diagnosed: human

Once again, there is quibbling over what to do with health care in the U.S. Most recently, discussion concerning U.S. health care and illegal aliens.

There are many people in our land of plenty who are without plenty of things. Then, there are those who seem to have it all.

Perhaps, for those who do have it all, it is difficult to understand not having. Even more difficult for them to believe, there are actually people who toil very hard, yet never gain much. Harder still to trust, there are actually illegals who pay taxes. I've seen it myself. Where does that money go?

Of course, it is somewhat baffling why so much anger is directed only at illegals, with regard to taxes and health care. Maybe the anger should be directed at those who hire them. Those who pay them a mere pittance for their labor. The ones smiling at all the cash they've saved themselves by hiring workers on the cheap.

But never mind how it is we are in this position.

In all the rhetoric, something is fading... Humanity.

Yes, I know I'll be called a bleeding-heart liberal. No matter. I'll make no apologies for a desire that my fellow human beings be treated with at least a modicum of dignity. If that's a liberal thought, so be it. I once thought it was a "Christian" thought. Somehow, I've been kicked out of that club.

Whilst attempting to learn more on the health care debate, I stumbled across this comment by "brian" on CNN's Cafferty File:

brian (Nova Scotia) August 18th, 2009 4:35 pm ET

I am very confused. The United States is likely the most Christian nation on the planet. No other country has given so much to so many others in times of need. It is inconceivable to me that such a generous people such as our American Cousins could consider turning away 6 million ‘Illegals’ and their children. To say nothing about the 47 million of your own citizens who are unable to get affordable health care. I have every confidence you will sort this out , I only hope it can be done so while perserving the values America believes it stand for.

I am very confused, too, "brian".

And I haven't even mentioned how some Americans view other Americans who do not have health insurance. Health insurance is a commodity here. He who can buy the most wins. The prize? In some cases, life.

I don't profess to have all the answers. The situation seems too complex for most of us to grasp. Still, people are not just things to be tossed out like so much refuse. For all the talk of valuing life... Why not value it?

Ah. But how much will that cost?

Michael Moore is at it again...

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This looks interesting.

health"care"?

The big topic amongst us Americans lately is health care. Once again we are a people divided, it seems. And I can't help but wonder why such intense anger is coming out of conservatives. Anger and outright fibs. Again. Okay, maybe it's mostly the extreme far right spewing nonsense. Maybe. Here are the top 5 fibs about health care reform listed on MoveON.org.

Our government is working on a plan to fix what's been wrong with health care for many years. That some get it, yet many don't. More and more are going without it for their families. It is a choice of buying groceries or paying for an expensive health plan.

Often times, those without health insurance are simply priced out. It's unaffordable. Or if one can pay for it, it's too expensive to actually use. High deductibles and whatnot. If you don't have insurance, you may be paying out of pocket. The cost of treatment is climbing.

Most people know something is wrong with the system. Even those staunchly against the current plan our government is forming.

Sometimes it takes an extreme event to make one understand the problem. People get angry when they are very ill, hospitalized, and the insurance money is running out. Particularly when their insurance company decides not to pay for treatments that might save a person's life.

Insurance companies don't like to lose money.

I'm not happy, Bob. Not happy.
Gilbert Huph-The Incredibles

Apparently, our current system makes being in the health insurance business highly profitable. They get to decide what treatments they'll pay for. And it doesn't matter if one rarely goes to the doctor. Either way, they keep your premiums. If interested to know more, a vid about the subject HERE. Also, check out SickforProfit.com.

I dunno. Seems to me if you are paying for a service, you ought to receive it. Were it anyone else conducting business this way, there would be lawsuits involved, I'm sure.

So we all can agree, there is a problem. Right? Now the the big question is, will the new reform make the U.S. a socialist country? I came across a discussion, yes, an actual "discussion" in which people don't always agree, about the topic of a socialist U.S. Believe it or not, I found it in the forums of TreeHugger.com. The link HERE.

I'm still forming my opinion on this issue. But if we are already paying for the health of other people through high insurance premiums or paying out of pocket for high priced treatments, why such opposition to the reforms being proposed? I don't get it.

Photo: Dorothea Lange

So, here I sit, with my small children demanding much of my attention. It is difficult to focus. I imagine it must be the same for so many parents. Often, I think many people don't examine what is actually being done by our government. What they believe about the state of the country may hinge on a headline in the paper. Even still, enough people paid attention to be done with Bush-style politics.

As far as the "government health care reform=socialism" equation goes, I'm looking at other "free" countries for examples. Like, Canada or England. I wonder, what do Americans think of their health care system? Are Canada and England socialist countries?

To me, it would be nice knowing I could expect to receive health care. That my taxes have already insured me. And the majority of my paycheck did not go to an overpriced health plan I can use only at the discretion of the insurance company. The idea much of my insurance premium lines the pockets of the company's execs is a bit disconcerting. Should we really be treating health care as a commodity?

I suppose if one doesn't mind paying a fortune for health care, more power to them. Having health insurance is the new status symbol!

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More on this:
An article written in 2007 by Ezra Klein shows how some countries with the best health care do it. This article can be found here: www.Prospect.org--The Health of Nations--Ezra Klein

It is interesting to note, the health care system of the U.S. ranks 37th, between Costa Rica and Slovenia, when compared to 191 other countries. France is ranked as the best. One can see the World Health Organization's assessment here: http://www.who.int/healthinfo/paper30.pdf. The chart showing the rankings starts on page 18.

