Retail workers are so screwed. Sad tale:

[trof]

I was in Home Depot today and saw a floor worker who's helped me before. Guess I remembered her because she's a cute, bright redhead with an outgoing personality and a great sense of humor. You could say she'd made an impression on me.
;-)

She is riding in one of the electric shopping carts they have there for the handicapped.
She had a thick sock on one foot.
"Whoa! What happened to you?
"Somethin' bit me. My foot got all swollen and then it got infected. I had the red streaks running up my leg. They gave me some antibiotc shots and I have to stay off of it for a while."
"Fire ants?"
"I don't think so. Didn't raise blisters like fire ant bites do. Even the doctor didn't know what it was."
She peeled back the sock and there were numerous bites. Her foot was red and twice normal size.

Dr. trof: "You know, you really should have that elevated, and some ice on it."
"I know. That's what the doc said do, but I just can't afford to miss any time at work. You know how it is."

Yeah, honey, I know how it is.
And how it is stinks.
:-(

[MissB]

1. Last year, I ran into two grocery store clerks

that had cut their fingers with knifes or saws, much in the way I had. Being covered by a decent insurance plan, I had no problem deciding to go to the ER when I sawed into the top of my thumb, nicking the tendon.

Two different times, two different clerks. "I couldn't take time off" "I couldn't afford to even go to the free clinic".

Their fingers will probably never work right.

It sucks.

[NVMojo]

2. America, where everyone but the rich gets screwed hard.

[The Deacon]

3. Universal Health Care

There, I said it.
Will all my friends on DU send me the latest comic books when they lock me up in Gitmo?

[trof]

5. You said it, Deacon.

And sick leave.

[Ravenseye]

12. yeah public disability

It's not so much universal health care but disability that's the issue here. She saw a doctor, but she couldn't afford to not work. I'm sure that Home Depot wouldn't have fired her if she had to take time off for the injury (well probably not) but she just simply couldn't afford to do that.

Disabilty should be required for companies that employ say 50 or more people, and then the government should cover the rest. You shouldn't have your life destroyed because of medical reasons.

[Ilsa]

10. Can I have another "Amen"? They have to send us all along with

you to GITMO. We need the universal healthcare and some sort of sick leave available.

[acmavm]

4. Retail workers? Every worker. I was back at work exactly one week

to the day after my strokes.

For the same reason.

Doctor wasn't happy but he knew I'd be a wreck because I'd already lost a week and I was freaking out. He also knew I'd go anyway. So he let me even though he said it was against his better judgement. I was having problems walking, talking, writing, and typing but I do think that it helped me to recover faster, going back to work and knowing that I HAD to get my shit together really fast.

The doctor said I was lucky, that if there's a good place(s) to have a stroke in your brain, I did. There wouldn't be any real permanent damage.

We're all screwed. All of us who aren't a corporate CEO.

[trof]

6. Yeah, probably hourly wage earners in general.

[acmavm]

8. Yep.

[trof]

11. No surprise HD is a big repug donor.

Total to Democratic Senate Candidates: $26,500
Total to Republican Senate Candidates: $104,000
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.asp?strID=C00284885&Cycle=2006

[eppur_se_muova]

13. Almost exactly 4:1 ... this seems to be some kind of 'standard'. nt

[Midlodemocrat]

9. Your company didn't have a short term leave policy?

We would be in big trouble right now if my husband's company didn't have one of those. He had a quadruple bypass in June and is not expected to return to work until September. They are paying 70% of his salary, which is quite generous, but I thought it was sort of the standard.

My own company pays 60%, which I thought was pretty good.


Sorry you had to go through that. :hug:

[acmavm]

14. No. Small law firm (that practiced FEMA law no less.) No health

insurance either.

I'm going to probably have to file bankruptcy. But shit happens. It could be worse. Much worse.

[Midlodemocrat]

15. Dear God. That is awful.

I am so sorry for your troubles. Recovering from a stroke should be your priority, not your finances.

[theHandpuppet]

7. We shouldn't be surprised with attitudes such as this one...

... which was a response to an article which reported that the food pantries in Davenport, Iowa are in crisis: "If you are trying to raise a family you are responsible for finding a job better than Target at $7.50 an hour."

Yes, America, this is what we've come to.

[xchrom]

16. you're playing the classwarfare card!

i refer you to this thread.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x2760413