Peace of mind.
HT: GM Roper (via Facebook)
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Health. Show all posts
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Sunday, January 09, 2011
In The Aftermath Of The Giffords Shootings: An Entreaty And Explanation
Part I: The Entreaty
After an entire Sunday news cycle has been driving (and dictating the pace of) this post-shooting discussion, we have a little more information to work with and have had some time to sort through what we do have and analyze it, more judiciously.
It comes as no surprise that the Left Wing establishment has made every effort to demonize those who do NOT stand for their positions on important issues, or their worldview in general. Almost immediately, we heard about Sarah Palin's target map of Blue Dog Democrats who conservatives wanted to unseat in the November election, and we heard almost incessant rhetoric about the TEA Party movement in general. Naturally, the fingers were pointed at them.
If commentators were not directly pointing fingers, they were subtlety leading in that direction through the way they phrased their questions in general. Their goal seemed to be creating sound bites to be used over and over, in order to plant suspicion that the killer was probably a Right Wing nut job, affiliated with the TEA Party organizations.
And why not?
Over the course of the last two years we have seen the desperate attempts to discredit the movement with hateful rhetoric, accusations of racism, going so far as to plant union thugs at rallies who claim to be white supremacists. We have even witnessed members of the CBC (while putting up a brazen display of arrogance and power drunkenness) claiming that they heard someone use the "N" word and accused another of spitting, on one of them. None of that has ever been proven even with a $100,000 reward at stake, but that has not stopped their desperate accusations.
Still, none of that worked, as was made evident by the last election.
Bluntly put, that kind of fiery inflammatory rhetoric made no difference in the outcome. And it has driven the Left crazy to no end.
So what do they do now?
They, being the crass and desperate opportunists they are, use a tragic and senseless situation/event to take the opportunity to stoke the fire even more. The goal is the same, the methods are just a little different.
No one of any political influence has failed to be in utter shock and disbelief, anymore than the officials who have benefited from this last election. They are hurt every bit as much as those who did not.
This is not who we are as a nation or a movement. Decent people do not seek this kind of thing, nor do we revel in it. But, this is exactly what the despicable extremes of both sides want and they will surely get it, if cooler heads do not prevail on BOTH sides.
It is not enough for the conservatives in power to condemn this kind of thing, we must have help from the people who we merely disagree with us on policy issues. And where are these people? Where is Harry Reid? Where is Nancy Pelsoi? Nowhere.
I personally do not want anyone who I vehemently disagree with on politics, to suffer anything like this.... in any way, shape, or form. I want them VOTED out of power, into the private sector. But I do NOT wish them to become dead at the hands of anyone else, because of their politics. NONE, not one. I respect life way too much.
Believe it, for it is true. And in the meantime, know without a doubt I personally know of no one else who believes in this kind of thing either. And I kniow many who are far more conservative than me.
So if the reader of this post is still with me, please understand something clearly. There are some things that are not being made known by the Media hacks who are advancing this inflammatory discussion Many of them are directing this story toward decent citizens. who merely want to slow the government down from spending our children's and grandchildren's future away. NOTHING MORE.
What we know is still relatively limited. More may be known than has been released, but for some reason the information hasn't been made public. Bits and pieces about the event itself and the possible motives behind it, are slowly coming out. But some things have been refuted along the way, as well.
The 24-hour news cycle has been a double-edged sword at times, since its development. Thus, it is always important for intelligent people to realize that what we think we may know at a given moment, may or may not be true. The 24/7 news networks do this for ratings.
"This just in, but we cannot verify it yet"...."we have word from some source"....all of that kind of thing has to be dealt with much patience and prudence. It is utterly imperative to be circumspect in the formation of our conclusions.
Part II: The Explanation
From what we have been able to establish so far, we can say with much certainty that this gunman was a bit deranged. Derangement comes from a variety of sources, one of those is mental illness.
In the case with physical illness, the sources are different in nature and must be looked at differently. But we also know that some organ systems can affect others, causing other complications along the way. Such is the case with mental illness. And I have worked with mentally ill patients some years ago and can say from a professional perspective that not all disorders are exactly the same.
My intention in this portion of the post is not to teach a class on mental illness per se, but to help lay people to understand a little something about what we term, thought disorders. One of those disorders is Schizophrenia.
There are several types. But for the purposes this discussion is not important to know much about them or their differences. It takes years of experience to have the ability to diagnose more specifically.
What is important is that you know that a huge component of a thought disorder is based on the kinds of delusional material they think about. They may be have grandiose thoughts, thoughts of persecution, or may exhibit paranoia. Whatever the nature of those thoughts, most of the time, they are not right thoughts.... but just know the person affected establishes them as fact, in their own mind.
There are primarily three topics that these people can ruminate and fixate on: Sex, religion, and politics. They can have one, all, or any combination of the three. It makes no difference the number or which ones.
As we we believe we now know, this gunman put up some videos along with a My Space page, and possibly a Facebook page. (I have seen the videos and I will not link to them. If you wish to see them, others have done so and you can see them if you wish.) The important thing to note here is he was fixated on both religion and politics.
We know that he has a history of erratic and disruptive behaviors. How many times have we seen this before now? How many times have we heard the people say, there were red flags everywhere, yet nobody did anything at all?
A guy gets fired for erratic behaviors or just being creepy in some way and later he shoots the place up. Many times we find the man was paranoid and could have been helped, if someone would have made an effort to intervene properly.
But let's refocus here.
Remember, the thoughts of the person with a thought disorder are not accurate.
It is the person's perception that is deluded. Many times there are impulsive acts, sometimes they are more deliberate after long periods of fixation. We still do not know for a surety what angle this guy came from, in the political component of his delusions.
We do know that he wanted some kind of new currency, but what that was and why was not made particularly clear. We have evidence that has been spiraling into this inaccurate world of his, for awhile now.
The argument now becomes the motive.
Was it political in a real sense... or was it as a result of a series of delusional thoughts?
From the evidence we have, it strongly points to the delusions.
Was it driven by Left Wing or Right Wing politics?
From what we have gathered so far, we cannot tell right now. The real issue here is whether the guy was able to make a true conscious decision based on some real cause, or something he merely believed to be a cause.
I do not believe that Timothy McVeigh was mentally ill. He had a cause and a belief system and was fully capable of planning and implementing a heinous act that will forever be in our minds, whenever these kinds of things occur. The mentally ill person with a thought disorder is typically not capable, because they are disorganized and erratic as his videos have shown.
So Hillary Clinton can travel the world and tell others that an extremist shot Rep. Giffords if she wants. But she clearly does not have her facts correct to make such a statement. Neither do the MSM hacks or the Left Wing web sites like the Daily Kos.
So in forming your own judgments, be careful that you do not buy into just one aspect or component of this event, without considering all things together. And more than anything, let your conscience me your guide and leave the hacks to make utter and complete fools of themselves.
The fact remains that there are six people dead and others wounded, and a Congresswoman fighting for her life. Let's pray for them and their loved ones that they can find the strength to endure a very difficult situation, they did not ask to be put in.
After an entire Sunday news cycle has been driving (and dictating the pace of) this post-shooting discussion, we have a little more information to work with and have had some time to sort through what we do have and analyze it, more judiciously.
