For those who think Obama and the new healthcare are "ruining our country," here's some education
The Senate health reform bill will:
-- Extend coverage to 31 million Americans, the largest expansion of coverage since the creation of Medicare.
-- Ensure that YOU can choose your own doctor.
-- Finally stop insurance companies from denying coverage due to a pre-existing condition.
-- Make sure you will never be charged exorbitant premiums on the basis of your age, health, or gender.
-- Guarantee you will never lose your coverage just because you get sick or injured.
-- Protect you from outrageous out-of-pocket expenditures by establishing lifetime and annual limits.
-- Allow young people to stay on their parents' coverage until they're 26 years old. (I know I sure could have used this when I was in college!!!)
-- Create health insurance exchanges, or "one-stop shops" for individuals purchasing insurance, where insurance companies are forced to compete for new customers.
-- Lower premiums for families, according to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office -- especially for struggling folks who will receive subsidies.
-- Help small businesses provide health care coverage to their employees with tax credits and by allowing them to purchase coverage through the exchanges.
-- Improve and strengthen Medicare by eliminating waste and fraud (without cutting basic benefits), beginning to close the Medicare Part D donut hole, and extending the life of the Medicare trust fund.
-- Create jobs by reining in costs -- fostering competition, reducing waste and inefficiency, and starting to reward doctors and hospitals for quality, not quantity, of care.
-- CUT the deficit by over $130 billion in the next 10 years.
Seems like ALL the republicans can do is talk about cost and the constant tax hikes, but I guess we're living on two different planets because I haven't seen one tax increase...have you? Why don't we start talking about the overall good, and oh yeah, the true facts!?!
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Friday, December 18, 2009
Lieberman's Compromise Plan...
Due to this crazy time of year, my daughter's birthday, vacation planning...and a TON more going on, I haven't had much time to really write much. So, I thought I'd pass along this that I recieved from my brother. Unfortanatly, this seems to be exactly what's churning in Lieberman's head!
COMPRIMISE CARE:
by Joe Lieberman, et al.
*Under CompromiseCareTM, people with NO coverage will be allowed to KEEP their current plan
*Medicare will be extended to 55-year-olds as soon as they turn 65
*You will have access to cheap Canadian drugs IF you live in Canada
*States whose names contain vowels will be allowed to opt out of the plan
*You get to choose which doctor you cannot afford to see
*You will not have to be pre-certified to qualify for cremation
*A patient will be considered "pre-existing" if he or she already exists
*You'll be free to choose between medications and heating fuel
*Patients can access quality health care if they can prove their name is "Lieberman.
*You will have access to natural remedies, such as death
Joe Lieberman just beat Ben Nelson for being the biggest sell-out of the year!!
COMPRIMISE CARE:
by Joe Lieberman, et al.
*Under CompromiseCareTM, people with NO coverage will be allowed to KEEP their current plan
*Medicare will be extended to 55-year-olds as soon as they turn 65
*You will have access to cheap Canadian drugs IF you live in Canada
*States whose names contain vowels will be allowed to opt out of the plan
*You get to choose which doctor you cannot afford to see
*You will not have to be pre-certified to qualify for cremation
*A patient will be considered "pre-existing" if he or she already exists
*You'll be free to choose between medications and heating fuel
*Patients can access quality health care if they can prove their name is "Lieberman.
*You will have access to natural remedies, such as death
Joe Lieberman just beat Ben Nelson for being the biggest sell-out of the year!!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
A List of Obama's Successes
If all Obama does during his time in office is UNDO all that Bush did, then he will be unbelievably successful! However, here's what Obama HAS done. (Thanks to my brother for sending this to me!) This is refreshing after all of the negativity that can be spun from the media...especially from the "conservative" media!!
While we may or may not agree with the actions of some things on the list, there are significant deeds here which we may not be aware of and may need to weigh before making a personal assessment. The author is Professor Robert Watson of Lynn University who was once a writer for the New York Times. (You know how I like to be factual, but I couldn't find anything to dispute that Professor did in fact write this.)