Proud Day, New Beginning

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history is made

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President-elect Barack Obama

Thank you BarackObamadotcom for sharing these vids.

to the left, to the left...

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There's a blog in the LA Times I came across today, written by a Republican. It is about Hollywood conservatives, their possible leanings toward Obama for president, and the reasoning behind it.

The full article can be found HERE.

While my own leanings tend to veer a bit to the left, I do not vote blindly. And though I don't care much what Hollywood has to say about politics (the shrieks from both sides I find annoying), points made in the blog made some sense.

It does seem true, McCain and Obama are both divisive in a sense. McCain's warfare, cultural. Obama's warfare, class. The differences amongst people are now magnified. Can our next president pull it together?

There was a time, I believed McCain to be honorable and a fairly decent choice for president. So, I wasn't worried much if he'd be elected. That changed. Dramatically. Now, I'm terrified he could win the election. The Palin pick was just the beginning. The erratic, almost hateful, manner in which McCain has been running his campaign, validates my concern.

A discussion earlier this month on CNN:

Thank you crown416 for sharing this vid.


At this point, Obama's temperament and overall organization seem to win, despite how some feel about taxes and the social issues.

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Barack Obama: Closing Argument

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Thank you BarackObamadotcomfor this vid.

One week. Vote.

early voter

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The presidential election is fast approaching. I'm planning to cast my vote early.

I'm pretty sure my vote here in Texas will matter little, due to the set-up of the Electoral College. Still, it's the principle of the thing.

Come to think of it, it may be wishful thinking that anyone's vote really matters.
The following vid about exposed vote-rigging is old news, yet we can hope history isn't repeated.



Unfortunately, there may already be vote-fraud afoot.

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finish line

Thank you BarackObamadotcom for sharing this vid.

voice of reason

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Thank you BarackObamadotcom for sharing this vid.
I have always admired Colin Powell.

Much of what Powell has said recently, is what we've been saying all along. That our leader should represent all Americans, not just a narrow group. That, yes, there are even Americans who are, you guessed it, Muslim, among the many other faiths. Perhaps some conservative groups have forgotten the United States Constitution, Bill of Rights, First Amendment:

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Perhaps, some of our fellow Americans are simply ill-informed, as they continue to question the faith and patriotism of Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama.


Thank you NCDem for sharing this vid.

Questioning is one thing, but refusing the answer and proof given is choosing the ignorance over reason. The death-threats and hateful remarks of some members of the Republican party only serve to further divide our country.

Let us hope, in November, reason wins.

awake

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The other night, a funny guy made a bit of sense.

qualified?

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Normally, I do not post political items on this blog. Something has changed ... Something needs to change.

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Biden--Bipartisanship

Thank you, Barackobamadotcom, for sharing this vid.

Biden--"The silence was deafening!"

Thank you, BarackforPresident, for sharing this vid.

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Palin--What does a VP do?

Thank you, 1962verbodivino, for sharing this vid.

Palin--Qualifications (according to Mrs. McCain)

Thank you, Lunabot3000, for sharing this vid.

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Clearly, I am a democrat, and have been since I can remember. It's the social and environmental issues. I can't turn my back on those. Not for reckless tax cuts. Not for supposed republican "morals". The people, all of them, and the planet matter too much.

That said, over the years, there have been many republicans I have admired. The Republican party of today, I do not recognize. I'm saddened by the RNC circus. The hatefulness of it. The gimicks played on us. Though, oddly enough, I actually found McCain much more likeable, after his speech, than I found any of those speaking for him. Perhaps, he should speak for himself.

Many were baffled at the Republican VP pick. There were many possible intelligent choices. Instead, they have chosen someone, Palin, who is barely known by McCain. There are questions as to the vetting of Palin, as well as questions about an alleged ethics violation while governor of Alaska. She is under investigation, as reported on ABCnews.com here. There are even questions as to why McCain would pick someone farther to the right than almost anyone, including himself, whilst he claims to be bipartisan.

Many of Palin's claims to fame simply are not true. More on this can be found here at Freep.com. We are awaiting Charles Gibson's interview with Palin on ABCnews later this week. Palin will have avoided press interviews up to that time. Seems to me, a VP pick ought to be strong enough to speak for themselves at any time without need to be sequestered from the press.

I'm shocked. Indeed, it seems, many of us are not invited to the Republican shin-dig.

Once again, the country is deeply divided.

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Obama--Thoughts on Biden, Palin

Thank you, CBS, for sharing this vid.

Not about the issues?

Thank you, appleswithmono, for sharing this vid.

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More information:

Barack Obama and Joe Biden: www.BarackObama.com
Obama on the Issues: OnTheIssues.Org-Obama
Biden on the Issues: OnTheIssues.Org-Biden

John McCain and Sarah Palin: www.JohnMcCain.com
McCain on the Issues: OnTheIssues.Org-McCain
Palin on the Issues: OnTheIssues.Org-Palin

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Ah, well. This may be last mention of politics on this blog.

On to happier things~~ like the new photography light kit that just arrived!

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speechless

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There is little left to say after this:



...except maybe, Wow!