911 heroes suffer while Bush uses them to get re-elected

From a letter to the editors of washington post on improper allocation of Ground Zero funds:

"I was a firefighter with Arlington County, and I responded to the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.

During that response, I suffered lung damage and a permanent disability to my left leg. I now walk painfully with a cane or ride in a wheelchair.

I still go to physical therapy twice a week in an attempt to limit the pain in my essentially useless leg. Yet I and the other firefighters disabled that day haven't received huge sums or help. Workers' compensation hasn't paid for my physical therapy since January 2003, despite its own doctor declaring me permanently disabled and prescribing the therapy. Workers' comp won't pay for my mobility aids either, and it has informed my other doctors that it won't pay for my other treatments after this year. Since I haven't gotten better, I guess I'm disposable.

When I asked the U.S. Postal Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency how to apply for funds from the proceeds of the "Heroes" stamp being sold to aid disabled firefighters, I was told that an application process isn't ready yet. I still have hope for the federal Victim Compensation Fund.

I'll be thinking of Robert DeNiro's upscale boutique paid for by Sept. 11 grants when I go shopping for a used wheelchair.

PHILLIP McKEE
Fairfax"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A3488-2004May30.html

Christie Todd Whitman and the EPA told us all it was true. Uh huh.

It bothered me every time I saw news videos of workers at Ground Zero without so much as a dust mask for all that hazardous material. Yes, I think the maladministration believes that everyone but Bushes are perfectly disposable -- especially all those toy soldiers.

I want my country back.

Hekate