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I had an experience with the Department of Community Services. It was degrading, inhumane and terrible. It made me feel small and like I did not matter. It was ridiculous. I receive income assistance and before you go judging me for the welfare rant, it is because I have a disability. One that requires a lot of medical treatment. First DCS lost the package of forms I submitted to them. Then when going in to deal with them personally the woman held my forms like they were covered in dog dirt, gave dirty looks and was down right rude. Is this really necessary? Do I deserve to be treated like less then human or that I deserve no respect because I receive government assistance? Just because you work there doesn’t mean you are high and mighty. It doesn’t mean you are better then everyone else. Anyone can fall on hard times and need a helping hand. I urge you all to take a real hard look at all the struggle you see everyday and put yourselves in those people’s shoes. It is not as easy as it looks. —Wantingrespectandneedinghelp
This article appears in Jul 28 – Aug 3, 2016.
For some reason a lot of people who work in the public sector act like they’re better than us private sector workers. I think it’s because deep down, they know that anybody can sit behind a desk and shuffle paperwork. Also, we pay their saleries, they don’t like thinking about that. I’m talking strictly beurocracy here. Teachers, doctors, police/Fire ect.., not talking about them. Just people in jobs that require only an angry face, a warm body, bullshit degree, and most important of all, a connection.
It’s all about expectations. Yours were not met; they will never be met. Lower your expectations of DCS and you will be less frustrated, annoyed, shamed, etc.
One thing I will take you to task on is your assertion that because your disability requires a lot if medical intervention that somehow you’re better suited to the program than those whose disabilities do not…
Spot on, Charlie.
The way they treat people is less than human. Disabled people get treated with the same disdain that is directed towards able-bodied abusers of the system. No one chooses to be disabled.
In contrast to the comment above, being disabled is not a competition. If someone requires more or less medical intervention than another disabled person, it is simply a matter of fact. It is not indicative of being a better fit. That’s just twisted.
Numerous studies have shown that a guaranteed minimum annual income would not only meet the needs of the poor better but save the taxpayer money by reducing administrative costs…. and apparently reduce the number of bitches about disrespectful civil servants.
It is not just DCS its all government agencies. This week at my work we had to sit through the most useless, frustrating presentation from some government dimbo. You could see it on his face. He thought he was nailing it, he thought he had us on the edge of our seats. Afterwards in the debrief we couldnt believe how antiquated his theories and methodology were. And he was a supposed “expert” in his field and advises the provincial government.
“Numerous studies have shown that a guaranteed minimum annual income would not only meet the needs of the poor better but save the taxpayer money by reducing administrative costs…. and apparently reduce the number of bitches about disrespectful civil servants.”
I call BS. Your ‘one size fits all’ plan would be used to discriminate towards anyone with special needs
@Wok This Way Can you cite those sources? Not disagreeing with you, just want to see those studies.
^^^G V,
First of all, guaranteed income would NOT preclude additional assistance for special needs cases.
Secondly, the overall benefits look compelling. Guaranteed income would be an income tested “reverse income tax” administered by the feds – much like the GIS currently in place for seniors. The idea is to provide everyone with the dignity of a good basic income without the stigma of being “on welfare” or the trauma of having to go and ask for assistance. It would allow many people to get an education and/or to gradually work towards independence. It would allow people with limited abilities to try varying work schedules without risk of losing and having to reapply for benefits – income adjustment would be automatic. It would reduce the burdens on the health system : “Poverty is the biggest determinant of health. As such, we should expect to see significant improvements in health among recipients of a basic income. “
Anyway, read up on it. Keep your mind open.
https://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary…
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/tim…
Flowey,
See the links under: Academics & policy experts
http://www.basicincomepilot.ca/about
thanks 🙂
That whole department, especially child protection needs a complete investigation and overall.
income is not a right.but it can be a remedy to lost or compromised rights.
let that sink in a bit.
income is not a right,at best it is a patch over, something that hides a problem that is not being resolved. at its worst, it does nothing but allow politicians to claim that a problem is solved when it is not.
with all due respect, a guaranteed income is a guaranteed ‘ I don’t give a fuck so I’m going to sprinkle money at the problem and pat myself on the back’ and ‘ just like the god damn fiscal lying politician SOBs that we’ve always been, we can lie about doing something when in reality we aren’t”
I agree with the public sector comment at the very top!
For some reason DMV is the same way and I noticed last time I was there, the only reason there’s a line-up is because they sit and chat for a few minutes before they assist the next individual!
I noticed the same in the hospital. Last time I had to go to the ER, I waited for about a half hour. Once I was in, what I saw was staff just sitting around chatting! Literally!
There were others in the waiting room and 2 empty beds beside me!
You are correct in your statement:
‘Just because you work there doesn’t mean you are high and mighty. It doesn’t mean you are better then everyone else.’
It just means that she is better than YOU.
You are ‘struggling’ on MY money………….bet’cha got cable TV. You do, don’t you??
Do the right thing…..
We’ll both be better off. Well, I will.