"I'm broken" - what are we as a nation to do for such people?? PO'd rant.

[The Straight Story]

Last night was hell. My wife had a breakdown and yelled at me for hours, blaming me for just about everything in the universe that was wrong in life, down to fresh toilet paper being on the rolls.

Until I finally hugged her and dropped my defenses after all the attacks and told her it would be alright.

She sobbed in my arms. "I'm Broken..."

Her parkinson's wakes her up when she shakes bad. She always feel like she has the flu.

She can't paint or draw anymore. She forgets things. And the list goes on quite a bit, from being a wife to a mother deep inside she feels she failed everyone and is a burden.

She took it out on someone she could - because she can't take it out on a disease. It hurt hearing those things, but I know her well enough that in her heart it was not what she meant.

She cried, we went out back and built a fire at 2am or so and had a few then talked about all the cool things we were blessed with having done together over the years. And we talked about her fear, and the things she can't do - about not having control over her dreams anymore, etc.

We have both been through hell the last few years. And she is scared, worried, etc.

And it all got me to thinking about people all across the US.

What if I died suddenly and she had no insurance? Who would take care of her and be there for her?

Why, in the richest and most powerful country in the world do we let our sick people down on all levels - from health care to mental care?

What about the caregivers in it all who have to work hard day in and out to take care of someone? I took time off work to care for her and nearly lost everything because FMLA is not paid leave (Du'ers saved me). Do the neocons think I was prancing about happily while being home from work? Do they not know what it is like to take care of a sick person?

And what of their ability live financially? How would my wife pay the bills if I died, or as some people do - how would she survive if I up and left?

In this supposedly Christian nation (am a Christian myself btw) why do the rw Christians fight against funding for our own people who seriously need it? One less worry on the mind of the sick. Not like they want millions to go and buy mansions and yachts. Food, utilities, rent, and maybe something to watch on a TV to help em deal - how the fuck hard is that in the greatest nation???

They, the sick, like my wife - live in fear each day. And those were her words directly to me last night. She is dependent on me and others to care for her needs. She does not like it, she hates it, but it is what it is. She rarely drives anymore, and worries when she does. She is at the mercy of those not in her situation - those who can do more than she can.

She relies on the love of others - and absent that, how the hell would she make it? She would probably take too many pills and end it all before losing it all and her daughter if there was no help. It is a psychological hell that so many live in - and one that we can readily fix.

There are a lot of broken people in this country. we can help them and make a difference in their lives, it just takes the right people in power which I hope we finally have (well, at one level of govt anyway).

Shame on those churches and people who have no problem with this war and funding it yet fight tooth and nail against assistance for our own people here at home. Those who won't get better and just want a simple life devoid of the big worries so that they can do their best to raise a family or eek out an existence of some sort during their time here.

Some would rather pay for more nuclear weapons than the well being of others.

Just makes me sick.

[GoneOffShore]

1. Hang in there

:hug:

[The Straight Story]

3. I will, I am worried about others though

So many people don't have someone to rely on. How lonely and scary is that for them?

Damned shame we cant' put as much effort into helping them as we do these wars we are in.

[Bluzmann57]

2. Man oh man, that stinks. Good luck to your wife and you

This post is being reccommended btw. Very well said. We need National Health insurance. I recently got called a communist because I said this, but I don't care. We need it and we need it now.

[The Straight Story]

4. We are not as bad off as others, and i think our situation may improve when we move

but so many others out there need help. Sure, we as individuals can help - but there is no reason we can't as a collective via our government. Too many fall through the cracks and suffer.

damn damn sad for those people. We got it easy compared to them.

[Labors of Hercules]

5. We're with you brother...

Feeling it all right along with you! :hug:

[JohnnyLib2]

6. Recommended. Your story and others must be told, shouted,

acted upon. So many want to look the other way....

All best wishes for you and yours.

[Cabcere]

7. I'm so sorry your wife is ill

and believe me, I hear you about the screwed-up priorities of our country in general. That was such a wonderfully heartfelt post - I don't have any words that can take away the pain or even ease it much, but I will be thinking about and praying for you and your wife, and people like both of you across the nation. :hug: :grouphug: :hug:

[blues90]

8. I am in a similar situation so I feel for you and your wife

My wife is unable to work or get out , she sufferers from a mental condition not where she can't think or function however she can't mentally deal with anything outside the apartment . It is a life long nervous condition that so far no meds have helped .

So for the 27 years we have been together she has had to depend on me for everything . She hates this dependent thing to no end and while I went to work each day she would worry something would happen to me then what would she do . I worry about the same thing .

Now since I have lost my job and can't find another things are horrid . I feel lost and continue to worry about her at all hours .

