Low Vision Association

When most of us look at income statistics, we are not just being numbers junkies. We want to find out something about actual flesh-and-blood human beings — specifically what their standard of living is like.

But you cannot always just take statistics at face value — or, worse yet, with the spin that politicians and the media put on them.

Income, for example, is not the same as earnings, and neither is the same as the economic resources on which people’s standard of living is based.

Since most of us get our income by earning it, it might seem that any difference between income and earnings would just be some technicality that only economists or accountants would bother with.

In reality, the difference can be huge, depending on the income bracket and the age of the individual.

Most of the income received by people 65 years old and up is not counted statistically as earnings. Only 24 percent of their incomes are earnings. Most of their incomes are from pensions or other sources known as “unearned income,” such as returns on investments.

It should hardly be surprising that people who have been around a long time would have accumulated more money in the bank and maybe have a little nest egg in a mutual fund, each of which provides a stream of income during their retirement years, even if that income does not get counted as earnings.

Despite a drumbeat of political rhetoric depicting the elderly as being in dire economic conditions, the actual incomes of the elderly are more than four times what their earnings statistics might suggest — or what politicians can claim, citing those statistics.

When it comes to wealth, the average net worth of people 65 years old and up is several times that of people under the age of 45. The highest average net worth in any age bracket belongs to households headed by people aged 70 to 74.

Although income is often confused with wealth, as when people currently in high income brackets are referred to as “rich,” the elderly average lower income than middle-aged people, but more wealth.

Since 80 percent of the people who are 65 and up are either homeowners or home buyers, their housing costs tend to be lower. Among those 80 percent, their median monthly housing costs in 2001 averaged just $339 a month.

That includes property taxes, utilities, maintenance costs, condominium, and association costs for people with such living arrangements, and mortgage payments for those who do not own their homes outright.

There are of course some elderly people who are poor, just as there are some poor people in every age bracket. But statistics cited by politicians, journalists, and others who inflate the number of the poor need both scrutiny and skepticism.

The elderly are not the only people whose standard of living is grossly understated by those who cite statistics on earnings or income.

Those statistics do not include income received by low-income people as transfer payments from the government, such as welfare checks, much less various in-kind transfers, such as subsidized housing and subsidized medical care.

As of 2001, about 78 percent of the economic resources used by people in the bottom 20 percent of income recipients were in the form of either cash transfers or in-kind transfers.

To judge the standard of living of low-income people by income statistics is to leave out more than three-quarters of the economic resources used by them.

It is understandable that those who have either a political or an ideological vested interest in exaggerating the numbers of “the poor” would use statistics that greatly understate the standard of living of low-income people, as well as that of the elderly.

But that is all the more reason for the rest of us to be aware of what statistics do and do not mean — and beware of those who want us to believe the worst, whether for their own political advantage or because that fits their ideological vision

Being poor is hoping the toothache goes away.

Being poor is going to the restroom before you get in the school lunch line so your friends will be ahead of you and won't hear you say "I get free lunch" when you get to the cashier.

Being poor is hoping your kids don't have a growth spurt.

Being poor is feeling the glued soles tear off your supermarket shoes when you run around the playground.

Being poor is relying on people who don't give a damn about you.

Being poor is finding the letter your mom wrote to your dad, begging him for the child support.

Being poor is believing a GED actually makes a goddamned difference.

Being poor is people angry at you just for walking around in the mall.

Being poor is not talking to that girl because she'll probably just laugh at your clothes.

Being poor is needing that 35-cent raise.

Being poor is six dollars short on the utility bill and no way to close the gap.

Being poor is people surprised to discover you're not actually stupid.

Being poor is people surprised to discover you're not actually lazy.

Being poor is never buying anything someone else hasn't bought first.

Being poor is having to live with choices you didn't know you made when you were 14 years old.

Being poor is getting tired of people wanting you to be grateful.

Being poor is knowing you're being judged.

Being poor is a box of crayons and a $1 coloring book from a community center Santa.

Being poor is deciding that it's all right to base a relationship on shelter.

Being poor is a cough that doesn't go away.

Being poor is a $200 paycheck advance from a company that takes $250 when the paycheck comes in.

Being poor is people who have never been poor wondering why you choose to be so.

Being poor is knowing how hard it is to stop being poor.

Being poor is seeing how few options you have.

2007-11-22 08:27:50 by mission_viejo_california

Learn about services available to those who are blind or visually impaired.

