Is racism even an issue anymore (a personal story)

[Honor]

Crap... I forgot one.

(I know you were being facetious, but the fire truck example has in fact occured before. There are private firefighting companies in certain areas which, for whatever reason, be it tax base or sparse population, do not have municiple or city fire departments, and they will let buildings burn down (as long as they know there's no one inside) if you don't hire their services.)

I absolutely was not being facetious. In all the listings about things that would cost more or be out of reach were they privatized, there was no appreciable attempt at humor, successful or otherwise...

I was being illustrative... And I chose each of those illustrations because they had historical or current precident (like the fire department) or were an inescapably logical extension of cause and effect of removing the current reality and history of government (read: tax) involvement in building and maintaining infrastructure and service organisms.

Part of the reason for the low overhead is a refusal of benefits.

Squiddy already answered this, but I'd add if they "refused" less benefits, it would actually reduce overhead.

Interesting, too, that it's always phrased "refusal of benefits" as if it was -always- a case of things that should get paid not getting paid, and -never- a case of stuff that shouldn't get paid not getting paid.

But, I've already suggested in another thread how I think medicaid should work... It should cover everyone, and it shuold pretty much be a matter of "What's wrong with you? Yeah, that's covered." with, obviously, systems in place looking for graft. Healthcare providers could make what they're making now, there'd be more of them, and the cost would be somewhere between just a little less than and just a little more than what we pay now.

And you have four days to obtain authorization. So if you see them on a friday, you best call same day for authorization. Otherwise you might not get it in time, and therefor won't get paid for the first session.

Is there... uh... some problem with calling the same day? Realistically speaking, the front desk should be taking that much information and calling for pre-authorization at the same time the initial appointment is made.

And any limitations of care guidelines a) can have exceptions made in deserving cases, and b) were set by a panel of 'specialists' who decided that this number shouldbe sufficient for -most- cases... So if the guidelines are forqued, don't just cry about the patients that aren't getting enough sessions, make some noise and get the guidelines changed.

That's the nice thing about our political system... Anything is subject to change, and anyone who's serious enough about it can get it changed, with enough work (provided the change is actually a good -or- popular idea.)

If they are diagnosed with ADHD

Ooo... Now I could start a rant of my own! What are we up to now... 147% of our kids are diagnosed with ADHD? Topped only by the 163% who need inhalers...?

We didn't have nearly as much ADHD when I was young... But then, we had dedicated special care providers called "parents" in those days... Who'd actually take an interest in the lives and upbringing of their children... This sounds like gothic horror now, but sometimes, these "parents" would even discipline their children.

Let me tell ya... You want a way to learn coping skills and learn to control anger outbursts... Very little will help you learn to control anger outbursts - like throwing a screaming fit in public because you don't get that box of chocolate frosted sugar bombs you want - like having your screaming mouth slapped right off your face and being sent out to sit in the car. The coping skills come pretty damned fast, let me tell you.

I'd say "/rant", but I don't think this one's really going to end for me... it's been going strong for about ten years now.

[Honor]

Getting back to the much ignored original question, though... The obvious answer is "Yes." It's still a very big problem.

British National Party

the (United States) National Alliance

Hammerskin Nation

Stormfront

Resistance Records

Panzerfaust Records - And may I take the time to point out that these sick fucks actually enjoy the irony of selling this shit from the domain name "free your mind productions"

Project Schoolyard - "We don't just entertain racist kids... We create them."

Hate symbology, HH, 88, 14W

Tee Shirts... Most of them aren't overtly racist... So, I think decent people should learn these tee shirts and signs, so that, when you see someone wearing one, you can kill them.

[Lowky]

Part of the reason for the low overhead is a refusal of benefits.

Squiddy already answered this, but I'd add if they "refused" less benefits, it would actually reduce overhead.

Interesting, too, that it's always phrased "refusal of benefits" as if it was -always- a case of things that should get paid not getting paid, and -never- a case of stuff that shouldn't get paid not getting paid.

I was not saying that everything should get paid, but in some cases they seem to prevent people doing proper analysis/testing to diagnos a client properly.

