Money and Medicine

Insurance is the problem. Actually, if you'll follow the money you'll realize where the problem is in medicine. You have to look at the big players. The players are the doctors, nurses, technicians, office workers, equipment, tests, drugs, management, hospitals, health departments, and insurance companies. Those are the main players in the health industry. 

Kaiser Report says Romney's voucher plan would cost at least 60% of seniors more money.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2012/10/15/its-official-non-partisan-kaiser-foundation-says-60-of-seniors-would-pay-more-for-medicare-under-romney-ryan-voucher-plan/

Everyone is worried about social security becoming insolvent and complaining about medicare going broke, but President Obama has proposed a plan to keep it solvent for an additional four years. That would give us time for the government to fix the mess we are in now, provided they cooperate with each other and learn to compromise, and figure out how to save medicare and rejuvenate the system. I have no doubt that we could turn the whole ACA , Affordable Care Act, around and ensure every American citizen fair access to a medical doctor whenever they are ill, and for yearly wellness visits to monitor their health and help them control illnesses before they become life threatening.

If congress would learn to work to advance the American people and their needs, instead of working hard to impede the progress of the federal government as long as Barack Obama is president, America could grow and the economy would improve more quickly. Every few years we go through a recession and then the economy starts to improve and it grows again. There is no fear that this recession will last. The only fear we should have is the fear of settling for the pitch of a snake oil salesman trying to profit off the highest office in the nation, while stripping America of her resources and constitutional rights. 

Mitt Romney has promised to deny funding to Planned Parenthood and PBS, Public Broadcasting System, among other things. He is as out of touch with the people and disrespectful of the people who will be affected by his policies as our Georgia Governor, Nathan Deal. I am extremely upset with Governor Deal right now for closing the Georgia Archives to the public. Now you will have to make an appointment to visit the archives and can only have access for a couple of hours.

Anyway, getting back to my idea about insurance, I think it's ignorant giving retired people vouchers so they can run all over the country comparing policies and trying to figure out how to get the most for their dollar, cause the insurance companies are going to be trying to get out of covering people with medical conditions and they are going to be trying to sell people shitty policies, or policies that cost out the ying yang and suck up that voucher money and every penny you have left. The insurance companies are in business to make a profit and they have proven their better natures by turning people with illnesses off of policies and putting caps on lifetime spending on people with serious disabilities that costs a fortune over a lifetime. The only solution is tighter regulations. And control over the cost of medical care and equipment. 

I can never understand when someone wants less regulation and oversight by the government after seeing the mess that was made by too little monitoring over Wall Street and the stock market. Those people play with billions of dollars every day. When you handle huge sums of money all the time, it no longer seems real. It's like Monopoly money. It doesn't hurt near as much if you're gambling with someone elses money and lose it. They didn't care. That's why the stock market barracudas all deserved to be punished. Bernie Madoff shouldn't be the only one spending a lifetime behind bars. They destroyed the savings of thousands of people, and fleeced them for their own gain. Too many people will never fully recover their savings. 

We need to push congress to oversee the prescription drug industry more closely and regulate the cost of newer drugs so that patients who need these drugs can afford them. 

When doctors start making more money on treating and helping patients control their blood pressure and cholesterol and monitoring them more often, it will be a win-win for the doctors and the patients as medical costs come down. Cancer and heart disease can be caught in earlier stages if everyone is able to have a yearly physical. More people will live longer with preventative medicine. That might not be so good for social security but I can guarantee you that a lot of people will be happy to know that they will have a chance to live a longer, healthier life.

I can not stress strongly enough to you how important it is for America to visualise the next 20 to 40 years and the overwhelming need for jobs in the field of healthcare. The American baby boomers are all aging. They will not settle down, without a fight. They have always been movers and shakers and don't take no for an answer. They will be on the move and active, if at all possible. The best solution I can imagine is for our federal government to get involved in inspiring young people to seek some field in medicine. College students will need grants and scholarships to help defray costs. President Obama recommended forgiving the debts of college graduates who work in community service when they enter the work force. That same plan should be accentuated in the healthcare field so that they can encourage the brightest and most passionate students to serve in medicine.