1. You can maintain a proper following distance by using the three second rule.
A. True B. False
2. The higher the tolerance and dependence of a drug
A. The worse the withdrawal symptoms B. The less the withdrawal symptoms C. None of the above
3. You may pass another car in a No Passing zone as long as you can complete the maneuver quickly and safely
A. True B. False
4. You may face stiffer penalties from the court if your blood alcohol concentration is found to be higher than:
A. 0.10 B. 0.20 C. 0.50
5. Examples of traffic controls are:
A. Signs or road markings B. Signals C. All of the above
6. A yellow line separates traffic moving in different directions.
A. True B. False
7. Which muscles in your body are affected by alcohol first
A. Eye Muscles B. Hand Muscles C. Leg Muscles
8. When you drive through deep water, you should dry out your brakes by driving slowly in low gear and apply your brakes lightly.
A. True B. False
9. Railroad crossing signs are _____-shaped.
A. Circle B. Octagon C. Rectangle
10. You may be cited for driving at the posted speed limit.
A. Never B. If the posted speed is not safe at that time. C. Only if you are driving a special vehicle like a truck.
11. Not all moving violations will appear on your driving record.
A. True B. False
12. What is the most popular drug tried by teens.
A. MARIJUANA B. ECSTASY C. COCAINE/CRACK
13. Prescription drugs
A. Are always okay to take when driving as long as they are prescribed by a doctor. B. May never be taken when driving. C. May be illegal to take when driving.
14. Two parallel white lines indicate:
A. A crosswalk B. Indicates the time limit for a parking space C. Marks a non-crossable point in the road
15. It is a good idea when you are driving on wet pavement to change lanes quickly.
A. True B. False
16. At 55 MPH
A. You can stop within 150 Feet B. A box of Kleenex could kill you C. Your vision blurs
17. For saving lives, what is the most important safety feature on a car?
A. Air bag B. Safety Belt C. Anti-lock brakes
18. There is the same amount of alcohol in a glass of wine, can of beer and a shot of liquor
A. True B. False
19. The chances of your being involved in an auto collision, during your lifetime, in which someone is injured or killed are close to:
A. 1 in 75 B. 1 in 250 C. 1 in 1,000
20. When driving in fog or snow
A. Use your high beams B. Use your low beams C. Drive at the posted speed limit
21. If you approach a railroad track where the gate has come down or lights are flashing, you should stop:
A. Before you are 50 feet from the track. B. Between 15-50 feet from the track. C. Within 6 feet of the track
22. Ethanol is a depressant
A. True B. False
23. If you accumulate too many points on your license, it will be:
A. Canceled B. Suspended C. Revoked
24. A diamond lane on the freeway
A. Can be used if you are transporting pets or cages B. Indicates a High Occupancy Vehicle Lane C. Is used only for emergency vehicles
25. The active ingredient in marijuana is
A. THC B. PCP C. Angel Dust
26. Alcohol or drugs not only impair your driving they
A. Impair your thinking and reasoning B. Impair your judgment C. All of the above
27. If you are found guilty of speeding and causing a collision, you will receive _____ points on your license.
A. Four B. Six C. Eight or Twelve
28. Statistically your chances of being involved in a fatal crash double between 6PM and 3AM on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.
A. True B. False
29. At 0.08 blood alcohol concentration, you are:
A. Not considered impaired, according to the American Medical Association. B. Presumed by Florida law to be too impaired to drive. C. Neither of the above.
30. Bicyclists must obey the same rules and regulations as motorists, and can be cited for violations.
A. True B. False
31. If you hit a car from behind you are usually legally at fault
A. True B. False
32. On the freeway, you are required to have your signal on for ______ feet before changing lanes
A. 50 B. 100 C. 150
33. ____ of manslaughters are due to alcohol
A. 68% B. 71% C. 50%
34. Warning signs are normally.
A. White B. Red C. Yellow
35. You never have to stop more than once at a stop sign.
A. True B. False
36. Your license can be canceled if you:
A. Accumulate 12 or more points on your license B. Give incorrect information when applying for your license C. You reach age 75
37. Your driving record will never be available to the public
A. True B. False
38. To be safe, you should reduce your speed at an intersection.
A. Always B. If there is a flashing yellow light, C. If there is a traffic light.
39. There is the same amount of alcohol in a glass of wine, a can of beer, and a shot of liquor
A. True B. False
40. Getting cited for reckless driving will result in four points on your license
A. True B. False

If you don't do these by yourself you will not learn anything plus you will violating the accepted standards for the rules of driving..

