CARING FOR HEALTH OR PROFITS?

IF IT'S BROKEN, FIX IT !
Johann Wagener 10-07-13

Having spent 6 years in a country that offers universal healthcare (and using it) I can personally attest to how it works compared to our so-called  profit oriented "free market" healthcare system. My experience, by the way, was not in one of the other industrialized countries, but in a small (but progressive) country in Central America which attracted me when I learned it had no standing army (no defense spending) even though it was surrounded by extremely volatile and war mongering neighbors.

I was curious as to how they did it. It wasn't a communist, socialist country. Besides being a democracy, capitalism flourishes there; very much like in the US.  Private healthcare for those who wanted, and could afford it. The government healthcare system for those who needed it, not want it. But that did not get anyone off the hook in paying their share to support it, and, to my surprise, no one was complaining. Everyone paid into the system in some way or another, including the medical profession.

What they contributed to was a clinic in every village and town in the country where one could go for vaccinations, checkups, medication, dental, and optometry, and, if need be a referral to one of the regional hospitals located in the larger cities. In the city near me the hospital structure was (and looked) 100 years old but the equipment was 21st century state of the art and the staff was comprised of well educated and conscientious people that took pride in their work. The lines at the clinics were short since only the locals use them. The hospitals on the other hand, had long lines that sometimes went out the front door but, by the end of the day, everyone was taken care of regardless of the medical condition. As one doctor told me, if your in line and need a $45,000.00 liver transplant, it's yours. And the cost to you? Nada! Well, not exactly. The government health plan for the average person costs around $20.00 a month; all inclusive.

The one important difference were the things they valued and prioritized. Healthcare, education, nutrition, housing, all those things we cherish here in the US took precedence over everything else in this small Central American country. Simply put; when it came to their citizens, they had their priorities right.

As the following article points out, Europe is much the same. Even countries like England that we freed ourselves from to escape what we saw as violations of our rights. So what happened?

Republican lawmakers are determined to protect the American people from what they call "socialized medicine" and what the rest of the world calls affordable and accessible healthcare.What seldom comes up in this discussion, though, is what exactly we're talking about. Is it the government owning and running all hospitals? Is it Washington bureaucrats deciding who receives treatment and who doesn't?

Or is it something closer to the experience Oak Park resident Mona Davis had during a recent visit to London? How healthcare can work when it is a right, not a privilege

THE GAME OF FOOTBALL AND POLITICS

Aaron J Mund's answer to:
2013 U.S. Federal Government Shutdown: Is this a game?
WHO'S PLAYING IT?
Johann Wagener 10-04-13

He started eating his words no sooner than they came out of his mouth by going on to say that he was going to play until he (and those cooks he's pandering to) had their way. No matter that they are asking the rest of us to break the law because they don't approve of it.

It's becoming obvious that between the booze and overexposure to ultraviolet rays his brain is beginning to deteriorate.

Boehner still seeking health-care negotiations: ‘This isn’t some damn game’

House Republicans on Friday continued to demand changes to President Obama’s signature health-care law as a condition for funding government operations, with an Oct. 17 debt-ceiling deadline looming and no end to the federal government shutdown in sight.


Aaron J Mund, Jacob of all trades. Setting tile, to... (more)

Yes.

There are two main teams both trying to advance down the field. The game has been even more intense over the past 6-10 years. Their are many plays that both sides cry foul when played. The one many are crying foul over right now is the government shut down ran by the republicans. The democrats are countering this play by running a strategic shut down Flea Flicker play. They are trying to divert the eyes of the public to sob stories about people effected by the shut down. They tried to close Mount Vernon the privately owned home of George Washington. They have closed monuments that are not manned. They also have National Park Rangers guarding the closed gates. That is a quick interpretation of the current game. I would say that the ball was fumbled on the 50 and Obama and Boehner are laying on the ball not wanting to get up. While the rest of the teams are in the locker rooms.

Anyone criticizing the republicans over this play should look at the play used to get the ACA passed. It was not passed in a fair way in the eyes of many. Those said "Tough Stuff ACA passed" are the same people crying today. Obama and his team are great at the game.

There are so many games played with in politics from the elections to voting and vetoes, one could right a book about the topic. There are issues like the Third Team playing on the court during an election. There is the incumbent with the money and mailing list. Then there are all the parliamentary rules. Look at the one man play Ran Paul used to give attention to drones in the USA.

