that he could ever, ever do...
:blah: :blah: :blah:
...Her income is about $800 a month. Hers is the ONLY income we have, for reasons I explained above. We get a little extra in financial aid to help out, but not very much--it's enough to pay most of the rent every month. We have a boarder in our third bedroom who pays the rest of the rent for this place. Rhythm's income pays all utilities, a third of the groceries (my Food Stamps take care of the other 2/3's) and all of the household item expenses (like toilet paper and soap--not stuff we can just stop buying.) That's it. We have no savings, no expendable income, and no "extra" money ANYWHERE. If you want to see a family that is LITERALLY living from one paycheck to another with nothing else to spare, well, welcome to my world.
:blah: :blah: :blah:
And other members of my family are screwed too, just in different ways. We're all poor, and this is going to hurt every single one of us with the exception of my dying Mom, who was approved for disability Medicaid today (thank god) although there's some red tape that might hurt us there, too. I really wish people would stop pretending like this bill is meant to help the poor. It isn't. It's meant to help certain select elements of the middle class, and a few poor people who meet strict guidelines and live in compassionate states with lenient Medicaid qualification rules MIGHT benefit too. Just as many (if not more) poor people stand a fair chance of getting nothing at all at best, or royally screwed at worst. GLBT and certain hetero couples (unmarried, cohabitating, with kids that are only the "legal dependents" of ONE partner) are getting the worst deal of all.
So I guess we'll just keep using the emergency room as the only healthcare available to us, and hope like hell that maybe SOMEDAY everyone else who's supposedly on "our" side will find it politically expedient to actually fight (which means RISKING something) for the equality and social justice that this nation SORELY lacks. I won't be holding my breath, but I suppose it's theoretically possible--IF we can elect some leaders who care more about doing the right thing NOW than about getting re-elected later. And that is probably the biggest and most unlikely IF of all.
You make your choices,you live with the consequences fool.
nadinbrzezinski (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-17-10 08:57 PM
Response to Original message
7. There are many things I hate about this country
chiefly how we are going BACKWARDS in so many things...
In the long run though, re healhcare, given how much the SS and Medicare bills sucked... yes they should get incrementally better... that is US History... not that this is any comfort right now.
madrchsod (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-17-10 08:58 PM
Response to Original message
8. this should`t happen in the america...but it does
we are sold to the highest bidder.
Nope,just common sense that says the worst possible situation one chooses to be in doesn`t mean everyone else has to subsidize it.
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My partner and I have a son
Impossible. You Fail Biology Forever (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/YouFailBiologyForever).
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Why doesn't one of them work full time while the other goes to school and has a part time job. Then after one of them is finished with school the other can switch places.
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Why doesn't one of them work full time while the other goes to school and has a part time job. Then after one of them is finished with school the other can switch places.
Whaaaatttt? A full time job for a DUmmie? That's sacrilegious .
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Why doesn't one of them work full time while the other goes to school and has a part time job. Then after one of them is finished with school the other can switch places.
But that would make it so much harder to blame everyone else!
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Why ? Because Ms. Poetess/Writer puts herself first, her partner second and her son last.
They both look like they aren't missing many meals either. My son goes to school full time and works. If he can do it, anyone can.
You never hear her mention child support in any of her posts, it's always poor poor poor ME !
Some insight into how she thinks. It's too long to post.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7103510
Her thought process is so screwed up.
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Where could we start with this one?? Just so much DUmmie in that post its incredibly tempting to think its a well thought out troll.
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Awwwww, isn't that cute?
Is her girlfriend's name really Rhythm? And her name is Lyric? What do you think the son's name is?
They don't have enough money to live on but they do have internet access.
:whatever:
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Awwwww, isn't that cute?
Is her girlfriend's name really Rhythm? And her name is Lyric? What do you think the son's name is?
They don't have enough money to live on but they do have internet access.
:whatever:
Bass?
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They don't have enough money to live on but they do have internet access.
