tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841554975346480605.post730590596130552539..comments2023-10-20T07:09:39.370-04:00Comments on Snark Amendment: Ryan Says 30% are "Takers, Not Makers" ~ homage to Ayn RandSIPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10679227159519685785noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841554975346480605.post-40620488838113075702012-10-03T09:53:58.376-04:002012-10-03T09:53:58.376-04:00Thank you for the great comment ~ all the best to ...Thank you for the great comment ~ all the best to your brother and to everyone like him around the country.<br /><br />Romney/Ryan are losing people with these cold sweeping generalizations, and they apparently never counted on people voting with their hearts rather than just their wallets. <br /><br />Everyone in our country has had a family member in the same boat - a child, a grandchild, a sibling, a parent, etc. We have relatives on SSI Disability or Medicare who are growing old or have mental challenges. Most would need lots of help with Ryan's voucher program - it would be like throwing them to the wolves. <br /><br />My father was a disabled WWII Vet with multiple sclerosis - I wrote about him back on Veteran's Day. His income and medical care came from the VA, yes, but he earned it by serving his country and suffering for 50 years. We kids got Social Security benefits - a mere pittance that bought my books in college, but my tuition was paid for with an academic scholarship that I EARNED and had to keep through good grades. <br /><br />My daughter just graduated from Law School with honors and with crushing debt she will carry for many years. She is only 25 and doesn't even have her Bar results yet, but she feels as if Romney/Ryan are dissing students in spite of their hard work. No one earned her place at Law School except her, and no one cut her any slack just because she had a student loan. She didn't have the luxury of "asking Mom and Dad" for money, as Romney suggested. All professional schools are tied to the student loan program, and Romney/Ryan can pretend that no Republicans ever take out student loans, but that is a big lie.<br /><br />I could write much more, but might as well save it for a future blog post. Thanks again for your insightful comment.<br />SIPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10679227159519685785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6841554975346480605.post-51578861985897707182012-10-03T09:16:38.909-04:002012-10-03T09:16:38.909-04:00My brother doesn't believe any more in the Ame...My brother doesn't believe any more in the American dream. Yes, he is one of Ryan's horrible 30% who are "takers, not makers."<br /><br />My 52 year-old brother --- who was born deaf and has advanced MS with paralyzed legs and some MS-related dementia --- lives in a Medicaid nursing home and receives a total of $25 per month spending money (his only income) which is all that remains after his SSI pays the nursing home. With that income, he is expected to buy any clothing, shoes, toiletries or anything else he needs.<br /><br />He votes by absentee ballot, but hopes his state does not pass a voter ID as without access to a wheelchair van he'd have no way to get to the DMV and even if he could get there, would need to save his entire month's income to pay for the $25 ID fee.<br /><br />My brother does not believe he'll ever be able to get a good job, buy a house, provide for his family, have a nice car, have any luxuries like a vacation or pay taxes. He used to be proud to have a job, make his own way, and contribute to the country.<br /><br />Is he very very sad that he's a taker and not a maker? More than you'll ever know. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14738662223436795469noreply@blogger.com