It comes as no surprise that the Left Wing establishment has made every effort to demonize those who do NOT stand for their positions on important issues, or their worldview in general. Almost immediately, we heard about Sarah Palin's target map of Blue Dog Democrats who conservatives wanted to unseat in the November election, and we heard almost incessant rhetoric about the TEA Party movement in general. Naturally, the fingers were pointed at them.
If commentators were not directly pointing fingers, they were subtlety leading in that direction through the way they phrased their questions in general. Their goal seemed to be creating sound bites to be used over and over, in order to plant suspicion that the killer was probably a Right Wing nut job, affiliated with the TEA Party organizations.
And why not?
Over the course of the last two years we have seen the desperate attempts to discredit the movement with hateful rhetoric, accusations of racism, going so far as to plant union thugs at rallies who claim to be white supremacists. We have even witnessed members of the CBC (while putting up a brazen display of arrogance and power drunkenness) claiming that they heard someone use the "N" word and accused another of spitting, on one of them. None of that has ever been proven even with a $100,000 reward at stake, but that has not stopped their desperate accusations.
Still, none of that worked, as was made evident by the last election.
Bluntly put, that kind of fiery inflammatory rhetoric made no difference in the outcome. And it has driven the Left crazy to no end.
So what do they do now?
They, being the crass and desperate opportunists they are, use a tragic and senseless situation/event to take the opportunity to stoke the fire even more. The goal is the same, the methods are just a little different.
No one of any political influence has failed to be in utter shock and disbelief, anymore than the officials who have benefited from this last election. They are hurt every bit as much as those who did not.
This is not who we are as a nation or a movement. Decent people do not seek this kind of thing, nor do we revel in it. But, this is exactly what the despicable extremes of both sides want and they will surely get it, if cooler heads do not prevail on BOTH sides.
It is not enough for the conservatives in power to condemn this kind of thing, we must have help from the people who we merely disagree with us on policy issues. And where are these people? Where is Harry Reid? Where is Nancy Pelsoi? Nowhere.
I personally do not want anyone who I vehemently disagree with on politics, to suffer anything like this.... in any way, shape, or form. I want them VOTED out of power, into the private sector. But I do NOT wish them to become dead at the hands of anyone else, because of their politics. NONE, not one. I respect life way too much.
Believe it, for it is true. And in the meantime, know without a doubt I personally know of no one else who believes in this kind of thing either. And I kniow many who are far more conservative than me.
So if the reader of this post is still with me, please understand something clearly. There are some things that are not being made known by the Media hacks who are advancing this inflammatory discussion Many of them are directing this story toward decent citizens. who merely want to slow the government down from spending our children's and grandchildren's future away. NOTHING MORE.
What we know is still relatively limited. More may be known than has been released, but for some reason the information hasn't been made public. Bits and pieces about the event itself and the possible motives behind it, are slowly coming out. But some things have been refuted along the way, as well.
The 24-hour news cycle has been a double-edged sword at times, since its development. Thus, it is always important for intelligent people to realize that what we think we may know at a given moment, may or may not be true. The 24/7 news networks do this for ratings.
"This just in, but we cannot verify it yet"...."we have word from some source"....all of that kind of thing has to be dealt with much patience and prudence. It is utterly imperative to be circumspect in the formation of our conclusions.
Part II: The Explanation
From what we have been able to establish so far, we can say with much certainty that this gunman was a bit deranged. Derangement comes from a variety of sources, one of those is mental illness.
In the case with physical illness, the sources are different in nature and must be looked at differently. But we also know that some organ systems can affect others, causing other complications along the way. Such is the case with mental illness. And I have worked with mentally ill patients some years ago and can say from a professional perspective that not all disorders are exactly the same.
My intention in this portion of the post is not to teach a class on mental illness per se, but to help lay people to understand a little something about what we term, thought disorders. One of those disorders is Schizophrenia.
There are several types. But for the purposes this discussion is not important to know much about them or their differences. It takes years of experience to have the ability to diagnose more specifically.
What is important is that you know that a huge component of a thought disorder is based on the kinds of delusional material they think about. They may be have grandiose thoughts, thoughts of persecution, or may exhibit paranoia. Whatever the nature of those thoughts, most of the time, they are not right thoughts.... but just know the person affected establishes them as fact, in their own mind.
There are primarily three topics that these people can ruminate and fixate on: Sex, religion, and politics. They can have one, all, or any combination of the three. It makes no difference the number or which ones.
As we we believe we now know, this gunman put up some videos along with a My Space page, and possibly a Facebook page. (I have seen the videos and I will not link to them. If you wish to see them, others have done so and you can see them if you wish.) The important thing to note here is he was fixated on both religion and politics.
We know that he has a history of erratic and disruptive behaviors. How many times have we seen this before now? How many times have we heard the people say, there were red flags everywhere, yet nobody did anything at all?
A guy gets fired for erratic behaviors or just being creepy in some way and later he shoots the place up. Many times we find the man was paranoid and could have been helped, if someone would have made an effort to intervene properly.
But let's refocus here.
Remember, the thoughts of the person with a thought disorder are not accurate.
It is the person's perception that is deluded. Many times there are impulsive acts, sometimes they are more deliberate after long periods of fixation. We still do not know for a surety what angle this guy came from, in the political component of his delusions.
We do know that he wanted some kind of new currency, but what that was and why was not made particularly clear. We have evidence that has been spiraling into this inaccurate world of his, for awhile now.
The argument now becomes the motive.
Was it political in a real sense... or was it as a result of a series of delusional thoughts?
From the evidence we have, it strongly points to the delusions.
Was it driven by Left Wing or Right Wing politics?
From what we have gathered so far, we cannot tell right now. The real issue here is whether the guy was able to make a true conscious decision based on some real cause, or something he merely believed to be a cause.
I do not believe that Timothy McVeigh was mentally ill. He had a cause and a belief system and was fully capable of planning and implementing a heinous act that will forever be in our minds, whenever these kinds of things occur. The mentally ill person with a thought disorder is typically not capable, because they are disorganized and erratic as his videos have shown.
So Hillary Clinton can travel the world and tell others that an extremist shot Rep. Giffords if she wants. But she clearly does not have her facts correct to make such a statement. Neither do the MSM hacks or the Left Wing web sites like the Daily Kos.
So in forming your own judgments, be careful that you do not buy into just one aspect or component of this event, without considering all things together. And more than anything, let your conscience me your guide and leave the hacks to make utter and complete fools of themselves.
The fact remains that there are six people dead and others wounded, and a Congresswoman fighting for her life. Let's pray for them and their loved ones that they can find the strength to endure a very difficult situation, they did not ask to be put in.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Healthcare On The Street
I have to honestly say that Juan Williams gets it right once in awhile. But when he gets it wrong, he really gets it wrong.
I have heard Mr. Williams confront race-baiters in the past and for that, we commend him. But in this comment about the recent rejection of Obamacare in Missouri (Prop C), Juan is truly clueless:
Yeah? Old white people were responsible for the bill's passage, alright.