Friends,
I am always being asked to grade Obama's presidency. In place of offering him a grade, I put together a list of his accomplishments thus far. I think you would agree that it is very impressive. His first six months have been even more active than FDRs or LBJs the two standards for such assessments. Yet, there is little media attention given to much of what he has done. Of late, the media is focusing almost exclusively on Obama's critics, without holding them responsible for the uncivil, unconstructive tone of their disagreements or without holding the previous administration responsible for getting us in such a deep hole. The misinformation and venom that now passes for political reporting and civic debate is beyond description.
As such, there is a need to set the record straight. What most impresses me is the fact that Obama has accomplished so much not from a heavy-handed or top-down approach but from a style that has institutionalized efforts to reach across the aisle, encourage vigorous debate, and utilize town halls and panels of experts in the policy-making process. Beyond the accomplishments, the process is good for democracy and our democratic processes have been battered and bruised in recent years. Let me know if I missed anything in the list (surely I did).
Robert
Health care reform was left off. This should be # 1.
1. Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending
2. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices
3. Instituted enforcement for equal pay for women
4. Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq
5. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB
6. Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information
7. Ended media blackout on covering the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB; the media is now permitted to do so pending adherence to respectful rules and approval of fallen soldier's family
8. The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act
9. Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible
10. Limits on lobbyist's access to the White House
11. Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration
12. Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date
13. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan
14. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research
15. Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research
16. New federal funding for science and research labs
17. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal
standards
18. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect
19. Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools
20. New funds for school construction
21. The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out
22. US Auto industry rescue plan
23. Housing rescue plan
24. $789 billion economic stimulus plan
25. The public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying
26. US financial and banking rescue plan
27. The secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed
28. Ended the previous policy; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards
29. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops
30. The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010
31.Restarted the nuclear nonproliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols
32. Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic
33. Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions
34. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office
35. Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job
36. US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast
37. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles
38. Cash for clunkers program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulated auto sales
39. Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government
40. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children
41. Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program
42. Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return home to visit loved ones
43. Ended the previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions
44. Expanding vaccination programs
45.Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters
46.Closed offshore tax safe havens
47.Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals
48.Ended the previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource
American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back
49.Ended the previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry's predatory practices
50.Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources
51.Lower drug costs for seniors
52.Ended the previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings
53.Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel
54.Improved housing for military personnel
55.Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses
56.Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals
57.Increasing student loans
58.Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program
59.Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy
60.Established a new cyber security office
61.Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force; this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc.
62.Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts
63.Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness
64. Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient
65.Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced
66.Improving benefits for veterans
67. Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration
68.Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud
69.The FDA is now regulating tobacco
70.Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules
71.Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports
72.Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons
73.Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Web to secure the release of an American held captive
74. Making more loans available to small businesses
75.Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare
76.Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court
77.Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans
78.Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000
79.Renewed loan guarantees for Israel
80.Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan
81.Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan
82.New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy,and good government practices by Afghans
83. Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production
84.Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters
85.Paid for redecoration of White House living quarters out of his OWN pocket
86.Held first Seder in White House
87.Attempting to reform the nation's healthcare system which is the most expensive in the world yet leaves almost 50 million without health insurance and millions more under insured
88.Has put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform
89.Has announced his intention to push for energy reform
90.Has announced his intention to push for education reform
Oh, and he built a swing set for the girls outside the Oval Office!
While we may or may not agree with the actions of some things on the list, there are significant deeds here which we may not be aware of and may need to weigh before making a personal assessment. The author is Professor Robert Watson of Lynn University who was once a writer for the New York Times. (You know how I like to be factual, but I couldn't find anything to dispute that Professor did in fact write this.)
