#pension entitlement

[ketrindoll]

Hilarious translation of Latvian article about their new language exam:

Latvian government lost patience and is now making everyone with russian citizenship to pass A2 level Latvian language exam in order to retain their Latvian citizenship and avoid deportation. To many russians, this proves to be an impossible hurdle, many shedding tears over their misfortune.

"It's so unfortunate, it causes me great anxiety, I can't even speak calmly," says Ludmila Larkina, a russian citizenship holder who lives in Latvia.

Born and raised in Riga, Latvia, pensioner L. Larkina holds back her tears - she failed the Latvian language exam.

"Let's start with the fact that Latvians themselves make spelling errors," she notes.

Larkina has a russian citizenship and for people like her Latvian government raised an ultimatum - either pass the A2 level exam or leave the country.

"When everyone tells me that in 30 years I could've learned, I, of course, know that. And I can speak and understand Latvian, but naturally I can't write in it," Larkina says.

There are currently 25 000 russian citizens in Latvia. About half of them rushed to pass the language exam, but the results were often unfortunate.

"Are you taking the exam for the first time?" The reporter asked.

"No, this is my second attempt," a man replied.

"Which part was harder, speaking or writing?"

"Writing."

"How long have you lived in Latvia?"

"My whole life."

During the 2008 financial crisis russian government offered people of former Soviet republics a russian citizenship. Many Latvians got tempted by this proposal, especially women, as Russia's retirement age for women at the time was 55.

Larkina also took the offer. Being unemployed, she thought extra money couldn't hurt. That's why to this day she receives a russian pension, which is just over 100 euros.

"Now, because of these pennies, Latvia doesn't pay us anything. Why are we such enemies of the people just because Russia pays our pensions?" Larkina ponders.

Ludmila, together with 7000 other people, now waits for a chance to retake the exam. But around 4000 people took no action, and to them the Latvian government already issued a note ordering to leave the country within 90 days.

Some people were asked to share their opinion:

"I think it's a great rule. If someone lived their whole life here and do not know the language it's a nightmare."

"The law is horrible. Of course people won't learn the language in two years."

"The issue is, when russians would start talking to Latvians, Latvians would respond in russian. They spoiled them."

Latvian exam consists of 4 parts: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. There is a time limit and the whole process is aided by computers.

Larkina finds it hard to use a computer. She says whenever she used to be in a company of people, especially at work, she always spoke russian to people, and if there were any Latvians, they would also speak to them in russian for the sake of simplicity. And now it all turned around.

"You know, I know some people who lived here for many years. They also took the exam and failed. They're now getting ready to leave," Ludmila Larkina states.

Ludmila says that Latvian government is kicking out people whose children and grandchildren are Latvian, they go to Latvian schools, now they will also leave the country.

"Even my husband says - Ludmila, don't run your nerves, we can just leave and that's that," Larina says.

People interviewed in the streets seem to take two sides. While Latvians don't see any tragedy, russians claim that there is no need to learn Latvian and that the requirement is absurd.

"I see no point for it," a woman said. "There's no need nor point for it."

"I'm sad for the people who will have to leave, who are forced to leave. Those who live here consider Latvia their smaller homeland, their second homeland. It's not fair," another woman points out.

"Imagine if Chinese occupied you and told you to learn their language as a 60 year old. Would you be able to do it?" a man says.

But it's worth pointing out that the strict Latvian law does not apply to those over 75. It will also not apply to ethnic russians, just russian passport holders.

[hychlorions]

apparently my old man body can only sleep for four hours a day now o(-(

[seemabhatnagar]

"Upholding Pension Rights: Allahabad High Court Orders Pension Payment Despite GPF Deduction Lapse"

The High Court directed the respondents to ensure the payment of pension to the petitioner in accordance with the law, noting that the administrative lapses in GPF deductions should not deprive the petitioner of his rightful pension benefits.

Udai Narayan Sahu v. State of UP & 5 Others

WP 8170/2024

Before the High Court of Allahabad

Heard by Hon'ble Mr. Justice Subhash Vidyarthi J

Fact: The petitioner, Udai Narayan Sahu, an Assistant Teacher at M.M. Ali Memorial Higher Secondary School in Kanpur Nagar, retired from his position on March 31, 2023. Despite fulfilling his duties for nearly two decades, Sahu's request for a pension was denied by the authorities, leading him to file the present writ petition seeking justice.

Background: Despite fulfilling his duties for nearly two decades, the petitioner was denied a pension by the authorities

Legal Issue: Whether the petitioner, is entitled to receive a pension despite the lack of GPF deductions from his salary due to administrative delays.

Argument of the parties:

Petitioner's submission: He is entitled to a pension as per the relevant Government Orders and the Uttar Pradesh State Aided-Educational Institution Employee’s Contributory Provident Fund-Insurance Pension Rules.

Deduction towards C.P.F./G.P.F. is not a condition precedent for eligibility of an employee for receiving pension.

The mere fact that no deduction was made towards G.P.F. from the salary of the petitioner would not affect his eligibility to get pension after his retirement.

