Monday, August 16, 2010
The Free Republic: Medical Care Options?
The Free Republic: Medical Care Options?: "Today we are on the road. Both Martha and I are Cancer survivors. We both spend several days a year in Houston getting 'follow up' checks at..."
Medical Care Options?
Today we are on the road. Both Martha and I are Cancer survivors. We both spend several days a year in Houston getting "follow up" checks at MD Anderson Hospital. If you have Cancer, in my opinion, there is no better place to be than MDA.
Cancer is a scary thing when you hear that you have it. But the minute you walk in the door at MDA you are struck by the confidence and competence of the staff and volunteers. All the volunteers are, themselves, Cancer survivors so that they already know what you are going through. They know the questions you have, even before you ask them. And the ambiance of the place, more like a nice 5 star hotel than like a hospital, makes you feel buoyed up rather than depressed. You are beginning to heal immediately, just by your change in attitude.
I had my Cancer surgery just 4 years ago and my wife had hers only 1 year ago. We are BOTH over 70 years of age but we didnt have to wait in line and were handled IMMEDIATELY upon referring OURSELVES. There was no need to have a doctors referral. And our insurance was Medicare!!!
So why are we passing a health care bill???
So that the government can cut the payments to our physicians and hospitals! My personal GP takes ONLY Medicare patients. He has told me that his business is on the verge of not being able to continue. Medicare already pays so little that the profit margin is razor thin. He tells me that he is considering changing his profession, perhaps going into research. The Malpractice insurance, something that the health care bill didn't even address, is huge here in south Texas, taking a huge bite out of any profit made. Other doctors feel the same and are leaving the country. As doctors move out of patient care in the US, because they cannot make a living, there will be fewer doctors to cover MORE patients.
There is NO DOUBT that this will lead to rationing.
There will be waits to get what is considered postponeable surgery's and treatments. Prostate Cancer is often considered to be one that can be postponed. They say you will die before it kills you. This is based on 50 year old logic and actuary tables. Do you want to risk the last 10 years of your life on 50 year old data. I didn't and found out AFTER the surgery that my Cancer was one of the fast growing kinds and would surely have killed me early.
I currently have two bad knees. The doctor does not want to operate on them YET because they do not hurt me. But as soon as they start hurting I will get replacements. But what if they dont start hurting until I am 80 years old? Will I then qualify for "just give grandpa a pill to relieve his pain"? Or will I have to stand in line for two years because its an "elective" surgery? Or should I start complaining about non existent pain so I can get the surgery NOW before the new health care bill comes into effect?
Well, there are a couple of alternatives.
1) Many American doctors are moving south with their offices, to Costa Rica for one. Why? Because the costs are lower. Insurance premiums for Mal Practice are very low or non existent.
As long as I can travel, or, you can travel, you can go south where your Medicare will go further. That's fine for those that can travel, but what about those that cannot travel?
Also, is it what we want to do? Do we want to move our medical services to foreign countrys? Are we going to outsource medicine? Now all the profits will be going to Costa Rica.
2) Many foreign hospitals and doctors are on the cutting edge of medicine. India has some great Heart hospitals. With our Medicare insurance that wont pay enough in OUR country, we can go to other countrys where the benefits are considered generous. Now, US Medicare payments will be going to India.
Is that what we want? Is that good for our faltering economy? Will that keep our economy ahead of the surging second place economy, China?
Jim Isbell
==================================================
==================================================
Cancer is a scary thing when you hear that you have it. But the minute you walk in the door at MDA you are struck by the confidence and competence of the staff and volunteers. All the volunteers are, themselves, Cancer survivors so that they already know what you are going through. They know the questions you have, even before you ask them. And the ambiance of the place, more like a nice 5 star hotel than like a hospital, makes you feel buoyed up rather than depressed. You are beginning to heal immediately, just by your change in attitude.
