As many readers know...... I work in the mental health field at a State Hospital and try to come from that perspective when writing about an issue. Today's issue addresses cost of care in the past and currently, and whether the government can really lower the cost of medical care by becoming more involved. let's look at reality:
One of my new patients received a piece of mail a few days ago that made him instantly angry and caused him to throw it on the floor, say a few obscenities, and become rude with the staff. What was this terrible piece of paper? What evil things did it have to say?..... It was a statement of "cost of care" while he was a patient at the State Hospital. It stated that his cost of care would be approximately $18,000 per month. Yes, that is per month!
I started working at this particular institution in 1986 and remember the cost of care being at approximately $2700 for each individual patient per month. This year I saw a patient's statement and it showed cost of care at approximately $18,000. Can somebody run the numbers for me? What is the percentage of increase in 23 years?
It appears to me, with my basic math, that the increase in the cost of care is approximately 700% over the past 23 years. Gold was between $300 and $400 in 1986 and is currently at About $950....... that is approximatelya 350% increase. To me that means that basic cost of medical care is increasing at a rate that is twice that of currency. Why is cost of care rising at such a fast rate and what can we do to bring the cost down?
I believe that increased government intervention is and will lead to an increase in cost of care with a reduction in care given. All one has to do is look at how other businesses have faired after the federal government took control. I, for one, am not ready to shuttle mother and other 'elderly' loved ones around me off to Hopice when they have a great deal of life to live. All we need to do to see how this will work is to look at other sytems and how they are fairing......My understanding is that Canada, after trying the social experiment, is looking at going back to private health care....... systems in Europe are doing the same thing. Why are we experimenting with a losing proposition when it has already been tried elsewhere and found to be lacking?
We don't have the perfect system.....but, it is the best system. America stands on the cutting edge and the lefties seek to equalize the field by reducing care for most so a small percentage of society will have the same coverage.......
Mr Obama, Senate and House leaders, come to this care you offer America and tell me it will suffice for you as well. I know it won't because you expect more. So do I! Keep your hands off my health care. I trust the free market over you any day!!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Keep your mouth shut, stay in line
Last week I posted a link, in Facebook, to Sara Palin's Op-Ed that was in the Washington post. I thought it was a straight forward look at the Energy Crisis that will be upon us if we continue to move in the "Cap n Tax" direction this country is currently going and pointed out how we can move toward energy independence, rather clearly. When I woke up the next morning and checked my e-mail I found a response to my post that stated "I don't think this needs to turn into a political Facebook". My response was... "Actually, everything we do in life is political. If a person does not like what I have to share they do not need to follow my status or read my wall. I will not be a sheeple".
This person had the audacity to tell me what I could put on my own Facebook wall! Please understand, this was not something I had posted to her on her wall or sent to her as a direct message, this was an article I had placed on my own wall. This person who spent the last 8 years trashing the Republicans and the Bush policy (I'm not big on either myself.... they are not conservative enough) was now telling me that I am supposed to keep my mouth shut, stay in line and not make my Facebook wall political. All this while she gloats about how the libs got Obama in office......not because he was great, but because there is a lack of conservative leadership. We know it's bad........ Can anyone say "Al Frankin'?
I have heard it said over the years...... "I don't talk about politics or religion". Well, my 2 favorite subjects are Politics and Religion. Both of these topics affect peoples lives and are, in my mind, as important as air.
I WILL talk about my political and religious beliefs. I will share with people what God means to me and what needs to be done in this country to best serve it's citizens.
People........WAKE UP! Some, have no problem telling you not to think or feel or say......."Keep your mouth shut, stay in line!!"...... while they continue to espouse their socialistic, anti-God agenda. If we continue to move peacefully down the road, and if we continue to live our own lives, and if we continue to raise our families and believe all is well........... we will, in our lifetime, watch the unraveling destruction of the greatest nation that ever existed, right before our very eyes.
I will not shut up. I will not act like all is well. I will not forget that there are people that seek for a utopia that requires not their own sacrifice, but the sacrifice of others.
This person had the audacity to tell me what I could put on my own Facebook wall! Please understand, this was not something I had posted to her on her wall or sent to her as a direct message, this was an article I had placed on my own wall. This person who spent the last 8 years trashing the Republicans and the Bush policy (I'm not big on either myself.... they are not conservative enough) was now telling me that I am supposed to keep my mouth shut, stay in line and not make my Facebook wall political. All this while she gloats about how the libs got Obama in office......not because he was great, but because there is a lack of conservative leadership. We know it's bad........ Can anyone say "Al Frankin'?
