Dear Family,
I hope you are feeling lifted in the Godly spirit on this day? I imgaine you are probably as frustrated as everybody else to have the (Joint) Supercommittee pass a Deficit Reduction Plan including the American Jobs Creation Act, too!
As I reflect over all the opposing budget cuts and the Republicans refusing to vote/pass the American Jobs Act/Manufacturing It In America Act, I am wondering if you are ready to take serious steps to make changes in the House of Republicans?
Our President has been faced with many, many obstacles with a stiff-neck and stubborn body of Republicans. This has caused a stagnant unemployment rate and economic growth for the entire country. This is especially hard felt in vulnerable families, communities, etc. This is especially true since the Republicans have failed to offer a plan for job creation, but instead is blatantly stalling hoping to find somebody to defeat President Obama (hey, it looks that way to me).
While I do not speak on behalf of the President, White House, Congress, etc., I am quite concerned as you can guess. On a serious note, we must continue to advocate for those vulnerable persons that both you and I know exist and are suffering. We know we are suffering trying to provide wrap-around services, or basic community services, keep food on the table, gas in the car, bills paid, rooves over our heads, clothes on our children, etc.
For persons with special needs, medications, doctor visits, equipment maintenance, mobility, etc. can also be a f inancial burden blocking access to live in a community with dignity, self-respect, and a quality of life.
I hope you are becoming more pro-active in speaking to the Republicans in your district. There is a strong political iron wall of resistence, but it can be broken by holding Republicans accountable for his or her arrogance, stubbornness, in-action.
I have personally read the American Jobs Creation Act by President Obama. I attended a Campaign 2012 event and the booklet was made available. It is an extremely practical and best practice approach to pulling the U.S. out of the recession gradually, yet expeditiously (Namely: jobs, jobs, jobs and holding the wealthiest of Americans accountable with paying his or her fair share of taxes, stepping up efforts to weed out low-value spending on improper payments and preventable errors to pharmaceutical companies; for example).
Because the persons I advocate for have some level of disability, I am always, always watching to see how policies will include these vulnerable populations in order that a disability does not prevent him or her from achieving a sense of pride, accomplishment, high self-esteem, affordable living where applicable, community contribution, family contribution, and most importantly, a quality of life that each of us deserves and are entittled to.
This has made me to understand how the American jobs Creation Act/Manufacturing It In America Act can be extremely beneficial to persons (or special needs families) with various levels of disabilities such as mild mental retardation, developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, various "disorders" or "syndromes" that can easily be incorporated into Adult-Day programs, Med-Day Programs, Rehabilitative Programs, IEP Transition Plans, etc. Employment opportunities will help offset the cost of community living. This has been a barrier for many persons with a disability from living in a community and living in an institution is extremely costly to states and the federal government.
Please take a moment and write or call your Representatives who are currently in recess until Monday. You can contact them any day -- do NOT give up or stop until the American Jobs Creation Act/Manufacturing It In America is passed -- by visiting the site:
www.house.gov and ask firmly that e or she urge the members of the Super Committee to be vote for the passage of these Acts NOW!
Many of these legislatures are still clueless about how a person with a special needs can live independently in the community and a job opportunity is integral to that goal being accomplished. It is up to us to continue bringing down those stereotypes, stigmas, etc. about ADHD, Mild Mental Retardation, ADD, Bipolar, Schizophrenia, Chronic Depression, Obssessive Compulsive Disorders, Panic Disorders, Post-Traumative Stress Disorder (especially veterans from war), etc.
Of course, we must remember that the biggest and most powerful way to motivate all political bullies and to break-up unnecessary bureaucracy is to vote the perpetrators out of office! It's been a long year of "do-nothing" Republicans. Americans are tired and hurting.
As advocates in the mental health field, too, we know that we are approaching the season where depression is the most highest of the year ~ holidays. This should worry us all. Depression hurts individuals, families, communities, church families, outreaches, and leads to suicide when untreated.
Let's stand in solidarity and help President Obama get America back to work!
For more information, visit: Healthcare For America Now at
www.hcan.org Passing the peace,
Posted By: agnes levine
Saturday, October 29th 2011 at 2:40PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
