Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Adios Bush

As we say farewell to the Bush administration let us summarize the way he has ruined our country. And let us remind the future voters to pay more attention to their government and those governing from now on. For the responsibility of this terrible fiasco lies directly on those who voted this charlatan in. Bush and his Rasputin, Cheney, have done so much damage it's really hard to fathom how we let them get away with it. Our founding fathers gave us the tools to avoid this kind of governance, but Congress was complicit in this disaster and ignored the coming failure.

It is disheartening to know that Bush and Cheney will retire to their mansions and not have to suffer the consequences of their actions. They should be taken to the Hague for crimes against humanity. At the least, they sould have been impeached. Justice? Hell, there is no justice.

I realize that most of my followers read the NYT and have already seen this editorial by Bob Herbert, but for those who may have missed it I am copying it for your perusal.


Add Up the Damage

Does anyone know where George W. Bush is?

You don’t hear much from him anymore. The last image most of us remember is of the president ducking a pair of size 10s that were hurled at him in Baghdad.

We’re still at war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Israel is thrashing the Palestinians in Gaza. And the U.S. economy is about as vibrant as the 0-16 Detroit Lions.

But hardly a peep have we heard from George, the 43rd.

When Mr. Bush officially takes his leave in three weeks (in reality, he checked out long ago), most Americans will be content to sigh good riddance. I disagree. I don’t think he should be allowed to slip quietly out of town. There should be a great hue and cry — a loud, collective angry howl, demonstrations with signs and bullhorns and fiery speeches — over the damage he’s done to this country.

This is the man who gave us the war in Iraq and Guantánamo and torture and rendition; who turned the Clinton economy and the budget surplus into fool’s gold; who dithered while New Orleans drowned; who trampled our civil liberties at home and ruined our reputation abroad; who let Dick Cheney run hog wild and thought Brownie was doing a heckuva job.

The Bush administration specialized in deceit. How else could you get the public (and a feckless Congress) to go along with an invasion of Iraq as an absolutely essential response to the Sept. 11 attacks, when Iraq had had nothing to do with the Sept. 11 attacks?

Exploiting the public’s understandable fears, Mr. Bush made it sound as if Iraq was about to nuke us: “We cannot wait,” he said, “for the final proof — the smoking gun that could come in the form of a mushroom cloud.”

He then set the blaze that has continued to rage for nearly six years, consuming more than 4,000 American lives and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. (A car bomb over the weekend killed two dozen more Iraqis, many of them religious pilgrims.) The financial cost to the U.S. will eventually reach $3 trillion or more, according to the Nobel laureate economist Joseph Stiglitz.

A year into the war Mr. Bush was cracking jokes about it at the annual dinner of the Radio and Television Correspondents Association. He displayed a series of photos that showed him searching the Oval Office, peering behind curtains and looking under the furniture. A mock caption had Mr. Bush saying: “Those weapons of mass destruction have got to be somewhere.”

And then there’s the Bush economy, another disaster, a trapdoor through which middle-class Americans can plunge toward the bracing experiences normally reserved for the poor and the destitute.

Mr. Bush traveled the country in the early days of his presidency, promoting his tax cut plans as hugely beneficial to small-business people and families of modest means. This was more deceit. The tax cuts would go overwhelmingly to the very rich.

The president would give the wealthy and the powerful virtually everything they wanted. He would throw sand into the regulatory apparatus and help foster the most extreme income disparities since the years leading up to the Great Depression. Once again he was lighting a fire. This time the flames would engulf the economy and, as with Iraq, bring catastrophe.

If the U.S. were a product line, it would be seen now as deeply damaged goods, subject to recall.

There seemed to be no end to Mr. Bush’s talent for destruction. He tried to hand the piggy bank known as Social Security over to the marauders of the financial sector, but saner heads prevailed.

In New Orleans, the president failed to intervene swiftly and decisively to aid the tens of thousands of poor people who were very publicly suffering and, in many cases, dying. He then compounded this colossal failure of leadership by traveling to New Orleans and promising, in a dramatic, floodlit appearance, to spare no effort in rebuilding the flood-torn region and the wrecked lives of the victims.

He went further, vowing to confront the issue of poverty in America “with bold action.”

It was all nonsense, of course. He did nothing of the kind.

The catalog of his transgressions against the nation’s interests — sins of commission and omission — would keep Mr. Bush in a confessional for the rest of his life. Don’t hold your breath. He’s hardly the contrite sort.

He told ABC’s Charlie Gibson: “I don’t spend a lot of time really worrying about short-term history. I guess I don’t worry about long-term history, either, since I’m not going to be around to read it.”

The president chuckled, thinking — as he did when he made his jokes about the missing weapons of mass destruction — that there was something funny going on.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Elder Stereotyping Disappearing

A funny thing happened on the way to my blog. I had copied some humorous cartoons and they appeared after I posted them. The next day I returned to this spot and found that they had jumped ship. Does anyone know why this happened? I did save them, I thought.

You will not be able to see the elder stereotyping after all. They are not flattering and share a demeaning streak like the dumb blond jokes that are so prevalent these days. I guess if we can't laugh at ourselves once in awhile there is no hope for us.

I think people get too uptight at times. I have never had a problem with a joke at my expense unless it had a underlying vicious intent. My ex son-in-law teased me a lot and I took it in the spirit it was intended. There was no cruelty meant behind his teasing.

This is not the post I meant to write for my first venture. My disappearing cartoons got me off on another tangent entirely. I think it's really time to put this to rest. I will be back with more on medical care reform when I can gather my wits.