I have heard it said over the years...... "I don't talk about politics or religion". Well, my 2 favorite subjects are Politics and Religion. Both of these topics affect peoples lives and are, in my mind, as important as air.
I WILL talk about my political and religious beliefs. I will share with people what God means to me and what needs to be done in this country to best serve it's citizens.
People........WAKE UP! Some, have no problem telling you not to think or feel or say......."Keep your mouth shut, stay in line!!"...... while they continue to espouse their socialistic, anti-God agenda. If we continue to move peacefully down the road, and if we continue to live our own lives, and if we continue to raise our families and believe all is well........... we will, in our lifetime, watch the unraveling destruction of the greatest nation that ever existed, right before our very eyes.
I will not shut up. I will not act like all is well. I will not forget that there are people that seek for a utopia that requires not their own sacrifice, but the sacrifice of others.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
conservative what?
I Started looking at conservative political definitions recently to remove some confusion and decided that, even though I definitely know what I believe, I'm not sure what my political view would be defined as. Don't get me wrong... I know that I am a Conservative though I am confused by some of the definitions of politics on the right. So, I thought I would look up some definitions from a few different sources to see what I came up with. The following words have been bantered about by conservative political wonks when talking politics on the right.
New Right - In the United States, the New Right refers to a Conservative political movement that coalesced through grassroots organizing in the years preceding the 1964 presidential campaign of Barry Goldwater. The Goldwater campaign, though failing to unseat incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson, galvanized the formation of a new political movement. In elite think-tanks and local community organizations alike, new policies, marketing strategies, and electoral strategies were crafted over the succeeding decades to promote strongly conservative policies. The New Right got a policy approach and electoral apparatus that brought Ronald Reagan into the White House in the 1980 presidential election. The American New Right is distinct from and opposed to the more moderate tradition of the so-called Rockefeller Republicans. The New Right also differs from the Old Right on issues concerning foreign policy with the New Right being opposed to the non-interventionism of the Old Right. Though mostly ignored by scholars until the late 1980s, the formation of the New Right is now one of the fastest-growing areas of historical research. from wikipedia.com
Old Right - was a faction of American conservatism that opposed both New Deal domestic programs and also the entry of the U.S. into World War II. Many members of this faction were associated with the Republicans of the interwar years led by Robert Taft, but some were Democrats. They were called the "Old Right" to distinguish them from their anti-communist New Right successors. from wikipedia.com
Neoconservatism - a political philosophy that emerged in the United States of America, and which supports using American economic and military power to bring liberalism, democracy, and human rights to other countries. Unlike traditional conservatives, neoconservatives are generally comfortable with a minimally-bureaucratic welfare state; and, while generally supportive of free markets, they are willing to interfere for overriding social purposes. from wikipedia
Paleoconservatism - (sometimes shortened to paleo or paleocon when the context is clear) is a term for an anti-communist and anti-imperialist right-wing political philosophy in the United States stressing tradition, civil society and anti-federalism, along with religious, regional, national and Western identity. Chilton Williamson, Jr. describes paleoconservatism as "the expression of rootedness: a sense of place and of history, a sense of self derived from forebears, kin, and culture—an identity that is both collective and personal." from wikipedia.com
Traditionalist conservatism - is a political philosophy that developed in the United States. It tends to emphasize cultural renewal and is characterized by an adherence to the principles of prescription (law), custom (law), social order, hierarchy, faith, the natural family, ordered liberty, and tradition. It may be said to have affinities with reactionary thought, and some adherents of this movement perhaps embrace that label, defying the stigma that has attached to it in Western culture since the Enlightenment.Traditionalist conservatism as an organized intellectual force emerged after World War II in the writings of a group of university professors (labeled the "New Conservatives" by the popular press of the time) who rejected the notions of individualism, liberalism, modernity, and social progress[1] and revived interest in what T. S. Eliot referred to as "the permanent things" (those perennial institutions that ground society: the church, the family, the state, community life, etc.). from wikipedia.com
Conservative Libertarianism -A form of libertarianism that is not as statist as pure conservatism, but not as socially liberal as "pure" libertarianism. Like libertarians, conservative libertarians believe in a very small government, with only those services needed to protect the citzens from unjust force. They usually also believe in there being more power given to the states (so it can be loosely related to Confederatism). However, they also share many attributes of conservatives; most are pro-life, and against unchecked immigration. The gray area for conservative libertarianism is victimless crimes, such as drug possession and prostitution.