But, I've already suggested in another thread how I think medicaid should work... It should cover everyone, and it shuold pretty much be a matter of "What's wrong with you? Yeah, that's covered." with, obviously, systems in place looking for graft. Healthcare providers could make what they're making now, there'd be more of them, and the cost would be somewhere between just a little less than and just a little more than what we pay now.

And you have four days to obtain authorization. So if you see them on a friday, you best call same day for authorization. Otherwise you might not get it in time, and therefor won't get paid for the first session.

Is there... uh... some problem with calling the same day? Realistically speaking, the front desk should be taking that much information and calling for pre-authorization at the same time the initial appointment is made.

Except often times the client is not willing to tell us what is going on, and sometimes the authorization wants a diagnosis etc. If they will give us a pre-authorization when we are checking benefits, we ask for it. Also there are self generated referalls where we don't even see information until after the client has been in for their first visit. At least at our clinic, the therapists set their own appointments, schedules, etc.

And any limitations of care guidelines a) can have exceptions made in deserving cases, and b) were set by a panel of 'specialists' who decided that this number shouldbe sufficient for -most- cases... So if the guidelines are forqued, don't just cry about the patients that aren't getting enough sessions, make some noise and get the guidelines changed.

That's the nice thing about our political system... Anything is subject to change, and anyone who's serious enough about it can get it changed, with enough work (provided the change is actually a good -or- popular idea.)

I don't disagree with this, but since i am not a therapist, but an office staff, I don't have the background to properly lobby for these changes. I just have to listen to the therapists bitch about it.

If they are diagnosed with ADHD

Ooo... Now I could start a rant of my own! What are we up to now... 147% of our kids are diagnosed with ADHD? Topped only by the 163% who need inhalers...?

1. Just because someone has ADHD does not require them to be medicated.

2. I don't think all kids have ADHD, nor did I say that they did

3. Personally I think a lot of schools asking for ADHD testing is frequently unwarranted, but just a way of the schools wanting all kids to sit perfectly still at their desks, not fidgiting, not talking, and probably not even asking questions.

We didn't have nearly as much ADHD when I was young... But then, we had dedicated special care providers called "parents" in those days... Who'd actually take an interest in the lives and upbringing of their children... This sounds like gothic horror now, but sometimes, these "parents" would even discipline their children.

I agree that parents need to be more involved in their kids lives. I also think that alot of issues with kids and attention problems have been aggravated by the use of TV as a babysitter/parent by parents that don't take the time to properly raise their children.

Let me tell ya... You want a way to learn coping skills and learn to control anger outbursts... Very little will help you learn to control anger outbursts - like throwing a screaming fit in public because you don't get that box of chocolate frosted sugar bombs you want - like having your screaming mouth slapped right off your face and being sent out to sit in the car. The coping skills come pretty damned fast, let me tell you.

While I agree that is a good solution for that problem, I was referring more to kids getting frustrated when they are having problems concentrating on their lesson/understanding the lesson, and getting angry that way. I am not using ADHD as an excuse for kids to act like spoiled brats, however if ADHD didn't exist then students grades/school performance wouldn't improve when it's treated.
[/list]

[Honor]

stuph

General agreement, with these few notes, and one academic observation...

I don't disagree with this, but since i am not a therapist, but an office staff, I don't have the background to properly lobby for these changes. I just have to listen to the therapists bitch about it.

Suxors. And they probably wouldn't respond well if you told them "Hey, if you don't like it, get off your ass and help change it."

2. I don't think all kids have ADHD, nor did I say that they did

I didn't say nor did I think you did. I just took it's mention to launch into one of my favorite (of late, anyway) rants... And said so.

...however if ADHD didn't exist then students grades/school performance wouldn't improve when it's treated.

In-correct, sir. Suppose I keep you from eating for a week, then diagnose you with Campbell's syndrome... The treatment indicated for Campbell's syndrome is soup. I give you soup, you get better... Thus I have proven the existence of, and your affliction with Campbell's syndrome, right? Of course not.