Friday, December 26, 2008

The Costners





I meant to add this to yesterday's post. I thought you might like to see a photo I took of Kevin Costner's parents.

This was taken fourteen years ago at a Costner family reunion in Fresno, California.

They are really down to earth people, very friendly and warm. I liked them a lot.

Needless to say, Kevin did not attend the reunion. When you are famous you don't want a bunch of relatives to pester you. He did send autographed photos for all of us, however.

This is the last day my son will be here so I shall keep this post short and spend the rest of the quality time with him. He has been a real gem, cooking yummy meals, cleaning and repairing a few things for me. I will miss him terribly after he leaves.
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Thursday, December 25, 2008

What's In A Name?

Merry Christmas !!

Happy Hanukkah !!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For a while my posts will be short, but not sweet. I am still having to limit my computer time as I tire very quickly.

One thing I learned from my recent hospitalization and rehab stay is that communication is sadly lacking in the medical system. To illustrate this I will tell you how my last name served a worthwhile purpose.

You have all heard of the actor, Kevin Costner. Very often when people hear my name they want to know if I am related to him. At times it's fun to say I'm his mother, but when I tell the truth that my late husband was distantly related, they are impressed. I find this to be ridiculous, but so be it.

When I checked into rehab the woman who took my information was extremely excited to learn that they had a Costner in their midst. It seems that Kevin is her favorite actor. Later that evening she was telling everyone in the office about me. It so happens that my primary care physician had stopped in to get the room number of another patient there and overheard the conversation. He asked what was the first name of the Costner patient. When they told him my name he said, "That's my patient." and took over my care from that point on.

Up until that moment not a single person who took my records bothered to inform him that I was in the hospital, even though his name was on my HMO card and the information that he was my primary care doctor was given.

I later discovered that this was a small example of the compartmentalization that occurs in the entire medical system. If it isn't their job the information goes over their head into outer space and never gets reported to the proper person. At times it can be very frustrating.


Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Good Advice

My first post is to thank all of you kind people who called me, sent cards and notes, and e-mails with good wishes for my recovery from my fall. I want you to know that, even though I am tardy in responding, it meant more to me than you will ever know. I consider you my Internet family and am deeply appreciative of your kindness. I may not getting around to thanking you individually (although I will try), but please know that it is not for lack of appreciation.

I am still recovering and not up to writing a full post. To let you know that I am still here and kicking (but not very high) I am posting the following advice. I feel sure that many of you have read it before, but it bears repeating.



Written By Regina Brett of The Plain Dealer,
Cleveland , Ohio



1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step .

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to
disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying
alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first pay check.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the
present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no
idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't
be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But
don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or
joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you
stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But
the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life,
don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy
lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is
special.

22. Over-prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear
purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words:
'In five years time, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29 What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick.
Your friends will. Stay in touch.

33. Believe in miracles .

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of
anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it
now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood. Make it
memorable.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone
else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.


Friday, December 19, 2008

YouTube - From George Washington To Barack Obama - A Long Way - Original

Hello - the bad penny is back. I returned yesterday from rehab and am once more clicking on my keyboard. I will not have the energy to post a long rant for now so I thought you might enjoy this.


YouTube - From George Washington To Barack Obama - A Long Way - Original


Monday, November 24, 2008

A Mixed Blessing

You may have noticed that I have been rather remiss in posting for several weeks. Well, here's the 'skivvy.' I have been going through the stress of getting new carpeting. (One excuse is as good as another, right?)

Some of you are probably wondering what the heck is the big deal. Well, I want to inform everybody that it's a very big deal when you are 83 years old and have enough collectibles, dust catchers of assorted vintages, and just plain junk to fill a craft shop.

First came the hard part of selecting a carpet in my chosen color and within my limited budget. That out of the way, on a daily basis, I started clearing out the movable stuff . As my living room and front bedroom became more visible, my kitchen and bathrooms became less so. Junk piled up in all of the rooms that were not going to be carpeted. Even the laundry room didn't escape my growing piles of books, papers and nick-knacks.

My aching back and left knee cursed my efforts as I slogged doggedly on limping from room to room carrying what I could manage. Each night found me practically crawling to the bottle of Excedrin Extra Strength for my nightly fix.

By this time I realized that I had lost my head years ago when I went on a cottage buying binge. And where did all of those books come from? And why did I compound my foolish obsession of years past by starting this insane project?

Nonetheless, I soldiered on until the morning when four sturdy guys arrived at my doorstep to begin the transformation process. Oh the stress of watching them carry my furniture out to the back patio was too much to bear. "Please don't scratch it, please don't drop it, please be careful", I thought. I had the good sense to keep these "please" pleas to myself, but I am sure my body language spoke volumes.

Communication was almost impossible. Their English was minimal and their accent maximum. With my hearing loss, we didn't understand each other at all. The result was that they didn't put things where I wanted them and I had to gesture to show them what I wanted. I would say, "Move it to the right about four inches and they would smile and move it to the left. My NO NO NO's finally got through to them and when I pointed the other direction they smilingly moved it so fast that they went beyond where I wanted them to stop. Loud and frantic WHOA's finally got their attention and my furniture ended up somewhere in the general area that I wanted it to be.

I had one day between the day they did the living/dining room, hall and front bedroom before they were to come back to finish my bedroom and den. I spent all of that day schlepping the little cottages back to their home in the finished room. By this time I was wondering if I was going to live long enough to enjoy the new look. Two pain pills and a sleeping tablet prepared me for the last day.