That's my two-cents worth.

AS ALWAYS

PIO

I Feel Tense

For the last few weeks a lot has been going on around here. First, we lost our little dog Jack, and then Buddy got sick and we had to take him to the vet. One week Donny had to go to the doctor, and Buddy went the next day, then I went the day after that. On top of that, I had a mammogram that looked suspicious so I had to go back for another test on my boob. 

My blood pressure was a little high when I went to the doctor. It's never high. The doctor told me to come back for a consultation after my second mammogram. I was worried that he might tell me some bad news, although the technician said it only looked like a cyst. Instead, I had to have my blood pressure checked again. It was high, but not as much as my first doctors visit. They tested it again before I left and it was getting closer to normal. 

On my first visit with the doctor he told me that he had recommended a hysterectomy when I had been to him four years ago. I was dumbfounded because I didn't remember him saying that. I do remember him telling me that I should come back and he would put me on a pill to stop my menses and then he would put me on a hormone pill for menopause. 

I told him that I didn't want to go on hormones because my aunt had died from breast cancer and my momma and all her sisters had been told by Crick's doctor that they should never take hormones. Crick's doctor told them all to get a good mammogram and take care of themselves. I wasn't about to take hormones, if I could help it because of that.

I had avoided going to the doctor for four years because I didn't want to take medicine or be on pills. On the second visit, he was more concerned with my blood pressure than the mammogram and told me that it was okay, but I needed to have another mammogram in six months. 

I have to admit I was kind of pissed about coming back because of my blood pressure, especially when the doctor told me to keep taking "those pills I gave you". He hadn't given me any pills. When he told me he'd prescribed blood pressure pills, I began to wonder if he was the one losing his mind. He never gave me a prescription, or told me to take blood pressure pills. If he had, I would have told him I didn't want to take them anyway.

Donny takes blood pressure pills, and he has to go back twice a year for a new prescription, and for them to check his blood work. I know I may be wrong but I believe it's a big scam to keep getting money out of you. The only time my blood pressure goes up is when I get upset when I go to the dentist or doctor, or it's election time. 

I also went to Doctor Phil for my six months visit and he finally took the bonding off my front teeth. Now, when I smile, I have big gaps around my front teeth. He had to scrape the adhesive off and use a grinder to get it loose. It made my teeth sore again. I was warned not to eat apples or corn on the cob until they tightened up again. I'm sure that experience didn't help my blood pressure any.

I've been feeling like a rubber band wound tight on a balsam airplane, here lately. The presidential election is three weeks away and, depending on the outcome, I should be able to settle down and feel less uptight after that. Otherwise, I'll probably stroke out before the next election. I nearly blew a gasket when George Bush was president. I can't imagine how bad it will be if Romney wins. 

I can understand people who are stressed out because of Obama. That's how I felt when Bush was president but I hope President Obama wins a second term. I'm afraid the Republicans will destroy the social systems that help poor people. Despite their protests, most Republicans don't care about the needy.

Speaking of needy, and stress, it won't be long before it's Christmas. I hate the hustle and bustle of the people as they climb all over each other shopping for crap that most people don't want or really need. I've always thought that Christmas was too commercial. This year won't be any different.

If we can make it through the holidays, and December 21st, the day of doom on the Mayan calendar, we can look forward to another new year, with new hope for a better future. Let's all hope we get one.

Now, do you understand why I'm so tense?

AS ALWAYS

PIO

OCTOBER

I knew this wasn't going to be an easy year, what with the election coming and all. I knew I'd probably push some people too far with my ranting about the two party system in America and the lack of empathy the Republicans show for poor people. I was right. Nevermind the fact that the Republicans are mostly conservative Christians who like to go to church every Sunday and listen to the word of God, anticipating the happy day that they meet the Lord in heaven.