Friends,
I am always being asked to grade Obama's presidency. In place of offering him a grade, I put together a list of his accomplishments thus far. I think you would agree that it is very impressive. His first six months have been even more active than FDRs or LBJs the two standards for such assessments. Yet, there is little media attention given to much of what he has done. Of late, the media is focusing almost exclusively on Obama's critics, without holding them responsible for the uncivil, unconstructive tone of their disagreements or without holding the previous administration responsible for getting us in such a deep hole. The misinformation and venom that now passes for political reporting and civic debate is beyond description.
As such, there is a need to set the record straight. What most impresses me is the fact that Obama has accomplished so much not from a heavy-handed or top-down approach but from a style that has institutionalized efforts to reach across the aisle, encourage vigorous debate, and utilize town halls and panels of experts in the policy-making process. Beyond the accomplishments, the process is good for democracy and our democratic processes have been battered and bruised in recent years. Let me know if I missed anything in the list (surely I did).
Robert
Health care reform was left off. This should be # 1.
1. Ordered all federal agencies to undertake a study and make recommendations for ways to cut spending
2. Ordered a review of all federal operations to identify and cut wasteful spending and practices
3. Instituted enforcement for equal pay for women
4. Beginning the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq
5. Families of fallen soldiers have expenses covered to be on hand when the body arrives at Dover AFB
6. Ended media blackout on war casualties; reporting full information
7. Ended media blackout on covering the return of fallen soldiers to Dover AFB; the media is now permitted to do so pending adherence to respectful rules and approval of fallen soldier's family
8. The White House and federal government are respecting the Freedom of Information Act
9. Instructed all federal agencies to promote openness and transparency as much as possible
10. Limits on lobbyist's access to the White House
11. Limits on White House aides working for lobbyists after their tenure in the administration
12. Ended the previous stop-loss policy that kept soldiers in Iraq/Afghanistan longer than their enlistment date
13. Phasing out the expensive F-22 war plane and other outdated weapons systems, which weren't even used or needed in Iraq/Afghanistan
14. Removed restrictions on embryonic stem-cell research
15. Federal support for stem-cell and new biomedical research
16. New federal funding for science and research labs
17. States are permitted to enact federal fuel efficiency standards above federal
standards
18. Increased infrastructure spending (roads, bridges, power plants) after years of neglect
19. Funds for high-speed, broadband Internet access to K-12 schools
20. New funds for school construction
21. The prison at Guantanamo Bay is being phased out
22. US Auto industry rescue plan
23. Housing rescue plan
24. $789 billion economic stimulus plan
25. The public can meet with federal housing insurers to refinance (the new plan can be completed in one day) a mortgage if they are having trouble paying
26. US financial and banking rescue plan
27. The secret detention facilities in Eastern Europe and elsewhere are being closed
28. Ended the previous policy; the US now has a no torture policy and is in compliance with the Geneva Convention standards
29. Better body armor is now being provided to our troops
30. The missile defense program is being cut by $1.4 billion in 2010
31.Restarted the nuclear nonproliferation talks and building back up the nuclear inspection infrastructure/protocols
32. Reengaged in the treaties/agreements to protect the Antarctic
33. Reengaged in the agreements/talks on global warming and greenhouse gas emissions
34. Visited more countries and met with more world leaders than any president in his first six months in office
35. Successful release of US captain held by Somali pirates; authorized the SEALS to do their job
36. US Navy increasing patrols off Somali coast
37. Attractive tax write-offs for those who buy hybrid automobiles
38. Cash for clunkers program offers vouchers to trade in fuel inefficient, polluting old cars for new cars; stimulated auto sales
39. Announced plans to purchase fuel efficient American-made fleet for the federal government
40. Expanded the SCHIP program to cover health care for 4 million more children
41. Signed national service legislation; expanded national youth service program
42. Instituted a new policy on Cuba, allowing Cuban families to return home to visit loved ones
43. Ended the previous policy of not regulating and labeling carbon dioxide emissions
44. Expanding vaccination programs
45.Immediate and efficient response to the floods in North Dakota and other natural disasters
