Texas GOP Urges Cuts in ADA Protections

[pop goes the weasel]

Texas Republicans are calling for removal of "persons with infectious diseases, substance addiction, learning disabilities, behavior disorders, homosexual practices and mental stress" from the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

http://www.raggededgemagazine.com/drn/08_04.html#753

_________

Disgustapating, ain't they?

[NMDemDist2]

1. homosexual practices are listed as ADA? that's up with that? n/t

[girl gone mad]

6. From the article:

ADAWatch, a Washington-D.C. based watchdog group, says the platform "politicizes the ADA, a nonpartisan law, by trying to associate it with hot-button issues," noting that the language of the platrom tries to remove categories that are not now even covered by the law, such as homosexual practices and current illegal substance abuse.


That clears it up. Seems like they are really attempting to turn people against the ADA by appealing to base prejudices.

[Zinfandel]

2. Sounds like Nazi Germany...what's next the ovens?

[pop goes the weasel]

25. The Tennessee GOP

is working on that aspect of the Fourth Reich.

[Fovea]

3. Oh, too bad they forgot

corporate welfare addicts.

[Racenut20]

4. They left out those of us with a Jewish Grandmother.

[flamingyouth]

5. Check out this heart-warming tale

http://komotv.com/stories/32531.htm
It will break your heart.:cry:

[salin]

7. Indeed it did.

:cry:

[flamingyouth]

8. I really have to restrain myself when I post about it here

But to think that that man worked his whole life, then lost his job due to the lousy economy, and on top of all that, our nation allows people to die from lack of access to health care, well, I think dark and evil thoughts about people in positions of power in this country.:grr:

[salin]

13. I feel great pity - believe it or not - for the folks

who are religious - and by chance were indoctrinated into politicized charismatic christian churches - who truley believe (based on the person who speaks to them from the pulpit) that they are obediently following God's words... Yet in reality their actions (from the extension of their vote, to their personal actions) move them further and further away from the teachings of that God. If one believes in the concept of soul - then it would be as if their leaders/churches are willfully leading them away from their God.

What does that have to do with this story? Look at the first couple of posts on this thread - so these texan republicans (self proclaimed Doers of Gods work) - add hot button "fear" language as part of the descriptors of those who would no longer be covered ... but those people never were covered in the first place... And in doing so cynically get the support of the manipulated/politicized religious folks ... even though the inevitable results are foul - and I doubt that many attending those churches, who are being manipulted - if they knew or could see the end results - would support them - as clearly this is not God's will.

The preachers politicizing the pulpits are vile,

The politicians using the religious politics of hate are vile,

The followers who are brainwashed into thinking the words said from the pulpit are "inspired" and thus who follow along are either fools, or are vile.

And the carnage of these types of policies grows with waves of devastation in its wake.

:cry:

[flamingyouth]

15. Amen, my friend

Truer words have never been spoken. :hug:

[salin]

16. Thanks

btw - hope all is healing for you these days... :hug:

[flamingyouth]

Things are looking up at last

I'm finally on the sunny side of the street. Thanks for your kind words and thoughts, as always.:hug:

[pop goes the weasel]

20. or not work their whole lives

I know of one twenty-something who has had dozens of surgeries, including open heart surgery, who can neither sit nor stand for more than a few minutes at a time, who (obviously) can not lift or carry anything--and she's been denied SSDI 6 times! And I know dozens who are very much like her, all denied SSDI for years, and I know of a few who didn't get it awarded until they were already dead.

Of course, it all depends on which state you live in; the Southern states are all competing to be the biggest heartless bastards on the block.

[flamingyouth]

23. Oh, I hear you

Some people can't work; I've known lots of people, sadly, in that boat too.

Then I think about these fuckwits in the Texas GOP. You know they'd be the first people to bitch if their Social Security checks were three days late. Selfish, worthless cretins.

[girl gone mad]

10. That's one of the saddest things I've ever read.

I just emailed it to my Mother-in-law, who last week told my husband that she didn't like Democrats because they were for welfare (she thinks corporate welfare is a good thing, though).

[flamingyouth]

12. I know

Next time I hear about "welfare cheats" from some RW idiot, I'm going to throw this story at them. I've been so angry and sad all day.

[Massacure]

19. That's very sad.

[madrchsod]

9. ahhh- fuck um`

no one really gives a shit what they think,opps i said think...

[depakid]

11. Typical Texas Republican trash

Something about Texan arrogance seems to amplify their stupidity.

First of all, homosexuality isn't an ADA issue- although the growing preponderance of the scientific evidence suggests that it is covered under the Civil Rights Act, because it's an immutable characteristic. If these bigots had any brains, that's what they'd be worried about.