Respondent’s Submisssion: The District Inspector Of School, contended that the petitioner was not eligible for a pension because no GPF deductions were made from his salary due to the late allocation of a GPF account.

The G.P.F. account number was allotted to the petitioner when only 5 months and 13 days were left in his retirement whereas the rules says deduction of G.P.F. has to be stopped six month prior to the date of retirement of a teacher.

This technicality barred the petitioner from receiving his pension.

Court's Observation: The rules governing pension for employees like the petitioner do not make GPF deductions a prerequisite for pension eligibility.

The relevant rules and Government Orders make it clear that pension benefits should be extended to all eligible employees, and the failure to deduct GPF contributions due to administrative oversight should not prejudice the petitioner

[phonemantra-blog]

Benefits for Widows of Veterans: Comprehensive Guide In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the benefits available for widows of veterans. Losing a loved one who served in the military can be an emotionally challenging time, and it is important to have various support systems and benefits they may be entitled. We will explore the different types of benefits, eligibility criteria, and the application process to help you navigate this often complex landscape. Types of Benefits for Widows of Veterans There are several types of benefits that widows of veterans may be eligible for. These benefits are designed to provide financial and healthcare support, as well as educational opportunities. Let's explore each of these benefits in detail: Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) DIC is a tax-free monetary benefit provided to eligible surviving spouses of veterans who died as a result of military service or service-connected disabilities. This benefit aims to provide financial support to help widows cope with the loss of their spouse. DIC may also be available to surviving spouses of veterans whose deaths were not directly related to military service but had service-connected disabilities at the time of their death. Survivor's Pension Survivor's Pension, also known as the Death Pension, is a needs-based benefit available to low-income surviving spouses of deceased veterans. To be eligible, the widow must meet certain income and asset limits set by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This pension provides additional financial assistance to help widows meet their basic needs. Healthcare Benefits Widows of veterans may be eligible for healthcare benefits through the VA. These benefits include access to comprehensive medical care, medications, mental health services, and long-term care options. It is important to note that eligibility criteria may vary, and it is advisable to contact the VA or visit their website for specific information regarding healthcare benefits for widows. Education and Training Assistance The VA provides educational and training assistance to widows of veterans through various programs. The Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program offers financial support for pursuing a degree, certificate, or vocational training. Additionally, the Fry Scholarship provides education benefits to surviving spouses of servicemembers who died in the line of duty after September 10, 2001. Eligibility Criteria To be eligible for the benefits mentioned above, widows of veterans generally need to meet certain criteria. While the specific requirements may vary depending on the benefit, here are some common eligibility criteria: The widow must have been married to the veteran at the time of their death. The veteran must have served on active duty, or in some cases, in the Selected Reserve. The cause of the veteran's death must be related to their military service or a service-connected disability. For needs-based benefits, the widow's income and assets must fall below a certain threshold. It is important to note that eligibility criteria can be complex, and it is advisable to consult the VA or visit their website for detailed information on specific benefits and requirements. Application Process To apply for benefits as a widow of a veteran, you will need to complete the appropriate application forms and provide supporting documentation. Here is a general overview of the application process: Gather the necessary documents, such as the veteran's death certificate, marriage certificate, and any relevant military service records. Complete the application forms, ensuring that all required information is provided accurately. Submit the application forms and supporting documents to the VA for review. Wait for the VA to process your application. This may take some time, so it is important to be patient during this stage. If your application is approved, you will start receiving the benefits you are eligible for. If it is denied, you have the option to appeal the decision. It is recommended to keep copies of all submitted documents and maintain open communication with the VA throughout the application process to ensure a smooth and efficient experience. [caption id="attachment_80070" align="aligncenter" width="640"] benefits for widows of veterans[/caption] As a widow of a veteran, you may be entitled to various benefits that can provide financial support, healthcare assistance, and educational opportunities. Understanding the types of benefits available, eligibility criteria, and the application process is essential to maximize the support you receive. We hope this comprehensive guide has provided you with the necessary information to navigate the benefits landscape effectively. Remember, you are not alone, and there are resources available to help you during this challenging time. Frequently Asked Questions - Benefits for Widows of Veterans 1. What benefits are available for widows of veterans? Widows of veterans may be eligible for various benefits, including Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC), Survivor's Pension, healthcare benefits, educational assistance, and home loan guarantees. 2. How do I qualify for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)? To qualify for DIC, you must be the surviving spouse of a veteran who died on active duty, as a result of a service-related injury or illness, or a veteran who was receiving VA disability compensation at the time of their death. 3. What is Survivor's Pension and how can I apply for it? Survivor's Pension, also known as the Death Pension, is a needs-based benefit for low-income surviving spouses. You can apply for it by submitting VA Form 21P-534EZ along with supporting documents. 4. Can widows of veterans receive healthcare benefits? Yes, eligible widows of veterans can receive healthcare benefits through the Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA) or the VA's Civilian Health Care and Medical Programs (CHAMPVA In-house). They may also qualify for TRICARE benefits. 5. Are there educational assistance programs available for widows of veterans? Yes, widows of veterans may be eligible for educational assistance programs such as the Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance (DEA) program, which provides financial support for pursuing a degree or vocational training. 6. Can widows of veterans receive home loan guarantees? Yes, widows of veterans may be eligible for VA home loan guarantees, which can help them obtain favorable terms and secure financing for purchasing, building, or improving a home. 7. How do I apply for benefits as a widow of a veteran? To apply for benefits, you can visit your nearest VA regional office, apply online through the VA website, or seek assistance from a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) or accredited agent. 8. Is there a time limit for applying for benefits as a widow or a veteran? There is no specific time limit for applying for benefits as a widow or a veteran. However, it is recommended to apply as soon as possible to avoid any delays in receiving the benefits you may be entitled to. 9. Can I receive benefits if I remarried after my veteran spouse passed away? Generally, if you remarried before the age of 57, you may not be eligible for certain benefits. However, there are exceptions to this rule, so it is important to consult with the VA or a VSO to determine your specific eligibility. 10. Where can I find more information about benefits for widows of veterans? You can find more information about benefits for widows of veterans on the official website of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or by contacting your nearest VA regional office.