Conservative libertarians usually were either Republicans who thought the party was too statist, or Libertarians (note the capital L) who thought that the party consisted of pimps and potheads who only cared about legalizing drugs and prostitution. from everything2.com
Fiscal conservatism- A political phrase term used in North America to describe a fiscal policy that advocates a reduction in overall government spending. Fiscal conservatives often consider deficit and national debt reduction as well as balancing the federal budget of paramount importance. Free trade, deregulation of the economy, lower taxes, and other economically conservative or neoliberal policies are also often affiliated with fiscal conservatism. From wikipedia.com
Social conservatism - A political or moral ideology that believes government and/or society have a role in encouraging or enforcing traditional values or behaviors based on the belief that these are what keep people civilized and decent. Social conservatives in many countries generally: favor the pro-life position in the abortion controversy and oppose embryonic stem cell research; support the death penalty, oppose same-sex marriage and other marriages social conservatives consider the establishment of to be contrary to traditional marriage, and the nuclear family model as society's foundational unit; oppose expansion of civil marriage and child adoption rights to couples in homosexual relationships; promote public morality and traditional family values; oppose secularism and privatization of religious belief; support the prohibition of drugs, prostitution and euthanasia; and support the censorship of pornography and what they consider to be obscenity or indecency. From wikipedia.com
Reagan Conservative - someone with strong values on fiscal conservatism, strong national defense, strong social values but who understands that those three things fit together and that people may (not) agree with you 100% on all of them. Reagan was able to use what people had in common in order to bring them together rather than using what their disagreements to divide them. from Reagan Society Board Member Merrie Spaeth at reagansociety.org
I found it hard, or apparently did'nt know where to look, to find any single source that had all of the above definitions. wikipedia.com seemed to be the source that contained most but I do have reservations about some of it's definitions because it allows for updates from numerous sources and appears to be left leaning, in my opinion, from looking up items in the past. Please feel free to send me a note with any advice on where to look for a better or different definitions, or for additions to the list.
New Right - In the United States, the New Right refers to a Conservative political movement that coalesced through grassroots organizing in the years preceding the 1964 presidential campaign of Barry Goldwater. The Goldwater campaign, though failing to unseat incumbent President Lyndon B. Johnson, galvanized the formation of a new political movement. In elite think-tanks and local community organizations alike, new policies, marketing strategies, and electoral strategies were crafted over the succeeding decades to promote strongly conservative policies. The New Right got a policy approach and electoral apparatus that brought Ronald Reagan into the White House in the 1980 presidential election. The American New Right is distinct from and opposed to the more moderate tradition of the so-called Rockefeller Republicans. The New Right also differs from the Old Right on issues concerning foreign policy with the New Right being opposed to the non-interventionism of the Old Right. Though mostly ignored by scholars until the late 1980s, the formation of the New Right is now one of the fastest-growing areas of historical research. from wikipedia.com
Old Right - was a faction of American conservatism that opposed both New Deal domestic programs and also the entry of the U.S. into World War II. Many members of this faction were associated with the Republicans of the interwar years led by Robert Taft, but some were Democrats. They were called the "Old Right" to distinguish them from their anti-communist New Right successors. from wikipedia.com
Neoconservatism - a political philosophy that emerged in the United States of America, and which supports using American economic and military power to bring liberalism, democracy, and human rights to other countries. Unlike traditional conservatives, neoconservatives are generally comfortable with a minimally-bureaucratic welfare state; and, while generally supportive of free markets, they are willing to interfere for overriding social purposes. from wikipedia
Paleoconservatism - (sometimes shortened to paleo or paleocon when the context is clear) is a term for an anti-communist and anti-imperialist right-wing political philosophy in the United States stressing tradition, civil society and anti-federalism, along with religious, regional, national and Western identity. Chilton Williamson, Jr. describes paleoconservatism as "the expression of rootedness: a sense of place and of history, a sense of self derived from forebears, kin, and culture—an identity that is both collective and personal." from wikipedia.com
Traditionalist conservatism - is a political philosophy that developed in the United States. It tends to emphasize cultural renewal and is characterized by an adherence to the principles of prescription (law), custom (law), social order, hierarchy, faith, the natural family, ordered liberty, and tradition. It may be said to have affinities with reactionary thought, and some adherents of this movement perhaps embrace that label, defying the stigma that has attached to it in Western culture since the Enlightenment.Traditionalist conservatism as an organized intellectual force emerged after World War II in the writings of a group of university professors (labeled the "New Conservatives" by the popular press of the time) who rejected the notions of individualism, liberalism, modernity, and social progress[1] and revived interest in what T. S. Eliot referred to as "the permanent things" (those perennial institutions that ground society: the church, the family, the state, community life, etc.). from wikipedia.com
Conservative Libertarianism -A form of libertarianism that is not as statist as pure conservatism, but not as socially liberal as "pure" libertarianism. Like libertarians, conservative libertarians believe in a very small government, with only those services needed to protect the citzens from unjust force. They usually also believe in there being more power given to the states (so it can be loosely related to Confederatism). However, they also share many attributes of conservatives; most are pro-life, and against unchecked immigration. The gray area for conservative libertarianism is victimless crimes, such as drug possession and prostitution.
