I have two disabled family members and we are near financial desperation.

[RadiationTherapy]

The title is true, but our heads are still, barely, above water and this is not a request for help. I would like to hear some policy ideas and some campaign platforms if anyone is so inclined.

Can someone please tell me some of Hillary's policies that may help my family in the near to medium term? Yes, I realize congress may or may not cooperate.

Can someone please tell me some of Bernie's policies that may help my family in the near to medium term? Yes, I realize congress may or may not cooperate.

More detail: My father is blind and my brother is a cancer survivor disabled by the extreme radiation required to destroy the cancer. My nuclear family has a lot of debt, but are most saddled by flat wages despite education. We are testing some entrepreneurial ideas in the meantime before things slip too far out of control.

[RadiationTherapy]

1. 135 views, 7 recs, and no policy points at all?

I know my situation is specific, I am just wondering what your candidate may offer - even just philosophically - to help keep my family from rolling off the edge.

[FSogol]

2. You are looking for answers at a national level when you should be looking on a local level.

AAR, both Democratic candidates supports policies that could help and the GOP is supporting policies that will make it worse.

Good luck.

[lagomorph777]

3. Look to the candidate who can bring in the most coattail voters

to knock out some pukes in Congress. Nothing will be accomplished until Congress is cleaned out.

In my opinion, that's Bernie.

[RadiationTherapy]

6. Well, there is a national election going on and this is GD:Primary.

I don't think it is a stretch to presume many people project their personal situations onto national elections.

I do and will continue to work locally of course, thanks!

[BernieforPres2016]

4. I'm sorry to hear about your family situation

You don't say what kind of healthcare coverage your father and brother have, if any, but I would think Bernie's Medicare for all plan would probably be beneficial to them and to you. As you note, passing any progressive legislation is going to be a challenge with Congress given its current composition. But I think it is clear that Bernie has a much more progressive agenda than Hillary and that he is much more committed to fighting for it.

[RadiationTherapy]

9. My dad is "retired" now (though blind and on DI at age 44 in 1994) so he has medicare, I think?

My mom still works, but is retiring soon. She may have some employer insurance that supplements it.

My brother has medicaid now, but for years had nothing to help him with the devastating effects of the rads.

I have pretty great BCBS insurance for my little-fam that costs me several hundred a month, but I am grateful for it.

[Jefferson23]

5. Whatever they have may come too late for you. Please consider speaking to a professional

about bankruptcy as an option, possibly. Write to every single one of your elected
reps and detail for them with documentation what their respected needs are and
what services they have now and how they are not adequate.

I suggest you push them to find fed dollars your state may not have access
to..well not readily.

I am so sorry this is happening to your family, best wishes and good luck to you.

[RadiationTherapy]

11. Thank you for your kind words and empathy.

I have long thought of making a series of youtube vids. My dad lost his sight to a tumor in 1994 at age 44 and my brother was irradiated just a few years later at age 25. The cumulative effects of my family losing half it's workers has been slow devastation. Now I have my own family (I am 41) and I can no longer assist my parents or brother in any significant way. That is very painful. I think I might be able to write and produce some vids someday about how it all adds up through the years.

[Jefferson23]

12. I wish I could offer you something tangible which is what your family needs.

Please consider contacting your reps, send them the video if you like with
narration and be specific..it cold be very powerful.

Good luck.

[reddread]

7. Social Security

this is the biggest of issues and distinctions.
hillary will be the worst thing that ever happened to it.

bernie the best.

[ViseGrip]

8. Hillary will nibble around the edges of the edges. That's all. She took their money.

Vote for Bernie. Go to his website, it's all there.

[riderinthestorm]

10. Bernie’s proposals include raising the minimum wage to $15

Strengthening social security, revising the health care system so it doesn't bankrupt us.

He's also got aggressive climate change proposals that will help all of us, including stopping fracking which will keep your community healthier for you to live in.

[mmonk]

13. I understand. My two sons have disabilities.

We're in dire need of a moral economy and protection of our natural resources, especially clean water at this point to sustain decent lives and life itself.

[RadiationTherapy]

14. "a moral economy" - yes, please. The psychopathic disassociation of profit and community

has to end. It is, as Slavoj Zizek might say, "completely disgusting."

Good luck to you and yours. Life is beautiful.

[mmonk]

16. You too

[merrily]

15. Maybe these links will be useful?

https://berniesanders.com/issues/strengthen-and-expand-social-security/

https://berniesanders.com/issues/fighting-for-disability-rights/

And, of course, he is advocating for Medicare for All, which will help everyone

[RadiationTherapy]

17. Thank you. Those links had some great info.

Do you know if these are issues Clinton is also pursuing? Or anything similar?

[riderinthestorm]

18. Interesting that 3+ hours later, no Hillary supporters have chimed in... nt

[merrily]

19. No, I don't. I know President Clinton bragged about having ended "welfare as we know it."

I also know that I don't have confidence in what Secretary Clinton has been campaigning on. When many Democrats looked as though they wanted Senator Warren to run, Clinton began moving her positions to the left of the kinds of positions she had espoused all her life, including during the 2008 primary campaign. I find that hard to trust. Senator Sanders has been consistent all life. I find trusting that a no brainer.


Also, as far as state and local, get some knowledge before you apply for anything. Sometimes, the people who work for these agencies see their job as disqualifying applicants, rather than serving them. Not all, but some. So try not to make any uninformed type mistakes when speaking on the record to officials.

You might also try peeking into the Disability Forum here.

Again best wishes to your and your family.