A letter I wrote to Barack because things really suck.

[Hatchling]

Dear Barack;

This country needs you desperately.

I am a 56 year disabled woman, alone in the world.

Food prices have crept up rapidly eating into my $890 a month disability check.

Gas prices have caused my senior bus pass to go up in the past few years from $12 a month to $16 a month. There are rumors that the company is planning to raise the pass to $30 a month. The bus company has pared down it's routes so the are many places I can no longer get to.

I have lived in an apartment I love for 11 years . This is my home. The rent has just gone up from $450 to $600 a month.

I can't afford to stay here but there are no places to move to that I can afford either. Those prices are even higher, than the price increase here.

Section 8 waiting lists are back filled for 5-8 years with senoirs/disabled waiting for housing.

Apartments that have "affordable housing" for seniors/disabled have waiting lists for those apartments of up to 2-5 years. And there are more and more people in my situation signing up for those waiting lists.

I would move from California to a more affordable state but I can't afford it. And all my doctors that I trust are here.

I have one more month in my Apartment search. It feels hopeless and I may lose my dearest companions, my only family, my four cats. I don't think I can bear that...

Stimulus checks are useless to me. Because I became disabled after taking out student loans, they have gone into default. Any stimulus check, or tax rebate I am due is taken from me before I even see it. My doctors have filled out permanent disability papers, but they have all been denied.

The final blow for California seniors/disabled is that the 2008 renters rebate check has been canceled. We wait for this rebate each year impatiently. For those of us who still have cars, this is when they are patched together for another year. For those of us with pets, this is when they get to see the vet. It's this check that allows us to replace that broken microwave or coffee pot, buy clothing from someplace other than the Salvation Army, a chance to catch up on our bills, maybe even that once a year chance to eat out at a real restaurant.

The sad thing is this: I am not alone in my woes. So many are just like me or even worse.

With you as President, I am confident that things will turn around in this country and that others will not have to suffer as I do.

Signed,
Hatchling

[DS1]

1. Thank you for sharing, Hatchling

Recommended, and I wish you the best of luck

[grannylib]

2. Dear Hatchling,

What a well written, heartfelt letter, and I am so sorry to hear of your situation. I know something of that kind of financial struggle, and I am just furious that anyone in our country should have to fear so much for just their everyday ordinary lives, while others buy shower curtains costing more than many people make in a year.
WTF????

Hear hear! Senator Obama, Hatchling is right! We need you!

:hug:

[lonestarnot]

3. Hatchling

I know your situation well. I am wondering what is going to become of people in your situation. I guess they will put us all to sleep.

[liberalmuse]

4. Dear Soul...

Thank you for speaking out, not only for yourself, but for others who are in a similar situation. If you cannot find an apartment, please email me. I don't want to see you and your 4 friends out on the streets. You have friends here at DU.

[tpsbmam]

5. Huge K&R, Hatchling....thank you so much for sharing your letter with all of us.

God I'm just plain hating this. Just HATING it! Living off of disability was a joke before -- now it's just just plain cruel. I'm so sorry.

Dammit, I'm really hating this country right now! :hug:

[shraby]

6. I'm in Wisconsin and our local

senior/disability housing has a vacancy sign. Actually more than one place does. If you could find a way to get here, pm me and I'll gather information for you as to cost, etc. We're in Manitowoc county right beside Lake Michigan.

[avaistheone1]

7. I think it is the disabled who get trickled down the most on in our country.

That really stinks bad. It is absurd that any adult should be expected to live on $890.
It makes me ashamed to be an American.

Why are the politicans always talking about how difficult the teachers, the police and the firemen have it? In my community policemen make $70kup and firemen make $100k up. No one talks about people like yourself that have it impossible rough.

I pray for a more just America, Hatchling.

[barbtries]

8. yes, he needs to be president

this country needs a democrat in the white house. like we should have had over the past almost 8 years.

[bkkyosemite]

9. Hatchling it took 4 tries to get my disability. Many times it is NORMAL to be Denied Please PM me

There are lawyers that will take your disability case and will take a 20% (around that) court ordered %...Please pm me...I will give you details. Your doctors filled out the papers ...they always deny a person if they are not blind or missing more than one limb..usually is a three or four time thing.

[Hatchling]

11. Thank you for your offer

I actually have ssa/ssi disability already.