Conservative libertarians usually were either Republicans who thought the party was too statist, or Libertarians (note the capital L) who thought that the party consisted of pimps and potheads who only cared about legalizing drugs and prostitution. from everything2.com
Fiscal conservatism- A political phrase term used in North America to describe a fiscal policy that advocates a reduction in overall government spending. Fiscal conservatives often consider deficit and national debt reduction as well as balancing the federal budget of paramount importance. Free trade, deregulation of the economy, lower taxes, and other economically conservative or neoliberal policies are also often affiliated with fiscal conservatism. From wikipedia.com
Social conservatism - A political or moral ideology that believes government and/or society have a role in encouraging or enforcing traditional values or behaviors based on the belief that these are what keep people civilized and decent. Social conservatives in many countries generally: favor the pro-life position in the abortion controversy and oppose embryonic stem cell research; support the death penalty, oppose same-sex marriage and other marriages social conservatives consider the establishment of to be contrary to traditional marriage, and the nuclear family model as society's foundational unit; oppose expansion of civil marriage and child adoption rights to couples in homosexual relationships; promote public morality and traditional family values; oppose secularism and privatization of religious belief; support the prohibition of drugs, prostitution and euthanasia; and support the censorship of pornography and what they consider to be obscenity or indecency. From wikipedia.com
Reagan Conservative - someone with strong values on fiscal conservatism, strong national defense, strong social values but who understands that those three things fit together and that people may (not) agree with you 100% on all of them. Reagan was able to use what people had in common in order to bring them together rather than using what their disagreements to divide them. from Reagan Society Board Member Merrie Spaeth at reagansociety.org
I found it hard, or apparently did'nt know where to look, to find any single source that had all of the above definitions. wikipedia.com seemed to be the source that contained most but I do have reservations about some of it's definitions because it allows for updates from numerous sources and appears to be left leaning, in my opinion, from looking up items in the past. Please feel free to send me a note with any advice on where to look for a better or different definitions, or for additions to the list.
Friday, July 3, 2009
My Hero, My Aunt
I went quickly, today, to see my Aunt Brenda before she died. I didn't really know her, but I was saddened that she was quickly dying. She was dying of cancer and I wanted to be at her side to tell her that I loved her.......and to be there for her, as well as my grandmother, mom and cousin.
My memories of my Aunt Brenda are few and cloudy, sparce. I remembered things from when I was a child......and she was wild. The story I love to tell is when she told my grandpa that my cousin Don, and I, were pulling bullets apart with plyers so we could make bombs......it didn't work too well and she told on us. What I came to realize is that the lady I had known had become a modern day hero in a world of selfish individuals. I don't know the whole story but I will try to put it together the best that I can.
She had been an abused spouse in her life and started a women's shelter in the mid 90s, this much I knew. What I didn't know is that she had moved on from this to being a servant to her community from that time forward. some quotes from the Hood River News:
Herman organized the assembly of care packages for the troops at two markets during 2007. At that time, she was already sending boxes on her own to military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. She referred to these men and women as her “adopted children.”
In 2008, Herman co-founded the Heroes Club to expand her outreach to the troops. The mission of the group sponsored by Elks Lodge 1507 in Hood River and Lodge 1868 in White Salmon was to support individuals serving in the armed forces from the Mid-Columbia area.
For her efforts on behalf of the troops, Herman was named Elk of the Year for 2008 by the White Salmon lodge.
“I’ve only known Brenda a short time but, in that time, I have found her to have a heart of gold,” said VandenBos.
Jean Hadley, of Parkdale, met Herman while she was volunteering as a Master Gardener at the Hood River market. In addition to serving as board president, Herman made and sold Misty Mountain soaps and lotions.
Hadley said Herman immediately offered help after learning that she served on the survivor walk committee of Relay for Life.
“I had asked her if she would sell me some of her small soaps to be a small gift for the survivors. What Brenda did was make enough soaps to hand every survivor one for the next three years and she would not take a penny,” said Hadley.
“She does what she does for all the right reasons, for whoever needs it. What an inspirational person; her energy has been contagious.”
In 1995, Herman was named Citizen of the Year in White Salmon, where she makes her home. The recognition followed her work to open “Hope’s Place,” a shelter for abused women and children.
