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Drunken Irishman

(34,857 posts)
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 08:57 PM Sep 2012

My father was the 47%...

He worked his whole life until, one day, he couldn't work anymore. Why couldn't he work? Because, in the 1970s, his government sent him off to the jungles of Vietnam and then poisoned him with a herbicide that, over time, atrophied his brain, gave him tumors, cancer scares, horrible shakes, terrible nightmares and undetected infections. His health deteriorated so badly in his late 40s, and early 50s, that he had no choice but to quit working.

Fortunately, he was ruled 100% disabled by that same government. Because of this, he didn't pay federal taxes ... but dammit if he didn't ultimately pay for, and deserve, that disability. He was never a deadbeat or lazy or even resentful. He didn't believe he was owed much anything ... except the chance to provide for his family. He died because of Vietnam and the horrors of Agent Orange - he is not someone who was dependent on the government ... the government was dependent on him, and many other young men just like him who fought in wars and risked their lives for the country they loved.

This hits close to home for me because I know how hard my dad hated not being able to work. But a part of me is thankful he's not around to hear a major party candidate for the presidency of the United States dismiss him in such a vile and hurtful way - to suggest he's worthless and a victim and looking for a handout.

My dad was a proud, strong man who provided for his family and went without so that my brother and I could have new school clothes, good Christmases and food on the table. He wore the same clothes year after year, the same shoes with the holes in their soles, so that we could have a happy and comfortable childhood. He was not some lowlife government leech. He was a hero. He was a man.

But Mitt Romney got one thing right, and I'll give him credit for this, my dad would have never considered voting for him.

3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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My father was the 47%... (Original Post) Drunken Irishman Sep 2012 OP
K&R nt abelenkpe Sep 2012 #1
Romney is so hurtful to so many alive and dead. pwb Sep 2012 #2
I am about to be the 47% Wrongly suspended from work DisabledAmerican Sep 2012 #3
 

DisabledAmerican

(452 posts)
3. I am about to be the 47% Wrongly suspended from work
Tue Sep 18, 2012, 09:28 PM
Sep 2012

I am part of the reason why the 47% are here. Let me tell you story you aren't going to believe. BTW This is my first post so forgive me.

I worked as a Walmart Associate for 3 years and because of them I am Disabled. I went to work for Walmart because I was suckered into student loans from the Art Institute of Dallas that never paned out. I have a worthless college degree and debt because of it. That isn't the worse part the worse part is because of Walmart's Neglect when I tried to use their open door policy I became injured due to their lack of care. I did everything I could to point out what Cashiers were facing with back trouble before it crippled me. Their policies of cutting back workers hours and hiring tempt workers is outrages.

I was put on workers comp after my injury which is their walmart CMI a private owned insurance instead of of the government run workmens comp. CMI denied my claim saying I had a pre-existing condition. I have never had back troubles before any of this and I used to do martial arts. I have been struggling with pain because I was scheduled to have a MRI when the injury happen that was when they cut me off. I honestly do not know how much more I can take of this pain.

The store showed hostility towards my condition causing it to become worse when I was in the process of getting it better. Now that I am wheel chair bond I have no way of paying for my wheel chair because one of their managers broke ADA guidelines and used a employer entrapment on me in order to have me suspended until further notice. Because of what the Manager said I have not been given the chance to give my side of the story. I have not been able to talk to any of their HR members about it as well. I do not even know what I'm being accused of because the Manager pulled me back to personal and blocked the door on allowing me to leave. He said that I would be arrested and I couldn't leave. I had to threaten to have them speak to my lawyer which I do not have any representation I just wanted to get out of their and leave.

Their Manager broke so many policies within walmart including talking to me when I was off the clock, holding me hostage in personal, discussing private medical information in a public area, and threatening to arrest me without just reason. I have called the Justice Department and I plan to file charges. I have also contacted the ALCU in Texas filing a complaint on their website. I'm scared because now I can't pay taxes because I do not have a job and untill the Justice Department does it's thing I do not know if I can collect unemployment 3 years worth.

What is really bad is it takes forever to get disability because I've lost my job most likely I do not have regular health insurance to cover my medical expansions. I have no money to get the wheel chair that I need. I can't walk anywhere or go anywhere because it hurts so bad. Plus I'll most likely be losing my car because I can't make payments now and I''m worried that my apartment complex may kick us out if we can't make rent.

We were already in the process of trying to move to Colorado Springs Colorado. We had a house lined up and everything. The whole reason we were moving there is because my uncle is on disability. It's the reason why I came here in the first place because he couldn't make enough money off disability to make rent on his own after his mother died of cancer. I've tried to be a good person in life, but I never asked to be in pain or have this. At 31 I do not know if I will live much longer with how our society is. I'm praying that I'm not Homeless soon because of this. That Manager discriminated against a disable person and he still has his job. What is worse is he mocked my condition when discussing medical information which is why I am filing through with the Justice Department. If I die at least I will know I tried to make it easier on someone and hope they never have to suffer like this.

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