Now suppose you're a spoiled little shit with no sense or history of discipline, which has afflicted you with a weakness of concentration with regards to anything you don't find puerilely amusing and immediately gratifying, and a tendancy to express your displeasure at same through tantrums and violence. I diagnose you with ADHD. I treat this with "therapy" designed to teach you the basic coping skills that used to come with learning, in childhood, that sometimes you have to pay attention, and if you don't there are always consequences, immediate or delayed, and that you don't always get what you want, and that reacting to that reality in an unacceptable manner can, should, and often will result in you being given "something to cry about." You get better.

Have I just proven that ADHD exists and that you have it? Of course not. I've proven that your parents were ill-equipped to raise children and probably should have stuck to masturbation and blowjobs, and that the lessons of childhood can sometimes be learned, to a lesser efeciency and by other means, later in life.


All that having been said, yes... Hyperactivity Disorder absolutely exists, and Attention Deficit Disorder probably does as well, which leads us to the idea that a combined state of ADHD probably does, too... But, that doesn't mean that it's not probably the most over- and incorrectly diagnosed "condition" in modern developmental psychology.

Doctors and therapists don't tend to get paid as much for a diagnosis of "You're child is a worthless little shit because you're a lazy, spineless, worthless parent." besides which, it's confrontational, particularly in a society where almost nobody is willing to take responsibility for almost anything, and our society is being shaped into a very non-confrontational society to such an extent that it's now considered impolite in many circles to give any discussion to any topic where people are likely to disagree or hold divergent opinions.

[Lowky]

Doctors and therapists don't tend to get paid as much for a diagnosis of "You're child is a worthless little shit because you're a lazy, spineless, worthless parent." besides which, it's confrontational, particularly in a society where almost nobody is willing to take responsibility for almost anything, and our society is being shaped into a very non-confrontational society to such an extent that it's now considered impolite in many circles to give any discussion to any topic where people are likely to disagree or hold divergent opinions.

This is actually diagnosed as oppositional defiant disorder, or as i prefer to call it, a kid who needed a good ass whuppin several years back. i think Oppositional Defiant Disorder is the biggest crock of shit out there. Besides who wants to be known as ODD.

[Gealachtine]

Skin color means nothing, anyone whos says otherwise is an idiot or a liar.

What decides power is material wealth; always has been.

There are those who make money, those who earn money, those who get shitloads of money for owning huge corperations, and people who can't keep two dimes in their pocket to save thier lives.

the last ones are the worst, in my oppinion.

Sure, the rich fucks at the top are often full of themselves and are only compassionate when it serves their purposes (charity donations are tax deductable, after all.), but the ones at the bottom are worse.

When you're at the bottom, You can either get down on your knees, knaw on the Government cheese they issue you, all the while whimpering about how "It's not fair! they have so much money, they won't let me make any of my own. If only I could find work. If only they'd give me more money! it's not fair!", or you could stand up, and start earning money for yourself.

What really pisses me off about the actual poor is that they don't do anything. they just sit in their governmentally funded homes, whining about how they're being kept down by "The Man." No, The man ain't the one keeping you down, it's you, the teen mother who purposely gets herself knocked-up for the extra wlfare.

The fact that they're poor doesn't bother me, it's the fact that they choose to be poor, while whining about it. it makes me sick. and don't give me "BUT MOST OF THEM CAN'T WORK BECAUSE THEY HAVE DISABILITIES."

Bullshit. the word "Disability" is used far too liberally in this country.

ADD is not a "Learning Disability." Being short one leg is not a "Disability." Having the volume of a Yugo and twice the mass is not a god-damned "disability." If you have a hand, half a brain, and a beating heart, you're useful, and you should do something. preferrably something you like. You should also learn a trade. a good trade, that you enjoy. the more trades you learn the better. Smiths are a good choice, masonry is another. if you can get on the good side of some you can learn as an apprentice.


spoiled kids who inherit empires run them into the ground, spineless wards go nowhere, only those who have the determination, the know-how, and the foresight get ahead. those who only have the know-how and foresight are payd to help fools get ahead.


I guess my point is, attitude, education, and observation decides who's at the top far more often than luck or genetics. Money is how this is gauged.

Maybe someone else has replied to this one - I couldn't read any further without my 2 cents added.

