A republican friend of mine is about to have her world turned on its ear

[Horse with no Name]

We are amicable and generally, when we talk politics, it is more in jest than anything else.
Her husband has had a well-paying offshore (Gulf of Mexico) job for many years. He is in his early 40's.
She is in school after working for many years--she is changing careers.
Luckily.
Her husband was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis a couple of years ago.
Last week, he came home from the coast for good. He is totally disabled and cannot work anymore.
She is beside herself. Not sure what she is going to do. She has the rest of this semester and the next to finish her school.
They have two teenage daughters and a pile of bills to pay.
His long term disability won't kick in for 6 months and he didn't have short term disability.
They can't afford the COBRA payments.
She has always been critical of those on public assistance because they have always worked hard and provided for themselves.
I have a feeling that by the time this ordeal is over, she just might change her world views a little.
This is generally the ONLY way that republicans change their minds. When it happens to them.
However, I won't be there to say "I told you so"...I will be there to point out that these programs are for those who are in NEED and sometimes, just sometimes, it is due to circumstances beyond control.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Guess that is one of the ways to define the difference between Democrats and Republicans.

Usually the Democrat can empathize with, and choose to help the less fortunate without actually having to experience their misfortune. The Republican does not give a rat's ass about the less fortunate until he becomes one...

[Contrary1]

8. Yep...

A few days ago I posted about my husband's sister needing a place to live as of Dec. 1st. She's been out of work for 3 months, and has no money saved up at all. The whole damn family (- my hubby) are staunch Republics.

And so; the husband, upon my insistence, called the other 3 siblings to inform them that we couldn't financially support her by ourselves this time around. That was 3 weeks ago. The only "assistance" she has received from them so far is this sage advice (exact quote):

"...Have you filed for food stamps and also some housing. Like Pat, (their daughter) her rent is based on what she has comming in for income. I am sure their is something like this there too. You also need to fight for the unemployment."

Housing? No income. Food stamps? Maybe. Unemployment? Nope, she was fired.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry. My husband and I are left to take care of his family's problems once again.

[BrklynLiberal]

9. Amazing how they will bitch and moan about "entitlements" until THEY need them.

[Go2Peace]

25. Yep, unless they are totally wiped out they are unlikely to change positions

they are often the first in line for assistance. They just don't want anyone else to get it. They are quite simply selfish people.

[Horse with no Name]

10. Uggh

:hug:That sucks.
But that is ALWAYS the way it is.

[TicketyBoo]

11. Are you sure?

Unemployment? Nope, she was fired.

I was able to collect unemployment when I was fired. There are two sides to every story. She may be penalized a few weeks, depending upon what percentage of the reason for her dismissal is determined to be her fault.

At least that's the way it worked for me (many years ago). I suppose that it differs from state to state, but it may be a possibility that she will qualify unless you're certain that the law where she worked doesn't allow it.

[Contrary1]

14. Not sure. She chooses not to share all the details with us.

But she was working as an Administrative Assistant to some hot shot at Eli Lilly.

Back in early July, we invited her to a cookout. As she was leaving, she commented about what a nice big house we had, and how she always enjoyed herself when she visited.

I told my husband as she was pulling out of the driveway that she would be losing her job soon. She was let go 23 days later. I really believe she had been given a 30 day notice.

This isn't the first time she's been let go. She has all the qualifications, and tests out well. But she lacks common sense. It doesn't take the employer very long to figure that out.

I'll do some checking on the law here, and see what I can find out. Thanks for the input.

[TicketyBoo]

15. You're welcome.

It's when you quit that you can't collect unemployment, unless you can pretty well document the fact that working conditions were intolerable (sexual harassment, for example).

[Motown_Johnny]

29. self delete..linked to the wrong post

[DavidDvorkin]

28. Good observation.

[dysfunctional press]

37. here's one way i learned to tell the difference in attitudes-

repug: "i got mine. you get yours."

dem: "i got mine, how can i help you get yours?"

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. I'd try to point what programs to apply for

and not necessarily at Church either.

hell this atheist agnostic may even offer a prayer for them... but you are right, they are about to have their world turned on their head.

[Horse with no Name]

5. Oddly enough

She lives in Alabama and is a staunch republican BUT she isn't really actively involved in church. That may be the reason we have such a well-developed tolerance to each others politics.:rofl:

[ChicagoSuz219]

3. You can also remind her...

...that her husband paid into these programs for that very reason and that even the Bible says it's okay... "A time to give, a time to receive..."

In the meantime, you both should be lobbying for healthcare reform!

[npk]

4. No for Republicans when they get disability, welfare from the government

It's because they earned it. When other people get it, it is because they are a bunch of lazy people who chose to just sit around and do nothing.

Nice story though.

K&R

[krispos42]

6. Make sure you have a date and congressional vote tally...

...for every public-assistance program they apply for. And mentional it casually. Like...


Her: Yeah, we just applied for home-heating oil assistance for the winter.

You: Hey, that's great! Thank god Bernie Sanders and the Democrats protected it from the Republicans last spring. Did you know not a single Republican voted for it?


:evilgrin:

[Missy Vixen]

7. We know someone like this, too

We used to live down the street from a family whose breadwinner was involved in a terrible car accident seven years ago. The only reason why he lived was because the physician that pulled over to assist at the scene asked for an airlift to the local trauma center. This family has been using services from the State of Washington ever since (L&I, etcetera.) Of course, they are staunch "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" Republicans.