Kevin Jackson did some research and here's what he found:
All I can say is, I hope this is a sign of more good things to come. States need to exercise their rights afforded them under the Constitution. In this case, the people of the state of Missouri did just that... while clueless residents stayed home.
I have heard Mr. Williams confront race-baiters in the past and for that, we commend him. But in this comment about the recent rejection of Obamacare in Missouri (Prop C), Juan is truly clueless:
Yeah? Old white people were responsible for the bill's passage, alright.
Kevin Jackson did some research and here's what he found:
All I can say is, I hope this is a sign of more good things to come. States need to exercise their rights afforded them under the Constitution. In this case, the people of the state of Missouri did just that... while clueless residents stayed home.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Prolonging An End
In my many years, I have seen countless instances of family members refusing to accept that a loved one is dying a painful miserable death, and they want every possible thing done to keep them from dying. They even go as far to demand that if that dying person's heart were to stop beating at anytime during their hospital visit, the medical and nursing staff would then be required to resuscitate that person. They somehow think that by sticking a tube down into their lungs and pressing on their chests (only to have them die a day, week or month later) is going to buy them more time, while some miracle occurs.
Now let's take a look at the sick and dying bill the Congress has been trying to revive, over and over.
Seen today on Drudge was this little walk down memory lane:
Let's think about this for a moment. The Democrats have control of both houses of Congress and the White House. All of last year, they had a filibuster-proof super majority in the Senate. And yet, they could not get a bill passed and sent to the President for a signature.
Doesn't this indicate to anyone besides the majority of the American people that this is not a good bill? Maybe it's time to stop heroic measures on this one and allow it to die an honorable death.
Addendum: Not so far off topic is this video that clearly speaks for itself:
I have had my differences with Sen Byrd over the years on certain issues, but he got this one right.
Dead right.
Now let's take a look at the sick and dying bill the Congress has been trying to revive, over and over.
Seen today on Drudge was this little walk down memory lane:
'END' OF THE 'END GAME' OR 'THE END'?
TODAY: Obama pushing on health care end game (AP)
Last year:
July 28: Healthcare endgame on Capitol Hill (Reuters)
August 21: Analysis: Health care endgame near but uncertain (AP)
October 14: Senate, administration begin healthcare endgame as Dem leaders express unity (Hill)
October 25: Senators say health care bill endgame is in sight (Politico)
October 27: End Game: So When Will Health Care Really Happen? (TPM)
October 30: Health reform inches closer to endgame (WaPo)
November 23: The Health Care Endgame (NPR)
Let's think about this for a moment. The Democrats have control of both houses of Congress and the White House. All of last year, they had a filibuster-proof super majority in the Senate. And yet, they could not get a bill passed and sent to the President for a signature.
Doesn't this indicate to anyone besides the majority of the American people that this is not a good bill? Maybe it's time to stop heroic measures on this one and allow it to die an honorable death.
Addendum: Not so far off topic is this video that clearly speaks for itself:
I have had my differences with Sen Byrd over the years on certain issues, but he got this one right.
Dead right.
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Presidential Prevarication
Pathological liars make such a habit of lying, they often forget the lies they tell. Now, I wouldn't be so bold as to say that President Obama is a pathological liar. But after watching this video, I must wonder just what kind liar he is:
These things are a bit perplexing, especially when the President is now said to be pushing the Nuclear Option of Reconciliation on Healthcare.
So let's review.
We cannot establish that President Obama is a pathological liar. But we can say with a certainty that he is a liar, if he presses forward with the prospect of Reconciliation. My guess is he is so desperate to fulfill his goal of transforming this nation into a European style entitlement model that he really doesn't care what he once said.
My grandmother once had a saying, "promises are like pie crust, easy made and easy broken". She wasn't an educated woman by any standard, but she was wise and knew the concepts of life well. If she were alive today she'd no doubt see another fine example of her often used cliche, that is, if the events of the past year hadn't killed already by now.
UPDATE:
Desperate times call for desperate measures, sometimes. It appears that Obama is doing everything he can to sell this lemon and promising the world to do it.
Politik Chikago is alive and well.
These things are a bit perplexing, especially when the President is now said to be pushing the Nuclear Option of Reconciliation on Healthcare.
So let's review.
We cannot establish that President Obama is a pathological liar. But we can say with a certainty that he is a liar, if he presses forward with the prospect of Reconciliation. My guess is he is so desperate to fulfill his goal of transforming this nation into a European style entitlement model that he really doesn't care what he once said.
My grandmother once had a saying, "promises are like pie crust, easy made and easy broken". She wasn't an educated woman by any standard, but she was wise and knew the concepts of life well. If she were alive today she'd no doubt see another fine example of her often used cliche, that is, if the events of the past year hadn't killed already by now.
UPDATE:
Desperate times call for desperate measures, sometimes. It appears that Obama is doing everything he can to sell this lemon and promising the world to do it.
Politik Chikago is alive and well.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
An Anniversary Worth Noting
I rarely toot my own horn too often here, but once in awhile I think it's okay to do it. Today marks an important anniversary that I want to share with the best readers in the entire blogosphere.
No, it's not my anniversary for PYY. That was last month and I really don't care much about that. It's not my wedding anniversary. Although that one is important, it's not one that I bring up here on the blog. The same goes for my work anniversary, I have been there so long that no one will care much about that one either.
The significant event of this date in history is very personal. But it is definitely something I wanted others to know with the hopes that it may be of help to those that are in the same boat I was in, just one year ago today. February 4, 2009 was the day that I quit smoking and became tobacco free. After being diagnosed with a chronic disease that may someday take my life (and still, may not), I decided that it would be a good thing to stop and I did.
I must say that at first it was hell. I tried the Chantix, but the artificial hallucinogenic dreams weren't acceptable. And while it did help with reducing the cravings, it still wasn't as effective as I would have liked. So once my prescription ran out, I went cold turkey.
Like I said, it wasn't easy but I am a stubborn man (just ask Mrs. Sunsett and she will confirm it). So I dug into a "cannot fail" mentality and as time wore on, it got easier and easier. Eventually the cravings became rarer, and easier to resist when they did occur.
This is where I am now. Occasionally I get one, I resist it, and it quickly goes away.
Nobody can say I am one of those preachy ex-smokers, who target and harass smokers to do as I have. In fact I rarely bring it up, unless someone asks about it. So I will not overindulge in that kind of activity today, except to ask my readers to just think about where they are in their lives with tobacco. And if anyone is a smoker, please allow me to say one thing to you: If I can quit, anyone can.
My good friend Mustang quit awhile back and the last time I asked him, he reported that he is still tobacco-free. That makes me glad because despite all the ridicule he throws in my direction, all of the castigation he sends my way, and the many times he has subverted my cause by killing any influence I have ever had with you good people, he is one of my best friends in the world and I want him to be around for awhile.
In other words, he is not allowed to die before me.
And neither are any of you.
So if you smoke.... please consider quitting. After one year of quitting, the stats show a dramatic drop in smoking-related deaths. You'll feel better and your loved ones will too.
This may be the last thing I ever say about this topic. So if it applies, take a chance and do it now.
No, it's not my anniversary for PYY. That was last month and I really don't care much about that. It's not my wedding anniversary. Although that one is important, it's not one that I bring up here on the blog. The same goes for my work anniversary, I have been there so long that no one will care much about that one either.
