Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Posts >> Correction Please?(political not CH)
        
(Message started by: Redd715 on Oct 7^th, 2004, 9:08pm)

Title: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Redd715 on Oct 7^th, 2004, 9:08pm

With Pres. Bush visiting the fair city of Wausau WI today and half of the town shut down not to mention both north and south bound interstate hwy 39 for 4 hours, I come home to find this in my email from my favorite former Dept. Sherriff who is retired and living in Florida now with little else to do in the aftermath of the hurricaines but to research the Presidential candidates claims. I loved this one.

Before you jump to conclusions read this. and have a great day!

Have you seen the John Kerry commercial in which George Bush pledges
to help Seniors on Medicare and "the very next day imposes a 17%
premium increase - the biggest in history"? That ad is a
stoke of genius on Kerry's part and will surely gain him many votes
among the uninformed.
++
I found it so amazing that I did some homework on the issue. As
it turns out the 17% increase was not imposed by President Bush but
was mandated by the "balanced budget agreement" signed
by President Clinton, voted into law by Senator John Kerry, and was
scheduled to come into effect during the Bush
administration. President Bush had no
authority to reverse what had been voted into law by Senator Kerry
during the Clinton administration.
++++++
Once again Kerry is counting on the ignorance of
the American people. Don't be duped by his mendacity.

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Leesa on Oct 7^th, 2004, 9:18pm

Redd, thanks adding some more fuel to the fire in my belly and the another reason to VOTE!!!!!
Leesa

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by floridian on Oct 7^th, 2004, 11:08pm

If you go to the website that Cheney meant to mention (www.factcheck.org not www.factcheck.com) you'll find both candidates are mischaracterizing each others policies. If you are morally pure and won't vote for a candidate because they are a liar, you can't vote Democrat or Republican.

Quote:

Cheney & Edwards Mangle Facts
10.06.2004

Getting it wrong about combat pay, Halliburton, and FactCheck.org
Bush Mischaracterizes Kerry's Health Plan
10.04.2004

Bush claims Kerry's plan puts "bureaucrats in control" of medical decisons, "not you, not your doctor." But experts don't agree with that.
Distortions and Misstatements At First Presidential Debate
10.01.2004

Bush and Kerry both have problems with the facts at their meeting in Coral Gables
Kerry Ad Falsely Accuses Cheney on Halliburton
09.30.2004

Contrary to this ad's message, Cheney doesn't gain financially from the contracts given to the company he once headed.
The "Willie Horton" Ad Of 2004?
09.28.2004

Republican group's ad shows Osama, Kerry. It appeals to fear, and twists Kerry's record on defense, intelligence, Iraq.
Bush Ad Twists Kerry's Words on Iraq
09.27.2004

Selective use of Kerry's own words makes him look inconsistent on Iraq. A closer look gives a different picture.

What is indisputable is that Bush won't allow imports of prescriptions from Canada or Europe. One of his appointees justified it by saying that Al Qaeda might try to poison us that way! Bush also prohibited Medicare from bargaining for the best drug prices. Maybe the 17% increase was mandated by a formula, but Bush doesn't want to control the cost if it means lower corporate profit.

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by thomas on Oct 7^th, 2004, 11:29pm

So if we import drugs from Canada, don't American pharmacists loose their jobs.............. Come on now, you can't have it both ways, neither can the right. There is no common sense and dignity left in this country, it has slowly been washed away.

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Lizzie2 on Oct 7^th, 2004, 11:41pm

Well if they lowererd drug prices in the United States, then we wouldn't have to import drugs from Canada in the first place!

As I understand it, this is by control of the drug companies, the government (who the drug companies lobby so that they will decide things THEIR way), and the individual pharmacies themselves.

I know when I got screwed into paying Eckerd Drugs $454 for 18 tabs of Amerge, that was more than the unit price of Amerge as listed by GSK. Sooooooooooo the problem is multifaceted.

If only health care could have at least some semblance of sanity anymore... Hardly worth trying to live to 100...won't be able to afford it!

