Category: FAIL

Paramedics, the VA, and Eric Garner: When Deference to Authority Goes Horribly Wrong (Part 2/4)

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Part 2 of 4 of the series When Life and Death is “A Matter of Policy” Annnnnnnnnd we’re back… in part one of this series, I detailed one policy driven by No Discernable Medical Purpose (NDMP), and that’s the “no foreign ventilator” policy hospitals have, affecting me in the past and maybe at points in the … Continue reading “Paramedics, the VA, and Eric Garner: When Deference to Authority Goes Horribly Wrong (Part 2/4)”

In a Nutshell: America’s Regulatory Octopus and Non-working Toilets

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Part of a new series, “In a Nutshell,” in which I try to explain an idea in 500 words or less. When the tentacles of regulation clog your toilet The Commerce Clause of Article I of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power “To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the … Continue reading “In a Nutshell: America’s Regulatory Octopus and Non-working Toilets”

The Accursed 113th Congress: Are Our Democratic Institutions Broken?

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ac·cursed 1: being under or as if under a curse 2: damnable Source: Merriam-Webster’s dictionary – accursed I am probably one of the few bloggers who would notice our worst. Congress. ever. is also the 113th Congress, and feel a gut feeling that the correlation isn’t really… entirely coincidental.  Too many horrendous events have happened … Continue reading “The Accursed 113th Congress: Are Our Democratic Institutions Broken?”

Bribeocracy Update: the Quid Pro Quo status quo—Revolving Door

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Bribeocracy Update Winter/Q1 2013 I want this blog to be a useful source of information you’ll not get from TV or other web sites. You certainly don’t hear about Medicaid issues like “aging out” of most in-home support at age 21, and how it impacts the ventilator-dependent population, on other blogs. You won’t get in-depth … Continue reading “Bribeocracy Update: the Quid Pro Quo status quo—Revolving Door”

What New Fall TV Shows To Avoid (2010)

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It’s true. Lots of what’s on TV is just unbearable. Here are some shows to avoid at all costs: Chase – NBC, 10/9central Monday night This show is about a Houston task force of U.S. Marshals who chase the most dangerous, most wanted fugitives in Texas. But unlike most crime dramas, where you’re rooting for … Continue reading “What New Fall TV Shows To Avoid (2010)”

Feds Fiddling While State Medicaid Programs BURN

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Question: In light of Obama’s plan to expand Medicaid eligibility, is anyone in Congress noticing the MASSIVE state budget cuts to Medicaid across the country and ruminating about how that jives with this impending expansion? I fear that if states have to raise income eligibility and bring millions of uninsured onto the Medicaid rolls, that … Continue reading “Feds Fiddling While State Medicaid Programs BURN”

Fix The Broken Foundation Before Building A Skyscraper On Top Of It

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My biggest beef with Health Care Reform right now is that we’re building a new tower on top of a broken foundation. Medicare and Medicaid are badly broken, and we’re building more programs on top of that. Bad idea. Insurance company bureaucracy is even worse, but federal programs have to be significantly better in the … Continue reading “Fix The Broken Foundation Before Building A Skyscraper On Top Of It”

Is The U.S. The World Leader In Disability Rights?

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So, the U.S. has now signed on to the historic UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD). People are saying this is wonderful, the ACLU is saying that it marks America’s return as a world human rights leader (by the way, the Senate has yet to ratify the treaty). I’m concerned that … Continue reading “Is The U.S. The World Leader In Disability Rights?”

Disabled Still Forced Into Institutions Just For Turning 21: Open Letter To The Disability Community, August 2009

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Obama Administration Signs the CRPD Treaty, But Is In Flagrant Violation Of It, The ADA, Olmstead, and Its Own “Year of Community Living” PR Campaign, As Arbitrary Termination of Medicaid Home Care Services at Age 21 Continues Unabated The recent addition of the U.S. as a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of … Continue reading “Disabled Still Forced Into Institutions Just For Turning 21: Open Letter To The Disability Community, August 2009”

The ADA Turns 19. Are Businesses Listening?

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There is, deservedly, much talk this ADA anniversary of the broken promise that the ADA guarantees people can live in “the most integrated setting” and how Obama just signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) while continuing to ignore long-term care (and the CRPD’s article on community choice). But what … Continue reading “The ADA Turns 19. Are Businesses Listening?”