Politics will for ever be a game with corporate sponsors pulling for their team. And the fans are always pissed when a bad call is made. This Sunday go to a bar and watch a game. See how many people say "those two teams need to work together!" or "it was okay for that other team member to grab the mask of the other player."


Mr Mund:


I really enjoyed reading your comments and the way you applied the football analogy in describing American politics. There's a couple of points that you failed to include which I think are fitting.


For example, both politics and football are about and overpaid bunch of men chasing something that has little or no value other than to entertain themselves and those who would spend more than 2 to 3 hours sitting on their dumps to see about 7 minutes of action. Not to mention it's a game that scrambles brains; both on and off the field which undoubtedly applies to both groups discussed here.


And, finally, it's a pass time that Americans will gladly throw billions of dollars into with little or no regard to the damage to and by those playing these games.


When Boehner shouted, "this is not a game" he was wrong as you so rightly point out.

UN-HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

PROFITS COME FIRST!
Johann Wagener 10-07-13

In addition to the US, Liberia, Swaziland and Papua New Guinea do not offer paid parental leave. As of 2013, a little more than 11% of US employers voluntarily offered paid family leave to its employees.

Does the US Law Provide for Paid Parental Leave?

THEY LOST THEIR MINDS

NEXT - THE ELECTIONS
Johann Wagener 10-06-13

The last two times the GOP played with the fire of shutdown they got burned. What would make this any different? If the game plan is to assert itself, embarrass the President, go eyeball-to-eyeball over Obamacare and position itself to win enough seats to get back the Senate next year, then there are lessons to be learned. In both 1995 and 2006, the GOP lost seats following their hard-line stance.

POLL: GOP could lose House in 2014 — MSNBC

C-THUMPERS

ABUSING THE CONSTITUTION
Johann Wagener 10-06-13

A common term "Bible Thumper" is often used when describing the following;

The "Bible Thumpers" spout the ravings of the last televangelist they have watched on tv. They listen to the latest babbling about who will be "Left Behind". They loudly announce the "End of Times" or the "Rapture" which is coming the day after tomorrow and how it is therefore unnecessary to think about or care about the future.

There is a startling resemblance between these folks and those who I have fondly labeled "C-THUMPERS" (C being short for Constitution)

If I were to replace a few words in the definition of a Bible Thumper I would come up with this;

The "C- Thumpers" spout the ravings of the last FOX pundit they have watched on tv. They listen to the latest babbling about "Big Government". They loudly announce the "loss of freedom" or "taking our guns" which is coming the day after tomorrow and how it is therefore unnecessary to think about or care about the future.

C-THUMPERS interpret the Constitution as if they were living in those times and bumping elbows with Washington, Adams, and Franklin at the local pub, exchanging stories about one of the slave girls they had in the barn last night or the rabbit they poached with their one-shot musket.

For them it's as if the world has stood still all these years and we are still playing by "exactly" the same rules. Some of them go so far as to don the costumes of the time and frantically parade around reenacting scenes of the past as if that will make them real. On the surface it all seems like good clean fun; exercising freedom of speech, but underneath all that rhetoric and flag waving lies something much more dangerous because, for these people, it is real.

Does the Tea Party understand the Constitution?

WAS IT BOEHNER?

DC police spokesman: Man who set himself on fire on the National Mall has died of his injuries

THE TED CRUZ DEATH PANEL

TEXAS #1
Johann Wagener 10-04-13

Ted C is the epitome of selfish self-centerdness. Hypocrisy is his trademark as demonstrated in his doing everything he can to kill the AHCA while at the same taking government sponsored healthcare for himself.


10 States With The Worst Health Coverage

# 1 Texas
> Pct. without health insurance (2012): 22.5%
> Unemployment rate (2012): 6.8% (17th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 17.9% (11th highest)
> Pct. aged 65 and over: 10.9% (3rd lowest)

Not only did Texas have the highest rate of uninsured people in 2012, but the state also had among the highest portion of uninsured children, elderly, and unemployed people. Additionally, over 30% of adults under 65 were uninsured in the state. Texas lawmakers have been opposed to the Affordable Care Act, with Texas Senator Ted Cruz speaking for over 20 hours in an attempt to block the law from taking effect.