Saturday, after they touched up a few scrapes on some pieces, we wished each other a final, if not fond, farewell .

After a couple of hours letting my Excedrin work it's magic I started toting my stuff back to where it belonged. I have a jewel box that has a revolving gizmo in the top with hooks to hang my chains on. When I picked up the box I noticed that several hooks were empty. Because I have more chains than hooks this was most unusual. Upon investigation I discovered that my two most expensive gold chains were missing. This caused for a further search to see what else was missing. So far I have discovered that three pendants, cameo earrings, and a box of broken jewelery waiting to be repaired has joined the items that are no longer in my possession.

Here's the real mystery: My two digital hearing aids are missing. Why in the world would someone steal hearing aids? Maybe one of the guys was as deaf as I am and needed them. (That would explain the communication problem.) Or maybe he had a relative who could use the help. Or maybe he knew that they cost $2,000 each.

I have not used a hearing aid since getting my cochlear implant so this loss is not as hard for me to bear as a piece of jewelery my son gave me. I find that the theft of hearing aids to be very hard to explain.

I had to call the dealer with my complaint this morning. I really hated doing that, wimp that I am. Because I didn't want to get anyone in trouble until I was absolutely sure that the jewelry left in the pocket of one of the helpers, I spent this whole day searching my entire house to make doubly sure that, in a fit of dementia, I hadn't moved them myself. I am waiting for his return call.
~~~~~~~ To be continued. ~~~~~~~

Notice the top photo. That is the picture I took before daylight on the first day the carpet guys were coming. The second photo taken in the same spot after they finished shows you the new colorful carpet. Photos three and four show just a small part of my cottage collection that had overflowed into other rooms. There were over 100 of the little buggers.

So, was it worth it? Absolutely. Would I do it again? Never, never, never.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

No Way To Spend Thanksgiving


Eleven years ago I was in Ramona, California visiting my daughter for Thanksgiving. My son, Mark, and his wife, Karen, were driving down from Los Angeles to join us for the festivities.

As usual, I was the earliest riser and the first thing I always did was get the morning paper. Anyone who gets a paper from a big city knows that the paper on Thanksgiving morning is the largest one published for the entire year. The San Diego paper was no exception;
actually I think it was the rule. The number of ads to lure the shoppers to open their wallets at the start of the holiday season was unbelievable .

My daughter's house was on a hill and the driveway was so steep that you had to rev the car to get up it. Needless to say, the paper delivery person didn't even attempt to throw the paper up toward the house, but left it at the foot of the drive.
My sense of balance, never very good, was beginning to fail me. This was in my pre-cane era so I was depending on my own two feet to keep me upright.

I walked down to the bottom of the drive and picked up the bag containing a paper so big that it must have caused the death of two large trees to furnish the
required paper . It was HEAVY. Bearing my burden in one hand I turned and started trudging up the drive. About half way up I lost my balance and found myself helplessly dancing a fox trot backwards down the hill. Unable to stop my backward progression I finally felt my feet leaving the paved area and hitting the dirt. My last thoughts were, "Thank God I won't fall on the concrete." As it turned out I might have been better off if I had just knocked myself out and been done with it.

My kids had their house up for sale and the Realtor's sign was right next to the driveway.
(Please see the Real Estate ad photo and notice the Realtor sign in the lower left of the picture). When I landed I managed continue falling backwards until I was stopped by the sharp corner of the post holding the sign. The edge cut a big gash in the top of my cranium. I'm sure you all know that a head wound bleeds like a bubbling fountain and I was soon covered in blood.

There is one thing that everyone who knows me will agree on; I am one stubborn babe. (I hesitate to call myself a broad because I can hear my family, who might read this, start to snicker.) I picked up the paper and staggered up toward the house one more time. Because I didn't want to get blood on the carpet, I rang the doorbell to summon aid. My son-in-law, being roused from a sound sleep, and my oldest granddaughter finally opened the door. Their eyes got as big as the proverbial saucers as they asked me what happened. Randy insisted that I was to come in. As I just told you, I am an obstinate mule and told him I wouldn't move until he brought some paper towels for me to use to stop the bleeding.

By this time my daughter was up and insisted on taking me to the emergency room. I didn't want to spoil everyone's Thanksgiving and I said I would be fine and refused to go. Didn't I just tell you that I was stubborn?

Thanksgiving preparations were under way and all would have been fine -- well, sorta' --- but I was sitting in the living room and, because the room was sunken, my daughter
standing above me got a good look at the top of my head. She informed me in no uncertain terms that she was taking me to the ER. I fear she inherited my mulish disposition and there was no arguing with her. We were in the garage ready to leave for San Diego and the clinic when my son and his wife appeared in the driveway. I managed to shock two more people that morning. I mean, if I am going to do something, I will go all out and do it well.

Eventually, I got 17 stitches in the top of my head and Thanksgiving dinner proceeded without further mishap. My shaved head didn't seem to spoil anyone's appetite, even mine. I did have to forgo the champagne though and that hurt almost as much as being stitched up .

I guess you could say that there were two turkeys that day. I think I will sit this Thanksgiving out.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Written by Kids and Sung by IL Divo

This is another busy day for me so I will give you a smile and another lovely video of the IL Divo group.


HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? (written by kids)


You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff.. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. -- Alan, age 10


No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. -- Kristen, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. -- Camille, age 10


HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?
You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. -- Derrick, age 8


WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?

Both don't want any more kids. -- Lori, age 8


WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. -- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)