One of my favorite stories in the bible is when Jesus goes into the temple and overturns the moneychangers tables, saying that they "are turning my Father's house into a den of thieves." Jesus lost his temper because of the hypocrisy in God's house. Jesus said that "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for a rich man to enter into heaven." 

I wonder how Jesus would feel about people today who are taught to give until it hurts, instead saying they are no longer their "brother's keeper", and "if people were smarter, they wouldn't need any help." Talk about not having any empathy. 

These are also the same people that rant about women getting abortions because of the sanctity of life, yet when children are born in poverty and survive on welfare, they and their parents are considered deadbeats, gaming the system, who don't deserve government assistance. Some have even stronger views on the subject.

One Romney supporter at the Romney office in Blue Ridge, Virginia, Clifford Russell, had an extreme suggestion. Christopher D. Cook, a reporter for The Progressive, questioned him about his views on the government.

“What’s killing us is all these entitlements, we’ve got to get rid of all of them. All this welfare, food stamps, Medicare, and then big government health care on top of it, it’s all just too much! When do we say enough is enough?”

Cook asked Russell what he would do to reduce entitlements in this country.

“Look, there’s always something you can do. You telling me people can’t make a choice for a better life? We have to help all of them? No. I’ll tell you what really need to do with these illegitimate families on welfare—give all the kids up for adoption and execute the parents.”

Loonies on the right are out there. If you want to read the article about this radical Republican view you can click on the link at One Romney Supporter's Solution

We have to get out and vote to counteract the dangerous agenda of the Republican party and defend the programs that affect every American.

I'm glad the election will be over soon because it seems that there are too many nuts out there running for office, and too many people who will follow them blindly over a cliff. I don't know if President Obama will be reelected president, but I certainly hope so. He deserves four more years as Potus. 

Our country gave George W. Bush eight years to create this mess, and it will certainly take eight years, and longer, to dig our way out of it. The world economy was on the brink of collapse as the Presidency changed hands in 2008. Without the Obama programs to stabilize the stock market and shore up the automobile industry, our economy would have frozen up and stalled completely.

Austerity is not the answer. People are protesting all over the globe today because their government froze their wages and caused the economy to stagnate. The world economy is still in a precarious position. 

America is beginning to get back on her feet and will soon be running again, but it won't improve if the people don't have jobs and money for discretionary spending to purchase goods. Consumers are the backbone of the economy. Under the Romney administration, the only ones getting a tax break will be the very rich. Who do you think will have to pick up the slack?

We need more jobs in America. We used to be one of the greatest manufacturing countries in the world. We could be that way again if we started producing American products and restart the BUY AMERICAN project again. Frankly, it annoys me every time I buy an American flag and the label says Made in China. 

We need to rebuild American's infrastructure and employ American workers to fill those jobs. Outsourcing to other countries should have such stiff tariffs that it would be more logical to hire American companies.

We need to repair or build roads, bridges, sewer systems, airports, dams, schools, and other projects, pouring money into rebuilding America and stimulating the economy. We should be working to make America great again. America can only be great if everyone has the opportunity to improve their lot in life. Squashing the poor, and middle class will only destroy it. 

The Republicans want to spend money on war, and let the people be damned. That's not the American way. I'll stick with the Americans with a heart. That's what makes America great. Her heart and the belief that America is great because anybody can aspire to become anything they want, including the President of the United States. President Obama is a testament to that fact. He is the first black man ever elected president in the United States. He won't be the last.

Won't you be happy when the election is over? I know I will. Maybe then I can talk about something else like Halloween.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Joann, Shannon, Alesha, Lon, Layla, Matt, Devan, Michelle, Kelly, 
Debbie, Chase, Barry, Diane, and Summer

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Kelly and Troy
Piette and Paul

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

AS ALWAYS

PIO