Dan, The question on the bottom is do we get it? Yes and no. Not quite the facts and not the same comparisons. (I am new to this list but thought maybe the screenames of all the forwards should have been removed before posting and just post the joke, and let us know it is a joke in the subject matter? I was expecting it to be a comment on quadraplegia related issues. I am a a quad and an advocate. I was advocating for the last four years for someone who is an illegal immigrant Let me tell you his story. He was from Brazil, and came to the US without a passport, as well as his wife. A baby was born here, now a US citizen. They had insurance only under their babies name. Otherwise, they qualified for "Free Care" This is limited care and does not provide things such as wheelchairs, or advanced medical care- only what they call "life sustaining" treatment. The Free Care is a process of application for those who qualify under Medicaid. So he was playing with his son on a trampoline, fell and broke his neck, severing C-5-6.Now where did he go? He was working doing walls and landscaping for a living before this, both in his native country and now in the US. But now as a quad, this line of work was out. So, he could not get social security benefits. No income to pay for his food nor did he qualify for food stamps, because he was not a legal US citizen. His brother and some family was taking care of him in a very inaccessible staired home where he was living (owned by another distant family member). His wife was overwhelmed taking care of him, and he had no powerchair. His son was not being taken care of, and his wife was so depressed, she had trouble eating and taking care of herself. She divorced him. The child was sent back to Brazil. The brother had a drinking problem. He would carry his brother up and down the stairs or keep him (unclothed) in the bed. I helped him get a powerchair, through a most generous help of a public charity. His brother however, had problems and started beating up on this quad's wife. He was powerless to do anything about it. I got a call, and the brother got arrested (had other violent problems) and shipped back to Brazil, with the quad's little boy. So, now, here he was pretty much alone, waiting for yet another sister to take care of him. He was moved to another 1/2 sister's home. She left him in his chair during the day. At least it was a great powerchair ,and he had independence, tried to get food, etc. But he could not work legally because he was not a legal US citizen. He was talking about going back to Brazil, but feared his infections and care would be a lot worse there. So here he is, stuck. I have been trying to get him services here, but they first go to needy legal citizens, right or wrong, the bias is there. Please , be careful what you send...
--- On Tue, 11/17/09, Danny Hearn <ddh...@sbcglobal.net> wrote: From: Danny Hearn <ddh...@sbcglobal.net> Subject: [QUAD-L] Fw: JOE LEGAL vs. JOSE' ILLEGAL To: "jeramy hearn" <jmhe...@sbcglobal.net> Cc: quad-list@eskimo.com Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 1:03 PM ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Jerry Craig <jerme...@att.net> To: Aaron Batchelor <abatche...@newlifecenter.com>; Aaryn Craig <aaryncr...@yahoo.com>; Andrea DePriest <foodies1...@aol.com>; Angel Reeves <pixi...@aol.com>; Donna Prince <ardo...@charter.net>; Gail Harris <agmh_1...@msn.com>; Jerry Smith <alm...@hotmail.com>; Kenny Anderson <kenmarja6...@aol.com>; Barbara Hanson <bjwe...@aol.com>; Betty Braddy <bettybra...@aol.com>; Bill Countaway <countaw...@aol.com>; Bill McGavock <saxtick...@hotmail.com>; Bob Hunt <hunto...@att.net>; Bob Zuffante <bzcz0...@sbcglobal.net>; Bobby Smith <bobbysmith...@msn.com>; Brown Mary D. <mary5...@sbcglobal.net>; Harold Jaco <bishopno...@earthlink.net>; Mike Sandheinrich <boy...@charter.net>; Rose Badgley <rlj...@sbcglobal.net>; Rose Benefield <rosebenefi...@sbcglobal.net>; Stephanie Burks <stephburk...@hotmail.com>; Virginia Belville <vbelv...