On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that Usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. -- Martin, age 10


WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?

I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns. -- Craig, age 9


WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

When they're rich. -- Pam, age 7


The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. - - Curt, age 7


The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. -- Howard, age 8


IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
-- Anita, age 9 (bless you child)


HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?

There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? - Kelvin, age 8


And the #1 Favorite is.........

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?


Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a dump truck. -- Ricky, age 10

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IL Divo singing My Way






Monday, November 17, 2008

Beautiful Music

Music soothes the savage beast and we all need to decompress from the bad economic news. The videos on this post will take you away from the cares of the day, even if only for a short time.

No matter what your religion, or even if your are not religious, I think you will find this lovely rendition of
Amazing Grace by Il Divo to be the most beautiful one you have ever heard. It brought tears to my eyes. It is filmed in the Coliseum, Rome, Italy.

So relax, listen and enjoy.




If you enjoyed Amazing Grace please listen to the same Italian quartet singing Music of the Night. Even with my inability to hear music the way it should sound, I still found this lovely to listen to.





Remember that some of the best things in life are still free. Beautiful clouds, photographed by Sylvia on her blog, Sylvia From Over The Hill, or lovely scenery photographed by Rain on her blog, Rainy Day Thoughts are all free for the looking.

A colorful sunrise, a moonlit night, snow capped mountains, a walk by the shore, beautiful blossoms will all provide serenity. Material things are tawdry compared to the beauty that surrounds us.
When the world becomes too harsh, go outside and look around you, or listen to beautiful music like this.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Lame Ducks and Dead Ducks

In our excitement over our President-Elect we forget we still have a sitting president - The Lame Duck.

Yes, George the terrible is still with us and will be for another two months. He isn't going gently into the good night, though. He is still trying to exert imperial powers. On a previous blog I wrote how he is trying to pardon his entire administration for any illegalities. Wire tapping is a felony. Torture is breaking our laws and international laws. Will GWB be held accountable? Don't hold your breath.

Much to my disgust, it appears that the Democrats will roll over and let him pull one last piece of nastiness
out of his bag . Oh woe! Alas and alack! I am coming to the conclusion that Russ Feingold, and Dennis Kucinich are the only Senators with a spine. (Henry Waxman in the House is also a courageous man) If only there were 60 more Senators like them. Sigh! The rule of law might as well be a dead duck thanks to the lame duck and his enablers.

This last piece of chicanery pulled me right off of cloud nine and my elation is tamping down. Watch Rachel Maddow and Jonathan Turley on this subject.




And now for a different subject. This time it's Rachel with Arianna Huffington and they are talking about the gossipy GOP.

.




After listening to both sides of the argument on the bail out of the Big 3, I have come to the conclusion that we really don't have a choice. To not do so would cause a ripple effect that would finish off the sinking economy. It would be at the bottom of a very dirty pond along with all of us. Much as we all hate rewarding incompetence, there are times when you have to bite the bullet and this is surely one of them.

Friday, November 14, 2008

Mahatma Gandhi

A few minutes ago I finished watching the beautiful movie GANDHI starring Ben Kinsley. It is a powerful film and left me feeling drained. So many thoughts can be absorbed from this production, but the most impressive message is what one person can do if they are willing to give their life to a cause. One man, living in poverty, brought down an empire. He didn't have an army, he didn't have wealth, he didn't use theatrics or Karl Rove type tactics. He first studied the need and then went about finding a way to change the situation. His message of non-violence was so powerful that his followers were able to place themselves in harms way and even though being severly beaten, go against their natural instinct and restrain themselves from hitting back.

One of his 'fasts' occurred because he believed it was the only way to stop the violence between the Muslims and the Hindus. He was close to death before his sacrifice turned the trick and the fighting stopped. So the second thing I took away from the movie was that violence can be ended without more violence. Two natural enemies were halted from destroying each other by their admiration for one man.

Talking to one's enemies is so much more productive than going to war. Diplomacy does work if it is done with intelligent planning. A strong leader can sway the mob and turn violence into peace. The world needs that kind of leader now.


The third thing I took away from the movie was the loyalty of this man's followers. Gandhi was so firm in the right way to accomplish his goals that those who disagreed with him ended up believing in his wisdom. There was a messianic quality in their love of him. To a degree, I have witnessed this kind of loyalty in Obama's admirers.

Throughout history there have been leaders who emerged in a time of turmoil and were able to inspire a nation. Two men who were strong when needed were Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt. While they were strong leaders in disastrous times, they were in a different category than Gandhi. I think Mother Teresa may be the only person I can think of who in my lifetime sacrificed everything for a cause, as did Gandhi.

And lastly, the movie was enjoyable because it was filmed in India and I felt like I was taking a tour of a country I will never see. I highly recommend this movie. It is inspirational.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

One More Time

Before I get off my soap box I want to add one more post on universal health care.

A friend who is ambivalent about universal health care said the issues that needed to be addressed before the friend would subscribe to it are:
  • How much will it cost?
  • Where will the money come from?
  • How will it be implemented?
In reality, no one can know how much it will cost and, of course, the cost will change as circumstances change. However, the money we are already spending would probably pay for most, if not all, of the Federal cost. The rest would be made up in a monthly premium from the individual heads of households. We are already spending more per capita than countries that have universal coverage.