Lizzie

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by thomas on Oct 7^th, 2004, 11:45pm

All I'm saying, Carrie is that drug importation from Canada falls under "free trade", and if you are for it, then you have to be for all of it, and if you are against it, you are against all of it, you can't have your cake and eat it too. Why is it acceptable for one group to benifit from free-trade while another is denied the same oppurtunity, just because they have a different need. It is a question of intellectual honesty, which quite frankly not too many people who vote republican or democrat have any idea of what that term means. Much less try to put it into practice.

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by RevDeFord on Oct 7^th, 2004, 11:56pm

Everybody ought to listen to this....

http://www.radiogypsies.com/Kerry_Hi.htm

And here are my pictures for the day
http://www.richarddeford.com/Images/kerry_tubbies.jpeghttp://www.richarddeford.com/Images/kerry_ambiguouslygay.jpeg

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Lizzie2 on Oct 8^th, 2004, 12:04am

I'm not one to vote strict democrat or republican. I still have yet no idea of who I will vote for in November, although all of the professional leagues I am in support Kerry.

However, the reason I am a registered democrat is because of the things I believe strongly about. It seems that although neither party would fit exactly, I tend to fit more democrat. I am for MAJOR health care reform. I don't think socialized health care is the answer, but honestly it is in many ways better than private health care in the US. I've never seen such a "rich and powerful" country with so many people without health care coverage. It makes me very sad when I take care of patients who can't afford to buy an antibiotic and so then they have to have a toe amputated. That stuff just ain't right!

Health care is biggest on my mind right now just because I work in it and I rely on it so much! Education is another big focus of mine. My mom works in an elementary school, and I had started off in music education at Penn State. After learning what Governor Ridge did to music education in PA, I wasn't too enthusiatic about the republican education plan!

There are some other issues, but those are the main ones I'm thinking about right now. I won't vote a strict party line. I will vote for whoever ultimately seems to fit the same values I have. It's not really either Bush or Kerry, but I will pick one of them on election day!

Lizzie2/Carrie :)

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Charlie on Oct 8^th, 2004, 12:44am

Quote:

Why is it acceptable for one group to benifit from free-trade while another is denied the same oppurtunity, just because they have a different need.

Not sure what you mean about the whole deal....free trade? In any event, this is often life and death and almost always quality of life. I'm for universal care. It will come but it would be nice while we boomers can get some benefit.

Seems to me that health care would have been a winner for Kerry on the Clinton model only this time instead of "It's the economy stupid," Kerry could do the same with: "It's health care stupid."

Bush: Zero chance for decent drug policy.
Kerry: Slight chance but at least he won't make it worse.

Charlie

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by floridian on Oct 8^th, 2004, 6:57am

on 10/07/04 at 23:45:36, thomas wrote:

All I'm saying Thomas is that either Bush wants to protect us from Al Qaeda or he doesn't. He allows the import of billions of pounds of fruits and veggies from Chile, Guatamela, and other third world countries with no problems, but then he won't allow prescriptions from Canada because Al Qaeda might take advantage of the situation! Scare the people and use the war against terror to maintain the profit margin of the most profitable industry. That's beyond having it both ways, and should make anyone with a conscience sick.

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by RevDeFord on Oct 8^th, 2004, 7:29am

This is not something that Bush allows or disallows. People think the president is responsible for the common cold. The Food And Drug Administration has this policy. The policy must be changed by congress.

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by thomas on Oct 8^th, 2004, 8:50am

on 10/08/04 at 06:57:28, floridian wrote:

That's beyond having it both ways, and should make anyone with a conscience sick.

Uhhhh I've been sick of politicians for a long time....... Perhaps I didn't do a good enough job of illustrating my point, so I will try again. I drive a Toyota.....ok...... It was made in Japan. It is a better car than anything made here. I bought it, because I liked it and I knew it would be cheaper to own in the long run (low maintenance costs). Ok, now there a whole bunch of idiots out there telling me that I am making American people loose their jobs, because I didn't buy American. Now, if I buy my drugs from Canada, that same bunch should be telling me that I am a horrible person, putting Americans out of work. But it's not happening. The right is all for free trade - except for the Canadian drug thing. That is wrong. The left is against free trade, except for the Canadian drug thing. That too is wrong. I am just asking for people to start using common sense, which I guess in hindsight is asking way too much.