Of all the bigoted, low-down, Ignorant things I have ever heard! Money is NOTHING my dear, NOTHING. It's filthy pieces of fabric and paper which create an illusion of having something. Not everyone gives a flying fuck what people make, not everyone contributes to this world for money or makes money doing it. I am poverty level - yes. I also spend all of my tiny income helping others, running spiritual festivals and events - I could give a rats ass if I eat or not, if I'm rich or not, if I'm even middle-fucking-class or not. I do what I enjoy, there is no income in it, I'll never be rich monetarily - but I'm extremely happy, I'm richer by far in the way of a wonderful life than most rich people I know (and I'm friends with some multi-millionaires, who know I'll never ask for a hand-out. That's why we're friends.)

Before you label the poor your niggers - stop to befriend a couple of them. Ask them what makes them happy. I know way more people under the poverty line who are extremely satisfied with their life than those who bring in the cash. I'd hate to be the slavewhore of money - you are consumed by what you worship. Me? I worship love, honesty and the creative imagination of every living being on this planet. Maybe that sounds like fluff to you, but it doesn't create more stress or bills and everyday I have new, wonderful people drawn into my life because of the way I live it - not because of what's in my pocket.

[Gealachtine]

OOOOH MYYYYY GAAAWWWWD! AAAAAHHHHHH!

how many of you jackasses have been on welfare or disability?

How many of you have had to swallow your pride and realize you just cannot survive without gov't aid?

How many of you have had to deal with the bullshit, the mean-spirited, embittered and sometimes downright hateful people who work in social services? You feel like a piece of shit for being there if you are white - cause "You white folk have it easy, you don't need help." Yeah, right - go bugger yourself with a cattle prod, talk about predjudice over skin color - many gov't workers in social services are the WORST.

How many of you have had to fight for years, bend over backwards and then fold yourselves into a pretzel just to get $10 a month to eat with?

How many of you have had to survive on $100 or less a month?

Or had to sleep out of your car (if you're lucky to have a car that is)

There ARE Hand-up programs all over this fucked-up country!
They only work for about 5% of the people who are FORCED into them. Why not more? Because they are FORCED into them!

How sad that people with degrees, brilliant minds and talents which could benefit our country are sitting in the unemployment and welfare offices everywhere because of a poor economy - At The Same Time we have lottos, billionaires and huge conglomerate corporations raping us up the ass!

If you think it's all candy to be on a system or program - go sit in a welfare waiting room for an entire day. Watch, listen and talk to the people who are there - the majority of them are there in earnest.

And taxing someone who just made it on a Hand-up program higher than your average joe or the rich is plain and simple stupidity. You'll put them back on welfare faster than you can say "Fuck Off!" It takes years to teach someone not only how to work, but how to stay in the job, how to budget correctly, how to use a goddamned bank account!

Giving someone who has never had a lot of money a bank account is a sure fire way to fuck up any credit they might have had and put them into further debt than when they started! For fuck's sake people! You are showing yourselves to be extremely ignorant of the people you are arguing over!

How many of you have talked to an honest-to-god street punk, who's living on the streets because they couldn't take the beatings or molestation at home anymore? HUH?!?

How many of you have committed yourself to the closest mental ward, just for 3 square meals and a warm bed? Or done something knowing you would be arrested, just to go to jail for the same things?

If you don't know what it means to fight for survival on a daily basis, you have no room to make judgments on those of us who have! This thread makes me sick. First I'm punched for being poor, then I get to watch privileged people fight over people like myself without a clue as what it's like to be down here!

Every month I look at my check and say "Ok, do I follow my dreams or do I eat all month?" If it wasn't for friends who believe in my visions, who have the means to help me out food wise, I would either starve or sit in misery. Not everyone can work a Joe Job, not everyone is capable of holding down a job of any kind! It's not as easy as walking into work, doing your job and going home. You have inter-personal relationships with management, coworkers and sometimes customers. You have quotas and competitions and people judging your every move - no matter what level you are on. There are people who out and out fail in all these things, they get fired over and over and over again. Because they don't fit in or they aren't enough of a team player or they aren't fast enough, pushy enough, detail-oriented enough, blah-blah-blah.