The significant event of this date in history is very personal. But it is definitely something I wanted others to know with the hopes that it may be of help to those that are in the same boat I was in, just one year ago today. February 4, 2009 was the day that I quit smoking and became tobacco free. After being diagnosed with a chronic disease that may someday take my life (and still, may not), I decided that it would be a good thing to stop and I did.
I must say that at first it was hell. I tried the Chantix, but the artificial hallucinogenic dreams weren't acceptable. And while it did help with reducing the cravings, it still wasn't as effective as I would have liked. So once my prescription ran out, I went cold turkey.
Like I said, it wasn't easy but I am a stubborn man (just ask Mrs. Sunsett and she will confirm it). So I dug into a "cannot fail" mentality and as time wore on, it got easier and easier. Eventually the cravings became rarer, and easier to resist when they did occur.
This is where I am now. Occasionally I get one, I resist it, and it quickly goes away.
Nobody can say I am one of those preachy ex-smokers, who target and harass smokers to do as I have. In fact I rarely bring it up, unless someone asks about it. So I will not overindulge in that kind of activity today, except to ask my readers to just think about where they are in their lives with tobacco. And if anyone is a smoker, please allow me to say one thing to you: If I can quit, anyone can.
My good friend Mustang quit awhile back and the last time I asked him, he reported that he is still tobacco-free. That makes me glad because despite all the ridicule he throws in my direction, all of the castigation he sends my way, and the many times he has subverted my cause by killing any influence I have ever had with you good people, he is one of my best friends in the world and I want him to be around for awhile.
In other words, he is not allowed to die before me.
And neither are any of you.
So if you smoke.... please consider quitting. After one year of quitting, the stats show a dramatic drop in smoking-related deaths. You'll feel better and your loved ones will too.
This may be the last thing I ever say about this topic. So if it applies, take a chance and do it now.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Thanks For The Mammaries
We are keeping this medical for now, so let's keep our mind right for a moment and take a look at this.
Task force? Now there's a term I'd like to explore for a moment.
Just what was the make-up of this "so-called" government task force?
Well, the article tells us what it was NOT:
This is where the entire thing loses any possibility of having any credibility, at all.
Welcome to Obamacare. Welcome to government run healthcare. Here we have a government entity formulating policy on cancer prevention, and not one of the members was an oncologist. Welcome to the age of Orwellian philosophy, as it was written.
The story says "16 health care experts". Does this mean they are doctors, nurses, radiologists, healthcare administrators, or bean-counters at an HMO? Maybe, some of them were housekeepers in a hospital.
This is what happens when the government is awarded too much power. Luckily, most doctors are probably going to disregard the advice. But what if you or someone you love falls into this age group, after being forced into a public option? How would you feel?
If I were you, I'd be afraid of what the government says and does (especially when they put us all at risk).
Women in their 40s should not get routine mammograms for early detection of breast cancer, according to updated guidelines set forth by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
Before having a mammogram, women ages 40 to 49 should talk to their doctors about the risks and benefits of the test, and then decide if they want to be screened, according to the task force.
Task force? Now there's a term I'd like to explore for a moment.
Just what was the make-up of this "so-called" government task force?
Well, the article tells us what it was NOT:
The task force is composed of 16 health care experts, none of whom are oncologists. The group reviews medical data and bases recommendations on effectiveness and risks involved.
This is where the entire thing loses any possibility of having any credibility, at all.
Welcome to Obamacare. Welcome to government run healthcare. Here we have a government entity formulating policy on cancer prevention, and not one of the members was an oncologist. Welcome to the age of Orwellian philosophy, as it was written.
The story says "16 health care experts". Does this mean they are doctors, nurses, radiologists, healthcare administrators, or bean-counters at an HMO? Maybe, some of them were housekeepers in a hospital.
This is what happens when the government is awarded too much power. Luckily, most doctors are probably going to disregard the advice. But what if you or someone you love falls into this age group, after being forced into a public option? How would you feel?
If I were you, I'd be afraid of what the government says and does (especially when they put us all at risk).
Thursday, October 01, 2009
Emperor Worship
If you haven't seen it, watch this video showing people actually praying to Obama at a healthcare rally:
Insanity manifests itself in so many different ways. Is this America or North Korea?
Insanity manifests itself in so many different ways. Is this America or North Korea?
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Primetime Lies
I don't like liars. I have been lied to by some of the best liars in the world and have become well adept at picking up on other people's lies.
When I am lied to, I have two choices. I can either call them on it, like one lawmaker decided he would do. Or, I can act as if I believe it and ignore it altogether, allowing the liar to believe that he convinced me of his falsehoods.
This is why I did not listen to the President's speech last night. I expected nothing more than a bullying tone, full of lies. And from what I have read and heard already this morning, that's what the people who listened to it got for their efforts.
Fred Barnes, a man who I believes delivers honest analysis most of the time, has his take on the speech from last night. I don't think the President sold him.
When I am lied to, I have two choices. I can either call them on it, like one lawmaker decided he would do. Or, I can act as if I believe it and ignore it altogether, allowing the liar to believe that he convinced me of his falsehoods.
This is why I did not listen to the President's speech last night. I expected nothing more than a bullying tone, full of lies. And from what I have read and heard already this morning, that's what the people who listened to it got for their efforts.
Fred Barnes, a man who I believes delivers honest analysis most of the time, has his take on the speech from last night. I don't think the President sold him.
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Healthcare - A Short Reality
I keep hearing people saying that most of the American people are in favor of healthcare reform. And it's true, they are. But not the way it's being done now. They are not overwhelmingly in favor of allowing the government to run it into the ground like other countries have.
I find nothing wrong with eliminating pre-existing conditions and finding ways to keep costs down. I have no problem with getting the people who actually have no access to healthcare, better coverage than they may have now on Medicaid.
My issue is with:
1. Illegal aliens paying no taxes but getting into the plan
2. People who currently have access but are too cheap to buy into the company plan
3. Drunken 50-something early retirees (from six figured income jobs) living in some space-cadet town out west wanting me to buy their healthcare for them.
Because if these people get their wishes and have you and I paying for their bad choices, here is what you and I will be stuck with. Read this article and see if that's what you really want for this country.
I find nothing wrong with eliminating pre-existing conditions and finding ways to keep costs down. I have no problem with getting the people who actually have no access to healthcare, better coverage than they may have now on Medicaid.
My issue is with:
1. Illegal aliens paying no taxes but getting into the plan
2. People who currently have access but are too cheap to buy into the company plan
3. Drunken 50-something early retirees (from six figured income jobs) living in some space-cadet town out west wanting me to buy their healthcare for them.
Because if these people get their wishes and have you and I paying for their bad choices, here is what you and I will be stuck with. Read this article and see if that's what you really want for this country.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Astroturf: A Practical Illustration.
I don't know about you all, but I get sick of some things - sometimes. It really bothers me when I see good people lied about and treated like peasants.
Plus it really irritates me to see weasels in power assuming defensive postures, using projection and deflection as primary tactics/methods to avoid the truth.
The dissent is genuine. It was (and still is) spontaneously people-generated. Still yet, the leftist minions are trying to argue the point differently.