46.Closed offshore tax safe havens
47.Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals
48.Ended the previous policy of offering tax benefits to corporations who outsource
American jobs; the new policy is to promote in-sourcing to bring jobs back
49.Ended the previous practice of protecting credit card companies; in place of it are new consumer protections from credit card industry's predatory practices
50.Energy producing plants must begin preparing to produce 15% of their energy from renewable sources
51.Lower drug costs for seniors
52.Ended the previous practice of forbidding Medicare from negotiating with drug manufacturers for cheaper drugs; the federal government is now realizing hundreds of millions in savings
53.Increasing pay and benefits for military personnel
54.Improved housing for military personnel
55.Initiating a new policy to promote federal hiring of military spouses
56.Improved conditions at Walter Reed Military Hospital and other military hospitals
57.Increasing student loans
58.Increasing opportunities in AmeriCorps program
59.Sent envoys to Middle East and other parts of the world that had been neglected for years; reengaging in multilateral and bilateral talks and diplomacy
60.Established a new cyber security office
61.Beginning the process of reforming and restructuring the military 20 years after the Cold War to a more modern fighting force; this includes new procurement policies, increasing size of military, new technology and cyber units and operations, etc.
62.Ended previous policy of awarding no-bid defense contracts
63.Ordered a review of hurricane and natural disaster preparedness
64. Established a National Performance Officer charged with saving the federal government money and making federal operations more efficient
65.Students struggling to make college loan payments can have their loans refinanced
66.Improving benefits for veterans
67. Many more press conferences and town halls and much more media access than previous administration
68.Instituted a new focus on mortgage fraud
69.The FDA is now regulating tobacco
70.Ended previous policy of cutting the FDA and circumventing FDA rules
71.Ended previous practice of having White House aides rewrite scientific and environmental rules, regulations, and reports
72.Authorized discussions with North Korea and private mission by Pres. Bill Clinton to secure the release of two Americans held in prisons
73.Authorized discussions with Myanmar and mission by Sen. Jim Web to secure the release of an American held captive
74. Making more loans available to small businesses
75.Established independent commission to make recommendations on slowing the costs of Medicare
76.Appointment of first Latina to the Supreme Court
77.Authorized construction/opening of additional health centers to care for veterans
78.Limited salaries of senior White House aides; cut to $100,000
79.Renewed loan guarantees for Israel
80.Changed the failing/status quo military command in Afghanistan
81.Deployed additional troops to Afghanistan
82.New Afghan War policy that limits aerial bombing and prioritizes aid, development of infrastructure, diplomacy,and good government practices by Afghans
83. Announced the long-term development of a national energy grid with renewable sources and cleaner, efficient energy production
84.Returned money authorized for refurbishment of White House offices and private living quarters
85.Paid for redecoration of White House living quarters out of his OWN pocket
86.Held first Seder in White House
87.Attempting to reform the nation's healthcare system which is the most expensive in the world yet leaves almost 50 million without health insurance and millions more under insured
88.Has put the ball in play for comprehensive immigration reform
89.Has announced his intention to push for energy reform
90.Has announced his intention to push for education reform
Oh, and he built a swing set for the girls outside the Oval Office!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The Abortion Topic
This is never a popular subject, and it is a subject our nation usually avoids really talking about. But, I have felt compelled to write about it as the subject of abortion has presented itself many times over the last couple of weeks within the news. This particular subject is pretty much THE subject that divides the political parties. The Republican Party is the one that took this issue and shoved it into the political lime light decades ago, and has ridden on the coat tails of the issue ever since. In turn, they have been able to brand themselves as the party with the highest morals, upholding the teachings from the Bible. Never mind that they pick and choose things from the Bible that fit their own political agenda…otherwise, what was Noah’s Ark about if God is truly Pro-Life? I could go through a litany of things to shed light on the hypocrisy of the church and their true torturous history. But, this issue is no more a political issue than it is a religious one. The issue comes down to if a woman has a RIGHT to an abortion.