:whatever:
Exactly what I was thinking.
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Thus exploding the myth that gays/lesbians have shitloads of disposable income.
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Thus exploding the myth that gays/lesbians have shitloads of disposable income.
Especially if they're lifelong students.
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Especially if they're lifelong students.
Exactly. 30 and 45 is old enough to figure out what you want to do in life.... :loser:
I guess they haven't "found themselves" yet. ( I first heard this back in the 70's, and I STILL have no idea what it means....)
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Bass?
Nah, they're dykes gotta be tuba or simitar.
Cindie
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Why ? Because Ms. Poetess/Writer puts herself first, her partner second and her son last.
They both look like they aren't missing many meals either. My son goes to school full time and works. If he can do it, anyone can.
You never hear her mention child support in any of her posts, it's always poor poor poor ME !
Some insight into how she thinks. It's too long to post.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x7103510
Her thought process is so screwed up.
I'm a full time student and I'm deployed, working anywhere from 10-16 hours at a stretch. Only words I have for them is "This is the world's tiniest violin..."
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Is her girlfriend's name really Rhythm? And her name is Lyric? What do you think the son's name is?
Deadmeat?
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Good Lord have mercy. Get a freaking job. You are whining because you don't have money. If you had a job you would have money. All of this GLBT-married-raising-a-kid-college-student whiny crap is just a smoke screen for your laziness. Actions bring reward or consequences. If you don't want to work, don't come bitching to me that you don't have any money. :thatsright:
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She's already getting a totally free ride, and she wants more? Who's supposed to pay for all this? Could she manage to squeeze a tear out for all the Americans who are just making enough to be taxed to pay for her fat useless azz?
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Good Lord, what a post. One cannot realistically go through life as a perpetual college student. Who's paying for the tuition? Some sort of grant, presumably, paid for by someone else. If she's miserable and poor, it's her own damned fault. You have to postpone school for when you can afford it.
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Her little boy is SO cute.
I don't understand her way of thinking. When you can't afford food or shelter for your child, your dreams have to take a back seat.
DUmmies can be very selfish.
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This shows how ridiculous DUmmies are. When I was in college I worked 32-40+ hours per week.
What's ironic is that they are on almost every form of public assistance available- yet this is not enough. I would argue they have been recognized. It sounds like she would like a 300,000$ salary on top of the welfare and a Mercedes.
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Rhythm is not eligible for Medicaid because she's physically capable of working and does not have any *legal* dependents.
Wonder of wonders! Every once in awhile the gubbmint does the right thing.
Those two are why there is a tea party. Enough is enough, already.
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They both look like they aren't missing many meals either.
Where???
Are these the two large broads who go to WVU?
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Her little boy is SO cute.
The kid will be out of college before them.
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Are these the two large broads who go to WVU?
Yes it is.
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I'm guessing GF is really going to be pissed when HCR passes and it has to pay 300 of that 800 it made for mandatory health insurance.
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Yes indeed, Randy. As I understand it, no subsidies kick in for 4 years. (If I'm wrong, anybody please let me know). When that sinks in, 90% of the country won't want this POS.
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Yes it is.
Well, then, they could be among the handful of beneficiaries of the (by now) billion-dollar Robert C. Byrd People Mover. Thanks to you all, for sending money to help move these fat carpetmunchers around Morgantown.
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Why doesn't one of them work full time while the other goes to school and has a part time job. Then after one of them is finished with school the other can switch places.
Now, now, you can't expect professional students to make that kind of sacrifice!
No mention of the nearly 3 thousand dollar "Earned Income Credit" it pockets every year because of her "dependent" and classified as a single mom! Oh, and one of them could always file as "Head of Household" and claim the other as a dependent also! DUmmies is soooooooooo stooooooooopid!
Call the waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaambulance! I ain't buyin'!
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ljm2002 (1000+ posts) Thu Mar-18-10 05:25 PM
Response to Original message
40. If you think she has diabetes...
...get her to a clinic for a diagnosis.
