Notes from a bitch...

[ccharles000]

Yesterday I had dinner with my older brother. He's autistic and aphasic and vibrant and funny. My sister and I are co-guardians, which has added dealing with the mental healthcare system to our lives. It's worth it, but it is often an emotionally draining pain in the ass.

My brother is the oldest so I have never known a day without autism in my world. Having a family member with special needs is normal for me. In fact, it is normal for a lot of American families.

Just as struggling to do right by that loved one and make sure their needs are met has become normal.

Blink.

Eight years of Republicans in control of our national checkbook has resulted in a lack of funding for domestic programs and that includes residential treatment programs, community integration programs and healthcare programs.

Yesterday I looked across the table at my brother and I was seized with a pure panic over how the hell we'd function if his funding was cut one more time...if they took away other screenings the way they took away dental coverage...if they slashed transportation the way they slashed funding for job assistance which has left him unemployed for the first time in his adult life.

http://www.feministing.com/archives/011039.html

[Union Thug]

1. Yup - and it's not just the past 8 years... this butchering of our system was started under...

the mindless zombie puppet of the wealthy, Raygun and has been carried on, even under so-called Democrats like Clinton who bought in to many of the Raygun era doctrines re. the function of government.

[Captain Hilts]

3. His first year Clinton tried to be a progressive and conservative Democrats -

such as Sam Nunn and Jim Cooper - both Obama advisers - stopped him.

[Skittles]

10. ooh, how well I f***ing remember that bastard Reagan

the jobs program in which my autistic brother participated was slashed as soon as that fucking asshole became president

[AuntPatsy]

2. K & R I honestly hate those people....they could care less about the life already born...

[ccharles000]

4. Kick

[DiamondG]

5. what does this have to do with bitches? nt

[ccharles000]

6. That is the title of her article.

[Vickers]

7. Did you read the post, or are you just knee-jerking?

:shrug:

[ColbertWatcher]

15. That's her nom de internets; kinda like the "Rude Pundit" n/t

[JustAnotherGen]

8. k/r

onto the greatest page

[CaliforniaPeggy]

9. What a great article...

And how sad and scary too...

Thank you for this...

K&R

[NanceGreggs]

11. Thank you for sharing this, my dear ccharles ...

... we have to remember everything that's at stake here - everything.

:kick: and REC'D!!!

[grantcart]

12. well it won't matter because we will all be so involved in the wars to come

that anything less than actual armed conflict and possible nuclear anhiliation will simply be seen as acceptable.

Empires have declined and wars started with more capable leaders than Palin. When she becomes President and has an opportunity to step out and lead the United States military in its "end of time" holy war people will have a chance to consider what 'values' they have voted for.

[PA Democrat]

13. K & R from the mother of a child with autism.

Last year the Combating Autism Act was signed by Bush. The problem is that when Bush put together his 2009 budget, the cold-hearted bastard didn't put so much as a stinking dime in his budget to FUND the bill. Bush is there for the photo op, but MIA when it comes to funding programs that make a significant difference in the lives of people with disabilities.

During his time in office, funds have been cut for programs for housing for the disabled and for job training programs for the disabled. He has cut Medicare.

But there is ALWAYS money for more military spending.

So when yet another Republican (actually both McCain & Palin) pay lip service to being a "friend" to families with children with special needs, I don't believe them.

[ccharles000]

14. ...

:hug:

[ColbertWatcher]

16. Palin cut money out of her Alaska budget for social programs.

She fits in perfectly with the bunch the GOP already has in place. Looks like she is ready from "day one"--to dismantle America's safety nets.