Of coarse a woman has a right to choose, and she can help make that choice with the help of her own religious beliefs. The Republican Party likes the idea of small government and for government to stay out of the personal lives of citizens. Well, how much bigger can a government get then when it makes a medical decision for a woman based solely on a politicians personal religious beliefs? What if our government had a Jehovah Witness majority? Jehovah Witnesses do not believe in blood transfusions. Would we then be faced with the closing of blood banks, touting that it is immoral and that citizens should have that right taken away? We have the right to choose if we want blood transfusions, just have we have the right to reject it if it conflicts with a personal belief. We simply have the right to choose!!
Many years ago, I was confronted with the choice of abortion. I found out that I was pregnant during my first year of college. I am thankful that I had the right to choose what was best for me and for my future, and that the decision was my right to make! I decided not to abort based on my own personal beliefs and knowing that that was not a decision that I could ever live with. But, women are faced with this choice everyday! The decision, I can assure you, is not a flippant decision. There are women that are in highly abusive relationships/marriages, women that are raped, women that are in their 50’s or older, girls that are 15 and younger, women that have jobs that don’t offer medical insurance or don’t offer paid leaves of absence coupled with little to no familial help, women that find themselves in poor health or their unborn child is incapable of living outside of the womb. All of these different faces to this issue are the reason there should be a choice. It is simply a woman’s right! Just because women have the right, doesn’t mean that they will choose to have an abortion. It just simply means woman have the right to choose.
Of coarse a woman has a right to choose, and she can help make that choice with the help of her own religious beliefs. The Republican Party likes the idea of small government and for government to stay out of the personal lives of citizens. Well, how much bigger can a government get then when it makes a medical decision for a woman based solely on a politicians personal religious beliefs? What if our government had a Jehovah Witness majority? Jehovah Witnesses do not believe in blood transfusions. Would we then be faced with the closing of blood banks, touting that it is immoral and that citizens should have that right taken away? We have the right to choose if we want blood transfusions, just have we have the right to reject it if it conflicts with a personal belief. We simply have the right to choose!!
Many years ago, I was confronted with the choice of abortion. I found out that I was pregnant during my first year of college. I am thankful that I had the right to choose what was best for me and for my future, and that the decision was my right to make! I decided not to abort based on my own personal beliefs and knowing that that was not a decision that I could ever live with. But, women are faced with this choice everyday! The decision, I can assure you, is not a flippant decision. There are women that are in highly abusive relationships/marriages, women that are raped, women that are in their 50’s or older, girls that are 15 and younger, women that have jobs that don’t offer medical insurance or don’t offer paid leaves of absence coupled with little to no familial help, women that find themselves in poor health or their unborn child is incapable of living outside of the womb. All of these different faces to this issue are the reason there should be a choice. It is simply a woman’s right! Just because women have the right, doesn’t mean that they will choose to have an abortion. It just simply means woman have the right to choose.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Twas the Night of Health Care Voting
I received a very right-wing e-mail today using "The Night Before Christmas" theme. It was about Democrats standing in the way of prayer in schools and having no morals. It inspired me to write my own "Night Before Christmas" theme. So, here goes...
Twas the night of health care voting, and all through the house,
The majority members cheered with one minority mouse.
The Party of No, just simply didn't care,
Hoarding their gov. insurance and not wanting to share!
Americans nestled all snug in their bed,
With visions of health care and not being dead!!
Feeling safe that the leaders would fill the coverage gap,
And not let the Extremist treat them like crap!
When the next day on TV arose such a clatter,
Fox News reported sorrow on the bill passage matter.
And said the poor insurance was not to bash,
they only wanted a huge, chunk of our cash!
Republicans have grown angry and yell loudly, "NO!"
For reasons not known...I think maybe they're slow!
For why are they consumed with all of this fear,
Except their lobbyist money might soon disappear.
The Republican remedy is to "just not get sick!"
