You know, there are many reasons I tend not to take the DNC, let alone the Democratic Party too seriously. People are sick and tired of what has been termed ‘incrementalism’: change that is so slow that there’s almost no change at all. We see this in almost everything from Obamacare to Marriage Equality to Civil Rights, Voting Rights and Disability Rights. Federal courts may recognize these as the law of the land, but many states have gone out of their way to subvert all of them.
As for people with disabilities, there has been some progress in recent years, mostly for children, but for adults? Not so much. Instead we’re having to navigate nightmarish systems that do little if any to help us. And in Florida’s case, our governor keeps gutting disability services and putting the funds where they are not needed, making a bad situation worse. Do we try to fight back? Sure. But it’s kind of hard when you’re dealing with a state government that doesn’t give a shit unless you’re Disney World, Big Oil or the NRA.
You see, there are many people in situations similar to mine: Educated, but disabilities make it hard to maintain let alone obtain real employment of any sort. Yet our needs are ignored unless someone’s looking to get or stay elected. After that, we just go back to being ignored again when it’s all said and done.
Social Security? You can bet that’s a nightmare too. Hell, based on my own situation, I would have been on it for life had I not been switched over to survivor’s 20 years ago when my dad died. Given that I was a kid there wasn’t much I could do. And I’m sure there are countless others who have gone through the same.
You can tell me I have to support Clinton because we have to keep the Republicans at bay, but if I may be blunt, this whole thing is nothing but good cop, bad cop politics. Meanwhile, the disability community continues to wither. Slowly. And while people whine about who has more of this vote or that vote, we’ll just be ignored some more. Better than the alternative, I guess.
See you around,
Homer