Oh well...denial is another maladaptive means of coping with failure to win the argument. Why resist it? Right?
But I digress.
Anyway, the leftist Democratic leadership - to include Pelosi and Reid (stupidity personified) - has been more than pleased to deem the people who merely disagree with them, Nazi thugs and a new catchword: astroturf.
Want to see some real astroturf? Take a look at this one:
My guess is the Obama camp knows there is a significant percentage of people in the state of New Hampshire who identify with these irritated dissenters. If someone lived there and came there in good faith to exercise their Constitutional rights, one would think they wouldn't have to watch people from unions and other left-wing lobbies bussed in for a seat. But when someone is losing the argument badly, I guess they may get a little desperate and tend to get a bit hypocritical.
Want a new slogan? How about "Going Home in 2010"? Or how about singing a song called "It's Too Late Baby"? Or "Private sector here they come, right back where they started from..."?
It matters not to me, just so they go. I would love nothing more than watching the massive flights out of DC.
Plus it really irritates me to see weasels in power assuming defensive postures, using projection and deflection as primary tactics/methods to avoid the truth.
The dissent is genuine. It was (and still is) spontaneously people-generated. Still yet, the leftist minions are trying to argue the point differently.
Oh well...denial is another maladaptive means of coping with failure to win the argument. Why resist it? Right?
But I digress.
Anyway, the leftist Democratic leadership - to include Pelosi and Reid (stupidity personified) - has been more than pleased to deem the people who merely disagree with them, Nazi thugs and a new catchword: astroturf.
Want to see some real astroturf? Take a look at this one:
My guess is the Obama camp knows there is a significant percentage of people in the state of New Hampshire who identify with these irritated dissenters. If someone lived there and came there in good faith to exercise their Constitutional rights, one would think they wouldn't have to watch people from unions and other left-wing lobbies bussed in for a seat. But when someone is losing the argument badly, I guess they may get a little desperate and tend to get a bit hypocritical.
Want a new slogan? How about "Going Home in 2010"? Or how about singing a song called "It's Too Late Baby"? Or "Private sector here they come, right back where they started from..."?
It matters not to me, just so they go. I would love nothing more than watching the massive flights out of DC.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Healthcare Choices
Recently, this author participated in a discussion on another blog about the issue of government run healthcare, as it is currently being proposed. One of the semi-regulars of that blog made a statement which I would like to look at a little closer.
During the course of the discussion I asked some questions, which the commenter declined to answer. And that's okay. This is not the center of my contention, as he is fully within his rights to keep silent on whatever subject he wishes. It was unclear why he likes to ask his questions and then refuses to answer those directed toward him. But it is his right, nonetheless.
The statement he made is one of several that liberals tend to use when seeking to justify why they support a corrupt and incompetent government's desire to control healthcare. The comment I am referring to reads as follows:
I have no way of knowing exactly what the gentleman was implying here, but I know how it comes across. I also know there are many who use the same kind of language to draw a parallel between VA benefits and what Congress wants to create for the American people. In one respect they are right and in the other, they couldn't be further from the truth.
Let's look at this a little closer, shall we?
For one thing, liberals often are confused about veterans benefits. They are earned. They are not welfare. They are not in any way a handout. Whoever earned them, whether it's the retiree or the vet injured in the line of duty, deserves them and has a right to them --- so as long as the government provides them.
Most retirees I know can choose to seek medical care at VA hospitals and clinics (if they are disabled at the time of discharge), active duty bases (after active duty personnel and their dependents have received care), and/or use their Tricare insurance for treatment in the private sector. Almost every last military retiree I have ever known (in modern times) has chosen to use their Tricare, in the private sector.
Why would that be, you ask?
First, let's consider this story.
You can read the rest of the story, if you wish.
The important thing to note is that things like this happen more times than people think. The military is a breeding ground for doctors paying the government back for their schooling, it is their form of residency. They practice, they learn, and sometimes it comes by trial and error (with error being the operative word). They are human, they do not necessarily act with malice. But in the end, the outcome may not be the desired one of choice.
Older doctors (who are higher in rank than the residents) are not always the prime choice of the private sector, so many stay in the military for the malpractice protection. Military personnel cannot choose a doctor. If they present for care and the base happens to have a doctor in the area of specialty that is required, there is no chance to be referred off base or on another one.
Then, there's this little problem with the VA. As I said earlier, this involves a choice. To choose or not to choose VA depends on a lot of things. Every case stands on its own, by itself. There are never two cases, exactly alike.
Personally, I am not able to comprehend the reasoning for choosing care at the VA, over the private sector using Tricare. For many, it's the only choice they can afford. I understand that.
Many are jobless, or making low wages. Some have mental health or addiction issues and are not able to work. I understand why they are there. But I do fail to see how the VA can possibly deliver better care than the private sector, especially when I read stories like this.
I was a patient in a VA Hospital many years ago. I had lost a job from layoffs and had no health insurance, so my choices were limited when I got sick. With a mass in my neck that appeared in the span of about 3-4 days, I took my DD214, drove into the local VA's ER, and presented myself for treatment. I waited a long time to see an ENT resident from the IU School of Medicine. To make a long story short, I ended up needing surgery. Three months later, they removed the mass which was not malignant, but was a bit disfiguring.
When I left, I picked up a prescription for some pain pills and signed my name. Care wasn't quite up to standard, but I couldn't complain because my choices were limited. One example, no one (and I mean no one) including the house nursing supervisor could get an IV in me. I was a young twentysomething man, with garden hoses for veins and they all took turns sticking me multiple times. It was a doctor that finally got one in after they blew no less than five choice veins.
I said all of that to say this, VA is not great care. It wasn't then, but it is especially true today. The people who staff it are not the cream of the crop, the buildings and equipment are sub-par. The system is overloaded with disabled vets from the two wars. How can it be a model for anything?
So how does that play into the healthcare debate?
Simple.
Just let government take over and the outcome will be services like are provided to veterans. This is precisely why the vast majority of vets that I know, stay in the private sector. Tricare goes anywhere the member wants to use it. Healthcare providers who are in competition with each other, tend to do better jobs. Not that there aren't problems and not that there aren't incidents of private sector negligence and malpractice, but overall outcomes are much better than the horror stories we have looked at here today.
During the course of this process ask your House Representative and Senators, something. Are they are going to sign on to this for their healthcare coverage or will they keep the cushy plan they already have? If they opt to keep what they have, they are retaining the choices for themselves and doling out garbage to the people.
I don't know about you, but this sounds an awful lot like the landed nobles and peasantry divide, in medieval feudalism.
During the course of the discussion I asked some questions, which the commenter declined to answer. And that's okay. This is not the center of my contention, as he is fully within his rights to keep silent on whatever subject he wishes. It was unclear why he likes to ask his questions and then refuses to answer those directed toward him. But it is his right, nonetheless.
The statement he made is one of several that liberals tend to use when seeking to justify why they support a corrupt and incompetent government's desire to control healthcare. The comment I am referring to reads as follows:
...as a disabled veteran, I get all my health care through the VA. So I'm biased when it comes to a government-run health care system.