But with H1N1, that can't be the trick.
Reform is the answer and not the blame.
The Republicans must surly be all insane!
"Now Beck, now Limbaugh, now Hannity and Palin,"
Stop all the non-sense and the annoying loud waylin'.
Americans want reform and enough of this brawl.
If you offer no solution, then give no more stall!
The senate must pass reform and not die,
But if it is blocked then me-O-my!
Party of No will become less than few,
But one thing's for sure, we'll not hear their spew!
Americans are ready for common sense proof,
That the leaders care and not offer their spoof.
Hijacking Jesus makes one dumbfound,
For he would give health care for all around!
Enough of the bake sales for children with cancer!
Affordable health care is the ONLY answer!
True reform is now here, and muffling strife.
So, health care to all, and to all a good life!
--Share with others and spread the "good cheer!"
Twas the night of health care voting, and all through the house,
The majority members cheered with one minority mouse.
The Party of No, just simply didn't care,
Hoarding their gov. insurance and not wanting to share!
Americans nestled all snug in their bed,
With visions of health care and not being dead!!
Feeling safe that the leaders would fill the coverage gap,
And not let the Extremist treat them like crap!
When the next day on TV arose such a clatter,
Fox News reported sorrow on the bill passage matter.
And said the poor insurance was not to bash,
they only wanted a huge, chunk of our cash!
Republicans have grown angry and yell loudly, "NO!"
For reasons not known...I think maybe they're slow!
For why are they consumed with all of this fear,
Except their lobbyist money might soon disappear.
The Republican remedy is to "just not get sick!"
But with H1N1, that can't be the trick.
Reform is the answer and not the blame.
The Republicans must surly be all insane!
"Now Beck, now Limbaugh, now Hannity and Palin,"
Stop all the non-sense and the annoying loud waylin'.
Americans want reform and enough of this brawl.
If you offer no solution, then give no more stall!
The senate must pass reform and not die,
But if it is blocked then me-O-my!
Party of No will become less than few,
But one thing's for sure, we'll not hear their spew!
Americans are ready for common sense proof,
That the leaders care and not offer their spoof.
Hijacking Jesus makes one dumbfound,
For he would give health care for all around!
Enough of the bake sales for children with cancer!
Affordable health care is the ONLY answer!
True reform is now here, and muffling strife.
So, health care to all, and to all a good life!
--Share with others and spread the "good cheer!"
Monday, November 9, 2009
Uncovering More Truth in the Great Health Care Debate!
An acquaintance of mine expressed her disgust with Saturday's house health care bill passage. She expressed her bitterness at "socialized medicine" and a future "Utopian/Socialized" nation upon the horizon at this "liberal" pace. I, of coarse, had different feelings on the subject, as I feel this was a huge victory for our nation! Never have we come so close to really reforming health care, and I feel that we are finally making steps in the correct direction! I reminded her that our nation has literally hundreds of "socialized" programs that nobody bats an eye at. The government currently funds such things as our highways, education, the military, police force, fire departments, food and safety standards, work force safety standards, and so on. She quickly responded with,
"...The government run health programs that are already in place are bankrupt, non efficient and riddled with corruption and fraud. And just in case you think government run health care is the way to go, hang out at Ben Taub, Parkland or any other county run hospital for a day and tell me how you like that."
At this response, I really started thinking. This must be what the right-wing really thinks! My, how misinformed so many Americans really are! First, let me start by saying that the government is in no way, shape, or form taking over hospitals. The government is simply trying to pass a bill with the Public Option. This would mean they are trying to get into the health care insurance business, which by the way, they are already in. Certain sectors of society already receive and enjoy the benefits of government insurance such as the VA and the elderly. And, the same people that are repeatedly debating against, voting against, and smearing the current health care bill that just passed the house, are the same people who currently enjoy government health insurance. If government insurance really is corrupt and paving the way to the "Hitler dream," why aren't our congress and other federally employed men and women, abandoning their own current government health insurance programs, and signing on with the supposedly "wonderful" private insurance programs? It's almost like, "do as I say, not as I do" sort of mentality.