You're right, her world is about to flip upside down. There are subsidies re: COBRA right now that will help. Lots of the programs that would help, though (student grants, etcetera,) have been stripped away. It'll be interesting to see how she feels about the whole thing in a couple of months.

[JoeyT]

12. Rec

I hope things turn around for your friend soon, and I hope the safety nets we have in place keep her family going until his disability kicks in and she can start her new career.

I know quite a few hardcore conservatives/republicans that have gone through similar situations (Also in Alabama, some of them family.) and this doesn't change their minds in the least. In their opinion, they're entitled to safety nets while everyone else is a freeloader. That's just how most of them see the world. I even knew one that went from railing about how food stamps should be "outlawed" (her word) to being on food stamps for a year. Then she smoothly transitioned to demanding food stamps be outlawed again once she no longer needed them. In her mind, she was the only person in the history of the program that ever actually deserved them.

[Horse with no Name]

13. I've heard the same thing from people

and it saddens me. It really does.

[Sherman A1]

16. As much as it might be a nice

"learning moment" these are people in distress and I think that trumps everything else. I would offer what help you can for them with information or thoughts and just a friendly ear, along with perhaps a dinner or what you can reasonably do to help a friend. I would suspect they have too much on their mind right now to worry about the intricacies of who voted for what bill or why one political theory is better than another in anyone's opinion.

[earth mom]

17. My dad always used to say "If you don't have your health, you've got nothing".

To that I want to add, "and without affordable or socialized health care, you've got nothing".

I think a shitload of people in this country are going to be in for a rude awakening...very soon.

[annabanana]

18. While you help her find ways to plug the holes in her sinking ship,

you might gently point out how specific provisions in the Health Care reform legislation might be able to help her out. . ."if only it passes".

And gently point out that congresscritters are more likely to respond to people in their own districts than those from other places.

It is a teaching moment

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. She'll probably call you and ask for help with these socialist programs

[sendero]

20. She's not going to be alone..

... lots of smug "middle class" folks are about to find out what it's like when the rug gets pulled from under them. Many more are going to find out that you don't OWN anything you are still making payments on.

It's very very difficult for me to feel sorry for a lot of these people, they've been shooting off their mouths and voting their pocketbooks for a long time. The chickens are coming home to roost.

[boobooday]

21. The "I got mine" attitude strikes me as totally insane

I'm talking about all the non-medicare people who are so smug that they have employer supplied insurance. Don't they realize that they might get sick, and not be able to work? That anyone could lose their job and then where would they be? It is the third-person phenomenon to the nth degree.

I have always had to make employment choices based on my need for health insurance. I am well aware that if I lost my job, and my insurance, I would lose my most precious gadget . . . my insulin pump, and have to go back to multiple injections every day, and probably have complications that might then render me unable to work. I love my work and take pride in what I do. I want to be healthy and productive. So do the vast majority of people. The right wingers walk around thinking that everyone just wants to take their money and live better than they do, it's just such a sad and narrow view of the world.

I am glad you aren't going to say "I told you so." She is about to awaken to the reality that many others live every day. I am sorry for her husband. She is going to be a better friend for having you there to model compassion and empathy.

[B Calm]

22. Most of the people I know who are using government handouts are republicans,

and at the same time are pointing their fingers at other people.

[Go2Peace]

26. that is my experience too. They are full of projection

[B Calm]

31. It's what republicans do. . They point their finger at others, for doing

what they are doing. . .

[Bitwit1234]

23. And all this stuff brings me back to

the elderly lady at the tea bag rally, who just by looking at her you know she has social security and medicare and she is laughing and the signs says
NO GOVERNMENT HEALTH INSURANCE. Wonder why someone hasn't explained the facts of life to her. Maybe she is too darn dumb to realize that social security and medicare ARE government run and are the products of democrats who fought like hell to bring them to her.

[Go2Peace]

24. Nope, like most republicans she will easily use the social programs while protesting everyone elses

use of them. I have seen this time and again, in fact, I wish someone would poll on party affiliation and social program use, like disability. Repubs use them dissportionally. They just don't want you or I to have access to them.

Report back. I bet they keep their "conservative" ideas about all social programs accept the ones they take, and they will be timid only until they are back on their feet.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

35. It's really sad

On another board I go to, the biggest whiner about Obamacare is a guy who admits he is on disability with numerous health issues all paid for by the government he condemns every day. Hypocrisy is a requirement to be a Republican.

[SteveG]

27. It's been said that a Conservative is a Liberal who has been mugged.

It's been said that a Conservative is a Liberal who has been mugged. A Liberal is created every time a Conservative is hosed by the health care system in this Country.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

33. +100

Man, that's a good one and I plan to use it often.

[Mithreal]

30. Similar has happened in my family, and they learned not one bit

still Republican, still spout nonsense.

Two families essentially ruined. One leading to divorce after losing house and jobs. The second family working practically a thousand miles apart and can't see elementary age children anything but irregularly.

They have not learned.

Maybe someday.

Still love them, but it is heartbreaking.

[dugaresa]

32. don't count on her changing her perceptions

i know many folks like this who basically keep their same views. i know people who get medicaid and their kids get free lunch who are big time republicans, it makes no sense.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

34. Rheumatoid Arthritis is a bitch

My father was diagnosed with it in the late 80's and it essentially ended his working life. We had no insurance and basically spent all the money we had ever saved up for his treatment. Thankfully, Medicare kicked in just about the time we would have gone under. Love that socialized medicine!

[Fire1]

36. K&R. n/t