She being alone all day for her is difficult beyond description . the few friends we had years ago moved .

So we go day to day with the never ending fear of not being able to pay all the bills , there are no family members to help out .

[The Straight Story]

10. That so sucks

And folks like you are who I am talking about.

The rw thinks everyone is equal and if you are not making it, it is because you are lazy or don't care.

All situations are not equal, and as a caring people we should be working to help others out and have a basic standard of living.

Will some people abuse that? sure, people do that - just look at the corporations and how they suck up money from the general fund when they don't need to. But that is no excuse - we should do the best we can and aid our people.

We waste so much money on pork projects and shady contractors and don't spend jack helping real American's like yourself to survive.

[blues90]

14. In LA , CA there used to be many panhandlers

But you can tell who really needs help so some may abuse the system .

Overall the homeless people I come across are some of the nicest people I have come across . They had thing to say and never push , they just ask for change or a cig . They are real people and you can see it .

I look at all of them and all the people in New Orleans and the Miss gulf coast and the conditions the wounded vets deal with , above anything these people need help and a roof and food and someone to show them they are not forgotten .

Yet they are forced to the bottom of some long list and forgotten .

The billions spent on bridges to nowhere or roads and wars and tax cuts for the very rich go on as always . This to me is horrifying and terrifying at the same time . And we are called bleeding hearts , well if so let mine continue to bleed .

[boilerbabe]

12. Sending you and your wife love & best wishes, too...

It breaks my heart to hear of situations like yours. You have your DU friends, though. I hope that you can find a decent well paying job and that somehow your wife's condition improves.

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[blues90]

13. Thank you . I hope it improves soon

I really try to maintain hope however it is very difficult .

As many know it is just about impossible to find a good paying job these days . I have been trying for a year now and everything that sounded promising paid $10 per hour and even these fell through .

My wife neve3r saked for much , she is not the sort who shops and spends money . She would give anyone the clothes off her back .

Both of us always had given whatever we could when possible to homeless people and never ignored their requests from food to change or cigs without question . My wife gave her last $20 during Christmas to an older homeless lady when we walked up to a nearby store , this made my wife feel better than using the money for herself .

She has more hope than I , without her my life would be unbearable to say the least . We are connected at the heart and soul .

I feel so guilty and useless without a job . I went through so many interviews thinking finding a job would be not a huge problem , once I realized the situation I had a breakdown and now my past anxiety and panic attacks returned with a vegence now I am on meds and SDI and really feel like a loser . My wife still says we will make it through this somehow but I know this is what keeps her going because now she feels she has to support me mentally .

I can't imagine what will happen if I can't find employment soon , I went to vocational rehab but this is a very long process without any promise . It is quite an eye opener to be in this situation after working since 1966 with no gaps .

Both of us have always been honest . I worked for 33 years at ford dealerships most as a repair tech and never once did any repair that was not needed and when I was a service advisor only sold the work that was needed and told each customer what they could wait on so they could plan ahead . In the auto repair field techs and advisors are paid on a commission , the more you sell the more you make . As a assistent service manager I did the same , if I felt a customer was over charged I would refund the repair .

Honesty in a repair field is not rewarded , the employer bases your performance on dollar sales not a good honest job . The customers however did appreciate honesty .

I am certain many here have been through this horror many time over . I based my ideal on trust and return customers .

So for being honest I am now here through the wonderful at will clause and a new general manager who was a crook . I never saw it coming .

[SaveOurDemocracy]

9. It all seems so simple, so logical ...

but we, as a country, ignore and resent the needy, the 'broken', the lost. It is a crime ... a betrayal ... a disgrace.

Hugs to you and your wife. :grouphug:

[boilerbabe]

11. Wishing you the best...

I hope that a cure is found soon, and that your wife regains her health. I can't imagine how hard it must be for you and yours. Hopefully, the Dems will support stem cell research before its too late!

I agree that every person in this country should be insured and also that every person should have a roof over their head, food, and clothing (at least). We could have eradicated poverty in this country if all of our hard-earned taxes had not been diverted to such lame and destructive things such as war(s), "bridges to nowhere", etc.

Right now, I am fortunate enough to have decent medical insurance, but that would probably change were I to become seriously ill.

Well, sending you and your wife and daughter my love, I had better get out of this thread before I start crying...

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[SammyWinstonJack]

15. I'm still trying to figure out just how this country is the "greatest nation"?

I can't think of much that is great about it, let alone the "greatest". :shrug:

[The Straight Story]

16. Our innovation and people

And our (diminishing) freedoms. That is why more people come here than leave here.

We suck in some areas and excel in other areas.