You try to put a 19 yr old who comes from an extremely abusive home and the streets into a job and try to make them understand what it means to be a "team player"! What a laugh! They need someone to show them what true compassion is first, how to take care of themselves outside of the daily scrounging survival and this country for one would rather sweep them under the carpet, scowling the whole way, than give them the help they truly need.

And the prejudice against the poor - calling us stupid and lazy.
Have I ever proven myself to be either? I'm busier than many people who work 40 hours a week! I have students, I organize big events to help fund starving artists, I counsel people, I take in street punks, wash them up, get them sober and help them make a true life for themselves. I'm clergy and have responsibilities to the people in my spiritual community. I am in the midst of more projects than I can list off of the top of my head, because the reward of bringing the right people together to help them realize their dreams is what makes me the happiest. Not to mention, I help people organize their lives and their finances when they are so overwhelmed that holding down 3 jobs isn't enough. Why do you think I'm not on here very often?

And before you go into "You should charge for your services" (someone always does.) How could I charge people who are struggling so, money for my services? That would make me a hypocrit and a coldhearted bitch!

I haven't been this indignant and angry in quite a while. I also have not been faced with such arrogant ignorance in a long time.

This spanking is over, if you'd like a real one - hunt me down in Denver. I'm sure someone will be able to tell you what I'm up to and where I am, I may be poor in funds - but I'm not poor in recognition. Just go to a local metaphysical shop and ask for Moonfire, they'll probably hand you a flier.

(By the way, when you have been in a liberal college as an anthropology major - you learn there is no such thing as racism unless you hate cows or dogs or some other non-humanoid aka different race - we are all ONE RACE - Human. If you are not tolerant of different skin colors than your own - you are being ethno-centric. The sooner we educate people on the difference between the words race and ethnicity, the sooner we become enlightened on the problem as a species.)

[Earthbound01]

Skin color means nothing, anyone whos says otherwise is an idiot or a liar.

What decides power is material wealth; always has been.

There are those who make money, those who earn money, those who get shitloads of money for owning huge corperations, and people who can't keep two dimes in their pocket to save thier lives.

the last ones are the worst, in my oppinion.

Sure, the rich fucks at the top are often full of themselves and are only compassionate when it serves their purposes (charity donations are tax deductable, after all.), but the ones at the bottom are worse.

When you're at the bottom, You can either get down on your knees, knaw on the Government cheese they issue you, all the while whimpering about how "It's not fair! they have so much money, they won't let me make any of my own. If only I could find work. If only they'd give me more money! it's not fair!", or you could stand up, and start earning money for yourself.

What really pisses me off about the actual poor is that they don't do anything. they just sit in their governmentally funded homes, whining about how they're being kept down by "The Man." No, The man ain't the one keeping you down, it's you, the teen mother who purposely gets herself knocked-up for the extra wlfare.

The fact that they're poor doesn't bother me, it's the fact that they choose to be poor, while whining about it. it makes me sick. and don't give me "BUT MOST OF THEM CAN'T WORK BECAUSE THEY HAVE DISABILITIES."

Bullshit. the word "Disability" is used far too liberally in this country.

ADD is not a "Learning Disability." Being short one leg is not a "Disability." Having the volume of a Yugo and twice the mass is not a god-damned "disability." If you have a hand, half a brain, and a beating heart, you're useful, and you should do something. preferrably something you like. You should also learn a trade. a good trade, that you enjoy. the more trades you learn the better. Smiths are a good choice, masonry is another. if you can get on the good side of some you can learn as an apprentice.


spoiled kids who inherit empires run them into the ground, spineless wards go nowhere, only those who have the determination, the know-how, and the foresight get ahead. those who only have the know-how and foresight are payd to help fools get ahead.


I guess my point is, attitude, education, and observation decides who's at the top far more often than luck or genetics. Money is how this is gauged.

America has more poor people per capita than anywhere in the decadent liberal democracies of western europe. In places like that, not only do they get things like subsidized housing and gov'ment cheese, but also they get health care. It must just mean that rather than having some kind of systemic problem where wealth is funneled from the middle class to the extremely wealthy, Americans must just have bad attitudes, bad educations (I'll give you this one, Intelligent Design is not a problem anywhere but here) , and no powers of observation relative to Europeans.
That should explain why one fourth of American children are growing up poor in the wealthiest country in the history of human civilization.

