A Bit of a Rant

 The last few days I've been having trouble falling asleep because my head won't stop going a mile a minute. 

There's been talk about Universal Basic Income coming to Canada. There have been small scale trials previously. The latest one being a few years ago in a couple areas in Ontario. Lindsay, Ontario and Thunder Bay, Ontario being two of the places doing a trial run. 

Well, cue the loud dissenters.. 

"Oh this is the last step to communism! If this goes in, I'm leaving Canada! I don't want to pay for lazy bums to sit at home and collect MY hard earned money"

"It'll only cause people to sit at home.. People will quit their jobs and collect and do nothing."

And the always popular

"If you're poor, here's an idea: Get. A. Job."

etc etc etc

I'm on the fence about it, honestly. I'd need to see how they would implement it. How they would work and clawbacks for income levels, and other logistical things. One of the big things would be that in order for it to work properly, it would need to replace Welfare, Disability, and Employment Insurance. I'm sure there's others in there as well. 

If they do it as a trial run, they would need to have a mechanism in place to restore the services prior to the implementation of UBI. 

But really there are two things that burn my ass about this.. 

1. People with disabilities who would love to be able to work that are unable to due to physical issues or chronic illness are being lumped into these "Lazy bums"

2. The people who are loudly voicing their opposition don't realize that in the trial runs they had, people ended up working more. (What a concept... A person on Welfare or Disability can afford *good* food for once is in a better place health wise to actually work) and in some areas, crime went down. 

Oh.. I should also mention that services for the poor, including healthcare visits, etc, total between 70-80 Billion dollars.. A year... 

Now, I take the possible implementation with a grain of salt and a healthy dose of cynicism.. I'll believe it when I see it, and hope it doesn't come out quarter baked like the Canada Disability Benefit that the government's promised for years now and still have no fucking clue what to do.. 

Now.. Those who know me know I used to be a school bus driver before I lost the full usage of my right foot due to septic shock. Those who know me know I'm lucky to be alive. They also know that I would LOVE to go back to driving a school bus because I loved the work.. Hell, even when I hated the work environment, I did the best I could, and in some cases, became the best damned employee they had.. 

There are limitations to my mobility as a result of the trauma from septic shock. Stairs are a bitch for me.. I can't run, walk fast, kneel, or sit on the floor.. Call centres spike my anxiety. SO tell me, dear reader, what kind of job can I get with those restrictions in place, also remembering that I have a chronic illness that can knock me out anywhere from a week to a couple months... Now.. Would you hire me?? 

I don't think so.. 

However, according to these clowns, I'm a lazy ass who doesn't  want to work and, from what I can tell, would rather see me and others like me die than see us be able to live with some dignity. 

I can see some people calling me a Liberal or, as they so love to say, Libtard... For my view on this.. Fact is.. None of the major parties in Canada really align with my views. I don't even really know how to define my views.. I just know that the Conservative Saviour Pierre Poilievre isn't the saviour they think he is.. The whole lot of them need to be thrown away and replaced. 

But that's a rant for another time. 

I even joked around Christmas on Twitter that I had done up a wishlist on Amazon, but I didn't publish it because there's things on there that can be considered frivolous... And we all know people with disabilities aren't allowed to have hobbies or fun... lol

It's That Time of Year Again..

 It's December, meaning we're getting close to both Christmas and the end of another year. 

This year has been a rough one for me, as it has been for many. I spent time in and out of the hospital. A rather ugly knee wound. Being increasingly out of touch with friends and family. All adding up to a month where I'm honestly feeling very down. 

Of course the biggest and constant issue is money. I do get my "January" ODSP cheque on the 20th of December. That however, has to last until the end of January. Aside from that, I need groceries. I'd like to get myself something small for Christmas as a "You survived the year!" gift, but I can't afford it. That gift, by the way, would be the Mario RPG remake. 

The last two weeks I've gotten to this time of evening, around suppertime, and just felt like going to bed. Tonight I feel like breaking down crying then maybe going to bed.. I can't though because I need a shower. Today is a shower day for me. 

One thing I came to grips with yesterday with my CMHA worker was that things aren't what they used to be. Even when I felt like I was out of place at my ex in-laws' house, it was still family. It was still spending time with others. 

I haven't put up a tree or any decorations because it makes me think of time past. I also know that whatever I put up won't match the image I have in my head. That image being a darkened living room illuminated by the glow of the tree lights, giving it a warmth you don't get any other time of year..

I don't know what to do. I can't go on sleeping 12-16  hours a day. 

Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season. I appreciate each and every one of you that has come and read my ramblings and rantings both here and on my Card Blog.