I was talking about my student loans which are not dischargable in a bankruptcy. These have gone into default and there is no money for a lawyer to recover from these. They call me and pester me for the money and threaten to garnish my social security. Any tax rebate or refund I might get is taken from me to apply to these loans.

My doctors have sent them letters for a permanant disability discharge of the loans but they keep denying it.

I wanted to teach art at a junior college. That's why I took out those loans.

[Fire1]

10. My God (sigh)...........this letter brought tears to my eyes.............

I know Michigan is not in the best shape, but the cost of living is cheaper than Cal. and I'd gladly take what you're currently paying, to rent my bottom 3 bdrm. flat. It's in an older part of town that's quiet and mostly seniors. If you can ever see your way here, send me a PM. I'll be praying for you, and for all of us.
p.s. I don't mind pets.:)

[Laelth]

12. Hope.

I hope for you and for us all.

k&r

:dem:

-Laelth

[WestWingEmpty]

13. My dear you won't like this bailout.

Here is how the bailout will affect you.

#1 Housing prices will stabilizer hence your rent won't go down.

#2 Printing a Trillion dollars causes inflation. Unfortunatly the CPI doesn't seem to reflect reality anymore so your cost of living increases won't keep pace.

#3 On the plus side the Wall Street bankers will sleep a lot better so I'm sure you will take some comfort in that.

[Hatchling]

14. Thank you all for you kind support.

You don't know how much it means to me.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

15. Here's your reply...

Dear Northside:

Thank you for writing to share your concerns on the current state of the U.S. economy and the government’s response to the ongoing stress on our financial markets, homeowners, and families.

From Wall Street to Main Street, the U.S. economy is in trouble. We have suffered 600,000 lost jobs since the beginning of this year, over a million families have lost their homes to foreclosure with millions more at risk, and many banks and other financial institutions are struggling to stay afloat. The bailout of investment bank Bear Stearns, the federal takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the Federal Reserve’s emergency intervention to save AIG, and the emergency Treasury action to shore up money market mutual funds demonstrate the seriousness of the situation we face.

In response to these concerns, Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke and Treasury Secretary Paulson have met with congressional leaders to request legislation that would authorize direct intervention in the economy. The plan would grant the Treasury Secretary $700 billion to purchase bad assets from financial institutions. By doing so, the Treasury would inject much needed liquidity into the market and work to rescue the economy from a worsening downturn.

While I agree that urgent and decisive action is necessary during this time of economic turmoil, I will not grant a blank check for billions of taxpayer dollars to the Treasury to bail out banks, with no oversight, accountability, guaranteed help for homeowners, or even assurances that the risky plan will work to the benefit of American workers and taxpayers.

Instead, we must insist upon a plan that includes relief for burdened homeowners, ensures restraints on exorbitant executive salaries, and ensures that the American people share in the upside as Wall Street recovers. It is also critical that the power to spend $700 billion is not left to the discretion of any one person but is instead under the rigorous oversight of an independent and bipartisan board.

Further, we need to move forward on a second emergency economic stimulus plan including tax rebates to help families cope with rising food and gas prices and investments in jobs and relief for state budgets.

In closing, be assured that as this process moves forward I will continue to work for a fast, fair and viable response to our nation’s economic crisis. Again, Northside, thank you for sharing your comments and concerns with me. Please feel keep in touch on this, or other matters of importance to you.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

17. sorry ^^^that^^^ came across crass, Hatchling

I live in IL. I've been trying for a few years now to get something as direct and empathetic from Barack as the response my sister received from Diane Finestein. Instead, I continue to receive what I consider safe, canned replies.

I share in your hardship, but this isn't about me. I've talked about myself elsewhere. Again, I'm sorry I was so crass.

[Hatchling]

19. I didn't take offense.

I honestly don't expect a reply from him. But if it gives him another possible American tragedy to use as an example in his campaign, I'm willing to let him use it.

People need to know what is happening to us.

[DangerDave921]

16. So sorry

What is your disability? Can it be treated with medical treatment? There are some great occupational and/or vocational trainers who can get a lot of people back to work doing meaningful work within their means.

Best of luck!

[Hatchling]

18. I don'r mind letting you know.

I have Cervical Myleopathy ( spinal cord damage), a possible diagnosis of MS (The docs are going back and forth on that one), and oh, yeah, the PTSD. I have an incredible team of doctors supporting me for which I am very grateful.