[sixseasonsofodestawithatardis]

Explaining PIP, the reforms and how YOU can help!

Recently, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride announced measures to reform PIP (Personal Independence Payment). It's a benefit given to disabled people, whether they are employed or not, to help provide support for the extra costs incurred due to being disabled. PIP can be paid on anything you need, such as a carer, adaptions, your bills or a night out (yes, disabled people are entitled to a social life I'm NOT arguing with anyone about this!) On top of the changes to sick notes, the announced reforms are an assault on disabled people to desperately cling to power!

Below is an explanation of PIP and the reforms so people can answer the open consultations, call for evidence, and sign a petition. We need as many people in the UK as possible to answer both to try to stop these reforms from happening.

What is PIP?

The Tories are saying PIP is a one-size-fits-all benefit, which again is a lie as PIP is designed to look at how your disability affects your daily life and how difficult it makes it for you to participate in society, not whether you have this specific disability so it only affects you in these ways! It doesn't matter whether you're diagnosed or not, either. There are two categories they look at throughout, known as the 'Daily Living Component' and the 'Mobility component' The process involves 50 pages you have to fill out (link to Turn2US for proof https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/claiming-personal-independence-payment-pip/fill-in-the-personal-independence-payment-pip-form#:~:text=You%20usually%20get%20the%20paper,it%20is%2050%20pages%20long.)

With hundreds of letters from Doctors as proof of your condition! And then an assessment in which you will answer all sorts of demeaning questions, give in-depth answers that you don't feel comfortable sharing, and hope the assessor has understood how it affects your life and written it down properly and that you'll get the right amount of money at the end of this assessment or re-assessment.

To get the standard rate in both components, you need 8 points; to get the enhanced rate, you need 12 points.

They'll then give you two, three, five, or ten years (10 years is known as a fixed-term award and a light-touch review) to undergo the terror of the PIP assessment again.

The reforms proposed and why they're terrifying!

The reforms they've suggested so far are

One-off grants for aids and appliances

receipts to then be claimed back at a later date

the changing of eligibility for PIP or the category 'Long Term sickness'

Vouchers instead of cash payments

If you've read those four options and thought they were cruel, infantilising and impossible to make work, then you'd be right.

As a disabled person, bills don't magically disappear. You still have council tax and rent to pay or a carer. Will landlords and councils accept these vouchers? A one-off grant won't work here either. The vouchers also signal that we can't be trusted to pay for our own needs and aren't responsible—which is far from the truth!

Aids and treatments are already covered by the NHS, so this is redundant and will be futile, especially when you consider the long waiting lists for mental health treatment (and just generally) on the NHS—and even if they aren't, we do know that and will use PIP to save up for it, etc. It's easier and more economical to give us cash payments.

To have the receipts to claim back expenses, we need to have the money to spend on said expenses.

Changing the eligibility will (much like these other suggestions) put more disabled people at risk. If you want mental health to improve: Fix the NHS, wages, sort out the cost of living crisis and fund the research/support for Long Covid sufferers.

How you can help! - UK-based people, plz sign everyone else. Please reblog & signal boost!

If you live in the UK, there are currently two consultations open ( the sick note one closes on 8 July 2024, and the PIP one closes on 22 July 2024). Ideally, the responses will be used to decide whether these reforms go ahead.

Here are links to the two reforms for PIP and changes to the sick note process.

Please note that the PIP consultation ( the first link) is 6 pages long and must be completed in one go. It's also filled with typos, repeated questions, and very difficult wording in many places, so be on the lookout for that! People are rightfully complaining about its accessibility, so the link and end date may change. I will update this post if this happens. I also know answering stuff like this is overwhelming, so here is a thread by PeachyInWales on Twitter about how they approached the consultation. If I see any samples by any disability activists or organisations, I will post them here, too!

This second link is the second consultation or call to evidence. Which GPs are being stripped of the ability to sign sicknotes for people on benefits, which is again ridiculous!

And the last link is a petition from SCOPE to stop the government from demonising disabled people further.

Ultimately, we're trying to stop a benefit that is difficult to get and barely covers costs for many applicants from getting worse.

