cybercat wrote:
> "Cheryl" > wrote in message
> news
>> "Dave Smith" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>
>>> Another thing that sounds good in theory. You will probably find
>>> that most people that end up strung out on drugs got into them
>>> because they already had too much spare time on their hands. Most
>>> people who are gainfully employed and have other activities on the
>>> side don't have time for getting wasted.
>>>
>>
>> Dave, I'm not trying to isolate your post from the rest of some of
>> what is disgusting me, but I couldn't stay silent anymore. We are
>> the fortunate ones. We may not be rich, but we don't have to steal
>> or sell drugs or resort to crime to survive. Maybe some of us did
>> at one time but have pulled out of it now. Maybe that's why we're
>> angry at those still taking. I prefer to think of it as a loan. No,
>> they might not pay it back. The ones who abuse the system are the
>> ones you think of when the word "welfare" comes up. Not everyone is
>> abusing it. Some are stuck in unfortunate circumstances beyond
>> their control. Some can't get health care through a legitimate job
>> and have kids to think of. Ugh... I'm done. I just got sad reading some
>> of the posts in this
>> thread where most of you posting think people who are poor are that
>> way by choice. And that we're not supposed to help them. We ARE
>> supposed to help them. " ... there but for the grace of God go I
>> ..."
>
> There you go. The response of a human being. Way to go!

I'm reading all this and I'm feeling a little sad and ashamed at what some
folks are saying because I'm on disability. I don't get much a month, but
if I don't receive my monthly disability allowance, I don't get Medicaid -
that's the rule. I can tell Social Security that I don't want their money,
but if I don't take it I can't receive Medicaid. It's kind of silly.

Medicaid is *state*-funded free health care, not *federally*- funded free
health care. It takes a lot of phone calls, paperwork, leg work and time to
finally qualify for it. You've got to get all your doctor records together,
take a psychiatric evaluation, get all your financial statements in order,
taxes, gosh. It was a full-time job to become eligible. I guess they make
it that difficult to weed out the lazy folks and the ones who are out to
abuse the system.

Well, do to the diagnosis of cancer and the radical surgeries I went through
to remove the aggressive tumor, and a more recent emergency surgery a few
weeks ago, I can say thank you to Medicaid because I am still here,
breathing. If I had not qualified for Medicaid, I would definitely have
died by now. I came really close.

So, I don't feel that my receiving medical help is abusing the system. I'm
grateful, very grateful for the help. Besides, I want to stay around for a
few more years at least, to continue to irk my husband. :~)

kili