I have no way of knowing exactly what the gentleman was implying here, but I know how it comes across. I also know there are many who use the same kind of language to draw a parallel between VA benefits and what Congress wants to create for the American people. In one respect they are right and in the other, they couldn't be further from the truth.
Let's look at this a little closer, shall we?
For one thing, liberals often are confused about veterans benefits. They are earned. They are not welfare. They are not in any way a handout. Whoever earned them, whether it's the retiree or the vet injured in the line of duty, deserves them and has a right to them --- so as long as the government provides them.
Most retirees I know can choose to seek medical care at VA hospitals and clinics (if they are disabled at the time of discharge), active duty bases (after active duty personnel and their dependents have received care), and/or use their Tricare insurance for treatment in the private sector. Almost every last military retiree I have ever known (in modern times) has chosen to use their Tricare, in the private sector.
Why would that be, you ask?
First, let's consider this story.
Last week, 20-year-old Colton Read, who grew up in Arlington and who's now in the U. S. Air Force, went to have laparoscopic surgery to remove his gall-bladder at David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base near Sacramento.
His mother, Shelly Read-Miller says he wasn't worried. "He said 'Mom, this is routine, it's no big deal.'"
But what happened during surgery turned out to be a very big deal.
You can read the rest of the story, if you wish.
The important thing to note is that things like this happen more times than people think. The military is a breeding ground for doctors paying the government back for their schooling, it is their form of residency. They practice, they learn, and sometimes it comes by trial and error (with error being the operative word). They are human, they do not necessarily act with malice. But in the end, the outcome may not be the desired one of choice.
Older doctors (who are higher in rank than the residents) are not always the prime choice of the private sector, so many stay in the military for the malpractice protection. Military personnel cannot choose a doctor. If they present for care and the base happens to have a doctor in the area of specialty that is required, there is no chance to be referred off base or on another one.
Then, there's this little problem with the VA. As I said earlier, this involves a choice. To choose or not to choose VA depends on a lot of things. Every case stands on its own, by itself. There are never two cases, exactly alike.
Personally, I am not able to comprehend the reasoning for choosing care at the VA, over the private sector using Tricare. For many, it's the only choice they can afford. I understand that.
Many are jobless, or making low wages. Some have mental health or addiction issues and are not able to work. I understand why they are there. But I do fail to see how the VA can possibly deliver better care than the private sector, especially when I read stories like this.
A congressional panel is pressing the Department of Veterans Affairs to disclose on Tuesday whether non-sterile equipment that may have exposed 10,000 veterans to HIV and other infections was isolated to three Southeast hospitals or is part of a wider problem.
I was a patient in a VA Hospital many years ago. I had lost a job from layoffs and had no health insurance, so my choices were limited when I got sick. With a mass in my neck that appeared in the span of about 3-4 days, I took my DD214, drove into the local VA's ER, and presented myself for treatment. I waited a long time to see an ENT resident from the IU School of Medicine. To make a long story short, I ended up needing surgery. Three months later, they removed the mass which was not malignant, but was a bit disfiguring.
When I left, I picked up a prescription for some pain pills and signed my name. Care wasn't quite up to standard, but I couldn't complain because my choices were limited. One example, no one (and I mean no one) including the house nursing supervisor could get an IV in me. I was a young twentysomething man, with garden hoses for veins and they all took turns sticking me multiple times. It was a doctor that finally got one in after they blew no less than five choice veins.
I said all of that to say this, VA is not great care. It wasn't then, but it is especially true today. The people who staff it are not the cream of the crop, the buildings and equipment are sub-par. The system is overloaded with disabled vets from the two wars. How can it be a model for anything?
So how does that play into the healthcare debate?
Simple.
Just let government take over and the outcome will be services like are provided to veterans. This is precisely why the vast majority of vets that I know, stay in the private sector. Tricare goes anywhere the member wants to use it. Healthcare providers who are in competition with each other, tend to do better jobs. Not that there aren't problems and not that there aren't incidents of private sector negligence and malpractice, but overall outcomes are much better than the horror stories we have looked at here today.
During the course of this process ask your House Representative and Senators, something. Are they are going to sign on to this for their healthcare coverage or will they keep the cushy plan they already have? If they opt to keep what they have, they are retaining the choices for themselves and doling out garbage to the people.
I don't know about you, but this sounds an awful lot like the landed nobles and peasantry divide, in medieval feudalism.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
The Nightmare On Healthcare Street
Want to simulate dizziness and vertigo without mind altering substances?
Take a look at this flow chart that represents Obamacare.
WARNING: Be sure that when you click into the link, you are sitting down. PYY is not responsible for any injuries you may incur if you view this while standing up. As always, it is not a good idea to view this if you have been drinking or are on certain prescription narcotics. Do not mix with sedatives or stimulants, to include double shots of espresso. Void where prohibited.
Take a look at this flow chart that represents Obamacare.
WARNING: Be sure that when you click into the link, you are sitting down. PYY is not responsible for any injuries you may incur if you view this while standing up. As always, it is not a good idea to view this if you have been drinking or are on certain prescription narcotics. Do not mix with sedatives or stimulants, to include double shots of espresso. Void where prohibited.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Progressive Speak Made Easy
Sometimes when a politician uses progressive-speak, it is important to get the correct translation. This is important, so that the average citizen can cut through the BS and form a well thought out opinion. Otherwise the person may fall prey to the dreaded disease known as "group think".
Here is a brief clip from a Washington progressive by the name of Jim McDermott and the correct English translation:
Shamelessly lifted from I Hate The Media.
Here is a brief clip from a Washington progressive by the name of Jim McDermott and the correct English translation:
Shamelessly lifted from I Hate The Media.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Use Caution, But Save The Panic
The swine flu has many people in a panic right now and to some to degree it's easy to see why. Anytime there are deaths from an outbreak of some illness and talk of a worldwide pandemic, it's going to cause some apprehension.
The UN is in scare mode. Europe is advising its citizens to avoid the Americas, Russia is screening all flights coming in from the same. But the U.S. is basically yawning. Why?
(Emphasis mine)
That's right, only one case has been hospitalized so far. Despite the deaths reported in Mexico, none have occurred here. This is most likely due to the very poor medical care in Mexico. If one cannot stay hydrated or have access to Tylenol for high fevers, there is a much greater risk of severity.
So, be on guard. But let's not take this too far like the UN, Europe, and Russia are doing. If you get it, treat it like any other flu.
Stay away from others, stay hydrated, and monitor your fever. It will run its course eventually. Remember that a little fever is good. It is a natural infection fighting response by the body. It will kill the virus faster, if you allow it. Most physicians won't get too worried if it is kept below 101 degrees. Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and plenty of water are the keys to keeping fevers under control.
(If you want to have something to worry about, let it be something like this.)
The UN is in scare mode. Europe is advising its citizens to avoid the Americas, Russia is screening all flights coming in from the same. But the U.S. is basically yawning. Why?
The confirmed U.S. cases included 28 at a private high school in New York City, 11 in California, six in Texas, two in Kansas and one in Ohio. Only one American case has led to a hospitalization.