If I've missed anything then let me know! I'm sorry the post was so long, but it's a lot to go through! Again, UK-based people, please share your thoughts if you can and sign the petition! If you are not currently living in the UK, please share these links or the post so other UK-based users can see this and try to help.

Thank you!

[spot-the-antisemitism]

you're trans, jewish, pro-ukraine, and zionist-- why are you in russia? why have you not moved to israel or someplace else?

Dear anon,

there is a saying in Russia and it’s “have you stopped drinking Konyak on sunday?”. You have a presupposition that you need to adjust.

I have?!

I was born in Moscow, I am Russian but I live in the southern part of the United States. It’s nice and warm there but I miss the snow and not meeting odd xenophobe but it’s better than being bombed and being Jailed if I wear a rainbow scarf around children. I have family who is on the infamous foreign agent lists and also left because the alternative was jail. Which is by the way gulags 2.0 at the moment.

as for the whole “WhY dOn’T yOu JuSt LeAVe?” it’s a hugely entitled and privileged point of view. My family still works in Russia, get their pensions from Russia, have their homes there and intend to die there.

You ever wonder why some many Israelis, Gazans and Lebanese don’t just leave? There’s your answer.

check your premises,

Cecil

[infernumequinomin]

"Kipperlily hates Riz because she's got a crush on him," this, "Kipperlily hates Riz because he somehow snubbed her," that... First of all, this boy imprinted instantly in a bully throwing him in a trash can thinking they could be friends, Riz wouldn't just forget someone he met in any sort of positive or negative way for zero reason. If they met, even if she didn't make a huge impression, Riz was SO desperate for companionship in Freshman year I don't think he'd have forgotten or ignored her.

I think a lot of people are forgetting the complexity of Riz's story as a poor kid who is of a "monster race" going to somewhere like Augefort through sheer working really fucking hard on the part of both him and his mom, and that they have explicitly in canon faced adversity both for their financial class and race. One of Riz's driving forces to do really well this year is so he can even GO to college. Sklonda EXPLICITLY lost her pension from YEARS of sleepless nights working as a detective and working her way up through the ranks this year (and I don't think it's something to overlook that Kipperlily's mom works as a county clerk and may have had some say there). I think Kipperlily may just be a graden variety privileged bigot who thinks some "gutter scum goblin shouldn't be in classes with normal people." And that a lot of her work with Jawbone has probably been unpacking these internalized biases.

Like, from the outside, the Bad Kids were ressurected by the principal the very first day of school, throwing the whole school into chaos and got DETENTION for it. Riz not only killed, but ATE the vice principal, after they defeated Kalvaxis! They were all on the verge of failing if they didn't complete their Sophmore year spring break project (it was 70% of their grade or some insane shit!), and while most of them may still have passed, Fig and Kristen DEFINITELY needed that credit and that is mentioned in the season, Adaine is insanely stressed about them completing their quest for "school credit".

If Kipperlily grew up rich and entitled, with all the biases about poor people that can grow (especially if her dad's real estate office owns Strong Arm Apts and she thinks of it as a slum, because it's kind of described as low income public housing lbr here) and saw that some lower class goblin was EATING PEOPLE after defeating them (you know, like a monster does, clearly not taking any time to understand his motivation OR culture), and getting preffered treatment because the principal just happened to LIKE HIM and his party (because they took the time to become closer to him over the years and Augefort clearly values students who will absolutely kick his teeth in bc adventurers are "insane violent psychopaths" citation: the Seven), and breezing through his classes without doing ANY of the work (because she doesn't SEE the work or the sleepless nights or all the stress he's taking on for others) it absolutely tracks for her to grow this huge chip on her shoulder about it and for it to reinforce these biases she may have already had about goblins and esp abt POOR goblins like Riz.

I don't think Riz did anything wrong. I think Kipperlily just has shit to fucking work thru in regards to how she views the kinds of people she doesn't know or has had no opportunity to associate with. Even among her party, they're all rich to middle class for the ones we know the class of. She's 17 and has a bunch of internalized biases, likely from her upper middle class upbringing, and major anger management issues. Idk it just makes sense to me. I met all kinds of girls like her in college who were type A to all shit who resented me for seeming to "have it easy" despite how hard my life should have been coming from a poorer background than them.

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Private equity ghouls have a new way to steal from their investors

Private equity is quite a racket. PE managers pile up other peoples’ money — pension funds, plutes, other pools of money — and then “invest” it (buying businesses, loading them with debt, cutting wages, lowering quality and setting traps for customers). For this, they get an annual fee — 2% — of the money they manage, and a bonus for any profits they make.

