Here’s my take:
Where I live, it costs $86 to start up a single person LLC. $86. Probably not a huge percentage of someone’s monthly disability take to get them started.
Anyone who can sit/lie around typing/dictating on Free Republic has a demonstrated skill.
Anyone with a demonstrated skill, and something to offer others through that skill, can parlay that into a business, especially in the Information Age, when millions are doing exactly that, and many are doing it quite successfully, and doing it despite “disabilities.”
Those with such a skill, but without anything to offer others through the use of that skill, can develop something to offer others that people would be willing to pay for.
Those who cannot (or will not bother to) develop something others would value enough to pay for, should be of such character that family, friends, neighbors and charities would consider them worthwhile enough to come to their aid.
But what we have now is a huge number of people with demonstrated skills - ie the ability to type/dictate, surf the web, render astute opinions, etc - who are supported by strangers whose money is forced from them at the point of a gun by various government agencies.
I’m not in favor of such a system, and it strikes me as odd that anyone on FR would be. I have zero respect for people who try to justify this system in their own case on a conservative site, in complete sentences, with heart-rending examples, when they could use their skills to earn a living by starting a web site with its own forums, or start a blog about their plight, or write and publish for sale a book or the books of others about such things, or become a freelance writer and earn a living that way.
Sheesh.
I do what I can do and I have a lot on my plate I deal with besides what I mentioned. I have to concentrate to cook so I don't burn the darn house down. If I get distracted I might not return to what I was doing. As for typing? I do hunt and peck.
Now I do know someone who was born with severe limitations a full quad. She has a college degree. She also works. The amount of money it has taken to get her to that point is about six times or more what it cost others because everything had to be adapted. She can only move her fingers so someone must go with her to assist her and drive her. Her job? Interviewing persons for government work programs. What may sound good on paper often is either not practical or economically wise.
But hey you want to save Medicaid and Medicare money? I have some ideas and the math works. Medicare/Medicaid will pay up to $100 a day to room and board a patient in a nursing home. Yet if a family wants to care for Grandpa or Granny or even a sibling at home they will receive very limited help. I know what I'm talking about I've been a caregiver 28 years. In 28 years we've had about a dozen home health visits. Today because an issue that popped up our doctor has sent them out again. He knows when I tell him I can't get a wound to heal up he knows it's serious. A nursing home gets money for care of patients but family doing for self gets very limited help. Ever hear of the powerful nursing home lobby? I beleieve in family caring for family.
Not everyone can be a care giver either. But many of our elderly and disabled end up in nursing homes because family can not afford to cut one of two of their incomes. I've worked full time and been a caregiver at home. Part of that is what made my condition hit earlier. With this disorder the brain can only juggle X number of task and issues at one time. Your a Shrink or so you say you are and so you should know this stuff.
I have one more I am also helping coordinate care for and thats my sister. She's in a secured unit for Dementia but I'm the one who checks on her and first contact etc. Last year I also did my dads Hospice care at home.
You sit and you judge others persons disabilities doctor and yet you have not met them? How professional is that? All person I know who are disabled would rather not be so. There are abusers in any system.
There are also realities the article skipped including medical technology advances that can save a persons life but the person may be left severely disabled as a result.
Oh and hey Doc you sure stay up late and have time to post at work LOL.