(Emphasis mine)
That's right, only one case has been hospitalized so far. Despite the deaths reported in Mexico, none have occurred here. This is most likely due to the very poor medical care in Mexico. If one cannot stay hydrated or have access to Tylenol for high fevers, there is a much greater risk of severity.
So, be on guard. But let's not take this too far like the UN, Europe, and Russia are doing. If you get it, treat it like any other flu.
Stay away from others, stay hydrated, and monitor your fever. It will run its course eventually. Remember that a little fever is good. It is a natural infection fighting response by the body. It will kill the virus faster, if you allow it. Most physicians won't get too worried if it is kept below 101 degrees. Tylenol, Ibuprofen, and plenty of water are the keys to keeping fevers under control.
(If you want to have something to worry about, let it be something like this.)
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Sunday Reflection: The Value Of Health
My mother always used to say to me as a child, "if you have your health, you have everything". Of course most children are concrete thinkers and are not able to properly analyze abstract statements very well. So, I would file the thought away and go out to play. Life was good.
As I have aged, the reality of my mother's statement has become better known to me.
Other than some minor issues here and there, my health has been great. But this past January, I had a brief moment of chest pain at work. It went away rather fast, but my co-workers ganged up on me and made me go to the ER for an evaluation. I didn't want to, but they were relentless; so just to shut them up, I went.
Labs were drawn and sent, an EKG was taken, it all went so fast. To make a long story short, the cardiac enzymes were stable and the subsequent stress echo was negative. But some of the other labs were not normal. And after several more follow-up lab tests were performed, I was told I have a chronic illness that will never go away. That, within itself, was enough to depress a comedian. Other than the brief episode that landed me in the ER, I didn't feel sick. And I still don't.
If that wasn't enough, at the time I was being worked up for the illness, a second potentially dangerous problem was discovered. It's not serious at this time and I do not expect it to be any time soon. But who can say for how long? We can only control so much of our destiny.
So here I sit today, finally able to assign the proper value to health. Health is something that we cannot take for granted, because in one instant our status can be changed. But do not fear, I plan on being here for a very long time. I am doing everything the doctors are telling me to do. That which I can control, I am. That which I cannot control is out of my hands.
One of PYY's good friends, Amerloque, understands this of which I write. If you have not had a chance to read his story, you can read it here.
So, the reflection this Sunday is simple. If you have not been to the doctor in awhile, I say it is a good thing. If you have not had a physical in awhile, maybe you should get one. Both of my issues were diagnosed incidentally and likely would not have been discovered early enough, had my co-workers not been more presistent and stubborn than me. As Barney Fife used to say: Nip it, nip it in the bud.
As I have aged, the reality of my mother's statement has become better known to me.
Other than some minor issues here and there, my health has been great. But this past January, I had a brief moment of chest pain at work. It went away rather fast, but my co-workers ganged up on me and made me go to the ER for an evaluation. I didn't want to, but they were relentless; so just to shut them up, I went.
Labs were drawn and sent, an EKG was taken, it all went so fast. To make a long story short, the cardiac enzymes were stable and the subsequent stress echo was negative. But some of the other labs were not normal. And after several more follow-up lab tests were performed, I was told I have a chronic illness that will never go away. That, within itself, was enough to depress a comedian. Other than the brief episode that landed me in the ER, I didn't feel sick. And I still don't.
If that wasn't enough, at the time I was being worked up for the illness, a second potentially dangerous problem was discovered. It's not serious at this time and I do not expect it to be any time soon. But who can say for how long? We can only control so much of our destiny.
So here I sit today, finally able to assign the proper value to health. Health is something that we cannot take for granted, because in one instant our status can be changed. But do not fear, I plan on being here for a very long time. I am doing everything the doctors are telling me to do. That which I can control, I am. That which I cannot control is out of my hands.
One of PYY's good friends, Amerloque, understands this of which I write. If you have not had a chance to read his story, you can read it here.
So, the reflection this Sunday is simple. If you have not been to the doctor in awhile, I say it is a good thing. If you have not had a physical in awhile, maybe you should get one. Both of my issues were diagnosed incidentally and likely would not have been discovered early enough, had my co-workers not been more presistent and stubborn than me. As Barney Fife used to say: Nip it, nip it in the bud.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Obama's Double-Edged Sword: Healthcare
Here is a moment of wonderment that I think we all need to be aware of. CNN is reporting it.
Apparently, we have read this correctly. Thankfully, it is not being well received by Washington Senator Patty Murray.
Even with the knowledge that this will be a waste of time, it may be that Team O will still want to press for it.
If this is true, this clearly shows that the arrogance of these clowns is unsurpassed by any in our nation's history. But this is not the only point worth thinking about.
Ask any proponent of single-payer government run healthcare and you will hear them blame the insurance companies for the mess we are in right now. But as we can see from this story, they are the problem only when it's convenient for them to be so. From this story, it sounds like they have no problem billing them for care, which they are not willing to cover.
Now that they are learning the costs of what it take to care for an injured troop, they seem to think the insurance company is the answer. How hypocritical is that? Is this a red flag, or what?
If you think that single payer government run healthcare is the only answer, you may want to reconsider. If the government is having trouble covering the cost of taking care of those that have been wounded serving their country, how much more difficult do you think it will be if everyone is on the same plan?
This is something for you people (those who think healthcare is the responsibility of the government) to think about. Wait until it's your sick child getting lost in the bureaucracy of an inept system and you are told there is no money for what he/she needs done.
Wake up, people. Some of you are starting to fall for the lies being advanced by elitist politicians. They want you to believe that government is the answer to every problem we have. But as one great man used to say, government is the problem.
You can't have it both ways, so don't let your emotions override your intellect. And above all, let's not ignore the red flags anymore.
(Hat Tip for article: Voice Of Conservative America)
* For more evidence of the arrogance of your elected officials, read the latest post at Social Sense.
Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki confirmed Tuesday that the Obama administration is considering a controversial plan to make veterans pay for treatment of service-related injuries with private insurance, but was told by lawmakers that it would be "dead on arrival" if sent to Congress.
Apparently, we have read this correctly. Thankfully, it is not being well received by Washington Senator Patty Murray.
Washington Sen. Patty Murray used that blunt terminology, telling Shinseki that the idea would not be acceptable and would be rejected if formally proposed. She made the remarks during a Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs hearing about the 2010 budget.
Even with the knowledge that this will be a waste of time, it may be that Team O will still want to press for it.
No official proposal to create such a program has been announced publicly, but veterans groups wrote a pre-emptive letter last week to President Obama opposing the idea after hearing the plan was under consideration. The groups also noticed an increase in “third-party collections” estimated in the 2010 budget proposal—something they said could only be achieved if the VA started billing for service-related injuries.
Asked about the proposal, Shinseki said it was under "consideration."
"A final decision hasn't been made yet," he said.
If this is true, this clearly shows that the arrogance of these clowns is unsurpassed by any in our nation's history. But this is not the only point worth thinking about.
Ask any proponent of single-payer government run healthcare and you will hear them blame the insurance companies for the mess we are in right now. But as we can see from this story, they are the problem only when it's convenient for them to be so. From this story, it sounds like they have no problem billing them for care, which they are not willing to cover.