@charter.net>; Carl Varnell <chvarn...@gmail.com>; Catherine Chambers <swc...@aol.com>; Cheryl Theonnes <redhed50...@yahoo.com>; Chester Wayne <wchester7...@charter.net>; Clarence Secor <gosk...@digis.net>; Joe Cook <popku...@sbcglobal.net>; Lena Craig <lena38...@wmconnect.com>; Marvin Curry <papamcu...@sbcglobal.net>; Cheryl Theonnes <redhed50...@yahoo.com>; Shirley Curry <curr...@sbcglobal.net>; Shirley Curry <curr...@sbcglobal.net>; Danny Hearn <ddh...@sbcglobal.net>; Debbie Dawson <debd1...@yahoo.com>; DePriest Lowell <depri...@centurytel.net>; Donna Prince <ardo...@charter.net>; Ruth Dehne <rdeh...@charter.net>; Tom Dearman <ddear...@swbell.net>; Ed-Marie Yarbrough <opta...@intergate.com>; Eva Worzel <ewor...@centurytel.net>; Rick Edwards <rotten_r...@hotmail.com>; Shellee Edwards <oelligshel...@aol.com>; Iva Gwaltney <sew4usewl...@aol.com>; Sherry Grisham <sherrygris...@hotmail.com>; Stacy Gabel <ksgabel1...@att.net>; James Holifield <hfjh8...@aol.com>; Jim Hudson <jnrhud...@charter.net>; Lewis Hudson <lefty4...@hotmail.com>; Jene Powers <jlc...@yahoo.com>; Jerry Whitman <j.whit...@usa.net>; Jimmy Kirby <jeak...@sbcglobal.net>; Margie Kuhn <jdk...@century.net>; Patty Kath <pk...@sbcglobal.net>; Roy Kessler <royng...@charter.net>; Leona Smith <loan...@centurytel.net>; Leona Tate <noniet...@aol.com>; Mike LIght <m...@sbcglobal.net>; Rev. John Leaman <johnlea...@yahoo.com>; Marian McKnight <mug...@yahoo.com>; Wanda Magruder <wamlee2...@hotmail.com>; Standish Mary <mcstand...@hotmail.com>; Sandra Matthews <sandralm1...@hotmail.com>; marvin gearin <mwgea...@sbcglobal.net>; Tarah Thacker <npersc...@yahoo.com>; Randy Owens <redneck...@gmail.com>; Shellee Edwards <oelligshel...@aol.com>; Shirley Poertner <sapoert...@att.net>; Shirley Pipkens <spipk...@att.net>; Ted Roemig <roem...@sbcglobal.net>; Rita Woolen <rrwoo...@yahoo.com>; Warren Susie <suelee63...@sbcglobal.net> Sent: Mon, November 16, 2009 6:47:47 PM Subject: JOE LEGAL vs. JOSE' ILLEGAL This would be a funny E-mail, but I found it to be so true. No wonder our country is going down the drain. Jerry JOE LEGAL vs JOSE' ILLEGAL Two families: "Joe Legal" and "Jose Illegal". Both families have two parents, two children, and live in California . Joe Legal works in construction, has a Social Security Number and makes $25.00 per hour with taxes deducted. Jose Illegal also works in construction, has NO Social Security Number, and gets paid $15.00 cash "under the table". Ready? Now pay attention... Joe Legal: $25.00 per hour x 40 hours = $1000.00 per week, or $52,000.00 per year. Now take 30% away for state and federal tax; Joe Legal now has $31,231.00. Jose Illegal: $15.00 per hour x 40 hours = $600.00 per week, or $31,200.00 per year. Jose Illegal pays no taxes. Jose Illegal now has $31,200.00. Joe Legal pays medical, dental insurance with limited coverage for his family at $600.00 per month, or $7,200.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $24,031.00. Jose Illegal has full medical, dental coverage through the state and local clinics at a cost of $0.00 per year. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00. Joe Legal makes too much money and is not eligible for food stamps or welfare. Joe Legal pays $500.00 per month for food, or $6,000.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $18,031.00. that's $13,169.00 dollas less than JOSE. Jose Illegal has no documented income and is eligible for food stamps and welfare. Jose Illegal still has $31,200.00. Joe Legal pays rent of $1,200.00 per month, or $14,400.00 per year. Joe Legal now has $9,631.00. That's $21,568,00 dollars less than JOSE Jose Illegal receives a $500.00 per month federal rent subsidy. Jose Illegal pays $500.00 per month, or $6,000.00 per year. Jose Illegal still has $ 31,200.00. Joe Legal pays $200.00 per month, or $2,400.00 for insurance. Joe Legal now has $7,231.00. That's $23,869.00 dollars less than JOSE Jose Illegal says, "We don't need no stinkin' insurance!" and we still has $31,200.00. USA is generous ! Do you get it, now?