Because profit, and gross profits with little to no regulation at that, create greed, there is absolutely no incentive for the private insurance companies to come back down to reasonable ground. The Public Option, along with setting up new rules such as destroying pre-existing conditions, is the only thing that is going to tie the greedy little hands of private insurance companies. For-profit insurance companies are in no way, shape, or form looking out for their customers, because they are expendable. Full-profit insurance companies are only looking out for their pockets. Which brings me to my second point.
Just for kicks, and to point out the obvious to my acquaintance who brought up county run hospitals, I researched nationally ranked hospitals in the United States to see where some of the for-profit and non-profit hospitals ranked. The #1 hospital in the country is Johns Hopkins, a non-profit hospital. The #2 hospital was the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN...a non-profit hospital. Actually out of the top 20 hospitals listed, not one was a for-profit hospital! Being that I live in the Houston area, and the largest medical center is rooted here, I found it sort of astonishing that not one Houston hospital was listed in the top 10 hospitals in the US. When Houston is finally listed, it is Methodist Hospital at #20....and guess what? It too is a non-profit hospital! What I found the most interesting is that Barnes-Jewish Hospital, which is a county hospital, was ranked at #9! Interesting that a county run hospital out ranks every for-profit hospital in the United States!
The facts are simply not with the voices from the right! The one thing they cling to, is their fear, and they are on a campaign to spread it! The voices of reason are armed with facts, and we need to be on a campaign to spread it!
"...The government run health programs that are already in place are bankrupt, non efficient and riddled with corruption and fraud. And just in case you think government run health care is the way to go, hang out at Ben Taub, Parkland or any other county run hospital for a day and tell me how you like that."
At this response, I really started thinking. This must be what the right-wing really thinks! My, how misinformed so many Americans really are! First, let me start by saying that the government is in no way, shape, or form taking over hospitals. The government is simply trying to pass a bill with the Public Option. This would mean they are trying to get into the health care insurance business, which by the way, they are already in. Certain sectors of society already receive and enjoy the benefits of government insurance such as the VA and the elderly. And, the same people that are repeatedly debating against, voting against, and smearing the current health care bill that just passed the house, are the same people who currently enjoy government health insurance. If government insurance really is corrupt and paving the way to the "Hitler dream," why aren't our congress and other federally employed men and women, abandoning their own current government health insurance programs, and signing on with the supposedly "wonderful" private insurance programs? It's almost like, "do as I say, not as I do" sort of mentality.
Because profit, and gross profits with little to no regulation at that, create greed, there is absolutely no incentive for the private insurance companies to come back down to reasonable ground. The Public Option, along with setting up new rules such as destroying pre-existing conditions, is the only thing that is going to tie the greedy little hands of private insurance companies. For-profit insurance companies are in no way, shape, or form looking out for their customers, because they are expendable. Full-profit insurance companies are only looking out for their pockets. Which brings me to my second point.
Just for kicks, and to point out the obvious to my acquaintance who brought up county run hospitals, I researched nationally ranked hospitals in the United States to see where some of the for-profit and non-profit hospitals ranked. The #1 hospital in the country is Johns Hopkins, a non-profit hospital. The #2 hospital was the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN...a non-profit hospital. Actually out of the top 20 hospitals listed, not one was a for-profit hospital! Being that I live in the Houston area, and the largest medical center is rooted here, I found it sort of astonishing that not one Houston hospital was listed in the top 10 hospitals in the US. When Houston is finally listed, it is Methodist Hospital at #20....and guess what? It too is a non-profit hospital! What I found the most interesting is that Barnes-Jewish Hospital, which is a county hospital, was ranked at #9! Interesting that a county run hospital out ranks every for-profit hospital in the United States!
