On Thursday, a federal court ruled that a lawsuit regarding VA’s failure to provide appropriate health care and benefits to veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder can go forward.  The case claims that the VA benefit system is unconstitutional because of extreme delays in determining whether veterans are entitled to support.  The case also argues that VA fails to provide health care to veterans, even those that are suicidal.  The plaintiffs are two veterans groups, Veterans for Common Sense and Veterans United for Truth.  The lawyers representing the plaintiffs are Disability Rights Advocates, a nonprofit lawfirm in Berkeley, California, and Morrison & Foerster, a large private lawfirm headquartered in San Francisco.  

The California Public Utilities Commission, the same folks that brought California energy deregulation and the subsequent energy crisis in 2001, are about to completely deregulate telecommunications services in California.  This state agency has enormous power, but it operates with little or no public scrutiny.  Now, the Commission is moving forward with a proposal to completely deregulate price protections on all telecommunications services, including most services effective immediately, and even basic service in two years.

More, plus information on what you can do to oppose telecom deregulation, after the jump.

Yesterday, some of the comments in the diary called "This is my body" touched on the issue of assisted suicide.  I commented there that this issue is one of grave concern in the disability community.  

I understand the impulse to think of assisted suicide as part of a right to bodily privacy and bodily integrity.  However, I want to offer some insight into why it can also be seen as a way to rid society of people whose bodies are not acceptable, or who are perceived as a burden.

More below the jump.