Edit: And as far as I'm concerned both Bush and Kerry would make wonderful pinatas. They are both professional liars. Why any one would support and professional politician is way beyond me.

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by floridian on Oct 8^th, 2004, 9:04am

on 10/08/04 at 07:29:09, RevDeFord wrote:

You are absolutely wrong, DeFord. Congress has authorized the import of prescriptions TWICE, and the FDA (which is supposed to implement the directive into regulation) has chosen not to. The high level policies at the FDA are set by political appointees. But this is a war against terror, and they know things we dont - like why Al Qaeda won't try to contaminate the billions of pounds of food that come into the US each year, but would kill us all if prescriptions were allowed to come from Niagra to Buffalo.

Quote:

"Importation laws have passed in Congress twice, and two secretaries of Health and Human Services -- including Secretary Thompson -- have said importation cannot be done without compromising patient safety and public health," said Court Rosen, a spokesman for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Association.

http://www.klkntv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1847873

edited to add:
Thomas - you are generalizing too much. Clinton was in favor of GATT, NAFTA, and other "free trade" agreements. Bush was against steel tarifs, until he thought he could pick up swing voters in Pennsylvania, so he put up barriers to steel. Then the WTO threatened to slap the US, so Bush removed the tarrifs, but told the people of PA that he is still for em.

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by TomM on Oct 8^th, 2004, 9:53am

on 10/07/04 at 21:08:25, Redd715 wrote:

Don't be duped by his mendacity.

Had to look that one up...It's a good day when you learn something new. :)
Mendacity: Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -ties
1 : the quality or state of being mendacious
2 : LIE

TomM 8)

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by thomas on Oct 8^th, 2004, 10:28am

on 10/08/04 at 09:04:38, floridian wrote:

Thomas - you are generalizing too much. Clinton was in favor of GATT, NAFTA, and other "free trade" agreements. Bush was against steel tarifs, until he thought he could pick up swing voters in Pennsylvania, so he put up barriers to steel. Then the WTO threatened to slap the US, so Bush removed the tarrifs, but told the people of PA that he is still for em.

You are still missing the point.......... I'm done trying to explain it. Black is black, white is white, something is either true of false. We need a Bastille Day here.

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by floridian on Oct 8^th, 2004, 10:42am

Ok - the "Bastille Day" comment got your point across. I would say that I am cynical but see a limited opportunity to shift the general direction of things. I'm not a big fan of the French Revolution style.

And for the record, my Toyota was made in Canada, although they make em in California and sell em as Pontiacs. That should make free-traders and protectionists equally happy.

http://www.truckworld.com/Sport-Utility/01-toyota-matrix/03_Matrix.jpg

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Rock_Lobster on Oct 8^th, 2004, 11:44am

on 10/08/04 at 08:50:40, thomas wrote:

And as far as I'm concerned both Bush and Kerry would make wonderful pinatas. They are both professional liars. Why any one would support and professional politician is way beyond me.

Ding. Exactly.

Starting a political thread on this board means that you wish for 50% of your friends here to think of you as an idiot. Well done.

If you can tell me why one candidate is clearly great and why the other candidate clearly sucks, consider yourself a fucktard.

Why oh why can he not run...
http://www.pitt.edu/~dpbrowne/bilingual/colin-powell.gif

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Redd715 on Oct 8^th, 2004, 11:55am

on 10/08/04 at 11:44:30, Rock_Lobster wrote:

Starting a political thread on this board means that you wish for 50% of your friends here to think of you as an idiot. Well done.

I started this tread to point out that mud slinging and spin doctoring is alive and rampant, not to mention outright lies from BOTH camps.

I'm as non-political as they come. But you have to understand that less than 12% of the human population have the abstract thinking abilities above a 16 year old. People are gonna buy into this shit. It's sad. Just sad.

