In the past couple of articles it has been insinuated that I have no compassion for those who are mentally ill, despite my admission that I have been clinically depressed myself. It was said that I have compassion until it comes to spending my tax dollar on assistance for the mentally ill. No names have been mentioned, but both Teresa and I know that it is us who are being referred to. 

I really had tried to refrain from writing this, but I cannot let this go.

I have compassion for those who truly are mentally ill. I have empathy and sympathy for those who truly are disabled.  I have no qualms giving a helping hand to those who are willing to help themselves.  I will (and have literally) given the shirt off my back and the last of the cash out of my wallet to help someone stay warm and fill their belly.  I have no issue with my tax dollar (and yes, I paid taxes) being used to help someone get back on their feet or get a decent start in life.  I have volunteered to open my home to help people get back on their feet after a tragedy has laid them low.  I have been an advocate, a voice for the voiceless.  I have done, not just talked about doing......I have done, taken action, got off my ass and made a difference.....and no, I'm not talking about going on flag waving protest marches, signing petitions, or writing a standard party-line letter to a congressman,  I have walked into people's offices and refused to leave until shit got done to fix the issue.  I don't have a problem doing that to help my fellow man.

What I do have a problem with, however, is people who will milk the system for all it's worth.  Who, rather than taking benefits for the minimum amount of time and getting off of them as soon as they possibly can, will take the benefits until they run out and then bitch about the government leaving them 'desolate' and homeless.  I have a problem with people who can interact 'normally' and even agressively with other people, but who say that they are too 'depressed' to seek employment and support themselves. I have a problem with those who manipulate the system, and I have a major problem with those who lie about who they are and what they do. I have a problem with people constantly criticizing what this country and this government does, but who will be the first in line with their hands out if there's a benefit they're eligible for.  I have a problem with people suggesting that every single homeless person in America is in that circumstance because of the government's fault, because they're not.  Some of them are there by choice, by their own doing, regardless of what you might think to the contrary.

So yeah, go ahead and say that I'm full of venom and that I lack compassion.  Insinuate that I'm a horrible oerson...I know the truth, and those that are closest to me know the truth.  Now my personal thoughts and values are written here, in black and white, so even those who don't know me too well can draw their own conclusions.

That's all I have to say about that.