The ADA has a three-part definition of "disability." This definition, based on the definition under the Rehabilitation Act, reflects the specific types of discrimination experienced by people with disabilities. Accordingly, it is not the same as the definition of disability in other laws, such as state workers' compensation laws or other federal or state laws that provide benefits for people with disabilities and disabled veterans.

For what it's worth (I know, Republicans aren't nuanced) here's how the ADA works with respect to their other "issues."

Under the ADA, an individual with a disability is a person who:

has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities;

Physical and Mental Impairments

A mental impairment is defined by the ADA as:

"ny mental or psychological disorder, such as mental retardation, organic brain syndrome, emotional or mental illness, and specific learning disabilities."

Example:
A person who cannot read due to dyslexia is an individual with a disability because dyslexia, which is a learning disability, is an impairment. But a person who cannot read because she dropped out of school is not an individual with a disability, because lack of education is not an impairment.

"Stress" and "depression" are conditions that may or may not be considered impairments, depending on whether these conditions result from a documented physiological or mental disorder.

Example:
A person suffering from general "stress" because of job or personal life pressures would not be considered to have an impairment. However, if this person is diagnosed by a psychiatrist as having an identifiable stress disorder, s/he would have an impairment that may be a disability.

A person who has a contagious disease has an impairment.

Example:
Infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is an impairment. The Supreme Court has ruled that an individual with tuberculosis which affected her respiratory system had an impairment under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Substantially Limits

An impairment is a "disability" under the ADA only if it substantially limits one or more major life activities. An individual must be unable to perform, or be significantly limited in the ability to perform, an activity compared to an average person in the general population.

The regulations provide three factors to consider in determining whether a person's impairment substantially limits a major life activity:

its nature and severity;
how long it will last or is expected to last;
its permanent or long term impact, or expected impact.

Examples:
A person with a minor vision impairment, such as 20/40 vision, does not have a substantial impairment of the major life activity of seeing.

A person who can walk for 10 miles continuously is not substantially limited in walking merely because, on the eleventh mile, he or she begins to experience pain, because most people would not be able to walk eleven miles without experiencing some discomfort.

These factors must be considered because, generally, it is not the name of an impairment or a condition that determines whether a person is protected by the ADA, but rather the effect of an impairment or condition on the life of a particular person. Some impairments, such as blindness, deafness, HIV infection or AIDS, are by their nature substantially limiting, but many other impairments may be disabling for some individuals but not for others, depending on the impact on their activities.

Example:
Although cerebral palsy frequently significantly restricts major life activities such as speaking, walking and performing manual tasks, an individual with very mild cerebral palsy that only slightly interferes with his ability to speak and has no significant impact on other major life activities is not an individual with a disability under this part of the definition.

The determination as to whether an individual is substantially limited must always be based on the effect of an impairment on that individual's life activities.

Examples:
An individual who had been employed as a receptionist-clerk sustained a back injury that resulted in considerable pain. The pain permanently restricted her ability to walk, sit, stand, drive, care for her home, and engage in recreational activities.

Another individual who had been employed as a general laborer had sustained a back injury, but was able to continue an active life, including recreational sports, and had obtained a new position as a security guard.

The first individual was found by a court to be an individual with a disability; the second individual was found not significantly restricted in any major life activity, and therefore not an individual with a disability.

Sometimes, an individual may have two or more impairments, neither of which by itself substantially limits a major life activity, but that together have this effect. In such a situation, the individual has a disability.

Example:
A person has a mild form of arthritis in her wrists and hands and a mild form of osteoporosis. Neither impairment by itself substantially limits a major life activity. Together, however, these impairments significantly restrict her ability to lift and perform manual tasks. She has a disability under the ADA.

[MichiganVote]

24. Nice job summarizing depakote

Folks this is another attention getting, lets scare the public tactic by these people. The elimination of what they propose cannot come about without Congressional action. Since we all know that our Congress is about as effective as a wet noodle these sad days--forget about it. Homosexuality is not even part of the ADA equation.

Devious? Yes
Deceptive?Yes
Likely to go nowhere? Yes

[Gman]

14. They're all sorry bastards

every one of them.

[UTUSN]

17. Bwahahahah, They Don't Know Poppy Is Given Credit for the ADA!!! n/t

[DemoTex]

18. "Atavism"

Main Entry: at·a·vism
Pronunciation: 'a-t&-"vi-z&m
Function: noun

1 a : recurrence in an organism of a trait or character typical of an ancestral form and usually due to genetic recombination b : recurrence of or reversion to a past style, manner, outlook, or approach <architectural atavism>

2 : one that manifests atavism : THROWBACK

http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary&va=atavism&x=15&y=17

'Nuff said. Thanks.
Mac

[no_hypocrisy]

21. I didn't know the descendents of Ebeneezer Scrooge settled in Texas.

[proud patriot]

22. They are friggin CRAZY n/t