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by thomas on Oct 8^th, 2004, 12:56pm

on 10/08/04 at 11:55:40, Redd715 wrote:

I'm as non-political as they come. But you have to understand that less than 12% of the human population have the abstract thinking abilities above a 16 year old. People are gonna buy into this shit. It's sad. Just sad.

Yes very sad and the quality of our education continues to worsen, children are not taught to think for themselves and problem solve, every one is being taken care of by big brother in one fashion or another. They do this to ensure their reign of power and deception. How much intelligence do you see when you look into a cow's eyes?

Edit: Where is the box for none of the above on my ballot?

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Lizzie2 on Oct 8^th, 2004, 1:12pm

on 10/08/04 at 12:56:50, thomas wrote:

Edit: Where is the box for none of the above on my ballot?

It's called the write in!

http://www.smiliegenerator.de/s26/smilies-639.png

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by thomas on Oct 8^th, 2004, 1:33pm

on 10/08/04 at 13:12:50, Lizzie2 wrote:

It's called the write in!

http://www.smiliegenerator.de/s26/smilies-639.png

Why would a king want to be a president? ;;D

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Charlie on Oct 8^th, 2004, 2:22pm

Free trade? Not on my shit list. Give it a shot.

I love Canadian drug scares. It must be hell scraping dead Canadians from Toronto streets every morning. Of course most of these drugs are made here or by the other big drug companies and imported to Canada. Evidently they become toxic when sent back across the Niagara River. http://www.netsync.net/users/charlies/gifs/slap.gif Our FDA pinheads, who work to ban Trojans from foreign aid and block the so-called "morning after" pill is our faithful watchdog.

They also don't mention that of the top 10 drug companies, five are European—Glaxo-Smith-Kline, Astra-Zeneca, Aventis, Novartis and Roche—based in countries that regulate prices. All of them price their drugs much higher in the United States because they can get away with it here. http://www.netsync.net/users/charlies/gifs/red mad.gif

You think Congress should be in charge, Rev? The other day tens of millions were tacked on to a Chinese ceiling fan exporter and the same to Starbucks....I kid you not. There is more but I need help identifying this bill folks.....
Time for another march on Washington http://www.netsync.net/users/charlies/gifs/mad crowd.gif

Charlie

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by floridian on Oct 8^th, 2004, 2:35pm

This it, Charlie?

Quote:

Tax Breaks For Luxembourg And Cleveland

NEW YORK - It all started with a $5 billion annual tax break to American exporters.

The World Trade Organization ruled the break was a subsidy and therefore illegal, so it allowed Europeans to stick the U.S. with retaliatory tariffs. The situation needed fixing. But then the fixing needed fixing and the result was a corporate tax bill priced at something like $140 billion.

If the bill does not pass, a lot of folks could get hurt, as apparently the bill contains much relief for buyers of Chinese ceiling fans in general and Home Depot (nyse:HD) in particular, dog tracks, horse tracks and NASCAR tracks, not to mention Hollywood movie studios and Alaska oil pipelines.

http://www.forbes.com/business/manufacturing/2004/10/08/cx_da_1008topnews.html

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by PittsburghJoe on Oct 8^th, 2004, 3:53pm

Again, for me it comes down to the most far-reaching thing: The makeup of the Supreme Court.

I'd rather err on the side of "too much" freedom at home, than an attempt to turn this country into a theocracy.

Joe

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by LeLimey on Oct 8^th, 2004, 3:56pm

I don't understand this one at all. We have the National Health Service here which I think is the best thing going and basically we pay a set price per prescription regardless of what we get. I pay the same for a loaf of GF bread as I do for steroids and painkillers. We also have the option of buying a "season ticket" where we pay about £90 per year and that covers every prescription we have so for someone like me who has coeliac disease, osteomalacia and now sodding cluster headaches its a Godsend. For people with some conditions such as diabetes all prescriptions are free regardless as are they for kids under 16, those on low incomes and OAP's. I understand you pay for health insurance either yourselves or as a employment benefit so surely it would be in your best interests if your drugs were bought from the cheapest possible source even if that was Canada or the UK for instance. Astronomical drug costs are surely only inflating everyone's insurance premiums unneccessarily. Sounds like its time for a petition, Get everyone you know to sign and take it to your local politicians and demand they petition Congress or the Senate ( sorry I get confused!!) to force the FDA to submit to public pressure. Its supposed to be "We the people FOR the people" after all isn't it?! This shouldn't be about any particular political party issue, it should be a common sense issue.

