Is The US Becoming Nazi Germany for the Disabled?

ARE WE BECOMING NAZI GERMANY?

When It Comes to the Disabled

AN ABRIDGED HISTORY OF NAZI GERMANY AND THE DISABLED

NAZI GERMANY

Genocide seldom begins with murder:  In Nazi Germany in the early 1930s, the verbal attacks on the disabled began.  The disabled were labeled as lazy, "a drain on the economy," "life unworthy of life," and "useless eaters."  All of the official verbal accounts were aimed at labeling the disabled as a burden on the culture.  The picture at the top of the blog is of 4 individuals who were gassed as a part of the T4 program begun in 1939.  

First Nazi Law Regarding the Disabled:  July 14, 1933 - Nazi Germany created a law entitled the "Law for the Prevention of Progency With Hereditary Diseases."  This law was not unlike laws in the United States which required the sterilization of the disabled and other unwanted minorities.  The law the Nazi's passed called for the sterilization of ALL people with 'hereditary' diseases such as mental illness, learning disabilities, physical disabilities, epilepsy, deafness, blindness and more.  Tens of thousands were sterilized although the exact number is not known.  The law was part of the Nazi intent to develop a super race in part by killing off any weak links. 

The Extermination of the Disabled Began in 1939:  The attacks against the disabled escalated in 1939 when a program called "Mercy Deaths"-Code Name, T4, was secretly initiated by Adolf Hitler.  T4 referred to the location of the death camp where thousands of persons with disabilities were gassed and exterminated. The T4 program which used poison gas to kill the disabled was later updated to what was called "The Final Solution" used on millions of people. In 1941, Hitler stated the T4 program had been terminated.  At this time it was estimated that at least 70,000 Austrian and German people with disabilities had been gassed at T4.  Although Hitler stated the T4 program had been stopped, it continued in secret and eventually over 250,000 disabled people were gassed and killed. When you look at tyrannical regimes in history, it is often the disabled who are first targeted for death.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Early History of Eugenics in the United States:  The US also had sterilization programs designed to rid the nation of the disabled, immigrants, people of color, poor people, unmarried mothers and especially the mentally ill.  A PBS piece reviewed the sterilization in just one of the US 50 states; California.  California's sterilization program began in 1909 and continued in earnest until 1979.  During that time, it is reported that over 20,000 people were sterilized.  Overall in the United States the number is well into the hundreds of thousands. 

A Short-Term Awakening in the United States:  A gradual improvement in services and treatment for the disabled began weakly in the late 1960s and became stronger over the next few decades.  Many laws were passed to make life more equitable for the disabled but few were enforced.  ADA (Adults with Disabilities Act) was passed in 1990 but few portions of it have been enforced.  More funds were made available for services for the disabled.

The Return to Systemic Ableism:  During the 1990s and on the attitude toward the disabled again deteriorated.  On several occasions comments from US Congressman were made saying "the disabled are a drag on the economy." lazy and much worse.  Note these quotes are the same that occurred in Nazi Germany.  This year, 2018 a bill which has languished in the US House for over 2 years made it to the floor and was passed.  This bill, if it becomes law, will overturn most of the ADA laws and make it a criminal offense to file a complaint (fine) under certain circumstances.  The reversal of this law along with the government attitude and actions (see picture of Trump, above), I believe are designed to send a message to the extremists that it is ok to go after the disabled.  Note that over the last two years (2016 and 2017) hate crimes against the disabled have risen significantly. 

Gutting of Assistance for the Disabled and other Minorities:  Programs which are used by the disabled and are essential for the survival of many include Medicaid, SSDI, SSI, SNAP, WIC, etc.  Congress is now attacking those programs which fund not only the disabled but the poor, women, single parents, children, people of color, etc.  Also note that an attack is and has been ongoing against health care in the US.  Healthcare keeps the disabled alive.  Don't be fooled, attacks on the health care system, as bad as it is, is a form of genocide against the disabled who cannot live without the health care.  

A Couple More Comments:  Let's briefly look at some statistics from the US Census  and the Disability Compendium.  First, depending on the source the percentage in the US of persons with disabilities ranges from 20% to 50% at any given time. The overall estimated unemployment rate for the disabled living in the community between the ages of 18 and 65 is just over 65%  (and that does not include those in institutions or prison). Between 40-50% of inmates in federal and local jails are reportedly disabled.  The unemployment rate for people with intellectual disabilities and mobility disabilities are almost exactly the same at just over 75%  Not surprisingly almost 50% of people with disabilities live in poverty.  The US is just a small distance from the actions of Nazi Germany. This should bother everyone. 

Closing Remarks:  It is time to start focusing on the plight of the disabled in the US.  I have been told that I spend too much time talking about the disabled and not other minorities.  Well, its because so few people are talking about the plight of the disabled.  During the last few days, the media all but totally ignored the vote to dismantle ADA.  I support human and civil rights for all but we need to start focusing on the disabled as well.  Remember when you read that the poor health care system in the US is causing 25,000 a year, those folks are mostly the disabled. 

While the absence of a decent health care system hurts everyone, it kills the disabled. This is genocide. 

More posts under this blog title will be coming soon. 

Visit us HERE on Twitter

Contact Us via EMAIL