Now that they are learning the costs of what it take to care for an injured troop, they seem to think the insurance company is the answer. How hypocritical is that? Is this a red flag, or what?
If you think that single payer government run healthcare is the only answer, you may want to reconsider. If the government is having trouble covering the cost of taking care of those that have been wounded serving their country, how much more difficult do you think it will be if everyone is on the same plan?
This is something for you people (those who think healthcare is the responsibility of the government) to think about. Wait until it's your sick child getting lost in the bureaucracy of an inept system and you are told there is no money for what he/she needs done.
Wake up, people. Some of you are starting to fall for the lies being advanced by elitist politicians. They want you to believe that government is the answer to every problem we have. But as one great man used to say, government is the problem.
You can't have it both ways, so don't let your emotions override your intellect. And above all, let's not ignore the red flags anymore.
(Hat Tip for article: Voice Of Conservative America)
* For more evidence of the arrogance of your elected officials, read the latest post at Social Sense.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
16.67% of New Yorkers Have No Health Insurance
Okay, the article says it's 1 in 6. But how many of those are eligible to be enrolled in Medicaid, and have made a personal choice not to enroll.
When we hear that the WHO (not the rock band, but the World Health Organization) ranks the U.S. healthcare at 37th, do we even ask what it's based on?
Well, John Stossel of ABC News has something to say about these questions. Here is what he found.
The thing that is necessary to understand in this, what will work in one country, may not be what will work in another. Michael Moore and company want us to buy into the single payer system like Canada has, but doesn't ask the tough questions to find the drawbacks to such a system.
Here is a story that resonates all over the Canadian nation:
(Hat Tip to Mustang of Social Sense for this video)
I know that some would point to the French system, which scores high in many surveys. But I would have to ask: Would that system, could that system, work here?
I have my doubts.
The U.S, is a much larger country than France. The federal government is a much greater bureaucratic mess than most people can imagine. And as one who has worked for three different levels of government (federal, state, and county), I can safely say that you'll never find a a government entity that can run anything more efficiently, than the private sector can (except maybe public safety). I have seen the incompetence the laziness, and the inefficiency, firsthand.
Much of it comes from red tape and bureaucracy. And I have no reason to believe that healthcare run by the government, would fare any better than the other government programs, or the Canadian model.
When we hear that the WHO (not the rock band, but the World Health Organization) ranks the U.S. healthcare at 37th, do we even ask what it's based on?
Well, John Stossel of ABC News has something to say about these questions. Here is what he found.
The thing that is necessary to understand in this, what will work in one country, may not be what will work in another. Michael Moore and company want us to buy into the single payer system like Canada has, but doesn't ask the tough questions to find the drawbacks to such a system.
Here is a story that resonates all over the Canadian nation:
(Hat Tip to Mustang of Social Sense for this video)
I know that some would point to the French system, which scores high in many surveys. But I would have to ask: Would that system, could that system, work here?
I have my doubts.
The U.S, is a much larger country than France. The federal government is a much greater bureaucratic mess than most people can imagine. And as one who has worked for three different levels of government (federal, state, and county), I can safely say that you'll never find a a government entity that can run anything more efficiently, than the private sector can (except maybe public safety). I have seen the incompetence the laziness, and the inefficiency, firsthand.
Much of it comes from red tape and bureaucracy. And I have no reason to believe that healthcare run by the government, would fare any better than the other government programs, or the Canadian model.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Libyan High Court Lifts Nurses' Death Sentences
From the IHT comes this report:
Not only was this the right move for the Libyan court to make, it was a smart one. But what they really need to do is get a little smarter. They really need to commute the sentences or pardon them immediately, if they ever expect to receive competent outside medical help in the future.
What many people do not understand is, HIV transmission from healthcare worker to patient is very rare. So to determine that it was inadvertent and accidental is still highly unlikely. In fact, far more healthcare workers are infected by their patients than patients are by healthcare workers. If this is hard to believe, I urge you to take a look at this 2003 position paper put out by the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
With this in mind, I would urge all people in this country and abroad to educate themselves on HIV and how it is spread. This includes gaining an understanding of the population that is at the highest risk. Here in America and other developed nations, the conventional wisdom has advanced far enough that many of the early myths about this infection have now been effectively dispelled. Yet, I am sad to report there are still many people all over the world that still do not have the most basic understanding, due to ignorance or outright refusal to accept the data that supports this position.
You cannot get it from casual contact, toilet seats, or other benign methods. After all of the research and studies performed on this subject, we still find that drug addicts sharing dirty needles and unprotected sex are still among the highest risk groups.
So I think it's fairly safe to assume that unless you are promiscuous and are not using adequate protection or are sharing needles with your friends, you really have little to worry about. Even cases of transmission by blood transfusions using tainted blood have all but been eradicated, because all donated blood goes through an intensive screening process (at least in this country, it does).
With education and new drugs, AIDS deaths are down, after peaking in the mid 90s. Still we have a long way to go before this disease is eradicated. Certainly much more needs to be done in the way of research, but for now, the best way to not acquire HIV or die from AIDS is to alter lifestyle and prevent its transmission.
Libya on Tuesday lifted death sentences against five Bulgarian nurses and a Palestinian doctor convicted of deliberately infecting children with HIV, paving the way for them to be freed after eight years in prison.PYY applauds this move, despite the fact this was probably a bogus case from the beginning. In my wildest imagination, I could not believe that these nurses would purposefully and deliberately infect the children they were committed to helping.
The ruling by Libya's highest judicial body, made possible by a financial settlement of $1 million each to the 460 HIV victims' families, fell short of a hoped-for pardon for the medics, who insist they are innocent.
Not only was this the right move for the Libyan court to make, it was a smart one. But what they really need to do is get a little smarter. They really need to commute the sentences or pardon them immediately, if they ever expect to receive competent outside medical help in the future.
What many people do not understand is, HIV transmission from healthcare worker to patient is very rare. So to determine that it was inadvertent and accidental is still highly unlikely. In fact, far more healthcare workers are infected by their patients than patients are by healthcare workers. If this is hard to believe, I urge you to take a look at this 2003 position paper put out by the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
With this in mind, I would urge all people in this country and abroad to educate themselves on HIV and how it is spread. This includes gaining an understanding of the population that is at the highest risk. Here in America and other developed nations, the conventional wisdom has advanced far enough that many of the early myths about this infection have now been effectively dispelled. Yet, I am sad to report there are still many people all over the world that still do not have the most basic understanding, due to ignorance or outright refusal to accept the data that supports this position.
You cannot get it from casual contact, toilet seats, or other benign methods. After all of the research and studies performed on this subject, we still find that drug addicts sharing dirty needles and unprotected sex are still among the highest risk groups.
So I think it's fairly safe to assume that unless you are promiscuous and are not using adequate protection or are sharing needles with your friends, you really have little to worry about. Even cases of transmission by blood transfusions using tainted blood have all but been eradicated, because all donated blood goes through an intensive screening process (at least in this country, it does).
With education and new drugs, AIDS deaths are down, after peaking in the mid 90s. Still we have a long way to go before this disease is eradicated. Certainly much more needs to be done in the way of research, but for now, the best way to not acquire HIV or die from AIDS is to alter lifestyle and prevent its transmission.
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