So I caught Nat Geo the other day, and this strange situation caught my attention

[mickeyd]

I do not recall them saying that this guy was collecting Social Security (Disability?) but would like to see the paperwork that accompanied the SS claim.

Quote:

Stanley Thornton Jr., 30, is being fed with a bottle by his roommate, Sandra Dias. They were featured on National Geographic Channel’s “Taboo” program. Sen. Tom Coburn is questioning their disability payment eligibility

Quote:

A key senator has asked the Social Security Administration to investigate how people who live their lives role-playing as “adult babies” are able to get taxpayer-funded disability payments — after one of them was featured on a recent reality TV episode wearing diapers, feeding from a bottle and using an adult-sized crib he built.

Senator questions benefits to 'adult baby' - Washington Times

[HawkeyeNFO]

.

[Mulligan]

I read the article. I want to treat him like a big baby too. I got my paddle ready!!!!! Most working Americans are generous people and want the gov't to assist the needy. But these are the examples that make people not want to help. Welfare cards being cashed in casinos, trading food stamps for cig's and beer, these are the examples that make me want them to return to the USDA commodity days.

[HawkeyeNFO]

That guy needs some serious psychological help. As a taxpayer, though, I don't think we need to give him cash.

The 'entitled victim' mentality needs to stop.

[martyb]

WTF

[Mulligan]

I just read another one of these things on yahoo. Seems a man won a 2 million dollar lottery last year, and still gets to draw food stamps!!!!! The state said it is treated as a liquid asset (lottery winnings), not income said he is still eligible to get his food stamps. Nice to know a person has enough money to play the lottery while on food stamps. Have to give the man credit, though. He called to make sure he could keep his food stamp card and they said yes, and he said he is not apologizing for using it either!

[GregLee]

If there is some identifiable principle or law involved in cases like this, it's worth investigating. So far as I can tell, though, there is none, so I rate it as cheap sensationalism.

[HawkeyeNFO]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mulligan I just read another one of these things on yahoo. Seems a man won a 2 million dollar lottery last year, and still gets to draw food stamps!!!!! The state said it is treated as a liquid asset (lottery winnings), not income said he is still eligible to get his food stamps. Nice to know a person has enough money to play the lottery while on food stamps. Have to give the man credit, though. He called to make sure he could keep his food stamp card and they said yes, and he said he is not apologizing for using it either!

Not sure why you are so upset. Keep in mind that a fool and his money are soon parted. This guy is the extreme exception. 99.999% of lottery players are repeat losers. I consider the lottery to be the "stupid tax," and SUPPOSEDLY some of the money goes to schools.

[Mulligan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GregLee If there is some identifiable principle or law involved in cases like this, it's worth investigating. So far as I can tell, though, there is none, so I rate it as cheap sensationalism.

Granted these 1 in a million flukes aren't what is breaking the bank. But it makes you wonder, how a law could be written that would allow someone who won that we be able to continue drawing public assistance . I don't think the expectation was that. The reason was curious as the state said it was a liquid asset not " income". Want to bet that the IRS came to the same conclusion and decided not to impose income taxes on these winnings because they were "liquid"? The state said they would look to try to close the loophole, though.

[BLS53]

One question is why would the "baby" guy go on TV and draw attention to his SSI benefits? A near guarantee to draw scrutiny, and possibly place his disability status in jeopardy.

The mentally disabled qualification is a slippery slope. From what I understand, the mental health professionals have a manual that lists disabilities. If they diagnose a person with an illness that meets the qualification, SSI approval is virtually assured. Compound that with the left leaning of many social workers, who are in an approval capacity, and you end up with people on SSI with questionable disabilities.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLS53 One question is why would the "baby" guy go on TV and draw attention to his SSI benefits? A near guarantee to draw scrutiny, and possibly place his disability status in jeopardy.

I'm always amazed at what some people will do for their 15 minutes of fame.

[Zero]

Gee whiz, when I look at that picture I feel a bit squeamish. I once stumbled onto a book on Sexual Perversion in Acres of Books in Long Beach, CA. It was written in 1878 and consisted of cases from all over Europe in the 1800s. I started to thumb thru it and after browsing a couple of cases, I quickly re-shelved it. Holy crap, I did not want to know anymore.

This photo gives me the same feeling.

[chinaco]

I support the SSI program.... I do not support the abuse of it!

The only words I can think of are not even worth stating.

IMO - this is the reason people wind up thinking programs like SSI and other "temporarily" down on your luck programs are abused and therefore a bad idea.

Load him up on psychotropics and cut out the free cash.

Get a job like the rest of us!

When he said that he would kill himself if SSI stopped... it is time to have him committed to a psychiatric hospital.... he must be a danger to himself! It would be interesting to see how long it takes him to get better!

Quote:

In an email response to The Washington Times, Mr. Thornton threatened to kill himself if his Social Security payments are taken away, and said the television episode showing him doing woodwork oversold his abilities.

Senator questions benefits to 'adult baby' - Washington Times


BTW.... you have to wonder what kind of money they got from Nat Geo??

[Mulligan]

He might be overplaying his hand. His threat to kill himself if he lost his free handouts, will be met with a collective yawn from the public. Sounds like a verbal temper tantrum from a big baby afraid he isn't going to get his way. Oh wait, I forgot he is a big baby.

[calmloki]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zero Gee whiz, when I look at that picture I feel a bit squeamish. I once stumbled onto a book on Sexual Perversion in Acres of Books in Long Beach, CA. It was written in 1878 and consisted of cases from all over Europe in the 1800s. I started to thumb thru it and after browsing a couple of cases, I quickly re-shelved it. Holy crap, I did not want to know anymore. This photo gives me the same feeling.

Feel like there was a movie... don't I remember an ad: "... Jenna Jameson is the lithe lustful librarian burning up the pages in Sexual Perversion in Acres of Books"...

[ls99]

Looks like biiig baby and and as big a facilitator. They could both go six months on a water only diet, without eating solid food and still be oversized.

By the way who mucks out the stall from underneath baby?

[Mulligan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ls99 Looks like biiig baby and and as big a facilitator. They could both go six months on a water only diet, without eating solid food and still be oversized. By the way who mucks out the stall from underneath baby?

I had the unfortunate luck of having a mouth full of cereal, when I read your hilarious post. Thanks for the mess!

[ziggy29]

The sad thing about stuff like this is that it makes good and compassionate people question the social safety net. I think most of us, even the more libertarian-leaning among us, support the existence of a social safety net in principle (to at least *some* extent) for those who are truly needy and struggling due to reasons largely beyond their own control. But stories like this, and of millionaires on food stamps, and any number of other abuses -- even if they are the rare, sensational exception rather than the rule -- tend to give us "compassion fatigue" especially when we feel like our own economic fate is sliding a bit in this challenging economy and job market.

[travelover]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziggy29 The sad thing about stuff like this is that it makes good and compassionate people question the social safety net.........

So true. This is one of the reasons I dropped out of my Habitat for Humanity volunteering - seeing too many people working the system.

[rct687]

I saw this bizarre story a while back and keep checking the news to see if he still has his SS benefits.