Private insurance is now so exorbitant that only the most affluent can afford it. A monthly premium under universal coverage would be far less.

Logically, the ultimate cost would less for both the government and the individual.
Low income people would be subsidized for their premium, but that is not really an issue as the government is already paying for their health care with Medicaid. The profit now enjoyed in the current health care mess would be eliminated and, therefore, the cost would decrease dramatically.

The details of how the single payer would be managed could be solved by studying the successful implementation by other countries and copying their methods.

If we want health care reform we must put pressure on our representatives. Let your Congressman know how important this issue is to you. Elders may be happy with their coverage, but how about your children and grandchildren? And the most compelling argument is that the high cost of health care is part of the reason the big 3 auto makers are in deep doo doo. It is also a drain on our economy. Something must be done to end this nightmare.

The following article by Paul Krugman of the New York Times was written last August, but it is relevant today.

Can It Happen Here?

by: Paul Krugman, The New York Times


A primary care practice in Amherst, Massachusetts, where universal coverage was mandated. Paul Krugman says despite this plans early troubles, public support has grown and reveals that once a system of universal health coverage exists, people want to keep it.

The draft Democratic Party platform that was sent out last week puts health care reform front and center. "If one thing came through in the platform hearings," says the document, "it was that Democrats are united around a commitment to provide every American access to affordable, comprehensive health care."

Can Democrats deliver on that commitment? In principle, it should be easy. In practice, supporters of health care reform, myself included, will be hanging on by their fingernails until legislation is actually passed.

What's easy about guaranteed health care for all? For one thing, we know that it's economically feasible: every wealthy country except the United States already has some form of guaranteed health care. The hazards Americans treat as facts of life - the risk of losing your insurance, the risk that you won't be able to afford necessary care, the chance that you'll be financially ruined by medical costs - would be considered unthinkable in any other advanced nation.

The politics of guaranteed care are also easy, at least in one sense: if the Democrats do manage to establish a system of universal coverage, the nation will love it.

I know that's not what everyone says; some pundits claim that the United States has a uniquely individualistic culture, and that Americans won't accept any system that makes health care a collective responsibility. Those who say this, however, seem to forget that we already have a program - you may have heard of it - called Medicare. It's a program that collects money from every worker's paycheck and uses it to pay the medical bills of everyone 65 and older. And it's immensely popular.

There's every reason to believe that a program that extends universal coverage to the nonelderly would soon become equally popular. Consider the case of Massachusetts, which passed a state-level plan for universal coverage two years ago.

The Massachusetts plan has come in for a lot of criticism. It includes individual mandates - that is, people are required to buy coverage, even if they'd prefer to take their chances. And its costs are running much higher than expected, mainly because it turns out that there were more people without insurance than anyone realized.

Yet recent polls show overwhelming support for the plan - support that has grown stronger since it went into effect, despite the new system's teething troubles. Once a system of universal health coverage exists, it seems, people want to keep it.

So why be nervous about the prospects for reform? Because it's hard to get universal care established in the first place. There are, I'd argue, three big hurdles.

First, the Democrats have to win the election - and win it by enough to face down Republicans, who are still, 42 years after Medicare went into operation, denouncing "socialized medicine." (Darlene says, "Done and did".)

Second, they have to overcome the public's fear of change.

Some health care reformers wanted the Democrats to endorse a single-payer, Medicare-type system for all. On the sheer economic merits, they're right: single-payer would be more efficient than a system that preserves a role for private insurance companies.

But it's better to have an imperfect universal health care plan than none at all - and the only way to get a universal health care plan passed soon is to inoculate it against Harry-and-Louise-type claims that people will be forced into plans "designed by government bureaucrats." So the Democratic platform emphasizes choice, declaring that Americans "should have the option of keeping the coverage they have or choosing from a wide array of health insurance plans, including many private health insurance options and a public plan." We'll see if that's enough.

The final hurdle facing health care reform is the risk that the next president and Congress will lose focus. There will be many problems crying out for solutions, from a weak economy to foreign policy crises. It will be easy and tempting to put health care on the back burner for a bit - and then forget about it.

So I'm nervous. The history of the pursuit of universal health care in America is one of missed chances, of political opportunities frittered away. Let's hope that this time is different.


Last , but not least. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARK. My son turns 58 today. My how time flies - wasn't it just yesterday that I held the most beautiful baby ever to enter this earth in my welcoming arms?


Tuesday, November 11, 2008

What Is A Grandparent

This is a busy day for me so I am posting an e-mail I got from a friend. I think all grandparents will love it.


(This was taken from papers written by a class of 8-year-olds)


Grandparents are a lady and a man who have no little children of their own. They like other people's.


A grandfather is a man & a grandmother is a lady!


Grandparents don't have to do anything except be there when we come to see them. They are so old they shouldn't play hard or run. It is good if they drive us to the shops and give us money.


When they take us for walks, they slow down past things like pretty leaves and caterpillars.


They show us and talk to us about the colors of the flowers and also why we shouldn't step on'cracks.'


They don't say, 'Hurry up.'


Usually grandmothers are fat but not too fat to tie your shoes.

They wear glasses and funny underwear.

They can take their teeth and gums out..


Grandparents don't have to be smart.


They have to answer questions like 'Why isn't God married?' and 'How come dogs chase cats?'