On top of this, private equity bosses get to use the carried interest tax loophole, a scam that lets them treat this ordinary income as a capital gain, so they can pay half the taxes that a working stiff would pay on a regular salary. If you don’t know much about carried interest, you might think it has to do with “interest” on a loan or a deposit, but it’s way weirder. “Carried interest” is a tax regime designed for 16th century sea captains and their “interest” in the cargo they “carried”:

https://pluralistic.net/2021/04/29/writers-must-be-paid/#carried-interest

Private equity is a cancer. Its profits come from buying productive firms, loading them with debt, abusing their suppliers, workers and customers, and driving them into ground, stiffing all of them — and the company’s creditors. The mafia have a name for this. They call it a “bust out”:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/06/02/plunderers/#farben

Private equity destroyed Toys R Us, Sears, Bed, Bath and Beyond, and many more companies beloved of Main Street, bled dry for Wall Street:

https://prospect.org/culture/books/2023-06-02-days-of-plunder-morgenson-rosner-ballou-review/

And they’re coming for more. PE funds are “rolling up” thousands of Boomer-owned business as their owners retire. There’s a good chance that every funeral home, pet groomer and urgent care clinic within an hour’s drive of you is owned by a single PE firm. There’s 2.9m more Boomer-owned businesses going up for sale in the coming years, with 32m employees, and PE is set to buy ’em all:

https://pluralistic.net/2022/12/16/schumpeterian-terrorism/#deliberately-broken

PE funds get their money from “institutional investors.” It shouldn’t surprise you to learn they treat their investors no better than their creditors, nor the customers, employees or suppliers of the businesses they buy.

Pension funds, in particular, are the perennial suckers at the poker table. My parent’s pension fund, the Ontario Teachers’ Fund, are every grifter’s favorite patsy, losing $90m to Sam Bankman-Fried’s cryptocurrency scam:

https://www.otpp.com/en-ca/about-us/news-and-insights/2022/ontario-teachers--statement-on-ftx/

Pension funds are neck-deep in private equity, paying steep fees for shitty returns. Imagine knowing that the reason you can’t afford your apartment anymore is your pension fund gambled with the private equity firm that bought your building and jacked up the rent — and still lost money:

https://pluralistic.net/2020/02/25/pluralistic-your-daily-link-dose-25-feb-2020/

But there’s no depth too low for PE looters to sink to. They’ve found an exciting new way to steal from their investors, a scam called a “continuation fund.” Writing in his latest newsletter, the great Matt Levine breaks it down:

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/mergers-and-acquisitions/matt-levines-money-stuff-buyout-funds-buy-from-themselves

Here’s the deal: say you’re a PE guy who’s raised a $1b fund. That entitles you to a 2% annual “carry” on the fund: $20,000,000/year. But you’ve managed to buy and asset strip so many productive businesses that it’s now worth $5b. Your carry doesn’t go up fivefold. You could sell the company and collect your 20% commission — $800m — but you stop collecting that annual carry.

But what if you do both? Here’s how: you create a “continuation fund” — a fund that buys your old fund’s portfolio. Now you’ve got $5b under management and your carry quintuples, to $100m/year. Levine dryly notes that the FT calls this “a controversial type of transaction”:

https://www.ft.com/content/11549c33-b97d-468b-8990-e6fd64294f85

These deals “look like a pyramid scheme” — one fund flips its assets to another fund, with the same manager running both funds. It’s a way to make the pie bigger, but to decrease the share (in both real and proportional terms) going to the pension funds and other institutional investors who backed the fund.

A PE boss is supposed to be a fiduciary, with a legal requirement to do what’s best for their investors. But when the same PE manager is the buyer and the seller, and when the sale takes place without inviting any outside bidders, how can they possibly resolve their conflict of interest?

They can’t: 42% of continuation fund deals involve a sale at a value lower than the one that the PE fund told their investors the assets were worth. Now, this may sound weird — if a PE boss wants to set a high initial value for their fund in order to maximize their carry, why would they sell its assets to the new fund at a discount?

Here’s Levine’s theory: if you’re a PE guy going back to your investors for money to put in a new fund, you’re more likely to succeed if you can show that their getting a bargain. So you raise $1b, build it up to $5b, and then tell your investors they can buy the new fund for only $3b. Sure, they can get out — and lose big. Or they can take the deal, get the new fund at a 40% discount — and the PE boss gets $60m/year for the next ten years, instead of the $20m they were getting before the continuation fund deal.

PE is devouring the productive economy and making the world’s richest people even richer. The one bright light? The FTC and DoJ Antitrust Division just published new merger guidelines that would make the PE acquire/debt-load/asset-strip model illegal:

https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2023/07/ftc-doj-seek-comment-draft-merger-guidelines

The bad news is that some sneaky fuck just slipped a 20% FTC budget cut — $50m/year — into the new appropriations bill:

https://twitter.com/matthewstoller/status/1681830706488438785

They’re scared, and they’re fighting dirty.

I’m at San Diego Comic-Con!

Today (Jul 20) 16h: Signing, Tor Books booth #2802 (free advance copies of The Lost Cause — Nov 2023 — to the first 50 people!)

Tomorrow (Jul 21):

1030h: Wish They All Could be CA MCs, room 24ABC (panel)

12h: Signing, AA09

Sat, Jul 22 15h: The Worlds We Return To, room 23ABC (panel)

If you’d like an essay-formatted version of this post to read or share, here’s a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2023/07/20/continuation-fraud/#buyout-groups

[Image ID: An old Punch editorial cartoon depicting a bank-robber sticking up a group of businesspeople and workers. He wears a bandanna emblazoned with dollar-signs and a top-hat.]