2009-05-11 13:35:32 by adribabey

(Culled from a blog)

A principle of law espoused by Benjamin Franklin, is that it is better that one hundred guilty persons should escape than that one innocent person should suffer. Others such as Pol Pot believed the unjust punishment of innocent citizens is inconsequential so long as the guilty do not escape.

A bill before the New York State Assembly, which reportedly has wide support, would require every individual subject to a restraining order to wear an electronic monitoring device so the state can track them at all times. Leaving aside fears of a coming surveillance state, the proposed legislation ignores a fundamental problem with DV restraining orders – the large number of them that are unwarranted.

Considered in conjunction with the low standard of proof required for issuing a restraining order, this proposal does such violence to the principles of due process that it undermines the very foundation of a free society. The restraining order process circumvents the ordinary protections intended to protect the innocent. The standard of proof is not "beyond a reasonable doubt" but merely "a preponderance of the evidence". A restraining order is issued if a judge believes there's a 51% chance that the accusation is true.

Not long ago, the accusation of a deluded fan who thought NY resident David Letterman was harassing her telepathically was sufficient for a judge to issue a temporary restraining order against him. For anyone without Letterman's resources, the temporary restraining order would almost certainly have been made permanent.

A great many people targeted by restraining orders are not the monstrous brutes Hollywood would have us believe, but are rather innocent victims of the scorched earth tactics that are all too common among divorce attorneys.

In the Illinois Bar Journal, attorney Thomas Kasper speaks of restraining orders being used as "part of the gamesmanship of divorce." Elaine Epstein, former president of the Massachusetts Bar Association, has warned, "Everyone knows that restraining orders and orders to vacate are granted to virtually all who apply ... In many cases, allegations of abuse are now used for tactical advantage."

But surely judges who are sworn to uphold the Constitution will give the accused a fair hearing, won't they? Consider this – How fair a hearing can one expect from any judge who's been through a training like the one in which the instructor, Judge Richard Russell, was caught on tape telling family law judges:

"Your job is not to weigh the parties' rights as you might be inclined to do. Your job is not to become concerned about all the constitutional rights of the man that you're violating as you grant a restraining order. Throw him out on the street, give him the clothes on his back and tell him, 'See ya' around.' ... we don't have to worry about the rights."

How many other trainings like this, that weren't caught on tape, have polluted family law judges' concept of justice?

Less than half of restraining orders involve an allegation of any violence, according to a study by the Massachusetts Trial Court. RADAR estimates that in the U.S. every year, half of the roughly 2-3 million restraining orders issued are not based on even an allegation of physical violence.4

Thus a great percentage of restraining orders are issued against innocent people. And now the New York State Assembly wants to require all those innocents to wear an electronic monitoring device 24 hours a day, and no matter how uncomfortable these devices are, if they should "tamper" with it in any way they'll instantly become felons.

New York legislators face a stark choice: fashion New York law according to Pol Pot's vision or according to Benjamin Franklin's.

Please tell the leaders of the New York State Assembly that a huge percentage of all restraining orders issued are issued against innocent people. Ask them to oppose Assembly Bill A05424 and Senate Bill S04796.

N.Y. Assembly:
Hon. Sheldon Silver
Speaker, New York State Assembly
speaker-at-assembly.state.ny.us
Legislative Office Bldg., Rm. 932
Albany, N.Y. 12248
518-455-3791
FAX 518-455-5459/4502

Hon. Malcolm Smith
Minority Leader, New York State Senate
masmith-at-senate.state.ny.us
Legislative Office Bldg., Rm. 907
Albany, N.Y. 12247
518-455-2701
FAX 518-455-2816

--------------

N.Y. Senate:
Hon. Joseph L. Bruno
Majority Leader, New York State Senate
bruno-at-senate.state.ny.us
Legislative Office Bldg., Rm. 909
Albany, N.Y. 12247
518-455-3191
FAX 518-455-2448

Hon. James N. Tedisco
Minority Leader, New York State Assembly
tediscj-at-assembly.state.ny.us
Legislative Office Bldg., Rm. 933
Albany, N.Y. 12248
518-455-3751
FAX 518-455-3750

====================

1 Blackstone's Formulation, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackstone% 27s_formulation
2 New York State Assembly Bill A05424, http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=A054 24
3 New York State Senate Bill S04796, http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=S047 96&sh=t
4 RADAR Special Report, A Culture of False Allegations: How VAWA Harms Families and Children, p. 6, http://www.mediaradar.org/docs/RADARrep ... ations.pdf

I bet most of the orders are filed by women, too. If a man filed one, he'd probably get it turned down due to the bias laws.