When they read to us, they don't skip. They don't mind if we ask for the same story over again.


Everybody should try to have a grandmother, especially if you don't have television because they are the only grownups who like to spend time with us.


They know we should have snack time before bedtime and they say prayers with us and kiss us even when we've acted bad.



A 6 YEAR OLD WAS ASKED WHERE HIS GRANDMA LIVED. ''OH,'' HE SAID, ''SHE LIVES AT THE AIRPORT AND WHEN WE WANT HER WE JUST GO GET HER THEN WHEN WE'RE DONE HAVING HER VISIT, WE TAKE HER BACK TO THE AIRPORT.''

GRANDPA IS THE SMARTEST MAN ON EARTH! HE TEACHES ME GOOD THINGS BUT I DON'T GET TO SEE HIM ENOUGH TO GET AS SMART AS HIM!

It's funny when they bend over, you hear gas leaks and they blame their dog.


Health Care Reform (2) or Just the Facts Maam

REMEMBER OUR VETERANS


Facts are stubborn things.


Yesterday I posted my own analysis of the broken health care system in our country. Later I was dismayed to read that some pundits believe reform must be put on the back burner until other problems are solved. Then I read that many economists believe that the economic downturn will never be fixed until the health care issue is resolved. If they are correct (and I believe they are) their assertion moves reform back to the front burner for immediate attention.


I would like to see reform happen before I die. My medical needs are taken care of, but my daughter has no coverage and she has some health issues that will be costly. For her, and the thousands like her, I sincerely hope that Obama will make this a priority in conjunction with the economy. I am enclosing an article of facts that, when studied, should make even the most die-hard opponent of universal health coverage think twice. Although this is a repetition of what I wrote yesterday it is written much better and is worth repeating. The article is from The National Coalition on Health Care.


Facts on the Cost of Health Insurance and Health Care


By several measures, health care spending continues to rise at the fastest rate in our history.

In 2007, total national health expenditures were expected to rise 6.9 percent — two times the rate of inflation.1 Total spending was $2.3 TRILLION in 2007, or $7600 per person.1 Total health care spending represented 16 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

U.S. health care spending is expected to increase at similar levels for the next decade reaching $4.2 TRILLION in 2016, or 20 percent of GDP.1

In 2007, employer health insurance premiums increased by 6.1 percent - two times the rate of inflation. The annual premium for an employer health plan covering a family of four averaged nearly $12,100. The annual premium for single coverage averaged over $4,400.2

Experts agree that our health care system is riddled with inefficiencies, excessive administrative expenses, inflated prices, poor management, and inappropriate care, waste and fraud. These problems significantly increase the cost of medical care and health insurance for employers and workers and affect the security of families.

National Health Care Spending

  • In 2007, health care spending in the United States reached $2.3 trillion, and was projected to reach $3 trillion in 2011.1 Health care spending is projected to reach $4.2 trillion by 2016.1
  • Health care spending is 4.3 times the amount spent on national defense.3
  • In 2005, the United States spent 16 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on health care. It is projected that the percentage will reach 20 percent by 2016.1
  • Although nearly 47 million Americans are uninsured, the United States spends more on health care than other industrialized nations, and those countries provide health insurance to all their citizens.3
  • Health care spending accounted for 10.9 percent of the GDP in Switzerland, 10.7 percent in Germany, 9.7 percent in Canada and 9.5 percent in France, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.4

Employer and Employee Health Insurance Costs

  • Premiums for employer-based health insurance rose by 6.1 percent in 2007. Small employers saw their premiums, on average, increase 5.5 percent. Firms with less than 24 workers, experienced an increase of 6.8 percent.2
  • The annual premium that a health insurer charges an employer for a health plan covering a family of four averaged $12,100 in 2007. Workers contributed nearly $3,300, or 10 percent more than they did in 2006.2 The annual premiums for family coverage significantly eclipsed the gross earnings for a full-time, minimum-wage worker ($10,712).
  • Workers are now paying $1,400 more in premiums annually for family coverage than they did in 2000.2
  • Since 2000, employment-based health insurance premiums have increased 100 percent, compared to cumulative inflation of 24 percent and cumulative wage growth of 21 percent during the same period.2
  • Health insurance expenses are the fastest growing cost component for employers. Unless something changes dramatically, health insurance costs will overtake profits by 2008.5
  • According to the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust, premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance in the United States have been rising four times faster on average than workers’ earnings since 2000.2
  • The average employee contribution to company-provided health insurance has increased more than 143 percent since 2000. Average out-of-pocket costs for deductibles, co-payments for medications, and co-insurance for physician and hospital visits rose 115 percent during the same period.6
  • The percentage of Americans under age 65 whose family-level, out-of-pocket spending for health care, including health insurance, that exceeds $2,000 a year, rose from 37.3 percent in 1996 to 43.1 percent in 2003 - a 16 percent increase.7

The Impact of Rising Health Care Costs

  • National surveys show that the primary reason people are uninsured is the high cost of health insurance coverage.2
  • Economists have found that rising health care costs correlate to drops in health insurance coverage.8
  • Nearly one-quarter (23 percent) of the uninsured reported changing their way of life significantly in order to pay medical bills.9
  • In a Wall Street Journal-NBC Survey almost 50 percent of the American public say the cost of health care is their number one economic concern.10
  • In a USA Today/ABC News survey, 80 percent of Americans said that they were dissatisfied (60 percent were very dissatisfied) with high national health care spending.11
  • Rising health care costs is the top personal pocketbook concern for Democratic voters (45%) and Republicans (35%), well ahead of higher taxes or retirement security.12
  • One in four Americans say their family has had a problem paying for medical care during the past year, up 7 percentage points over the past nine years. Nearly 30 percent say someone in their family has delayed medical care in the past year, a new high based on recent polling. Most say the medical condition was at least somewhat serious.