[mariacallous]

The first gay couple to take advantage of a new law in Latvia entered into a legally recognized civil union partnership shortly after midnight on July 1, when the rules came into force.

Maksims Ringo and Jānis Locs “tied the knot” at a law office in historic downtown Riga on Monday, exchanging silver rings at a party afterward. They hope to get gold rings if or when gay marriage becomes legal in Latvia. Ringo said the arrangement was mostly for practical reasons as the two have been together for over five years. He cited improved rights in the event of his partner having medical treatment as one motivation for legally formalizing their relationship. Kaspars Zālītis, leader of the ‘Dzīvesbiedri’ (Life Partners) equality movement, said in a press release: “The introduction of partnership in Latvia is an important step towards a more equal, inclusive and empathetic society, in which each person feels valued and can realize his or her potential both in personal and professional life.” “The introduction of the Institute of Partnership Law is an important signal that all families in Latvia are protected, valued, and recognized. This is extremely important for people who have remained invisible to the state, not only in practical matters of everyday life but also emotionally. This long-awaited moment will positively change the lives of many people.” A civil union does not have the same status as a marriage in Latvian law, but the new form of partnership entitles the parties to certain rights, including to be informed of and decide on medical treatment, as well as having tax and pension advantages. Homosexuality remains a politically and socially divisive issue in Latvia, and in 2005 the country’s lawmakers introduced a constitutional amendment defining marriage as being a union between a man and a woman. The new law recognizing same-sex partnerships was enacted by the Latvian parliament last November in the wake of 46 same-sex couples petitioning the country’s courts to be recognized as family units, public broadcaster LSM reported. Neighboring Estonia legalized same-sex marriage in June.

[roblogging]

"i'm so scared and i'm literally in the uk."

and you have a right to be. and i mean that in a comforting way, you are not overreacting. you are valid. you have a right to be scared. this is not just america.

this is the asylum seekers who were barricaded into burning hotels, whose attempted murderers got off with petty bails and pathetic prison sentences. who weren't called attempted murderers.

this is the people we watched get dragged out of cars in middlesborough and beaten. we watched traffic get controlled by racists, who Stopped Cars. and beat them up.

this is the men, women, and children we watched get lynch mobbed in the streets whilst the police stood by.

this is the people we watched get acid thrown on them.

this is the people dying in the channel.

this is the racism we have seen in the uk.

this is the cass report. the thousands of trans people that lost healthcare with no warning overnight because the LTC closed suddenly, who have been left with half of their bottom surgery done because our license is void. who are getting outted in schools, who can't access puberty blockers, who have been given more fucking waitlists.

this is the 25% of trans people who are homeless at least once in their lives, and the 86% of those who will not get provided shelter. this is the 50% of trans people who have experienced domestic violence and the 66% who have experienced sexual assault. it's the 9% of trans people who report that are subsequently assaulted again by officers. it's the 86% of trans people that have considered suicide and the 46% that have tried. it's the 39% of trans people that have suffered from eating disorders and don't get support. it's the 52% of trans people that have suffered from substance abuse.

it's the 186% increase in trans hate crimes.

it's the women being used as tools. being treated like pawns by the government as they attack trans people, and do nothing to actually help women. it's the women that are used as pawns by men with allegations in parliament. it's the women turned away by doctors because it's just your anxiety! when are you due on? have you tried a hot water bottle? it's the 0.2% convinction rate for rape.

this is the rate of violence against women being the highest it's ever been.

this is the 14.3% of the vote reform ltd got in their first election. this is the 14.3% of the vote a trump-endorsed and inspired party* got in their First General Election.

this is the shift the conservatives took further right to try and compensate for reform. this is kemi badenoch. this is brexit.

this is the shift labour have taken further right to try and compensate for the conservatives. this is the abolishing of clause 4. the calls for a bill of rights. this is the attacks against pensioners and disabled people. against single mothers. against the working class in the new budget.

you have a right to be scared. and you allowed to feel that. you are allowed to feel that anger. you are entitled to this anger. you are not selfish for being upset about it.

this isn't just america.

* not an official political party, reform ltd is a business

[lastwave]

aghj fuck everything ok. i say this as someone who enjoys analyzing jean! hes an interesting little guy. but so so many people refuuuuse to acknowledge just how much privilege jean has over harry as an ablebodied, never-addict, (comparatively) ableminded, and arguably straight dude.

SO LIKE. Harry's very chronically ill like. canonically. post polio syndrome, all the shit that comes with hep c (joint pain, organ damage, etc etc), and his use of speed implies chronic fatigue. AND when jean gets to him after the tribunal he has at LEAST one gunshot wound (in some playthroughs he gets shot twice), and we don't even know if Kim GOT the bullet(s) out. jean is ablebodied. he has facial scarring from when he had smallpox(?) but other than that he seems to have made a full recovery while harry never did- harry still has partial paralysis. and even IF jean was in some form chronically ill, still jean feels entitled to make some smarmy comment about disability pension even tho harry has more than earned that shit.