Ode To Governor Mark Sanford

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This song fits Gov. Sanford so well: “you keep on tellin’ me ‘baby I love ya,’ but MARRIAGE just ain’t your game You tell me I can have anything I want but whhhyy can’t I have your name? LYIN’ BACKSLIDIN’ callin’ each other brother with your hand in his pocket hypocrisy! yeah“ –Millie Jackson, singing … Continue reading “Ode To Governor Mark Sanford”

News Media Decides Life of Fly More Important Than Slain Latinos

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So, the Minuteman Movement has gone completely insane, and they are now crossing over into murder and theft to meet their political goals of a Southwest free of Hispanics. ter·ror·ism n.  The unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a person or an organized group against people or property with the intention of … Continue reading “News Media Decides Life of Fly More Important Than Slain Latinos”

Glenn Beck, in Criticizing Sotomayor, Says Empathy Is BAD, and Cites Bad Misunderstanding of Hebrew Bible

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Several weeks ago, I slapped down an idiotic routine from Beck, and now, he’s at it again. This time, he’s making outrageous comments and going completely off the rails about new Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. The rallying cry of the Republicans against Obama’s nominations has been “EMPATHY IS BAD!!!”   This from the same … Continue reading “Glenn Beck, in Criticizing Sotomayor, Says Empathy Is BAD, and Cites Bad Misunderstanding of Hebrew Bible”

Abuse People, Get Rewarded With More Money??

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It sounds absurd, right?  But that’s what’s been happening with institutions that abuse people with disabilities. First, an example of abuse from my local area: NEW CITY – Frank Zanghi says his blind, deaf son, who uses a wheelchair, was abused when he lived in a facility for the developmentally disabled in New Jersey years … Continue reading “Abuse People, Get Rewarded With More Money??”

Fourth “Nick’s Crusade” Video Blog: ObamaFail! Administration Refuses To Lead On Disability Desegregation

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 Transcription (as captioned in the video): Hello, this is Nick Dupree for the for the Nick’s Crusade blog. This is my fourth video blog, and today is the 252nd day that I’ve been in an institution because I can’t get access to community services. And it seems that the Obama administration is not going … Continue reading “Fourth “Nick’s Crusade” Video Blog: ObamaFail! Administration Refuses To Lead On Disability Desegregation”

Ablism: Idiotic Comments From Idiots

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This post is for Blogging Against Disablism Day, BADD, 2009. As I noted here, ablism (discrimination based on ability) is one of the dumber forms of injustice. It’s dumb because it’s based on falsehoods. Just because someone is in a wheelchair, doesn’t mean they’re deaf or have mental retardation. That man in a wheelchair you … Continue reading “Ablism: Idiotic Comments From Idiots”

Medical Personnel’s Hands So Tied By Liability Concerns They Hesitate To Save A Life

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Months ago, a serious incident happened on Unit A13. Suddenly, I heard the operator blast over the loudspeaker “CODE BLUE A-APPLE-13!! CODE BLUE A-APPLE-13!!” Aides frantically checked all the patients, coming to me first (because I’m in the first room). They ran up and down the hall. Everyone was fine. “WHERE’S THE CODE??” It wasn’t … Continue reading “Medical Personnel’s Hands So Tied By Liability Concerns They Hesitate To Save A Life”

People Who Sit In The Disability Seats…

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peoplewhositinthedisabilityseatswhenimstandingonmycrutches.com is a hilarious blog that highlights people who won’t get up and cede the disability seats on the subway.  I love it.  It’s the kind of guerrilla citizen journalism that I would love to see more of from the disability community; don’t just gripe about barriers, document them!  I’d like to do this sort … Continue reading “People Who Sit In The Disability Seats…”

“That’s Not My Job” (Angry Rant)

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For people with severe disabilities like me, you’re paradoxically only as independent (defined here as self-directing, in control of your own daily existence) as the people you’re depending on enable you to be.  As I wrote in my last post, if your caregivers are responsive and willing and able to support all your needs, your … Continue reading ““That’s Not My Job” (Angry Rant)”

Why did they create the new nation of Iraq? UPDATED

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After World War I destroyed the Ottoman Empire, why did the British decide to create the new nation of Iraq out of the 3 different Ottoman provinces? The British divvied up the Ottoman Empire’s holdings and created Iraq out of the three Ottoman “vilayets” (regions) of Mosul, Baghdad and Basra. Why would they do this? … Continue reading “Why did they create the new nation of Iraq? UPDATED”