  • A recent study by Harvard University researchers found that the average out-of-pocket medical debt for those who filed for bankruptcy was $12,000. The study noted that 68 percent of those who filed for bankruptcy had health insurance. In addition, the study found that 50 percent of all bankruptcy filings were partly the result of medical expenses.13 Every 30 seconds in the United States someone files for bankruptcy in the aftermath of a serious health problem.
  • One half of workers in the lowest-compensation jobs and one-half of workers in mid range-compensation jobs either had problems with medical bills in a 12-month period or were paying off accrued debt. One-quarter of workers in higher-compensated positions also reported problems with medical bills or were paying off accrued debt.14
  • If one member of a family is uninsured and has an accident, a hospital stay, or a costly medical treatment, the resulting medical bills can affect the economic stability of the whole family.15
  • A new survey shows that more than 25 percent said that housing problems resulted from medical debt, including the inability to make rent or mortgage payments and the development of bad credit ratings.16
  • A survey of Iowa consumers found that in order to cope with rising health insurance costs, 86 percent said they had cut back on how much they could save, and 44 percent said that they have cut back on food and heating expenses.17
  • Retiring elderly couples will need $200,000 in savings just to pay for the most basic medical coverage.18 Many experts believe that this figure is conservative and that $300,000 may be a more realistic number.
  • According to a recent report, the United States has $480 billion in excess spending each year in comparison to Western European nations that have universal health insurance coverage. The costs are mainly associated with excess administrative costs and poorer quality of care.19
  • The United States spends six times more per capita on the administration of the health care system than its peer Western European nations.19

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Health Care Reform - First Post


By now I am sure most of you have received a packet from your HMO or insurance provider outlining the changes to take effect in 2009. If you have looked them over you probably saw that benefits were cut as much as 50% and co-pays and/or premiums were increased. Many of you will have to spend hours comparing the benefits from other providers before making a decision on which company to go with next year. It gets confusing, doesn’t it? Did you ever wonder why this annual chore is necessary? How simple it would be if there was just one provider and you all paid the same premium regardless of the severity of your medical situation.
Even those with good insurance must not be too happy with this broken system now.

Before anyone starts screaming “Socialized Medicine” consider this: The president of the United States, his cabinet, the Congress and Senate all enjoy the single payer medical plan. The military (active duty and
retired) also have a single payer plan. The single payer is you, the taxpayer.

When I have a tough decision to make I write two lists. On one list I itemize all of the reasons for taking action and the other list contains all the reasons against doing so.


I then write what will be the consequence if I decide to do the thing and what will be the consequence be if I don’t. Using that logic I will try to itemize all the reasons that are for a single payer health care system (pro) and all the reasons against (con). I will not be able to think of everything and I am asking those of you who read this to add your own thoughts on the subject.

WHAT'S WRONG WITH OUR SYSTEM: (This is the Pro side.)
  • Hospitals are going broke absorbing the cost of the uninsured who show up in the emergency rooms.
  • Businesses like the auto industry have been bankrupted providing health coverage for their employees.
  • The total U. S. spending on Health Care in 2007 was $2.3 trillion or $7,600 per person. (From the National Coalition on Health Care site) Please don't tell me we can't do better.

WHY THE U. S. SHOULDN'T CHANGE: (The Con side.)

CONSEQUENCES PRO:
CONSEQUENCES CON:

If we don't simplify our medical system the price will keep increasing until no one will be able to afford coverage. It will not get better and everyone will suffer.

For those people who believe all the myths that you can’t choose your own doctor, you have to wait months for surgery, et. al. in government run programs let me reassure you that none of it is true. The facts do not back those anecdotal stories up.

PBS FRONTLINE aired a program by an investigative journalist who visited other countries that have a Single Payer system. He visited Japan, Switzerland, England and France. (Again, I am relying on memory for the countries. I was unable to find this program in the archives.) Even the doctors in France liked the system because it is so simple for them. They get paid a salary and don’t have the hassles and paper work that our doctors have to endure. He could not find a single person that didn’t like their medical plan. There were different forms of implementing the system and some of them had problems (Most were rising costs. Well, that’s not new to us, is it?) In some cases the patient didn’t even need an appointment; they simply walked in to the doctor’s office.

When one of the countries decided to change to a government run system (I think it was Switzerland) they sent a committee to each country that had the single payer system to study the their plans. They took the best from each system and adapted it to their own needs. Why can’t the richest country in the world do that? Why must hard working people become impoverished by one illness through no fault of their own? Why must children and adults die for lack of health care? Are we a humane country or are we a nation of the selfish elite who say, “I’ve got mine; now try to get yours.”?

Health Care Reform (2) or Just the Facts Maam

REMEMBER OUR VETERANS

Facts are stubborn things.

Yesterday I posted my own analysis of the broken health care system in our country. Later I was dismayed to read that some pundits believe reform must be put on the back burner until other problems are solved. Then I read that many economists believed that the economic downturn will never be fixed until the health care issue is resolved. If they are correct (and I believe they are) their assertion moves reform back to the front burner for immediate attention.

I would like to see reform happen before I die. My medical needs are taken care of, but my daughter has no coverage and she has some health issues that will be costly. For her, and the thousands like her, I sincerely hope that Obama will make this a priority in conjunction with the economy. I am enclosing an article of facts that, when studied, should make even the most die-hard opponent of universal health coverage think twice. Although this is a repetition of what I wrote yesterday it is written much better and is worth repeating. The article is from The National Coalition on Health Care.

Facts on the Cost of Health Insurance and Health Care

