Are you sick of our government paying disability social security to people who CHOOSE to drink and take drugs?
Where is the PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY?
2006-08-16 18:17:24 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Government
Lewis - your answer actually makes me angry. My father died of cancer is 1991.
He did not CHOOSE this disease - it chose him.
He did not walk into a store and ask for a pack of cancer.
2006-08-16 18:56:31 · update #1
In my opinion the LEAST able to take care of themselves are CHILDREN ,and I am all for schools and such. That's the government taking care of it's own.
2006-08-16 18:58:41 · update #2
I WISH YOU WELL WITH YOUR TREATMENTS AND I HOPE YOU ARE AROUND A LONG TIME TO DISAGREE WITH ME. The world would be boring if everyone had the same opinions all the time...BUT...on the BIG PICTURE...I wish the world would agree more often.
2006-08-17 01:08:58 · update #3
YESSSSS!!! THANK YOU!!! Have you seen the South Park episode about this?
It is so a choice and, personally having an alchoholic deadbeat father, I KNOW that all this disease crap just gives them an excuse to keep doing it, it makes them feel like it's not their fault and they're the victims.
Not to say that there shouldn't be any sympathy. Just a very small amount for most people.
2006-08-16 18:22:13 · answer #1 · answered by Poison 2 · 2⤊ 4⤋
No. and a qualified no.
I do agree with lucky only about cigarettes. I am quitting now. It is very difficult. I didn't one day just decide I wanted to be addicted to cigarettes. Just as I don't think one day someone decided to be addicted to drug or drink.
I saw a study once about how many times a rat would push a lever for a drug reward. Cigarettes got about 250 pushes. Heroin and Cocaine got a lot more pushes.
I don't know how other people's brains are wired. I do know that some people can take or leave substances, others dislike it, and others cannot do without some particular substance. I don't believe addictions are a choice.
The qualified no for paying disability is based on a preference for finding some better treatment options or cures. Those don't seem to be working very well so far.
Someone, everyone, is paying a fortune for cancer treatments. Whether it is Medicare, VA, Private Insurers(a hidden tax on everyone) or Medicaid, far more money is spent per person diagnosed with cancer than a few hundred dollars a month for a person with a disability.
Perhaps if we could really find a cure for addictions and other destructive behaviors we could save far more money, on both medical treatment and disability. I believe we can do better to heal these problems.
Some people respond to treatment, or programs. Others do not.
The true measure of a society is how it cares for those least able to take care of themselves. Or something like that.
ADDENDUM: I am sorry it makes you angry. Neither did I ask for a pack of leukemia. Just found out a month ago.. That's why I have to quit. I will be spending $35thousand for treatment in the next month. That includes hospitalization for surgery, iv antibiotics and chemo. I had radiation last week. Didn't even get any superpowers. It's all right, it's the good kind, CML.
I am 50. I had heard about cancer and such. Even with that information I kept smoking, and finding rationalizations for it. I cannot imagine how some other people crave and rationalize their addicitions that result in their disability.
Yes, children are the least able to take care of themselves. And yet, some children grow up to smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol to excess, or even do drugs to excess. Is there any way to innoculate children from doing those things without destroying some unknown precious thing that makes us humans?
You have every right to be angry and I wouldn't dream of trying to deprive you of your thoughts, but I too have every right to state an opinion, especially when it is based on deeply personal knowledge. If you wanted to lead a cheering squad...I'm not your guy.
2006-08-16 18:49:42 · answer #2 · answered by Lewis Y 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
They are not diseases but are certainly afflictions of choice. As is the problem with all addictions prevention is the best cure. I think smoking is one of the most devastating drug addictions and anyone that has tried to quite will agree very difficult to kick. Try telling a smoker that physical addiction is not real and only a matter of choice.
2006-08-16 18:27:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
i disagree with you in part.
people who abuse alcohol and drugs use them as coping mechanisms to deal with issues or pain that they otherwise couldn't handle. this is not their fault. better our tax money, hell, MY tax money be spent here to help drug and alcohol abusers than send it halfway around the world for some foreign aid program in a country that no one here can even pronounce the name of.
personal responsibility is a factor. in a perfect world everyone would take personal responsibility for their lives and drug and alcohol abuse would be non-existant. unfortunately we don't live in that perfect world yet.
we're not subsidizing them in a posh lifestyle. the money they get in welfare is barely enough for a subsistence lifestyle, if that.
i say we need to take care of the problems we have at home before sending aid overseas. and two of the problems we have in this country are alcohol and drug abuse. let's spend some money helping THOSE folks out.
2006-08-16 18:34:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I don't remember SSDI paying for people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol. They are paying as a result from it - mental illness and/or health issues.
People who are substance abusers do not choose to be on it. They do not have coping skills to survive. Tell me, how do you tell a person using to take personal responsibilty when the reason may be they were sexually abused, physically abused, or that someone close to them and took care of them died, just to name a few.
Yes, they need to take responsibility for their actions, but they would stop using if they get counseling to find out why they are using and help them cope with the root of their problems.
2006-08-16 18:28:41 · answer #5 · answered by linus_van_pelt68 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
i get where you're coming from but they should defo put money into rehabilitation centres and stuff to help them get off drugs. someone doesn't grow up wanting to be a drug addict and there are millions of social reasons why people become them.
2006-08-16 18:22:38 · answer #6 · answered by s f 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Yes, It's bulls**t. They pay them disability so they don't have to be responsible and get off drugs and alcohol, and get a job. All they have to do is wait for their check to come so they can go spend it on more drugs and alcohol.
2006-08-16 19:13:47 · answer #7 · answered by sweet.pjs1 5 · 1⤊ 4⤋
its easy to say its not a disease, because you dont suffer from it. addictive personality disorder. it affects the part of the brain that tells you your satisfied/you have had enough. they never get the feeling of satisfaction like we do.
but i agree there has to be a better way. we need to get them addicted to working! lmfao
2006-08-16 18:27:55 · answer #8 · answered by STEVE0 THE CLOWN 3 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Well with a president that is a self confessed Alcoholic and cocaine addict, you would expect FAUX news to be sympathetic.
2006-08-16 18:24:00 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
i agree 100%. It is not a disease it is lack of self discipline. yes it has medical effects to get off of it. But you have to start to have to stop.
2006-08-16 18:22:41 · answer #10 · answered by Militarywiccan110 2 · 3⤊ 4⤋