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OpEdNews
May 11, 2008
A Happy Mother's Day Greeting from Social Service
By Melinda Pillsbury-Foster
Arthur when he was 8 years old. For mothers they are always our children
Two women, Michelle Hammond, and Lynn Sears, accompanied by a sheriff,
Deputy Kemmerling, drove up to the house in two white cars, one a patrol car
and the other a government vehicle. They asked to see Arthur, my son.
Arthur is 30, but disabled. Arthur had left to take a short constitutional
after having lunch, he had then been gone for about 15 minutes. I told them
he would be back shortly and went inside, leaving them to wait on the
driveway.
The house is a cabin located in a small subdivision. Most of the cabins
are occupied only on weekends as most owners only vacation here. We live
here full time to save money and since Arthur needs full time care this is
the only way I can provide that care and survive, and that just barely. I
work from home doing free lance writing and an online radio show. The
downturn in the economy has hit all of us.
I was informed that there had been an anonymous complaint regarding the
care of my son. When I let them talk to Arthur out of my hearing I later
learned from him that he was asked if I abused him. He was asked a series
of questions that each served to demean me, prying into our personal lives
in ways that clearly violate our rights. My son was asked if he used
illegal drugs, among other evidently routine questions. It was
manipulative, ignoring my son's Constitutional rights. This would have been
true even if he was not severely disabled.
We are obviously being targeted. My son represents potential income to
the system. Income that amounts to more than $400,000.00.
There was a time when being poor did not make you fair game to predators
like the people from Social Services. That time is past. Having
ascertained that Arthur is not abused; he was astonished at the suggestion,
any legitimate inquiry should have ended. Instead they used intimidation as
an opening wedge in an attempt to influence my son. Having listened to
their blandishments Arthur told them that although he was sometimes lonely
he preferred to stay with me. Arthur helps when and where he can; he knows
families pull together. At that point they transferred their attention to
me. Arthur had unwittingly thwarted their agenda.
There was a time when we all knew that the family was the center for our
lives. Families stayed together, in good times and bad. Families were and
are the kind of insurance that both protects and makes our lives whole. We
are who we are because of our family; being a good mother, father, sister,
brother, son, daughter carried us along with our faith in God through things
that otherwise would destroy us.
Refusing to tell either of us who might have filed such a charge they
demanded answers to questions that no part of government has a right to know
under the Constitution. Arthur and I have a happy and amicable relationship
having passed through much pain and adjustment; he receives all the care I
can afford and participates in every event and activity possible. Hearing
his voice makes the hardships of the last ten years unimportant. He has his
own computer and spends time on line. He attends church and goes to Bible
Study once a week. I drive him to events when possible but attend few
myself since it is costly and interferes with my work. At our small church
I usually read the weekly lesson.
The obvious thrust of the procedure the women followed was an attempt to
get control of Arthur if money could be generated for their department. The
presence of a deputy sheriff, although he said later he was only there to
show them where I lived, was intimidating and embarrassing. I am nearly 60
and have suffered two heart attacks, I am no threat to anyone. Although the
deputy then said he was only there to show them where I lived, the place is
not served by the Post Office, he stayed, listening to what transpired
making his explanation problematical.
Over and over Hammond implied that I was 'keeping Arthur away from his
friends,' that he was not happy. They asserted that Arthur had a 'right' to
make his own decisions regarding where he lives. If such a 'right' exists,
and it is not included in the Bill of Rights, then most of us would choose
to live in Beverly Hills. Arthur well knows that we live at the cabin
because I do not have funds to live elsewhere.
These well paid government 'workers' assumed as a matter of course that
Arthur should be receiving welfare or disability; he is not and never has.
The distress on their faces was obvious. Immediately they wanted to know if
I would apply.
There was a time when Americans stood tall, accepting help from friends
and family in need. Government was not part of the equation. That was a
better time for all of us. Why do those who make their living supposedly,
making us safer, bring a message of fear? Why have so many families,
already struggling, been forced over the edge from just this kind of
predation from the agencies funded through our taxes? Why can they afford
nice homes, goodies, and pensions when so many of us are struggling to stay
off the street?
