To Live

© July 28, 2009

Richard O Harris

TO LIVE are the two words I claim as my personal credo
To Know as much as I can and knowing learn to grow

To be a better person than the one I was the day before
To feel I have done my best each day and just a little more.

All these abound every moment whether I breath in or out
For with every breath I take there is something to be about

Thoughts about this or actions on that does not seem to matter
As long as to live each day my best is the main thing I am after.

Regardless of what anyone believes will happen after death
All I have for now, is for me to live with every breath

I will do all I can each day to face and defeat my own demons
TO LIVE in such a way that life, for me at least, has some meaning.

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Thanksgiving

THANKSGIVING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!
Why not give gift of poetry this holiday?
Take some time to vote on poems written by fellow poets just like you. In turn, your family and friends (and your new poetic pals) can return the favor by rating your poem. It's a great way to share your poetry with the world while giving thanks for your poetic talent!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Social Security

Here I go again. Pardon me why I let out some anger with Social Security.

It is unfathomable to me why it is necessary for a U.S. citizen to be refused benefits based on something as stupid as a passport not being accepted as proof of citizenship. Of course, this only exacerbates the dealings I, personally, have had with Social Security.

For some reason, after working and paying into the system since 1974 (33 years), with four out of four doctors stating I am unable to work, I have now been denied my benefits twice and have to wait 18 to 24 months for an Administrative Law Judge to review my case.

Neither my Senators or Congressmen have been able to cut through any of this "red tape" and I am beginning to believe this form of 'benign neglect' is deliberate. After all, if they put me off long enough, I will be homeless and then they will not have to pay me the benefits I worked so hard for from the system I have paid into.

None of the government seems willing to acknowledge this beauracratic nightmare and I am certain a large part of that is their knowledge that it does not affect them since they are 'guarenteed' they personally will receive their own payouts.

I am tired of fighting Social Security for what is rightfully and legally mine. Still, I am persistent and will not go quietly into the night. I continue to take every avenue I can to obtain what I should already be receiving.

The overwhelming amount of documentation I have already presented shows that, according to Social Security's own website, I qualify under at least three of the automatic qualifications for my disability.

Still, I continue to be stonewalled with unreturned calls from this agency. Additionally, the impotence of my government representatives to take any action other than sending me form letters or autobot responses to my emails is to me a very eye opening experience and will affect the way I cast my vote(s) for such in the future.

I hope others have had better luck but it seems being a college educated white man is a disadvantage in these situations.