People Pusher Beliefs

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. - Martin Luther King

Our problems are man-made, therefore they may be solved by man. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings. - John F. Kennedy

Our truest life is when we are in our dreams awake. - Henry David Thoreau

The Mission of the People Pusher

It's about the people, stupid.

That's a campaign slogan I wish someone had adopted. In our world today, so much is focused on "platforms" and ideology that is not about the people. The People Pusher wants you to think about that.

At the end of everyone's life, what are they thinking about? Some are seeking redemption for the things they know they did that were "bad." Others are thinking "did I leave my mark on the world?" Still others haven't figured out yet that you can't take the bank account, high profile career, McMansion, or any of that with you.

In the end, the hope is that we are all thinking about who was loved, who we helped, and how we behaved in the community of humanity.

This blog is focused on people issues. And the mission of the People Pusher is that you will think about the people, too.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

McCain Between the Lines: No Funding for Programs for People with Disabilities?

Tonight, John McCain made a point several times to point a finger at Barack Obama for speaking eloquently to hide other things.

Well, I've got news for John McCain: what you said "between the lines" - not so eloquently by the way - was that under your administration you would not fund federal programs for people with disabilities.

What? You say... you didn't hear that?

Let me translate for you. First, you need to know that in the world of disabilities, where we as a group are targeted by the "no tax" right, are often told that tax money should not pay for services. Instead, people should be able to donate to the charities of their choice. Now that you know that, I will tell you what John McCain said tonight that means no federal funding for programs.

He said (and for the moment I have to loosely quote until I can get a transcript) that the government has to invest in research for autism and that we need to "take care of these families...and everyone in America will reach into their pockets to do that."

He did not say, "we need to increase funding to the Medicaid waiver program." He said "reach into their pockets." This implies that people will donate money, not pay taxes for this purpose.

Be careful what you wish for, all you parents of children with "special needs."

Sarah Palin: What's Your Plan?

The People Pusher is pleased to post this open letter to Sarah Palin from a special needs mom that is being distributed throughout the Internet. This mom wants to know what Sarah Palin means by "advocacy for special needs parents." We have permission to post this here:

GOV. PALIN, WHAT'S YOUR PLAN?

I am an expert at raising a child with special needs. My son is an adult, 26 years of age.

Governor Palin, you have said repeatedly that you will be an advocate for parents of special needs children. It is now time for you to tell us what you mean by that statement. It is not enough that you chose to have a baby with special needs. There are thousands of us who made the same choice - and others like me who did not know until our children were born (or later even) that they had special needs. There are also hundreds of thousands of people with developmental disabilities on decades-long waiting lists for services across the country - and others who are completely unable to access services for their children because they don't fit some arbitrary criteria.

Specifically, I want to know the following:
1. Do you support increased funding to and the expansion of Medicaid Waiver programs to ensure that people with special needs can live and work in the community?
2. Do you support making certain that all services are portable, across the states and counties - that people don't have to get at the "end of the line" when they move to another state?
3. Will you increase funding to special education, and improve special education programs so that less parents have to "opt out" of sending their special needs children to public school because "homeschooling" is better than "no schooling?"
4. If John McCain were President, and he were to propose drastic cuts in Medicaid, what kind of advocacy would you do for special needs parents to prevent funding cuts that would put us back to the 1960's?
5. What did you do in Alaska to improve the lives of people with special needs? Did you increase services? Did you increase funding to special education? Did you end waiting lists? Have you served on nonprofit boards that serve children with special needs? How often did the local papers in Alaska write about your advocacy for the families of Alaska who have special needs children? Do all families in Alaska have access to local, community-based programs and treatment regardless of their income because of your advocacy efforts?
6. Are you in favor of spending more time, money and attention on the horrific status of mental health treatment and services across the nation?
7. Would you be in favor of ensuring that services are provided to people with disabilities who need them, in spite of their IQ's not being in the right "range"? Specifically, how would you address this problem?
8. If Roe v. Wade were overturned, what special programs might you institute to support the high influx new parents of special needs children who might not have otherwise given birth to those children because they felt they could not manage for whatever reason?

Governor Palin, the media has had the opportunity to ask you these questions but have not done so. You have seized that opportunity with photo ops and heartstrings to simply say that you will be an advocate for us, without being questioned. You complain that the media is against you and yet you have not taken the time to explain to the hundreds of thousands of we special needs parents who need a champion for our cause so much, exactly what your record is on special needs advocacy and what we can expect in the future if you were Vice President. It's time now to answer the question: What is your plan?