DU pulse check Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI

[unrepentant progress]

4. Of course the person is entitled to disability benefits

A person decides to try skydiving. Due to their inexperience, the chute becomes tangled, and they suffer disabling injuries. Should they be denied disability benefits because it was their own damn fault? Of course not.

A person enjoys cross country skiing. The person in question is an experienced, and capable, skiier. However, one day they are too enthusiastic to check out a new trail, and not as mindful of the weather as they should be. Even more unfortunate, in their enthusiasm the person forgets to charge their cell phone. Out in the middle of the woods they suffer an accident, and while the person makes it back to safety, severe frostbite causes them to have a lifelong disabling condition. Should they be denied disability benefits because their condition is their own damn fault? No, that's stupid.

A person takes up tobacco smoking as a teenager. Decades later they have developed disabling COPD. How about this guy? Should he be denied? Too many, even here, would answer "Punish the bastard! Deny him! The quicker he dies the sooner he'll stop leeching off the system."

You either have protection for all, or soon you have protection for none.