[Squidflakes]

Americans must just have bad attitudes, bad educations (I'll give you this one, Intelligent Design is not a problem anywhere but here) , and no powers of observation relative to Europeans.

Bad attitudes? No, I think Americans have been trained for the last 50 years to care more about the starving kids in Africa/China/India/ect. than the ones here at home. Last I checked, over 2/3s of all U.N. food and aid projects were funded by the U.S., and lets not forget who's first on the scene in just about every global disaster with food, medical care, coffee and doughnuts, and ect.

As for ID being a problem only in America, that is incorrect. Britain is having their own problems with the ID crowd, only, British scientists have the government's backing when they stand up and call a spade a spade (or in this case, a religious crack pot theory).

[Honor]

Last I checked, over 2/3s of all U.N. food and aid projects were funded by the U.S.

Actually, our foreign aid record is embarrassing.

First, I haven't yet found the UN food aid figures, but I'm going on the assumption you're correct. Still, that's one project, and what should be taken into account is total foreign aid contribution.

Even in that light, yes, it's true we give more dollars than anyone else, but that's a little like saying you and I each give $100 to charity and Bill & Melinda Gates give $120. Together.*

For your viewing pleasure, I worked up a spreadsheet based on the most recent figures I could find quickly (mostly from the CIA World Factbook and Compare-Infobase Pvt. Ltd.).

The foreign aid figures are a year or two older than the GDP and population estimates, but the functions should, roughly, provided nobody's had a radical shift in aid policies or profiles.

In short, we give about a third again more than Japan, who gives the next highest dollar amount... But then, they have a liittle over a third of our population and GDP.

Norway, Sweden, and the Netherlands really put everyone else to shame. While we give $43.22 per person per year, Sweden, the least charitable of those three, gives $199.63. Norway gives $390.39.

In any case, whether you count by $ of aid per person, or % of GDP given as aid, we come in at the bottom of the top ten... (well, we beat Italy in $ per person.) And, really, we could come in well below that, since the nations listed are only the top ten in terms of total dollar value.


And yes... We usually put troops on the ground when there's an emergency, but that's not really very surprising, given that approximately half of the world's military budget is spent by us, and many countries have been taking advantage of the opportunity to shake the dust off military transport, supply, and communications procedures by moving forces on exercise and humanitarian missions for a very long time now.

*it should be noted, of course, that they give assloads more than that, literally and figuratively. It's just an illustration.

[Jackalope]

gealachtine: back to "consider the source." When I read the line about "being short one leg is not a disability," I decided right then that the poster had to go into my mental ignore-pile or I'd kill them. That sort of stupidity can only be cured with an ass kicking serious enough to allow them the chance to be disabled for a while.

It's such a joy to get it from both sides, too. With the ever-shrinking pool of benefits out there, the disabled community has started turned on itself. "You're not disabled enough to deserve that." Usually said by someone who's getting everything paid for (including their $20,000 wheelchair and their $60,000 converted vehicle) while I'm trying to scrape up enough cash to keep paying my insurance copays. And I'm lucky, I still have insurance that will cover things.

Get a job? Love to, but most employers don't want you if you're likely to be out ill a day or two each week. Which can't be scheduled, and therefore you can't use your "day off" as a sick day. And pushing yourself along when you know you're ill will result in longer illness and possibly a hospital stay. And especially not if you're going to be hopped up on all sorts of drugs on those days. Remember those stupid "drug-free work place" campaigns? They mostly catch people like me, who have a real and pressing need to take painkillers so we can function at all. So yeah, my employment prospects are just wonderful. If I were on SSDI it'd be worse, because if you make any money, they take away your benefits. Great. No medical coverage, you get sick again, lose that pathetic job you just got. Now you can live on the street...for a very short time period, because most chronically ill patients die in that situation.

Yeah, I can see why the "I don't wanna pay for anyone else" types would think that's a good solution.

Gah.

Subject and certain posters go back in the Bozo Bin now.