http://www.mindfreedom.org/zero

A CALL FOR PASSION, A CALL FOR ACTION!

BY TED CHABASINSKI 

 

It is time we realize we now have the strength as a movement to be taken much more seriously. We should take advantage of this window of opportunity, where voters are paying more attention to political issues than they have in decades. 

 

The major-party candidates for President have committees that are working on their positions about disability rights issues. The movement of people with disabilities, has been very supportive of the issues of psychiatric consumer/survivors, and we should be contacting the campaign staff of the candidates and letting them know what is  important to us. 

 

Although the campaign organizations are huge, the "issue committees" working on platforms are relatively small. A few hundred letters would be noticed and make a big difference. Let's show these candidates that there is a real movement out there, and push them to take our issues seriously. 

·          We can educate the campaigns about the emergency of human rights violations in the mental health system, like forced drugging and forced electroshock. 

·          We can oppose the moves to replace the current legal safeguards for involuntary commitment with a standard of "need for treatment." 

·          We should talk about replacing a system that offers nothing but drugs, drugs, and more drugs, with programs controlled by their users that offer real help. 

·          We should demand that the practice of drugging small children even to the point of death, as in the Rebecca Riley case in Boston, be stopped. 

 

There are many other things we can and should tell these politicians. And it's time we came forward and did just that. Because it is important that the campaigns know that there is a real movement, if you represent or are active in an organization, say so. Mention MindFreedom, too. Or just talk about your own concerns. Tell these officials that our issues count. 

·          That we are citizens whose rights must be respected. 

·          That forced electroshock, forced drugging, and forced restraint are unacceptable practices that cannot continue and must be stopped. 

·          That we all need alternatives to a drug-based, one-size-fits-all mental health system. 

 

We have reason to think that at least some of the people you will write to are already somewhat sympathetic to our cause, and will listen. But we need to make them see that there is a real movement out there, and that the excesses and abuses of the current mental health system threaten everyone. 

 

So, yes, write with PASSION!

Let's get these politicians to take us seriously. Now is the time for our movement to make itself heard. Let's take OURSELVES seriously and do this! 

WHAT YOU CAN DO: E-MAIL a civil but passionate note to the chairs of the disability committees of these USA Presidential candidates: 

BARACK OBAMA CAMPAIGN: Stan Klein -- This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Seth Harris -- This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

HILLARY CLINTON CAMPAIGN:Catherine Brown -- This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

JOHN McCAIN CAMPAIGN:Donna Jones -- This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

 Stimulus Package and SSDI

For individuals who receive Social Security Disability and would like to receive a refund as part of President Bush's stimulus package, YOU MUST FILE A TAX RETURN. All individuals who have or will file a tax return for 2007 qualify. Since many SSDI recipients generally are not required to file a tax return, they would not receive a refund from the stimulus package. The list of folks to receive a refund is being provided by the IRS, so if you don't file a return, you will not get a refund. Click on the link for information on how to file.