its very easy to see the subtext that jean thinks harry deserves this. he basically outright says it in the "you know what he told me?" line. he took that not as a sign that something was deeply fucking wrong and that harry needed help (which, btw, "i want to get worse" is almost always a cry for help and an indication that someone has completely given up), but jean took it as someone accepting whats coming to them and that harry needed to learn a lesson. which, depending on the playthrough, harry was a major ass, but during the midst of a mental breakdown is NOT the time to address that. and that isn't teaching a lesson.

its exacting revenge jean felt entitled to for "putting up" with him. he thinks hes some martyr- and not even for harry's assholery. to be clear. in the fascist and some moralist playthroughs jean expresses frustration at having to go to sensitivity training. not what harry actually said. which, while speaking volumes abt harry's character, also says a fuck ton about jean's. ALSO, there are several instances where he complains about conservative talking points- "falling marriage rates", "the liberals" (in context of the f slur, not economic liberalism). which leaves one thing for jean to be upset over- harry's addiction, mental illness and disability.

its very very simple! jean thinks that harry deserves bad things because he's an addict, and thinks that harry's a burden because he's both mentally and physically disabled. and its not frustration that comes from a place of love, because otherwise he would have fucking been there. he would have reintroduced himself when he realized harry did for real have total retrograde amnesia. the fact anyone even let harry continue the investigation after finding out abt that is pretty damn heinous.

he doesn't HAVE sympathy for harry and he doesn't care about his well being- jean cares about what harry's presence in his life makes him feel like. Jean likes to pity himself and Harry's existence lets him position himself as some long suffering angel that "so graciously keeps giving harry chances". this is especially apparent in the "sorry i didn't feel like buttering you up, i have clinical depression" line. (sorry WHAT about a man that tries to drown himself in his car by driving it over a roof implies not depressed?).

like. even ignoring all of harry's other shit he had before the bender, retrograde amnesia and functional clinical depression are not comparable. that AND harry probably has a dissociative disorder AND some form of mania its just ??????

jeans very very privileged over harry and exerts it often. hes an asshole. a very interesting asshole! but an asshole nonetheless

[sapphia]

i wanna tell the US the thing actually good about NZ's democracy.

because we have a lot of things that suck. we have a single house. we have some of the weakest lobbying laws in the world, and at this very second we have a government selling out our environment and our future to mining and oil and tobacco companies because of it. we have an MMP system that gives too much power to far right parties while somehow limiting the power of the left. we have a central right party that spent two decades sponsoring our further right libertarian party into parliament in an underhanded way that has pushed this country to the right in a divisive manner. we have a total lack of accountability for pre-election promises, and a modern political discourse built on lies and manipulation and neoliberalism.

but the one thing we do have is this guy:

this little orange man rises like a cryptid every three years to incessantly tell the people of aotearoa to vote. you will find him in your mailbox, in your phone, on your tv, at the end of your bed, at your local mall, and if you are not careful, while you are walking home at night when he spots you from his orange van and kidnaps you to enrol you by force.

okay, that last one isn't true. but he's the mascot of our electoral commission and they will do anything to get you to vote. australia have their democracy sausage to bribe people but here, we just make things literally as easy as it possibly can be to participate in democracy. there are sign-up stations in every language in every city and town for months before the election. people go around door-knocking to sign you up. you can sign up on the day and still vote. if you don't have an address or a phone number or ID to use, they'll probably give you one. the philosophy is generally that everyone who is entitled to vote should be fully facilitated to do so.

and then our early voting opens weeks before election day so people can just... vote whenever they want. about half of the country do. for three weeks or so, aotearoa turns into an orange maze of pop up voting booths and pensioners. they're in every mall, every school, every hospital, half our workplaces, they drive around retirement homes and villages, they will assail you as you walk past stores -- literally, during our pandemic elections, i was heading into my local shopping center from my car when some middle-aged lady all but leapt out at me from a hidden alcove to ask me if i'd voted yet. i'd only gone down to buy some groceries, but i came back from the shops having spent approximately 2 minutes from start to end casting my vote for my preferred party. democractic duty done.

it actually makes me sometimes tear up with pride a little to think of the work that goes into encouraging voter participation in this country, and just how important it is that that the work done is seen is bipartisan and a key consideration for a strong democracy. what is most broken about american politics, in my opinion, is your established voter disenfranchisement; the years of blatant racism that has made a sport out of the right preventing your poor and your minorities from voting. nz is perhaps a bit different on this front culturally, as we put (perhaps too much) pride in being the first country to give women the vote, and our early indigenous representation in parliament and later MMP system has gone a long way to ensuring our maori voter enrolments are upkept, which is strategically sort of the same as democrats signing up black voters, we've just been much more successful and long-term about it.

but the outcome, oh the outcome -- not only are our eligible voter percentages so much greater, so our are voter turnouts. 77% voter turnout in the last election. sure, we got from it the worst government since muldoon, but even in our year of democratic apathy and exhaustion, three quarters of our population voted.

if there's any hope for us, it's got to be in that.

[todaysdocument]

“Deborah Gannett . . . maketh oath, that she served as a private soldier, under the name of Robert Shurtliff in the war of the revolution . . .” 

Pension and Bounty Land Application of Deborah (Sampson) Gannett, September 14, 1818. 

Record Group 15: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs Series: Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service

Transcription: 

United States-.

