PrettySaint

Debt traps: situations where people borrow more money than they can afford to repay, leading to a cycle of debt that is hard to escape. 

let's discuss how the current taxation system may not adequately protect individuals like James, exacerbating the challenges they face and potentially setting them up for failure.  James, a person grappling with dual diagnosis, encounters numerous hurdles on his path to recovery and stability. Unfortunately, the existing taxation system often fails to provide the necessary support and resources to help individuals in his situation overcome these obstacles. One significant issue is the unequal burden of taxes on individuals with limited financial means, including those struggling with mental health disorders and substance abuse. The current system often fails to account for the additional financial strain faced by individuals seeking treatment and support for their dual diagnosis. The high costs associated with therapy, medications, and specialized care can quickly become overwhelming, further exacerbating their financial instability. Moreover, the limited availability of affordab...

A Personal Story of Dual Diagnosis Meet John. John is a 35-year-old veteran who served in Iraq for two tours. He witnessed horrific scenes of violence and death, and lost some of his closest friends in combat. When he returned home, he suffered from nightmares, flashbacks, and guilt. He felt detached from his family and friends, and had trouble adjusting to civilian life. He started drinking heavily to cope with his pain and numb his emotions. He soon developed an alcohol use disorder, which worsened his PTSD symptoms. He felt hopeless and suicidal. John is one of the millions of people who struggle with dual diagnosis, a term that refers to the co-occurrence of a mental health disorder and a substance use disorder. What is Dual Diagnosis? According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), about 9.5 million adults in the U.S. had both a mental illness and a substance use disorder in 2019. This means that nearly one in four people with a mental illness ...

The ongoing debate about extending healthcare to all immigrants often centers on ethical, economic, and public health considerations. As we navigate this complex issue, it is crucial to ground our discussions in evidence-based arguments. Ethical Considerations At its core, healthcare is a fundamental human right , not a privilege contingent on immigration status. Denying healthcare based on this status is a form of discrimination that contradicts the principle of universal human dignity. As healthcare professionals, we have a duty of care to all individuals, regardless of their immigration status. This duty aligns with the ethical principles of fairness and justice, which demand equal access to healthcare. Economic Implications Contrary to common misconceptions, providing healthcare to immigrants can lead to significant economic benefits . For instance, preventive care for immigrants can reduce long-term healthcare costs . The cost of treating advanced diseases is often higher than p...

Before we get started, I have a friend that wrote a book. Buy it here <3  ------ TLDR Student Loans are one of the many mechanisms used to entrap and to enslave. Humans do it best. Whatever the original intention was, it's no longer the case. Do not get stuck in a cycle of hopelessness. This bubble will force many borrowers into a desperate cycle of damaged credit, limited opportunities, and economic turmoil, leaving little hope for anything better. ---- The Student Loan Time Bomb: A Decade to Disaster? - John Jolissaint The American dream of attaining higher education has become a treacherous path paved with a staggering burden of student loan debt. With outstanding student loan debt surpassing a jaw-dropping $ 1.78 trillion as of 2023 , a ticking time bomb looms over our financial landscape. Let's take a deeper dive into the factors leading to a potential bursting of the student loan bubble (the Biden pause has given us more time, but I'll still estimate that within th...

Imagine a world where you could keep all of your hard-earned money without paying a dime to the federal government. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, it's not as far-fetched as you might think. In fact, it's how things used to be in America before the income tax was introduced. And it's how things could be again if we decided to abolish this unjust and inefficient way of funding the government. In this blog post, I will explain why income tax is a bad idea, and how we can live without it. The History of Income Tax in the US The income tax is not as old or as natural as you might think. It was not part of the original design of the US Constitution, which only authorized the federal government to collect indirect taxes, such as tariffs or excise taxes.  The first personal income tax was imposed by Congress in 1861 to help pay for the Civil War , but it was repealed in 1872 after the war ended.  T he idea was brought back in the 16th Amendment to the Constitution, which...