I had my Cancer surgery just 4 years ago and my wife had hers only 1 year ago. We are BOTH over 70 years of age but we didnt have to wait in line and were handled IMMEDIATELY upon referring OURSELVES. There was no need to have a doctors referral. And our insurance was Medicare!!!
So why are we passing a health care bill???
So that the government can cut the payments to our physicians and hospitals! My personal GP takes ONLY Medicare patients. He has told me that his business is on the verge of not being able to continue. Medicare already pays so little that the profit margin is razor thin. He tells me that he is considering changing his profession, perhaps going into research. The Malpractice insurance, something that the health care bill didn't even address, is huge here in south Texas, taking a huge bite out of any profit made. Other doctors feel the same and are leaving the country. As doctors move out of patient care in the US, because they cannot make a living, there will be fewer doctors to cover MORE patients.
There is NO DOUBT that this will lead to rationing.
There will be waits to get what is considered postponeable surgery's and treatments. Prostate Cancer is often considered to be one that can be postponed. They say you will die before it kills you. This is based on 50 year old logic and actuary tables. Do you want to risk the last 10 years of your life on 50 year old data. I didn't and found out AFTER the surgery that my Cancer was one of the fast growing kinds and would surely have killed me early.
I currently have two bad knees. The doctor does not want to operate on them YET because they do not hurt me. But as soon as they start hurting I will get replacements. But what if they dont start hurting until I am 80 years old? Will I then qualify for "just give grandpa a pill to relieve his pain"? Or will I have to stand in line for two years because its an "elective" surgery? Or should I start complaining about non existent pain so I can get the surgery NOW before the new health care bill comes into effect?
Well, there are a couple of alternatives.
1) Many American doctors are moving south with their offices, to Costa Rica for one. Why? Because the costs are lower. Insurance premiums for Mal Practice are very low or non existent.
As long as I can travel, or, you can travel, you can go south where your Medicare will go further. That's fine for those that can travel, but what about those that cannot travel?
Also, is it what we want to do? Do we want to move our medical services to foreign countrys? Are we going to outsource medicine? Now all the profits will be going to Costa Rica.
2) Many foreign hospitals and doctors are on the cutting edge of medicine. India has some great Heart hospitals. With our Medicare insurance that wont pay enough in OUR country, we can go to other countrys where the benefits are considered generous. Now, US Medicare payments will be going to India.
Is that what we want? Is that good for our faltering economy? Will that keep our economy ahead of the surging second place economy, China?
Jim Isbell
==================================================
==================================================
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Did Our Young Heros Die In Vain?
If, this November, we do NOT turn this country from its plunge toward destruction, They may have died in vain.
As I write this blog, someone in a foreign land may be dying for my right to post it.
That truly breaks my heart.
But if I were to sit at home and watch from the side lines, that would dishonor their sacrifice in the most profound way. If we don't use what they died for, then they have died in vain.
We must uphold their sacrifices here at home by responsible citizenship. If we fail, then their death is a tragic waste. We must govern our country responsibly.
We must uphold the Constitution of the United States and not neuter it and find ways around it.
We must run the financial matters of the United States in a responsible manner and not bankrupt the country by raiding the treasury of the future generations.
Responsible citizenship means that in November, just two and a half months from now, we must go to the ballot box and restore honor to our country. We must remove this evil Cancer called "Progressive Politics" from our government, not just give our country a pill so it will feel better as it slowly dies from lack of care.
We must not vote for those that would desecrate the Constitution, but for those that would uphold it.
Jim Isbell
=================================================
=================================================
As I write this blog, someone in a foreign land may be dying for my right to post it.
That truly breaks my heart.
But if I were to sit at home and watch from the side lines, that would dishonor their sacrifice in the most profound way. If we don't use what they died for, then they have died in vain.
We must uphold their sacrifices here at home by responsible citizenship. If we fail, then their death is a tragic waste. We must govern our country responsibly.
We must uphold the Constitution of the United States and not neuter it and find ways around it.
