Category Archives: health care

Yes On Health Care Reform (Duh)

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Here are the combatants.  In this corner we have President Obama and a large majority of the Americans, doctors and other health care professionals. In the other corner we have the insurance and drug companies along with a spate of self-serving Republicans and Democrats whose love of power outweighs their love of the American people.

More than 30 million uninsured Americans would receive healthcare benefits if the reform passes, and insurance companies could no longer deny coverage because someone has an existing medical condition.  In the recent healthcare summit, Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander said the health care reform question was too complicated to be resolved and other Republican senators out and out said the country can’t afford to cover the 30 million plus uninsured Americans, which, in case you were wondering, includes our children!

Too complicated? Are you kidding me? We’ve tackled all kinds of complex and dicey situations in this country and if health care reform is too hard for Senator Alexander to understand, perhaps the poor fellow should retire, sit on a grassy hill somewhere, and blow bubbles.

There are self-absorbed twits on both sides of the aisle and the majority of Americans are sick of it (pun intended).

There are American men, women and children dying every year because of the health care system which is run by the insurance companies and the drug companies who don’t give a rat’s ass about your health, just their profits. It’s that simple.

It would be an American tragedy to see the efforts of a truly good president wasted by greed on both sides of the aisle.

Call your members of congress and your senators and tell them a no vote on health care reform will force you to vote against them and urge everyone you know to vote against them.

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Insuring Profits, Not People

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The villains in the healthcare reform battle are the Insurance Companies and the elected officials who accept their money because they are more concerned about getting re-elected than saving American lives.

Fortunately we have a president and some members of congress who are willing to take on these greed-based companies.

President Obama is fighting for us, and we need to do the same. Obama Saturday accurately blasted the insurance companies for airing “deceptive and dishonest ads” and being more concerned about their profits and bonuses than the American people. He is right.

Consider this, 77 percent of Americans favor the public option and more than 60 percent of doctors favor it. The obstacle to healthcare reform in my country is the insurance industry, plain and simple. Obama was spot on accurate when he said, of the insurance industry’s approach, “It’s bogus. And it’s all too familiar. Every time we get close to passing reform, the insurance companies produce these phony studies as a prescription and say, ‘Take one of these, and call us in a decade.’ Well, not this time.”

Consider this too. The insurance industry squawks about the establishing of a public option, claiming it won’t work and they can do a better job of providing healthcare for Americans? Really? Do tell? If you believe them, you are wrong. Were this true, and if they really gave a damn about the health of the American family, why aren’t they asking to provide care for those currently covered  by Medicaid and Medicare, both government offerings. Answer? Those covered by Medicaid and Medicare don’t make a lot of money so the insurance companies can’t add to their profits and bonuses.

Again, I plead with all my readers to call your senators and congressmen and congresswomen and tell them one simple thing: If you don’t vote for the public option I will vote against you and I will actively make sure everyone I know votes against you.

Remember, we are fighting for our lives. And they are worth fighting for, believe me, they are.

"Can I Hug You?"

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“Can I hug you?” one said.



“Is it okay if I hug you?” said another.



And there were others with the same request of me after a speech I gave today to a room filled with nurses, social workers, therapeutic recreation therapists and a sprinkling of other health care professionals.



To be asked for a hug by people who give their heart and soul to helping others is, to say the least, humbling.



Today’s speech was given to members of the ADHCC (Adult Day Health Care Council), a wonderful council run by and for some pretty extraordinary folks.



I can tell you that I began the presentation by asking how many people in the room were nurses. More than half. I then told them that there were two things I wanted to tell them. First, it was people like them that helped save my life and, I added, “Foley catheters….Not funny.” A well-earned laugh and smile for all.



The request for hugs has grown over the past couple of years and I don’t know that I fully understand why. I do understand that the requests are honorable and heartfelt. And I do know too that many of those asking know, like I do, that the world is short on hugs.



Perhaps I am asked because of all I’ve been through. Perhaps I am asked because I do all I can to remind those in the audience that they count too. That they are just as special and worthy and valuable as any of the people they care for. That taking care of themselves is not an act of disloyalty to anyone else.



I am glad I’m alive. I’m glad I’ve lived life’s storms. I’m glad and grateful I am asked if I can be hugged, and I am glad and grateful that I can say yes and hug people back.



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