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by floridian on Oct 8^th, 2004, 4:01pm

Your words make sense, LeLimey. Clearly you don't understand our country. ;)

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by LeLimey on Oct 8^th, 2004, 4:07pm

Ain't nothin' about your country I don't understand.. its damn politicians and "officials" the world over I can't figure out!
I think God gave them to use as otherwise our lives would be too enjoyable...

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Melissa on Oct 8^th, 2004, 4:29pm

on 10/08/04 at 15:56:30, LeLimey wrote:

yeah, but can you go see whatever General Practitioner you want? Also, if you do not like that particular GP, can you see a different one on your own cognance? Also, how hard is it to get a recommendation to a neurologist?

thanks,
:)mel

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by LeLimey on Oct 8^th, 2004, 5:15pm

I can see any GP I want within my locality as each county has its own NHS funding. If it warranted seeing someone "over the border" it can be arranged if there is a valid reason for it.
As to seeing specialists.. they send you all over the place here if necessary! I see gastros here in nottinghamshire and also in London and I have asked to see a neurologist and my GP is arranging an appointment for me for as soon as poss. I think I have an edge over some people in that I will have to have meds that complement each other for both conditions. I see where you are coming from too though. As it goes I do have private heath insurance through work but I haven't used it because the gastro I am under works more days for the NHS than he does for BUPA so I have more opportunity to see him in the public sector.. how backwards is that?!!
My argument if you can call it such wasn't with paying for healthcare but with having that premium inflated by having to pay over-the-odds for medicines. I would like to see anyone who has a chronic condition get their meds for free. I have seen so many posts on here from people who are out of insurance through moving or changing jobs and so are out of the loop as far as healthcare goes and my heart bleeds for them. I know how bad I feel and I think others here are in a far worse position than me and I just want them to get as much help as they can as quickly as they can as I know you all do too. Its the best bit about this site, reading no FEELING the compassion everyone has for each other. ((HUGS)) Helen

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Lizzie2 on Oct 8^th, 2004, 5:25pm

on 10/08/04 at 16:29:11, Melissa wrote:

Awww sheesh...we don't have that here either. HMO or medicaid? God bless ya! The doc has to be on the HMO list. If you want to see a specialist, well good luck finding one that is on the HMO that is worth paying a dime to. Got medicaid? $50 to see your GP, but free to go to the ER...so now we have family day trips to the ER for Susie's little sore throat that she's had for a week now, and we thought 2am would be a good time to visit the EMERGENCY room.

Oy vey. Don't mind me.... The US health care system is a total failure. Funny in that we have some of the greatest technology and greatest resources...and yet how many people are dying because they can't get the treatment they need? It's a sin...

OK off the soap box now!

Carrie :)

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Melissa on Oct 8^th, 2004, 5:35pm

on 10/08/04 at 17:25:36, Lizzie2 wrote:

Awww sheesh...we don't have that here either.

Sorry to hear that Carrie, because WE (me, kids and hubby) do through Employers Health (Humana) through my husbands employer. We have been very satisfied with our health coverage.

:)mel

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Lizzie2 on Oct 8^th, 2004, 6:54pm

on 10/08/04 at 17:35:14, Melissa wrote:

Sorry to hear that Carrie, because WE (me, kids and hubby) do through Employers Health (Humana) through my husbands employer. We have been very satisfied with our health coverage.

:)mel

I mean in the United States, not me personally! I guess people don't realize the extent of what is going on in our own country sometimes because we are so focused on what is going on overseas! You are lucky that you have Humana through your husband's job. I have had stock in Humana since I was a baby because my dad helped with construction on the Humana building in Louisville, KY.

