The growing number of people claiming
disability has been in the news A LOT recently, and I've really been
avoiding writing about it partly because it's a touchy subject and
partly because I'm a little burned out reading about it. However, I
just read about this little incident in Portland, and I feel it is
worth bringing up, if only for its locality and its eerie creep
factor.
Here's the deal: An anonymous person
who apparently goes by the name “Artemis of the wildland” is
posting charged notes threatening to post the names of individuals in
various Portland neighborhoods, like Laurelhurst, Irvington, and
Southeast Belmont, who vote and claim disability.
Now, I get irritated every time I see
people bragging on Twitter about how easy it is to get “free money”
by playing the system and filing for disability, so I can understand
the frustration this Artemis may be feeling about people being able
“to vote themselves money”*, but isn't this mystery posting a
weird invasion of privacy? I don't see why people need to know which
of their neighbors are getting help from the government or what would
come from knowing that information, except maybe tension or
embarrassment. Further, I am led to wonder if this person believes
that all people with disabilities should not be allowed to vote for
fear that they would use their votes to get unwarranted government
assistance. The issue of voting appears to be Artemis's biggest
qualm, though it could be that that simply stands out most to my eye.
Perhaps the note poster knows something
the rest of us don't, like exactly why certain individuals are making
disability claims and which of those individuals are truly in need.
Maybe the poster went door to door and asked people if they are on
disability and if they have a legitimate reason for being so. It
could be that this person is exposing frauds, and I'm completely off
base for thinking this whole situation is bizarre. Either way, whose
right is it to go around tacking names to doors?
There are people out there who are
actually unable to work and need financial assistance; not everyone
is playing the system, and it's a shame that so many people do that
others may be led to discredit everyone who claims disability, even
those who actually are disabled. Many people with disabilities are
already regarded differently and put into an oft unpleasant
spotlight. Writing their names on a paper isn't doing anyone any
favors.
Is it? What do you think? Is this is
strange and creepish as it seems to me? Does anybody else think that Artemis of the wildland is an unusual and somewhat silly pseudonym given the context of the situation? Do share your opinions!
*If anyone is curious, the quote cited
in the original note is often attributed to Benjamin Franklin, but
there is quite a bit of debate whether he actually said this or not.
My thought... my husband is disabled, however if you talk to him, watch him walk and work you would never know it. He hides it well. He struggles daily with pain and comes home and works our property while in extreme pain. My point there are those that do not look disabled but really are. Pinpointing people out without knowing their background is presumptuous and wrong. No one knows everyone's situation - however there are those that cheat the system too...
ReplyDeleteThis is a good point! There is this assumption that disability is always visible when I can think of many disabilities that are very invisible. This whole letter thing feels to me like using a shotgun to try and hammer out one bent nail.
DeleteMy thoughts exactly! Well said, both of you.
ReplyDeleteJust got my check for $500.
ReplyDeleteSometimes people don't believe me when I tell them about how much money you can earn by taking paid surveys from home...
So I show them a video of myself actually getting paid over $500 for doing paid surveys.