It is, indeed, utter BS that there doesn't need to be any proof.

Think about it. If your run of the mill, average joe (has no violent intentions nor has committed any violence or even threatened) gets slapped with a restraining order he's basically just getting screwed by the system, but he'll go along with it.

On the other hand, it doesn't matter who tells a dangerous / criminally minded person not to go near someone. They'll just do it anyway.

So tell me, what's the point of it in the first place? It doesn't protect anyone. It just serves stupid and evil peoples' interest by victimizing the innocent.

2008-05-13 17:38:58 by celtish

rather than asking doctors to go against their hippocrate's oath, causing more harm to their patients by giving a lower degree of care to them (under the "socialized" medical plan that is obama's VISION of the day...which of course, you too, should ENVISION to become great and protected forever from any type of criticism, as well as, very well cared for the rest of your life by PRIVATE doctors NOT in the commie health plan), why didn't obama come into my city today to announce to them, the doctors of the american medical association, that the government will form an alliance with the banks, that run the insurance companies, that charge them astronomical medical malpractice premiums so that they could give a better quality of care to we, their patients?

i.e., what with all the bailout money that's been doled out to the banks (who own the insurance companies for the most part), why can't more fiat dollars be printed up by the mint at the bequest of the people that live over at the federal reserve banks to pay medical malpractice insurance premiums FOR the doctors and hospitals? yeah, why not? i mean, doesn't that go along with what obama suggests?

did he not infer to the american medical association that the doctors be regulated and paid less money for being so, all to take in the 50,000 uninsured of this country?

i can see many other ways of solving this problem, can't you?

1. legalize and license prostitution and tax it to death: more money in their coffers to pay the doctors to give at least monthly exams to the prostitutes so that they are not passing around venereal disease?

2. legalize and subsidize the crops of even "cush" marijuana (because you only need one hit to get stoned--i don't smoke it because i am an old fart now, but i know people that do) all so that the dealers and the purchasers who smoke the stuff:

a. do not go to prison, claiming our tax dollars to give them 3 square per day and then become

b. even more violent and merciless "citizens" thanks to their close proximity with super criminals and gangs, and then,

c. to pay their fair share of the excessive taxes it will cost to provide health care to these 50,000 people living in the usa that don't have health insurance?

3. raise taxes on alcoholic beverages to the point that the tax cost "deters" drinking it, just like they say that higher taxes deter more people from starting to smoke cigarettes? after all, the politicians drink booze all the time--why not tax the stuff at a greater, higher cost? and we all know, don't we, that smoking kills? well, don't drunk drivers? and aren't some of them politicians and lawyers?

4. make it a part of the "stimulus" package that said 50,000 uninsured people must be HIRED by companies all over the united states (that way, keeping out many illegal aliens so that they get exhausted trying to keep a roof over their 20/household heads and decide to return to their own countries) and that bail outs shall be provided to these businesses to cover what they have to put out to give health insurance to ALL of their employees?

5. let it be a part of the "stimulus" package to stimulate entrepreneurs to open their own companies and hire employees WITH health benefits without getting overtaxed for making themselves and their employees able to attain the american dream with increases in wages/salaries/other benefits?

6. penalize all american companies that do not kick up a part of their almighty "bottom line" (in many cases attained by sending our work to the orient because the mexican workers of the malquiadores just south of our border were "too highly paid" according to the companies that sent american jobs down there before sending them to the orient so that china could get real rich on our debt to them) with higher (even if delayed with interest accruing, like your taxes to uncle sam accrue not only a penalty, but interest until paid in full) TAXES? especially, higher TAXES to the members of the company that control it--they, the ones that make the decisions to send the work overseas to people that have no insurance and who live gratefully on their $0.50 per hour?

7. make it law that one hour per week of each health care provider, including all hospital departments, is given by them, to uninsured patients, without being paid? (i had once been on my way to becoming a physician, and if i had gotten there, i would not mind giving health care free, one hour a week--averaged out over 12 months if necessary--so that the uninsured could be treated, and treated WELL).

is there no other possible answer to our problem with uninsured americans than to have the government take the health care business away from those that give the health care to the people, and then to centralize it and to control it, just like what is done in commie countries?

why should banking or health care be controlled by uncle sam?

if it is, the care that you get when you see your physician
Adam B: i touch type and i am a writer. the only reason i ask or answer here is to get someone like you to THINK. but carry on with your rudeness. karma will kick your butt in its own unique, Adam B, way.