The answer is obvious.
Evidently during their time alone with Arthur they worked to persuade
Arthur that he would be happier living elsewhere. It is hard to imagine
that they could believe that a man who has had two major brain injuries is
capable of deciding for himself that he is capable of making life-impacting
decisions, or that they, having known him for around 30 minutes, were better
qualified than myself to do so but this was, indeed, their attitude. It is
amazing that they could, with straight faces and such fervor, maintain that
it is appropriate to interfere with the most intimate choices a family
makes. They showed no concern over the stability of any situation they
might offer, simply rejecting the obvious fact that the economic meltdown
every other part of America is feeling in the most visceral way could impact
their small, ugly shake down.
With bright, glassy smiles, they asserted Arthur's right to be happy over
any other consideration. But his wellbeing and happiness were not on their
agenda.
They promised Arthur that he could go back to Santa Barbara, something I
considered to be doubtful. They ignored his need for further therapy.
There are many new approaches now coming into availability for the victims
of brain injuries. They demonstrated complete ignorance and indifference
about the facts regarding brain injuries. They told me I would let him go
if I cared about him. They were insulting, demeaning, and verbally abusive
to both me and to my son. That was the underscoring and the message
received by me and by countless others who find such 'workers' on their door
steps.
One wonders what any of the three would do if someone trying to make
their quota in human flesh arrived at their door with the power of a
holstered gun and tried to intimidate them into handing over their child.
What do you say about the moral fiber of people who profit from such a
system? Nothing is ugly enough.
Americans need to demand answers. Among others we need to know what
bounty is being put on each child or disabled adult sucked into the system.
We need to know what such 'workers' are paid. We need to know the specifics
about their benefits. We need to know how many disabled adults die after
being sucked into their system, how many children end up sold into sex rings
or used for pornographic films. In case you were unaware that is all too
often their fate. Children present many possibilities to the greedy.
Hitler also instituted 'homes.' Those received there were put to death
under the same benevolent rhetoric I heard yesterday. The long dead Germans
were also told they would be happier and better cared for.
There are questions that need answers and now is the time to demand them.
The disabled adults and children, now far more vulnerable because of the
incessant need to pump more funds into a system intended solely to profit
those in power, needs to be stopped.
Government has drawn a bead on all families, yours included. Listen for
the knock on the door.
Those in power need to be charged and sued for the damage they have done
to lives barely started and at risk. As Americans we have a right to
justice and the time for that is now.
Protect Yourself from the CPS. Use Copper Cards and the Constitution.
Our Founders intended us to be free, not the property of government. Have
no doubts, these people are making war on us. It is time to begin the
LovoLution, restore the Constitutions, our freedoms, and the vision of
America through non-violent action, starting exactly where you are.
CopperCards Family Services / CPS
- Without discussing anything, hand CPS or officer the CopperCards Officer
NOTICE Card.
- Do not invite sheriffs or CPS into your home.
- If they wish to proceed further hand them the CopperCards Officer
verification questionnaire.
- Do not talk to the sheriffs or CPS or let them talk to your children
(5th Amendment right)
The bottom line is these people rely on you authorizing them to take your
children or to talk to their children. If you exercise your 5th they can’t
do anything.
Authors Website: howtheneoconsstolefreedom.blogspot.com
Authors Bio: Melinda Pillsbury-Foster is the author of GREED: The
NeoConning of America and A Tour of Old Yosemite. The former is a novel
about the lives of the NeoCons with a strong autobiographical component.
The latter is a non-fiction book about her father and grandfather.
Ms. Pillsbury-Foster has been active in politics since the Goldwater
Campaign. She left the Republican Party to join and become active in the
Libertarian Party in 1973, working as an activist and party officer until
she left the Libertarian Party in 1988 when she returned to the Republican
Party and became active in the National Federation of Republican Women.
She is also the the founder of the the Arthur C. Pillsbury Foundation
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