Massachusetts District

Deborah Gannett, of Sharon, in the county of Norfolk, and

District of Massachusetts, a resident and native of the United

States, and applicant for a pension from the United States

under an Act of Congress entitled an Act to provide to certain

persons engaged in the land and naval service of the

United States, in the revolutionary war, maketh oath, that she

served as a private soldier, under the name of Robert Shurtliff

in the war of the revolution, upwards of two years in manner

following vis - Enlisted in April 1781 in the company commanded

by Captain George Webb in the Massachusetts Regiment

commanded then by Colonel Shepherd, and afterwards by Colonel Henry

Jackson and served in said corps in Massachusetts, and

New York - until November 1783 - when she was honorably discharged

in writing. which discharge is lost. During the time of her service

she was at the capture of Lord Cornwallis, was wounded

at Tarrytown and now receives a pension from the United

States, which pension she hereby relinquishes. She is in such

reduced circumstance, as to require the aid of her country

for her support.

Deborah Gannett

Masstts. Dist. Septr. 14. 1818

Sworn to before me

Jno Davis

Dist. Judge

Mass. Dist.

[yourgamemasterthewhiterabbit]

Every credit card company in the world, even walmart now, is super set on fucking shaming me for being poor. Like they will all but actively harass you to try to apply to their credit card even after you tell them you are on a pension, make you stand in the checkout 30 extra minutes because they can't figure out how to even input "on a pension" as a form of income into their system, and then you get a rejection letter within a week saying exactly what you expected "No you can't have our card :(" Like bitch you are the ones who harassed me into applying.

Realistically, I am so good with money you would never make a dime off me anyway and would never somehow lose money, but that's immaterial because what they really want is someone bad with money who's just given enough that they can afford to keep paying the interest. They aren't there to let you have or build credit, they are there to try to make money off of you.

I just wish they'd let me do my fucking shopping and etc in peace, or actually let me have a walmart credit card that I can use to shop on their stupid online site.

With how much stuff relies on credit or online shopping there should be a government standard issue credit card with reasonable limits that everyone is entitled to. Locking the disabled out of ever being able to build credit or have post paid services is just the highest key bullshit. Let alone how essential online shopping is for the disabled and how many of us end up locked into abusive relationships or families so we can use someone's card for things we need to survive.

Next there will be door to door people knocking to try to get you to sign up for some stupid credit card making you stand there for a fucking hour just to get a letter a week late saying "no :(".

[justanothercanuck]

I am maybe frustrated today because I genuinely want to be honest and good, but I end up hurting myself doing it.

Not so much hurting. But putting my desire to be good and compensate before my own well being.

When Ruby left, I immediately took a hit on my disability benefits and pension. I am back to being a single person and not a parent supporting a kid. My income went down.

The thing is, I still had access to certain funds because I am the legal parent. A little over a thousand dollars a month.

Instead of concealing it or taking it, I did what I thought was right, or what I felt was an obligation. Or better still, I felt guilty about. I was foisting a kid on her grandma and her wife, after all.

I have transferred the entire amount to grandma...and indirectly (I hope...grandma is a snakey broad when money is involved) to Ruby. As I said, I want to be as clear and above board for everything. And it felt like the most beneficial and honest thing to do.

Grandma is still looking for money above that. Asking me why I don't have help with support from my ex...and honest...I don't know. She is her daughter. Why don't you ask why she ain't chipping in. You raised her (which may be exactly why). And while you're at it, ask her why I paid child support from the day it was arranged to the day Ruby came to live with me. But in return, the whole time Ruby was with me, I got a grand total of $15. Fifteen bucks. So it's your fight. Not mine.

Being a father, there is this sort of perception that we don't need or deserve child support.

So, in all this mess, I am ending up with the short end of the stick. And it feels kind of like once again it's my fault. I am dumb and the stupid do as stupid does.

Of course, I never could have kept any of the money, I would have felt gross about it every day. People who take benefits which are entitled to their kids and keep them, they are just too greasy for me.

I am just fed up with being asked for more while I have nothing and certainly not enough to spare. Or even live on without help and luck. And while I look at pizza websites like a girl window shopping a wedding dress.

One way or another, I will get to my end knowing I am square with the house and paid back all I owed.

It just sucks sometimes.

[mollysunder]

Imagine a universe where Anakin reveals his secret marriage to Padme to the Jedi and leaves the Order to be with her. In a scenario where things just don't work out (a lot's still riding against them) and they get divorced, would Anakin be entitled to alimony payments and child support?

He didn't come into the marriage with any money or assets because he was born enslaved, and as a Jedi, he was encouraged to own little. Padme was a literal queen who served two terms on Naboo and then became an influential senator on Coruscant, so she has a pension somewhere. Any divorce lawyer would point out that Anakin's standard of living was hyper elevated by his marriage to Padme, and he would be entitled to spousal support because the divorce has created a gap in his financial support.

None of this is meant to be pointed, I just like the idea of occasional awkward conversations between Anakin and Padme when she picks up Luke and Leia for her weekend with them to let her know the checks cleared. They were running into problems because Anakin never owned an independent bank account before.