limiting malpractice claims is up to each state
and some states have already done so

look, we are only first world nation to have
screwed up healthcare
and only for profit insurance system
if you take the profit out you can afford to
treat everybody
you can call it what you want but it works

2009-06-15 12:18:43 by Louiegirl_Chicago

Here is a question that i am curious to see how many people will give an honest answer. Which do you prefer to be legalized Marijuana or Alcohol? Below are just a few facts about both.... (I did look up the facts that are posted on both marijuana and Alcohol I did not just make up these facts myself) I will try and post 10 facts each


Marijuana: #1 If Pot were legalized the prison industry would be hurt. They would no longer jail Pot smokers. It could free up space for violent criminals. #2 Pot is a sexual stimulant. #3 Pot is 100% natural nothing about it has man made chemicals in it. #4 There has never been a car accident death due to a stoned driver, just some slow drivers and may be some lost drivers . #5 Pot is used for medical use in MANY situations. #6 it is a myth that marijuana is a gate way drug. #7 Pot will cause some short term memory loss. #8 Pot will give you the Munchies, It could cause you to gain weight. #9 Marijuana smokers show dysregulated growth of epithelial cells in their lung tissue, which could lead to cancer; however, a recent case-controlled study found no positive associations between marijuana use and lung, upper respiratory, or upper digestive tract cancers. Thus, the link between marijuana smoking and these cancers remains unsubstantiated at this time, but marijuana smokers have some of the same problems as cigarette smokers coughing, mucus, sore lungs, etc. #10 Marijuana make most people more relaxed. It relieves the clutter and tension after a hard days work or stress. It mellows you out and makes you more relaxed. It heightens the imagination and improves creativity. If you have a problem with anger, Pot is usually a good drug to reduce it, no one has ever died from smoking marijuana.


Alcohol: #1 In VERY SMALL amounts, alcohol can help a person feel more relaxed or less anxious. #2 Alcohol actually blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain. This alters a person's perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing. #3 Depending on the person, intoxication can make someone very friendly and talkative or very aggressive and angry. #4 Reaction times are slowed dramatically — which is why people are told not to drink and drive. People who are intoxicated may think they're moving properly when they're not. They may act totally out of character. #5 When large amounts of alcohol are consumed in a short period of time, alcohol poisoning can result. Alcohol poisoning is exactly what it sounds like — the body has become poisoned by large amounts of alcohol. Violent vomiting is usually the first symptom of alcohol poisoning. Extreme sleepiness, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, dangerously low blood sugar, seizures, and even death may result. #6 One half of all drowning deaths among teen guys are related to alcohol use. Use of alcohol greatly increases the chance that a teen will be involved in a car crash, homicide, or suicide. #7 Teen drinkers are more likely to get fat or have health problems, too. One study by the University of Washington found that people who regularly had five or more drinks in a row starting at age 13 were much more likely to be overweight or have high blood pressure by age 24 than their non drinking peers. People who continue drinking heavily well into adulthood risk damaging their organs, such as the liver, heart, and brain. #8 The strongest medical evidence exists for the link between moderate drinking and a reduced risk of heart disease. #9 Alcohol has been linked to liver disease, cancers, heart damage and strokes when consumed in larger amounts, and even small doses can lead to accidents, Each year, approximately 5,000 young people under the age of 21 die as a result of underage drinking; this includes about 1,900 deaths from motor vehicle crashes, 1,600 as a result of homicides, 300 from suicide, as well as hundreds from other injuries such as falls, burns, and drownings. #10 Hangovers are another possible effect after large amounts of alcohol are consumed; a hangover consists of headache, nausea, thirst, dizziness, and fatigue.


In my opinion i think it's safer to smoke a joint than it is to drink a beer, the most dangerous thing about marijuana is getting caught with it. you can google all this info your self before you answer i do not smoke or drink and i do not condone any of the above this is just my opinion on the subject, & I am just curious as to what every ones opinion is on the subject. I am just a homemaker and not any form of government at all or anything like that. Also I looked every were for something good about drinking alcohol and found VERY limited info on it, so please don't think this info posted is one sided for marijuana being good for you, I just found that using google as info finder it's easier to find good things about using pot than using beer.

TRUTHFULLY I WOULD SMOKE THE "KUSH".....LOL

I KNOW PPL THAT SMOKE THAT SHYT

BUT I WOULDN'T FUCK WITH IT.

BUT THE WEED SEEMS BETTER!

DONT DO DRUGS "KIDDS"

2009-08-09 19:16:48 by Kylee L