The facts are simply not with the voices from the right! The one thing they cling to, is their fear, and they are on a campaign to spread it! The voices of reason are armed with facts, and we need to be on a campaign to spread it!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Socialized Education
A friend of mine wrote this, and I thought it was very interesting!
Americans are really great, loving, forbearing and giving. They are also short-sighted, opinionated, naive and shallow. The point is that Americans, though well-intentioned, generally miss the point. The REASON that people come out of institutions of higher learning deeply in debt is that the entire, and I mean ENTIRE, certification and practical application(s) of the certification process are deeply flawed. If the training of youth to meet the challenges and responsibilities of the future are so essential to the public welfare and success of the nation, then the challenges and responsibilities for their thorough education to meet those needs SHOULD be met by the nation.
Socialism be damned! At the VERY LEAST, the bachelor's degree and/or practical trades training to the journeyman level should be accepted and paid by the nation for every man woman and child. If it requires the taxation of the citizenry to pay for the advancement of American society to the next level, then so be it. The rewards for REALLY leaving no child behind would be HUGE!
Americans need to recognize that the stratification of the United States is effectively destroying it. By guaranteeing a life of indebtedness for our children and by guaranteeing that potentially brilliant minds ARE being left behind and unused, the nation takes VERY careful aim and shoots itself in the foot. Assigning a label of socialism to advanced public education, with all of the unsubstantiated fears that go along with it, we do nothing more than ensure that the stratification of wealth and the suppression of advancement continues.
Who stands to gain wealth from a thoroughly indebted and uneducated populace? Who stands to gain power from that same scenario? If you are going to school to learn how to steal and keep others under your thumb while schmoozing with the elite then you are. If you are going to school to learn how to advance not only yourself but the nation and world around you, then ALL should be allowed the same opportunities without facing fiscal slavery for the rest of your lives. Political posturing and stonewalling need to be overcome thoroughly, the next level certification process needs to be completely revamped and IGNORANCE, reinforced by suppression and greed needs to be vilified. The United States is a democratic republic with SOCIAL needs! Our forefathers recognized and accepted it. Why can't we???
--author, Kaysie Markwardt
Americans are really great, loving, forbearing and giving. They are also short-sighted, opinionated, naive and shallow. The point is that Americans, though well-intentioned, generally miss the point. The REASON that people come out of institutions of higher learning deeply in debt is that the entire, and I mean ENTIRE, certification and practical application(s) of the certification process are deeply flawed. If the training of youth to meet the challenges and responsibilities of the future are so essential to the public welfare and success of the nation, then the challenges and responsibilities for their thorough education to meet those needs SHOULD be met by the nation.
Socialism be damned! At the VERY LEAST, the bachelor's degree and/or practical trades training to the journeyman level should be accepted and paid by the nation for every man woman and child. If it requires the taxation of the citizenry to pay for the advancement of American society to the next level, then so be it. The rewards for REALLY leaving no child behind would be HUGE!
Americans need to recognize that the stratification of the United States is effectively destroying it. By guaranteeing a life of indebtedness for our children and by guaranteeing that potentially brilliant minds ARE being left behind and unused, the nation takes VERY careful aim and shoots itself in the foot. Assigning a label of socialism to advanced public education, with all of the unsubstantiated fears that go along with it, we do nothing more than ensure that the stratification of wealth and the suppression of advancement continues.
Who stands to gain wealth from a thoroughly indebted and uneducated populace? Who stands to gain power from that same scenario? If you are going to school to learn how to steal and keep others under your thumb while schmoozing with the elite then you are. If you are going to school to learn how to advance not only yourself but the nation and world around you, then ALL should be allowed the same opportunities without facing fiscal slavery for the rest of your lives. Political posturing and stonewalling need to be overcome thoroughly, the next level certification process needs to be completely revamped and IGNORANCE, reinforced by suppression and greed needs to be vilified. The United States is a democratic republic with SOCIAL needs! Our forefathers recognized and accepted it. Why can't we???
--author, Kaysie Markwardt
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