[nabs-l] [Nfbnet-members-list] Threw Our Eyes interview, Ride into History, Race for Independence, Wed. June 22, 8:00 pm EDT

[Kirt Manwaring]

Joseph,
  You make great points, and I really do feel for you.  That's
aweful...like, maybe get a social security lawyer kind of aweful.
  All I'm saying is, the way the system is intended to work (and the
way it works for a lot of us), SSI is necessary income.  I'm using it
so I don't starve through school; the minute I get out and find a
full-time job, I'm saying goodbye to my SSI for good.  That's how it
should be-use it to get yourself able to work then cut the cord.  I
know lots of people abuse it, I know it's poorly managed, and I know
you're getting screwed by the system.  But the way I see it, it's
designed to be a boost up to equality, not a handout.  Of course,
everyone doesn't use it that way.
  In any case, best of luck.  I hope things work out for you.  For
what it's worth, I'm sorry you're going through all this crap.
  Best wishes,
Kirt

On 6/25/11, T. Joseph Carter <carter.tjoseph at gmail.com> wrote:
> Kirt,
>
> Social Security and SSI are still a handout, and they come with
> strings attached that make getting off of them pretty difficult.
> Especially if you live in subsidized housing, collect food stamps,
> receive utility subsidies, etc.  If you do and you go and find
> yourself a job that doesn’t pay enough, you will have a sudden net
> reduction in your income that already doesn’t pay the bills.
>
> I’ve decided I’m getting off this roller coaster even if it makes me
> homeless in the process, because I’m sick and tired of living in fear
> that they might take away my benefits!  I’ve gotten three letters to
> that effect in the past two years, in the midst of cancer treatment
> for two of them, all with the customary 30 day appeal I’d better take
> advantage of if I want to be able to survive another month!
>
> I’m tired of getting paid to NOT work.  I’m tired of living in places
> where the government intrudes upon my home three times a year to make
> sure my landlord isn’t complete pond scum (but allowing them to be
> one level removed from pond scum!)  I’m tired of being told that if I
> start working, my rent will suddenly be 120% of what anybody in their
> right might would ever pay for this dump.  And I’m tired of being
> told that they’re sorry, but I just don’t qualify for the work
> incentives, or the better medical coverage, or the exemptions that
> might possibly allow me to save a few hundred dollars with which to
> actually get out of here!
>
> Your not-a-handout Social Security and SSI have made slaves of far
> too many of us.  Perfectly able to work, but afraid to try for fear
> that we’ll lose what little we’ve got.  We are trapped in a prison of
> learned helplessness, and the only way out is to see these things—all
> of them—for what they are: Government handouts designed to keep us
> docile, afraid, and living in poverty.
>
> I’m done playing that game.
>
> Joseph
>
>
> On Sat, Jun 25, 2011 at 09:13:21AM -0600, Kirt Manwaring wrote:
>>Carley,
>>  First off, I've done a bit of really light research and I was way
>>liberal about what I thought the cost of this would be.  It's probably
>>going to be in the neighborhood of $100 million, so I was way off.
>>That'll teach me not to make outlandish statements with no proof.
>>  But still, the point I made in my last message stands.  Of course I
>>don't want the government to write out a check for all of us-I was
>>trying to point out that trying to make all the cash out there more
>>"blind-friendly" is not necessary.  Just like we don't need government
>>handouts (I'm not counting SSI as a government handout because that's
>>money lots of us genuinely need), we don't need the government
>>spending $100 million redesigning currency we can already use with
>>pretty much no problem.  Honestly, if you think you can't afford an
>>iBill, there's probably something you're buying with your $680 a month
>>that you really don't need.
>>  Just a thought,
>>Kirt
>
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