One of her personal triumphs was a climb to the summit of Mount Hood in the late 1980s.
“She is a very passionate woman who loves life,” said Mason.
“The things that she could change, she has done to make this world a better place for us all.”
I was further amazed to hear that she was writing thank you notes to hospital staff and loved ones until she was unable to do so any longer.
Sometimes, we are so busy looking for a hero that we miss the hero in our midst. It took too long for me, Aunt Brenda, to notice. Thank you for your selflessness. Truly, you are my hero.
My memories of my Aunt Brenda are few and cloudy, sparce. I remembered things from when I was a child......and she was wild. The story I love to tell is when she told my grandpa that my cousin Don, and I, were pulling bullets apart with plyers so we could make bombs......it didn't work too well and she told on us. What I came to realize is that the lady I had known had become a modern day hero in a world of selfish individuals. I don't know the whole story but I will try to put it together the best that I can.
She had been an abused spouse in her life and started a women's shelter in the mid 90s, this much I knew. What I didn't know is that she had moved on from this to being a servant to her community from that time forward. some quotes from the Hood River News:
Herman organized the assembly of care packages for the troops at two markets during 2007. At that time, she was already sending boxes on her own to military personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan. She referred to these men and women as her “adopted children.”
In 2008, Herman co-founded the Heroes Club to expand her outreach to the troops. The mission of the group sponsored by Elks Lodge 1507 in Hood River and Lodge 1868 in White Salmon was to support individuals serving in the armed forces from the Mid-Columbia area.
For her efforts on behalf of the troops, Herman was named Elk of the Year for 2008 by the White Salmon lodge.
“I’ve only known Brenda a short time but, in that time, I have found her to have a heart of gold,” said VandenBos.
Jean Hadley, of Parkdale, met Herman while she was volunteering as a Master Gardener at the Hood River market. In addition to serving as board president, Herman made and sold Misty Mountain soaps and lotions.
Hadley said Herman immediately offered help after learning that she served on the survivor walk committee of Relay for Life.
“I had asked her if she would sell me some of her small soaps to be a small gift for the survivors. What Brenda did was make enough soaps to hand every survivor one for the next three years and she would not take a penny,” said Hadley.
“She does what she does for all the right reasons, for whoever needs it. What an inspirational person; her energy has been contagious.”
In 1995, Herman was named Citizen of the Year in White Salmon, where she makes her home. The recognition followed her work to open “Hope’s Place,” a shelter for abused women and children.
One of her personal triumphs was a climb to the summit of Mount Hood in the late 1980s.
“She is a very passionate woman who loves life,” said Mason.
“The things that she could change, she has done to make this world a better place for us all.”
I was further amazed to hear that she was writing thank you notes to hospital staff and loved ones until she was unable to do so any longer.
Sometimes, we are so busy looking for a hero that we miss the hero in our midst. It took too long for me, Aunt Brenda, to notice. Thank you for your selflessness. Truly, you are my hero.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
"I have the right"
"I have the right"........ that is what the patient said to me as he ignored my question about his intentions. I'm not trying to be rude, but he is on a constant watch for the protection of himself and others. I state "could you answer the question, please?" with no effect because he is fixated on the fact that he has the right to do whatever the hell he wants. It may not be true, but he believes it, and why not, he has been told that since he was a small, mentally disabled child.
This is but a symptom of the disease eating away at our society. I don't just hear this from patients in a mental institution...... I hear it echoed all around me. I heard it when Obama became President and people praised the fact that he would, finally, take care of there needs, pay off their mortgages, make sure they have healthcare....... you saw that lady say "Obama is going to pay for my house", and I hear it when people at work tell me why they don't have to do their assigned task.......or show up to work. The problem with the socialist utopia is that there are too many trying to get.....because it is their right....because the deserve.
What did John F. Kennedy say? "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."
It is time again to ask the question "what can I do for my country". It's time to move back to a place of responsibility instead of a selfish desire to get.......because "I have the right".
This is but a symptom of the disease eating away at our society. I don't just hear this from patients in a mental institution...... I hear it echoed all around me. I heard it when Obama became President and people praised the fact that he would, finally, take care of there needs, pay off their mortgages, make sure they have healthcare....... you saw that lady say "Obama is going to pay for my house", and I hear it when people at work tell me why they don't have to do their assigned task.......or show up to work. The problem with the socialist utopia is that there are too many trying to get.....because it is their right....because the deserve.
What did John F. Kennedy say? "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."
It is time again to ask the question "what can I do for my country". It's time to move back to a place of responsibility instead of a selfish desire to get.......because "I have the right".
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