We must run the financial matters of the United States in a responsible manner and not bankrupt the country by raiding the treasury of the future generations.
Responsible citizenship means that in November, just two and a half months from now, we must go to the ballot box and restore honor to our country. We must remove this evil Cancer called "Progressive Politics" from our government, not just give our country a pill so it will feel better as it slowly dies from lack of care.
We must not vote for those that would desecrate the Constitution, but for those that would uphold it.
Jim Isbell
=================================================
=================================================
Friday, August 13, 2010
Oh, And Another Thing......................
Just a couple of thoughts I had today:
1) I find myself screaming at the TV when I hear the Liberals try to downplay the value of the various Conservative movements, such as the TEA Party. I get upset and yell back at the talking heads because they don't recognize the threat we are to the left.
Today I realized that I should save my breath...for two reasons. First, the talking heads don't hear me. But more importantly, I really don't want them to know the threat we are. As long as the opposition continues to ignore us, as long as they continue to underestimate us, the better our chance to wipe them out in November.
They really believe their own propaganda. They are sure we are just a few and have no power. So they don't prepare for the conflict. They don't even energize their own voters. Their voters will not be afraid of us so will not come to the polls. That puts us in the drivers seat.
Then there is this..............
2) I have watched several blogs and received many emails from Conservatives that contained information that was just not true. I think some people think that if we say. "Obama was just caught ...etc....etc....etc..." that maybe it will come true. It wont. In fact if we spout insane things, if we repeat what we have never challenged, if we make up stories, we will begin to look like a bunch of crazy extremists. How can we hope to convince someone that we are right if everything we tell them can be checked and found to be wrong. We cannot spout lies about Obama, and then in mid stream change and then say..."Now I am telling you the truth when I tell you about what we believe." It wont work.
So the next time you receive an email that you are getting ready to forward to all your email list, check it out. Don't just think, "it sure sounds good" and forward it when you know in your heart its a bunch of Bull Crap. Go to Snopes or one of the other email "myth" busters and see if it is true. OR maybe even better, when you know in your heart its just Bull Crap, DON'T FORWARD IT. It will just end up making the point for the Liberals who say we are just a bunch of extremists.
Jim Isbell
============================================
============================================
1) I find myself screaming at the TV when I hear the Liberals try to downplay the value of the various Conservative movements, such as the TEA Party. I get upset and yell back at the talking heads because they don't recognize the threat we are to the left.
Today I realized that I should save my breath...for two reasons. First, the talking heads don't hear me. But more importantly, I really don't want them to know the threat we are. As long as the opposition continues to ignore us, as long as they continue to underestimate us, the better our chance to wipe them out in November.
They really believe their own propaganda. They are sure we are just a few and have no power. So they don't prepare for the conflict. They don't even energize their own voters. Their voters will not be afraid of us so will not come to the polls. That puts us in the drivers seat.
Then there is this..............
2) I have watched several blogs and received many emails from Conservatives that contained information that was just not true. I think some people think that if we say. "Obama was just caught ...etc....etc....etc..." that maybe it will come true. It wont. In fact if we spout insane things, if we repeat what we have never challenged, if we make up stories, we will begin to look like a bunch of crazy extremists. How can we hope to convince someone that we are right if everything we tell them can be checked and found to be wrong. We cannot spout lies about Obama, and then in mid stream change and then say..."Now I am telling you the truth when I tell you about what we believe." It wont work.
So the next time you receive an email that you are getting ready to forward to all your email list, check it out. Don't just think, "it sure sounds good" and forward it when you know in your heart its a bunch of Bull Crap. Go to Snopes or one of the other email "myth" busters and see if it is true. OR maybe even better, when you know in your heart its just Bull Crap, DON'T FORWARD IT. It will just end up making the point for the Liberals who say we are just a bunch of extremists.
