Been doing some reading this evening. Here is what I have learned...
- Since 1995, the Republicans have controlled the House 10 times out 15, controlled the Senate 8 times out 15, controlled the Presidency 6 times out of 15,
- Since the passage of NAFTA in the early 1990s, SS disability claims have skyrocketed,
- Currently, 10,000,000 people receive SSD, 8,000,000 are disabled workers age 18-64; 70% of these workers are age 50-64,
- 14% of citizens in the South have a disability,
- 8.3% of Alabamians receive SSD, ranks in the top 5 in the US
- Not coincidentally, Alabama ranks in the bottom 5 in the US in labor force participation at 57%
- There are 100,000 open jobs in Alabama v 50,000 unemployed persons. Disabled workers are not counted - there are 210,000 disabled workers in Alabama,
- Alabama current unemployment rate is 2.1% but Disabled persons are not counted as unemployed,
- Current disability pays $1360 per month or $8.50 per work hour,
- 50% of Disabled persons have a mental or intellectual disability,
- Disabled persons also qualify Medicare,
- Less than 1% of Disabled persons return to work from Disabled status
- Grievance politics strongly correlates with Republican views for the age 50-64,
- Whites and minorities have exploited disability status
- Inflation is driven by the tight labor pool which in turn drives up the cost of disability payments and other indexed benefits which increases are deficit which increases our interest expense on our debt
This article is a bit dated but it hits close to home and summarizes the root of the problem where we are now...
NPR Article - Unfit to Work
www.vice.com