There are things you can do, like dietary adjustments, that can be very helpful even if she does have diabetes. But if she has the Type I kind, she absolutely needs to get treatment. Buy it, beg it, borrow it, but do what you have to do. It cannot be ignored and it will not go away by itself.
I know you already know this. I know you are in a real bind. But you'll be in a much worse one if you don't take this bull by the horns.
That's my advice. And before you get annoyed (which I would not blame you for), please take it as it is intended, as a nudge to do what has to be done even though it seems impossible.
Wait a minute. We have baby shot mobile units, blood donation mobile units, diabetes and blood pressure check mobile units out weekly over here in my area. FREE. All I would need to do is go down the street about 15 mins. where the only grocery store is and where any one of those mobile units are parked to get what I needed done. It's just a matter of finding out which day your need is being served.
Do they not have that in other places ? All I know about is ignorant redneck bigoted places. :whatever: My simple self thought all metro areas had those free services available.
My own Dr. does free diabetes screening.
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Lyric (1000+ posts) Wed Mar-17-10 01:56 PM
Response to Reply #4
12. The preventative checkups don't help much
when you can't afford to follow up on them if something is found.
Your credit bureaus comment doesn't make sense either, because most doctor's offices simply do not provide service PERIOD unless you have the co-pay up front. I suppose hospitals and emergency rooms could report you to the credit bureaus, but that's how it is NOW...so what's the difference?
As for your rather sickening last comment, allow me to translate that into plainer language: "I got mine. Tough shit for you."
Welcome to the NEW Democratic Party, ladies and gentlemen--as represented above. Jesus effing wept.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7938245&mesg_id=7938449
I guess there's no helping her. If she doesn't get what she wants she pitches a fit and then gets pissy.
OH WELL.
Maybe they should lose a little weight. That's free.
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http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7938245&mesg_id=7938449
I guess there's no helping her. If she doesn't get what she wants she pitches a fit and then gets pissy.
OH WELL.
Maybe they should lose a little weight. That's free.
A description of DUmmies and libs to the Nth.
Everything is about what they as individuals want and nothing short of that is acceptable.
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because most doctor's offices simply do not provide service PERIOD unless you have the co-pay up front.
I call bullshirt! I've been to the doctor way too many times recently, and not once have they asked me for money until after services have been rendered. Besides, I'm absolutely sure there are free clinics in every major metro area in this country. This DUmbass is just looking for a pity party!
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In addition, you get discounted health services at your college, if you are a student.
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I call bullshirt! I've been to the doctor way too many times recently, and not once have they asked me for money until after services have been rendered. Besides, I'm absolutely sure there are free clinics in every major metro area in this country. This DUmbass is just looking for a pity party!
Exactly! When I have to go several times in a month I just have them bill me and pay the copays all at once. Never have I gotten substandard care on the no copay days. Doctor doesn't even know whether I paid that day or not.
Cindie
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Exactly! When I have to go several times in a month I just have them bill me and pay the copays all at once. Never have I gotten substandard care on the no copay days. Doctor doesn't even know whether I paid that day or not.
Cindie
Lately I've had to go so damned often, Doc is waving about half my co-pays. Word of advice, never get pancreatitus! It's a bitch! I have to visit the vampire every other day!
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In addition, you get discounted health services at your college, if you are a student.
Some are even free. My son got FREE care at his school. His prescriptions we pay for but they're cheap.
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She could have a policy for around $80 a month. Probably about what they pay for internet.
WVU Insurance (http://well.wvu.edu/medical/insurance)
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Awwwww, isn't that cute?
Is her girlfriend's name really Rhythm? And her name is Lyric? What do you think the son's name is?
I was going to say Blues, but a better name for a male child being raised by 2 lesbos would be "Screwed"....
Sorry if this comes across as a bit homophobic. Actually, if anyone who reads this is offended, I want each and every one of you to know:
If you were offended, I DON'T GIVE A SHIT!!!! :bird: