Originally Posted by rolling7

For the record:

I started as a distribution/LSM clerk
Then sectional center/parcel post clerk
Then FSM clerk
Then window service clerk
Then special/express delivery clerk
Then SPBS clerk
Then expitior
Finally retirement

I sued, through EEOC, the USPS for discrimination for the deaf group and won a settlement for all the deaf workers to receive ASL interpreters for all necessary communication between the deaf and management. Also sued to receive TTY and later VP. In all, I had six cases of discrimination settled in favor of the deaf group against USPS, never once did I do this for myself.
If you look above to the window service clerk, that is one where I became the first deaf to preform at position. Before all deeaf that bid on the position were denied their bid, even if they had senority. After me, several other deaf around the nation where allow to bid with qulifications and we successful in earning the position. My last year, 2009, I had three heart surgeries from all this labor and just resently I had another. Yes, I will admit I could of taken better care of myself. The hardship all postal workers go through cause errors of judgement but I do think I did well to plan for retirement and I have earned my keep.

Originally Posted by Cheetah

These things are all good. but I don't follow why they are relevant?

Originally Posted by Cheetah

I re-read back and I see now why you post this information. However I am still confused how this relates to unfair entitlements. I admit, I don't know what the working environments for post office workers. Are you saying that historically the post office treats it's employees unfairly? and you feel that because you had to work your butt off 7 days a week with 10 hour days that no one else should receive any kind of compensation without physically working for it? Am I understanding your point of view?

Originally Posted by rolling7

It is related to the fact that all over America there are workers who have earn every penny of their benefits and those workers are who keep America strong and on-going. Once again I must make clear that not all who are on entitlement are not worthy but those who are unworthy of what they are receiving know who they are. Like I said, a person could go on an entitlement (say workman comp.) and that is what the program is for. But it is never meant to be permanent.


Forgetting entitlements for the moment, why would you even have to ask: "should receive any kind of compensation without physically working for it"? I would call a compensation without work and/or obligation "a gift" but only if it was giving correctly. The taxpayers (really the working people but I'll admit there are those not working who are still taxpayers.....after all I'm one of them! Yes, even in retirement I still pay tax) can't not afford "gifts". We are $15 trillion in the hole like it is.

Originally Posted by Cheetah

You are muddying the waters here. Lets just stick with entitlements that people are getting without working for it. Can you give me an example?

Originally Posted by rolling7

... Like I said, a person could go on an entitlement (say workman comp.) and that is what the program is for. But it is never meant to be permanent....

Originally Posted by rolling7

I already did above....SSDI/SSI......I'm not saying that everyone on those two are unworthy but those who are know they are because they would rather get them than work......yes, as I said before, there are people who, for whatever reason, CAN'T WORK but those are far fewer that those that WON'T WORK.

Originally Posted by Daredevel7

There is no such thing as a perfect world. When trying to help people, you will NEVER help out the EXACT people who deserve it. There will always be people who abuse the system and people who got screwed over by the system. We can try to get closer to perfection as possible, but you either have to make the system more lenient (more chances of abusers) or more strict (more chances of people getting screwed over).

There are 2 questions to ask:

1) Is the system good enough? (% of people screwed over or abusing the system is low)

2) Would you prefer more of people getting screwed by the system or more people abusing the system?



I'm on your side with this post, The problem, as I see it, is appathy. Years ago people would "shame" others for the fact that those refused to work and
were cheating (as we called abuse in those days). Today, it seems just like running a stop sign....everyone is doing it, so ignore it.
Also, the people of those times knew a system that was fair. Over the years the system has become so diluted with loopholes that left foot does not know what right foot is doing.
So, in my viewpoint, we need strong leaders to straighten the mess of a system we have out, then those %s, on both side, will go to less than 1%, as you said we have to get as close to perfect as we can. Still, I"m happy to be discussing this with you.


I personally don't know the answer to #1, but I definitely know that I'd rather have more people abuse the system than to have people screwed over by it.

Originally Posted by Cheetah

I only know a few people who get this and in each case it (to me) is justified. Perhaps you think the rules for qualifying to receive SSDI/SSI should be tightened, or do you think it should be done away with?

Originally Posted by rolling7

Tightened and the standards should be re-evaluated. Why should a deaf person be on permanent SSDI/SSI for the ONLY reason of being deaf!
We need to realize the deaf CAN and SHOULD hold a job. Discrimination should be a thing of the past and we must continue the fight to get the deaf employeed and fairly employed. I would also say this about any hearing person. All Americans deserve the opportunity of a job where they can EARN a living. Those, for whatever reason and I do sympatize, can not perform labor at all are certainly worthy of the programs set up to help them. The standards need to be tightened and re-evaluated.

Originally Posted by Daredevel7

Is it really that easy? I almost want to apply to SSDI/SSI just to see if I can get it.

Originally Posted by Reba

In SC, Workman's Comp for a workplace injury lasts only three years per incident.

Originally Posted by Daredevel7

Is it really that easy? I almost want to apply to SSDI/SSI just to see if I can get it.

Originally Posted by TXgolfer

It's that easy. Even I qualify for one of them

Originally Posted by Daredevel7

How? Don't you make money?

I do, and already am not qualified.

Originally Posted by TXgolfer

No I retired 2 1/2 years ago..... It would be easier for me though because of Meniere's (we get a special mention). Believe it or not they don't consider assets for SSDI. I don't qualify for SSI

Originally Posted by Daredevel7

Ah, I kind of assumed you were younger.....

Originally Posted by TXgolfer

Mid 40's...that's not old.

Originally Posted by TXgolfer

Mid 40's...that's not old.

Originally Posted by Cheetah

I'm confused... are you saying that there are government entitlements that are unfair? If so, which ones?

Originally Posted by Daredevel7

That is quite an early retirement!

Originally Posted by saywhatkid

*cough* Geezer *cough cough*

Originally Posted by rolling7

Back Breaking Labor. Extreme conditions.
Try these

1) twelve hour days
2) seven day weeks
3) work every holiday
4) work night shift
5) no a/c and no heat
6) work in rain/snow/hurricanes
7) lift and carry 70 lbs.

I could go on (and I've not listed the dicriminations against the deaf) but unless you were there you can't understand. All postal workers earn every penny of their benefits, nothing was giving to them. They are not laughing their way to the bank but suffering in their retirement from many ills. I know because I suffer and get with others and hear about their sufferings.

Originally Posted by rolling7

It is related to the fact that all over America there are workers who have earn every penny of their benefits and those workers are who keep America strong and on-going. Once again I must make clear that not all who are on entitlement are not worthy but those who are unworthy of what they are receiving know who they are. Like I said, a person could go on an entitlement (say workman comp.) and that is what the program is for. But it is never meant to be permanent.


Forgetting entitlements for the moment, why would you even have to ask: "should receive any kind of compensation without physically working for it"? I would call a compensation without work and/or obligation "a gift" but only if it was giving correctly. The taxpayers (really the working people but I'll admit there are those not working who are still taxpayers.....after all I'm one of them! Yes, even in retirement I still pay tax) can't not afford "gifts". We are $15 trillion in the hole like it is.

Originally Posted by rolling7

They are relevant to show that in retirement I am not being GIVEN anything by the government but I have EARN every penny of my pension and insurance coverage.

You had ask in another post: which entitlements

The simple answer is there is no "bad" entitlement but abused entitlement.
There are those to help people in a need and, sometimes, to get back on their feet. But they are not meant to be permanent.

To give you an example:

When I join USPS we had 238 deaf that were hired under the Presidental (Nixon) Program to put people to work from governement support (as it was called then). Not only the USPS but other federal agencys hired not only deaf but others too. Now of this group that I worked with, and 99% I had never seen before because they were younger and we had no ASL social in those days, almost every one of them came from SSDI/SSI (I have already stated that in my lifetime I have nere had SSDI/SSI). In those days, it was like $300-$400 a month. Now they had the opportunity to EARN over $1000 a month. That....EARN...was the problem. They were use to having everything giving to them. Within six months, more than half had left the USPS (see the list of back-breaking reasons I posted) and within one year there were 57 of us still working. Through the years I've heard from the ones who quit early and they never looked back because they stayed on SSDI/SSI all their life. Now I'm not saying SSDI/SSI is a "bad" entitlement (yes, I do know some hearing people on them) but there are many that I know who stay on them for the simple reason they don"t care to work.....note, yes htere are those that can't work (for whatever reason) but there are many that WON'T work. Go back to some of my old post and look up CRR here in Houston. I have tried my best to help the deaf to get a meanful job but I and the staff of CRR have experienced much heartbreak because the deaf will not apply themself to learning nor to using what they learn.
Yes, I have explained using the deaf as an example but I know fully well (and so should everyone else) there in the general population of America there are many, many who are abusing the programs and, for that reason, we all must show disgust.

Originally Posted by rolling7

Yes, but there was no choice. You seem to forget that government workers are under a different standard of labor than private workers. Yes, we had a union but their hands were tied,unlike the autoworker and other privatie unions. Of course, you have to look at the times.....1970's until 2000's.....
and down through the years things did get better but it was still strictly speaking hard.

Originally Posted by rolling7

I already did above....SSDI/SSI......I'm not saying that everyone on those two are unworthy but those who are know they are because they would rather get them than work......yes, as I said before, there are people who, for whatever reason, CAN'T WORK but those are far fewer that those that WON'T WORK.

Originally Posted by jillio

You are saying that you worked 12 hour days, 7 days a week, every holiday? Sorry, but those hours are illegal. You would have had no time off whatsoever.

A lot of people work the night shift. Nothing extreme about that. And those who work the night shift receive a pay differential for working the night shift.

Were you outside during these hurricanes? Rain and snow are not extreme weather conditions. The majority of the American workforce has to deal with rain and snow.In other words, you worked no harder than the average American. You are not special.