HEALTH CARE REFORM, ANY SUGGESTIONS?

*This is a post by joyonboard, originally posted on HBO.com forum [June 15, 2009]

I will now give a response to the question listed, instead of just talking about how the current system is so bad. The topic is regarding what components would you like to see in a new health care system, and whether or not one would be in favor of a single payer system. One way I have talked about for years is that if we must keep the current system somewhat in place that the following changes be made: For instance if a company such as Met Life or BC/BS is your health care provider, [they take your money for health care insurance], then they must cover you for disability, and life insurance as well. This way, they at least have a motivation to pay for quality health care, so you are less likely to need the disability payments, or to have to pay the death benefit payment. This could work well for the insurance company as well as the patient, since they will have all of your business.

The profit margins should be capped, [they do it on tort recovery] as to not be so high on the list of the Fortune 500. I am giving an example of keeping to some degree the ability to make some money, but not gauge the payee, or run the costs at the hospitals out of sight. This could be an option for those who can pay, and are willing to opt for this plan. Another option, for those who cannot, or choose not to go with the above plan, is the single payer system. One way to go on this would be to have the employed, pay on a sliding scale. This would be on a percentage basis, based on income. Let's take something from the French besides the Statue of Liberty, fries and the croissant.

The WHO ranks them #1 in the world for health care; and we could pick and choose what parts of their system which work best, and use our innovation to complete our system. The poorest of the poor do have Medicaid, but the people who fall between the gaps, either the working poor, or people on a miserly fixed income who suffer the most in this country when it comes to health care.

It was Americans who invented the airplane, cotton gin, light bulb, telephone [the list is long] and of course, the Colt revolver, and the semi-automatic shotgun (Browning)...I refuse to believe Americans cannot collectively invent a worthwhile health care system that will benefit all its people.

What suggestions do you have for health care reform? Feel free to send your ideas/suggestions:

http://www.contact.joyonboard.net/

What We Have Here Is A Failure To Deliberate

I will first say, that I did not start out politically where I am now. Oh no, I have been nudged, shoved and pushed here. I was not one of those who started out anti-Bush. I am however, one of the 20% of the population who, when I learn more and/or different information, will re-think my viewpoint. I don't belong to a political party because I choose to not be locked in to an already established mindset. I will no doubt elaborate on the learned information on future blogs, as for this one, I will stay with the topic chosen for today.

The notion that Rush Limbaugh is the talking head for the Republican Party these days, is as bizarre as it is disturbing. The attacks against our current president, are certainly in the category of "dissent", which is, according to Rush Limbaugh, an act of treason. Now it is being said that the liberals wanted Bush to fail according to a 2006 poll conducted by [so we know it's not biased] Fox News: http://www.dakotavoice.com/2009/03/limbaugh-condemned-for-democrats-attitude/

Therefore, this justifies the mind-set. I never met anyone who wanted Bush to fail, just stunned at how badly he [and his administration] did fail...at pretty much everything. The fault-finding of how the Obama administration is handling the unprecedented condition of our country, and wanting our president to fail as he attempts to clean up the national mess, certainly are the words of one who loves his ideology over country. The critical thinking is just not there. It makes me think of people who would come to your home [our country], bring their pets [cronies/cabinet members], leave a huge sewage issue all over your house, and then complain about how you go about trying to clean it up! So much has been written about our nation's surplus at the time Bush got to Washington, and the trillions in deficit he left, that I won't spend time going over numbers, you can find them anywhere on the web. I am recommending a bit of common sense, to think carefully, to be careful in deciding what to believe - yes we need to deliberate.

We have had plenty of time [years] to reflect on the previous administration's actions and very little time to see how the enormous task of trying to fix this mess is going to pan out. It is clear that Limbaugh's definition of "socialism" is any act of social unity. Now he is wanting people to boycott GM products http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bailout-watch-552-boycott-gm-rush-limbaugh-is-insane/ and I'm sure many will, just as when he encouraged people in the last election primary to commit voter fraud, http://www.alternet.org/politics/80392/?page=entire and they did, in several states. The talking head of the Jesus party of torture...can't you feel the love?

PROVERBS 6:12-19

12] A worthless person, a wicked man, Walks with a perverse mouth; 13] He winks with his eyes, He shuffles his feet, He points with his fingers; 14] Perversity is in his heart, He devises evil continually, He sows discord. 15] Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; Suddenly he shall be broken without remedy. 16] These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17] A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18] A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19]A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.




How can the party which claims to be so righteous, have Rush as their front guy? [felon/drug charges; 3 failed marriages; zero in the academic world [actually less than zero, per his mother, "he flunked every subject.." in the short time he went to college]. Obama is accomplished academically, they hate that. They hate that Obama will show some humility and respect when speaking to people he doesn't agree with, and will try diplomacy perhaps instead of swiftly running to evil [war]. Wanting the Republicans in charge again would be like going back to the same surgeon who botched the operation. And really, what thinking person would do that? They somehow get away with their followers, the notion that now is when money is being wasted....hello, where were you people the past 8 years? We already know that Rush has lost his hearing, [not mean, just true, and I would never mock him as he did Michael J. Fox], and that he can only see out of his RIGHT eye. We have the deaf and at least, partially blind leading those who will not see.



I would like to think that if you show these people the truth of all that went on during the Bush Administration to harm our country, and us as individuals, that they would understand and re-think their stance. We are certainly living the aftermath. An attorney friend who has done hundreds of focus groups and mock juries stated recently, that he has come to the conclusion that the saying, "seeing is believing" simply isn't true. He has learned from his professional experience that for most people, "believing is seeing." I fear he is correct.

Please send comments to contact@joyonboard.net

Late Term Abortions

The abortion issue is a complicated one, and the late term abortions, even more so. In the news now we have the murder of Dr. Tiller, who was one of only a few physicians in the country who would perform this procedure. We can differ on the pro-life, pro-choice issue, but I take the position of being both. You might say that thought process is not possible. I'm sure I am not alone in this, as I feel, as with most issues, it is not black and white. The people who view almost everything as black and white could benefit, and better contribute to solutions, if they allowed the color gray into their thought process. The notion that if you are pro-choice you must be pro-abortion is far from the truth for most thinking people.



My first thought in hearing about the procedure Dr. Tiller performed was, is this legal? http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090602225613AArXDud It was difficult to find these answers, and this above site sheds at least some light on the subject. In my searching the internet, I could not find a contributory site with any proposed workable solutions. By that, I mean, keeping the government out of a woman's uterus, yet providing better birth control and prenatal care, thus [hopefully] setting the groundwork for women to choose NOT to have an abortion.



I have to say that the late term abortion procedure is considerably more upsetting to me than the ones performed very early in the pregnancy. Neither make me comfortable, but a viable fetus [over 20 weeks] which could possibly survive; being aborted for reasons other than the life of the mother, an already deseased fetus - or some other catastrophic circumstance is disturbing to say the least.



For instance, the procedure Dr. Tiller provided was clearly within the law in the state of Kansas.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/27/doctor-acquitted-abortion-case/

I understand there are many pro-lifers who feel the doctor's murder was justified [I know, go figure..] I'm not sure how much of any of it is justified, but therein lies the discussion. How do we find a solution to keep the right to choose, but use compassion and wisdom for whatever decision is made?



Feel free to send comments/ideas via email to: contact@joyonboard.net



*I am in the process of setting up a website for this purpose, which will allow for ease of operation and communication; for now, please contact through your email to the above email address. All constructive comments appreciated.