Jim Isbell
============================================
============================================
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Oscar Romero
That name might not mean much to younger people, but this was the Priest that was murdered by the Salvadoran government 30 years ago for preaching against the government in his church. Though I didnt see it on the Catholic website I researched, I seem to remember that there were a couple of Nuns that were also murdered by that government at the same assassination.
"As the Archbishop of San Salvador during El Salvador's brutal civil war, Romero became the "bishop of the poor" for his work defending the Salvadoran people. After calling for international intervention to protect those being killed by government forces, Romero was assassinated on March 24, 1980." (from the uscatholic.org website)
Now, I am not a Catholic and I am not necessarily a crusader for the poor. But this man was a Priest that stood for what he believed and preached it from the pulpit. He died in the pulpit for his political beliefs.
I have many friends that are pastors in the Lutheran church. Many are not afraid to preach politics from the pulpit, when it serves the interest of preaching the word of their God. Some ARE afraid to even pray for our soldiers who are in harms way. Those that are afraid worry that they might be attacked by the government and loose their tax free status or maybe more.
BUT, I submit that if they DONT defend their freedom of speech, they could very well loose it for their silence! Was the freedom of the priesthood in NAZI Germany worth their silence about the atrocity's that were being committed? Some would argue that it was because they were there to protect their flock and not jailed in a concentration camp. But that is not the function of the priesthood. Their job is to point out injustice WHEREVER it exists. And when they DONT, they are guilty of immorality. If a pastor/priest cannot speak up when it is needed, then he or she should not have taken the job. It is like a soldier on the battle field that joins to defend his country but when faced with an enemy turns and runs. The soldier should never have gone to war and that priest/pastor should never have taken on the mantle if he or she would not honor it.
We should be hearing more preaching about the sanctity of the US Constitution being preached from the pulpits around this country. After all, it is that same Constitution that grants them the freedoms they have. If they dont defend its slow erosion by the Progressives, they may very well lose everything.
"As the Archbishop of San Salvador during El Salvador's brutal civil war, Romero became the "bishop of the poor" for his work defending the Salvadoran people. After calling for international intervention to protect those being killed by government forces, Romero was assassinated on March 24, 1980." (from the uscatholic.org website)
Now, I am not a Catholic and I am not necessarily a crusader for the poor. But this man was a Priest that stood for what he believed and preached it from the pulpit. He died in the pulpit for his political beliefs.
I have many friends that are pastors in the Lutheran church. Many are not afraid to preach politics from the pulpit, when it serves the interest of preaching the word of their God. Some ARE afraid to even pray for our soldiers who are in harms way. Those that are afraid worry that they might be attacked by the government and loose their tax free status or maybe more.
BUT, I submit that if they DONT defend their freedom of speech, they could very well loose it for their silence! Was the freedom of the priesthood in NAZI Germany worth their silence about the atrocity's that were being committed? Some would argue that it was because they were there to protect their flock and not jailed in a concentration camp. But that is not the function of the priesthood. Their job is to point out injustice WHEREVER it exists. And when they DONT, they are guilty of immorality. If a pastor/priest cannot speak up when it is needed, then he or she should not have taken the job. It is like a soldier on the battle field that joins to defend his country but when faced with an enemy turns and runs. The soldier should never have gone to war and that priest/pastor should never have taken on the mantle if he or she would not honor it.
We should be hearing more preaching about the sanctity of the US Constitution being preached from the pulpits around this country. After all, it is that same Constitution that grants them the freedoms they have. If they dont defend its slow erosion by the Progressives, they may very well lose everything.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Why Vote For A Third Party Candidate?
There is NO GOOD REASON to vote for a third party candidate. Simple and straight forward. That is the only answer. Unless you want to elect the one guy you are against. Making a statement is futile. It does NOT bring satisfaction in the end.
Luckily for us, the memory is strong, in the minds of most, of what happened with Perot and his third party. It elected the opposition by taking votes away from the ONE candidate that could have won! There may be a few young voters that dont remember, but hopefully we can get to them and teach them the folly of a third party candidate.