By several measures, health care spending continues to rise at the fastest rate in our history.

In 2007, total national health expenditures were expected to rise 6.9 percent — two times the rate of inflation.1 Total spending was $2.3 TRILLION in 2007, or $7600 per person.1 Total health care spending represented 16 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

U.S. health care spending is expected to increase at similar levels for the next decade reaching $4.2 TRILLION in 2016, or 20 percent of GDP.1

In 2007, employer health insurance premiums increased by 6.1 percent - two times the rate of inflation. The annual premium for an employer health plan covering a family of four averaged nearly $12,100. The annual premium for single coverage averaged over $4,400.2

Experts agree that our health care system is riddled with inefficiencies, excessive administrative expenses, inflated prices, poor management, and inappropriate care, waste and fraud. These problems significantly increase the cost of medical care and health insurance for employers and workers and affect the security of families.

National Health Care Spending

  • In 2007, health care spending in the United States reached $2.3 trillion, and was projected to reach $3 trillion in 2011.1 Health care spending is projected to reach $4.2 trillion by 2016.1
  • Health care spending is 4.3 times the amount spent on national defense.3
  • In 2005, the United States spent 16 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on health care. It is projected that the percentage will reach 20 percent by 2016.1
  • Although nearly 47 million Americans are uninsured, the United States spends more on health care than other industrialized nations, and those countries provide health insurance to all their citizens.3
  • Health care spending accounted for 10.9 percent of the GDP in Switzerland, 10.7 percent in Germany, 9.7 percent in Canada and 9.5 percent in France, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.4

Employer and Employee Health Insurance Costs

  • Premiums for employer-based health insurance rose by 6.1 percent in 2007. Small employers saw their premiums, on average, increase 5.5 percent. Firms with less than 24 workers, experienced an increase of 6.8 percent.2
  • The annual premium that a health insurer charges an employer for a health plan covering a family of four averaged $12,100 in 2007. Workers contributed nearly $3,300, or 10 percent more than they did in 2006.2 The annual premiums for family coverage significantly eclipsed the gross earnings for a full-time, minimum-wage worker ($10,712).
  • Workers are now paying $1,400 more in premiums annually for family coverage than they did in 2000.2
  • Since 2000, employment-based health insurance premiums have increased 100 percent, compared to cumulative inflation of 24 percent and cumulative wage growth of 21 percent during the same period.2
  • Health insurance expenses are the fastest growing cost component for employers. Unless something changes dramatically, health insurance costs will overtake profits by 2008.5
  • According to the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust, premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance in the United States have been rising four times faster on average than workers’ earnings since 2000.2
  • The average employee contribution to company-provided health insurance has increased more than 143 percent since 2000. Average out-of-pocket costs for deductibles, co-payments for medications, and co-insurance for physician and hospital visits rose 115 percent during the same period.6
  • The percentage of Americans under age 65 whose family-level, out-of-pocket spending for health care, including health insurance, that exceeds $2,000 a year, rose from 37.3 percent in 1996 to 43.1 percent in 2003 - a 16 percent increase.7

The Impact of Rising Health Care Costs

  • National surveys show that the primary reason people are uninsured is the high cost of health insurance coverage.2
  • Economists have found that rising health care costs correlate to drops in health insurance coverage.8
  • Nearly one-quarter (23 percent) of the uninsured reported changing their way of life significantly in order to pay medical bills.9
  • In a Wall Street Journal-NBC Survey almost 50 percent of the American public say the cost of health care is their number one economic concern.10
  • In a USA Today/ABC News survey, 80 percent of Americans said that they were dissatisfied (60 percent were very dissatisfied) with high national health care spending.11
  • Rising health care costs is the top personal pocketbook concern for Democratic voters (45%) and Republicans (35%), well ahead of higher taxes or retirement security.12
  • One in four Americans say their family has had a problem paying for medical care during the past year, up 7 percentage points over the past nine years. Nearly 30 percent say someone in their family has delayed medical care in the past year, a new high based on recent polling. Most say the medical condition was at least somewhat serious.
  • A recent study by Harvard University researchers found that the average out-of-pocket medical debt for those who filed for bankruptcy was $12,000. The study noted that 68 percent of those who filed for bankruptcy had health insurance. In addition, the study found that 50 percent of all bankruptcy filings were partly the result of medical expenses.13 Every 30 seconds in the United States someone files for bankruptcy in the aftermath of a serious health problem.
  • One half of workers in the lowest-compensation jobs and one-half of workers in mid range-compensation jobs either had problems with medical bills in a 12-month period or were paying off accrued debt. One-quarter of workers in higher-compensated positions also reported problems with medical bills or were paying off accrued debt.14
  • If one member of a family is uninsured and has an accident, a hospital stay, or a costly medical treatment, the resulting medical bills can affect the economic stability of the whole family.15
  • A new survey shows that more than 25 percent said that housing problems resulted from medical debt, including the inability to make rent or mortgage payments and the development of bad credit ratings.16
  • A survey of Iowa consumers found that in order to cope with rising health insurance costs, 86 percent said they had cut back on how much they could save, and 44 percent said that they have cut back on food and heating expenses.17
  • Retiring elderly couples will need $200,000 in savings just to pay for the most basic medical coverage.18 Many experts believe that this figure is conservative and that $300,000 may be a more realistic number.
  • According to a recent report, the United States has $480 billion in excess spending each year in comparison to Western European nations that have universal health insurance coverage. The costs are mainly associated with excess administrative costs and poorer quality of care.19
  • The United States spends six times more per capita on the administration of the health care system than its peer Western European nations.19