Re: needs/wants/must haves

[Guest guest]

True. Larry Flynt is a good example. He has a gold-plated wheelchair (okay, I

know it's not

THAT expensive, .. but it is a couple $k more), and can go to Vegas and gamble

$1-5

million at a time.

But, the VAST super-duper majority of the severely developmentally disabled (not

counting that dreaded class of old people who want to be disabled), struggle

financially to

lead 'normal' lives. Newbie severely disabled experience the same financial

struggle,

eventually, though a greater percentage of them have some 'safety-net' resources

already

in place, having benefited from a life without a disability, to date. And, yes,

many do not

have a 'safety-net'. 40% of all bankruptcies are due to medical bills - even

your health

care professionals (and those wily MBAs/MPHs running all these 'non-profit'

medical

companies) want you to live like street dogs.

If I want to go to Europe, or on a cruise, I have to hire - and PAY - for

another person to

go with me.

If I want my lawn mowed, I HAVE to pay for it to be done.

If I want my house cleaned, I HAVE to pay to have it done.

If I want modifications in my house, I HAVE to pay to have them done.

And, all these 'wants' are really NEEDS, MUST-HAVES.

My 'quality of life' is not so much determined by my disability, as it is

dictated by those

around me.

Then again, many people - government included - believe it's okay for people

with

disabilities to live like dogs. I think it gives these vacuous ones something to

talk about, as

well as feeling superior.

Group mental illness is my theory.

[Guest guest]

You make good points. That's why I said disabled people ought to have

an additional tax deduction or be able to tax deduct normal life

things things they are unable to do for themselves. For instance, on

my move, besides paying the movers, I had to pay two guys $80 to come

and move some boxes from/to the basement. Most people would have done

that themselves. I can't even climb a ladder to change a light bulb.

I suppose the problem would come with implementation. You could say it

applies to people who get benefits like SSDI, but then people on SS

Retirement would need the opportunity to show they were disabled which

might lead to everyone trying to claim they are disabled.

Everyone has limits, some are just more abled than others. I always

admired guys who could remodel their house, run wiring, change

plumbing and fix their own cars. That gives you a big advantage in

life, but I could never do that stuff even when I was more abled.