Logic tells you that if you have two candidates that are neither your favorite, but one of which, if it came down to it you would prefer, that voting for a third candidate will take only votes from your preferred candidate and NONE from the person you hate so much. This gives you the worst of all alternatives, a win for the worst candidate.
I see that in New York there is a move for a third Conservative Party line on the ballot. DONT fall for it. This may very well be being pushed by the Liberals as their only way to defeat the conservatives!!! REMEMBER, "divide and conquer". If we are divided by two choices on the "Conservative" side, the Liberals will win. Its a "loose-Loose" situation. Dont fall for it.
Jim Isbell
===================================================
===================================================
Luckily for us, the memory is strong, in the minds of most, of what happened with Perot and his third party. It elected the opposition by taking votes away from the ONE candidate that could have won! There may be a few young voters that dont remember, but hopefully we can get to them and teach them the folly of a third party candidate.
Logic tells you that if you have two candidates that are neither your favorite, but one of which, if it came down to it you would prefer, that voting for a third candidate will take only votes from your preferred candidate and NONE from the person you hate so much. This gives you the worst of all alternatives, a win for the worst candidate.
I see that in New York there is a move for a third Conservative Party line on the ballot. DONT fall for it. This may very well be being pushed by the Liberals as their only way to defeat the conservatives!!! REMEMBER, "divide and conquer". If we are divided by two choices on the "Conservative" side, the Liberals will win. Its a "loose-Loose" situation. Dont fall for it.
Jim Isbell
===================================================
===================================================
Monday, August 9, 2010
Proles and animals are free
This phrase from George Orwells "1984" still sticks in my mind after reading the novel in 1956, over 50 years ago.
The Proles consisted of over 80% of the population of Oceana at that time. They were uneducated and were considered the "lower class" of society. But they had Freedom. They were not watched closely as they were not considered to be a threat to "Big Brother". They were poor in one sense of the word, they did not have the health care or the food, of the "Outer Party", but in another sense, they were very rich. They were free.
I look at the world today and see freedom slipping away from us. Many of us work hard to revive freedom before it dies. Some of us, like me, organize TEA Parties and get active politically. But I am tired. I see few young people coming in to help carry the load. I see the young being taken in by "Newspeak" and "Doublethink"
I am becoming weary of standing on the hill and screaming, "look out" and no one hears me. If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound? I wonder if I am making a sound.
The Proles are looking better and better every day. There are third world countries where the people are more free than the citizens of the US will be in 10 years. As long as they don't want to get involved with Politics which generates the possibility of a short life, and as long as they are willing to accept a lower standard of living than the Politicians, they are free. Is it so bad to be without some physical amenities and a political conscience if you can have your God and you are free from the "Thought Police"? I am beginning to think not.
Jim Isbell
=======================================
=======================================
The Proles consisted of over 80% of the population of Oceana at that time. They were uneducated and were considered the "lower class" of society. But they had Freedom. They were not watched closely as they were not considered to be a threat to "Big Brother". They were poor in one sense of the word, they did not have the health care or the food, of the "Outer Party", but in another sense, they were very rich. They were free.
I look at the world today and see freedom slipping away from us. Many of us work hard to revive freedom before it dies. Some of us, like me, organize TEA Parties and get active politically. But I am tired. I see few young people coming in to help carry the load. I see the young being taken in by "Newspeak" and "Doublethink"
I am becoming weary of standing on the hill and screaming, "look out" and no one hears me. If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound? I wonder if I am making a sound.
The Proles are looking better and better every day. There are third world countries where the people are more free than the citizens of the US will be in 10 years. As long as they don't want to get involved with Politics which generates the possibility of a short life, and as long as they are willing to accept a lower standard of living than the Politicians, they are free. Is it so bad to be without some physical amenities and a political conscience if you can have your God and you are free from the "Thought Police"? I am beginning to think not.
Jim Isbell
=======================================
=======================================
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)