Comments on Spending a Week in a Waiting Room One Day- My 3 Gripes

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No Truer Words Were Ever Spoken!

What you said you had to go through in the waiting room reminded me many years ago when my husband got sick and couldn't work for awhile. The people that you saw and the way they acted and dressed sounds like the same people we saw many moons ago. So you see, people don't seem to change.  Who knows maybe they were the kids of the one's you saw. Just kidding!

posted by Blazer35 on November 9, 2009 at 1:38 PM | link to this | reply

Excellet point, TAPS!

I was thinking about that when dealing with the employees but as it turned out, they were pretty decent mannered!

posted by SpitFire70 on October 16, 2009 at 12:56 PM | link to this | reply

blu3dog,

Hi!!!! So glad to hear from you. I've missed you, too. (Thanks for clarifying your newer handle, btw!) Yes, we must catch up very soon!

posted by SpitFire70 on October 16, 2009 at 12:55 PM | link to this | reply

I hope that the people who work there know what they are doing, and that they are not jaded from having seen it "all".  Compassion and integrity are easy to lose if one is working on the tailend of burnout but needs the job for the money themselves.

posted by TAPS. on October 16, 2009 at 10:34 AM | link to this | reply

Dearest Fires!

I am sorry to hear of your predicaments.  I wish all the best for you and yours.  Obviously I can't relate to everything you're going through, but I've had experience with government aid.  I had collected unemployment for several months after being laid off in '06.  It sucked.  I remember going to a 'job fair' held at one of the unemployment offices.  In the end only one recruiter showed up - and she was over an hour late.  Although I could have taken more, I accepted only the unemployment I was entitled to - i.e. the total of what had been taken from my paychecks while I was working.  I didn't feel right taking any more than that.  Fortunately I have family that helped me out as well while I was looking for permanent employment.

posted by blu3dog on October 16, 2009 at 10:20 AM | link to this | reply

isiS Eyes,

I know you've been in my position. Thanks for the sweet comments.

posted by SpitFire70 on October 15, 2009 at 10:56 AM | link to this | reply

Thanks, Sam. Hope you're right about that last part!

posted by SpitFire70 on October 15, 2009 at 10:55 AM | link to this | reply

It's easy for those never on the receiving end of aid to feel that their solution to the problem is the best one.  We all want to believe we possess wisdom -- but having been in the very shoes you stand in, having experienced the myriad absurdities that come with being poor (not to mention the judgmental attitudes of those who assume you choose to be poor), all I can say is that I'm sending warm wishes your way.  May you get the help you need and the happiness you deserve. 

posted by myrrhage_ on October 15, 2009 at 9:36 AM | link to this | reply

I know that waiting room, too! It astounds me how some are dressed and preened! It has always seemed in my dealings that those who are most deserving are there for the help, in interim, and those who play the system! Personally I would be rather embarrassed if I were to show up as those described when it is clearly a program to help get nutrition into the baby and mom in times of difficulty! Just know that you are doing what is necessary to bring a healthy baby into the world! And, you have paid taxes for years and so this is a natural thing for you to be uncomfortable in this situation! You have drive and it will all come back to you in goodness! sam

posted by sam444 on October 15, 2009 at 3:53 AM | link to this | reply

I think I understand what you're saying, cpklapper, but maybe not...

Can you elaborate on your comment? I'm confused about the "one sign up at your municipal branch" part because that's not how it worked for me. I had to jump through several hoops and still had to fight and fight for a little help. We've worked all our lives and paid into the system plenty. When it came to a point when we needed some help because of job loss and lack of success in finding new jobs, we blew through all we had saved (kids college funds and retirement) and still, we were turned down twice before I finally won...3rd time was a charm. My husband feels like crap not working even though he spends most of the day searching.

posted by SpitFire70 on October 14, 2009 at 10:24 PM | link to this | reply

Welcome to the World of Entitlements

where people are given money BECAUSE they make themselves sorrowful!

Under popular capitalism, this whole bureaucratic mess id dispensed with and all of us, working or not, rich or poor, kids or not, get an monthly amount for the provision of the necessities.  Just one sign up at your municipal branch of the federal judicial bank and you're done.  Instead of the incentive to be pitiful or hook up with a pitiful woman, the only incentive with my plan is to work and earn some to add to your balance with work.

posted by cpklapper on October 13, 2009 at 2:23 PM | link to this | reply