Currently, I have Blue Cross Personal Choice. It still doesn't cover everything I need, but it does more than what most insurance companies do!

Maybe it's because I work and live in the city. I worked in ER registration, and we took someone's insurance info the minute they walked in the door. I had a TON of "self pay's" that were never going to pay. I ran a lot of checks on the 3 major medicaid insurances available in the United States.

Sometimes I had to tell people that they weren't covered by their insurance anymore. Sometimes they were surprised, and other times they just nodded and took their card back. They knew they were cut off..but they thought they'd try to use it anyways.

It just kills me that there is such a high rate of uninsured in this country. Children who aren't covered and can't even get their own asthma medications. Senior citizens who can't afford their meds on medicare because the prices keep on rising. Have you seen that commercial with the old guy on O2 who says that if they are going to put him in jail for ordering his meds from Canada, then go ahead? He said at least he'd get his meds in jail. How sad is that???

I don't have the rate of uninsured in this country, but then there are also those who are insured by something that I guess is slightly better than no coverage at all. But God forbid you really get sick. HMOs, managed care, medicaid, medicare, and the uninsured...that is the majority in our country.

Those of us who have insurance that will cover what we need are the few and the very very fortunate!

My 2 cents ;)

Carrie

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Kevin_M on Oct 8^th, 2004, 7:27pm

on 10/08/04 at 18:54:23, Lizzie2 wrote:

My 2 cents ;)

Carrie

You're up to about $14.82 now Lizzie. ;;D

Watch them knees getting up and down that soapbox. The view from the trenches.

love ya hun :-*

Kevin M

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by kimh on Oct 8^th, 2004, 7:38pm

I know our health care system is shit. Then i take a clear look around at the state of affairs elsewhere around the world. The truth is it is a universal affliction and ours is better than most. You listen to the politicians and could be soon your head is spinning faster than the Exorcist. That's how simple it is..... :P

We'd all like to live forever and see our money's worth. I doubt who we vote for will change that. It's like the tunnel of love. :D No one can find it.

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by ckelly181 on Oct 8^th, 2004, 8:04pm

on 10/08/04 at 12:56:50, thomas wrote:

Yes very sad and the quality of our education continues to worsen, and problem solve

You've said this before, and I'm intrigued. Why do you think this is true? Do you work in education? What is this opinion based on?

No Child Left Behind is all about passing tests - low level, rote memorization types of facts. This is Bush's "brainchild." No secret here - NCLB will eventually find all schools underperforming. It only takes ONE CHILD not showing up on test day to cause a school to be underperforming.

But, hey hey! If we PRIVATIZE schools, then they will be off the tax rolls, and guess who pays for schooling our kids?

I head up a district committee that is training our staff in active research - which demands that students PROBLEM-SOLVE and become astute consumers of information. Our only stumbling block is the time our teachers have to spend preparing students to take the required NCLB test.

I invite you to spend some time in a public school, and talk to some teachers. For the most part (there are always a few in every profession) teachers work hard and have the best interest of their students in mind.

It would be nice to hear some valid ideas for improving education, rather than baseless tearing down of teachers.

Chris

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by stevegeebe on Oct 8^th, 2004, 8:31pm

What we have is not working.

The citizens are torn down the middle and the choices stink red and blue.

This may be a small consideration you could think about before you pull the lever or whatever they do in Florida.

If you live in a state that you are certain of the outcome...vote independentlyish.

Time for another color.

Steve G (I)

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Lizzie2 on Oct 8^th, 2004, 8:39pm

Hmmmm I'd have to agree with Chris on that one. My mom works in a public school, and I started off my first degree in education after spending all my life in the public school system. I'm not sure where this "dumbing down" idea comes from. Maybe it is from the way parents allow their children to play video games, watch tv, sit on the internet, etc.

I know that when I was in high school, my parents, grandparents etc spoke about how much harder it was today for kids than it was for them when they were in school. I walked out of high school with 2 levels of calculus under my belt. We had to read newspapers, take current events tests, write extensive research papers, design computer programs, dissect cats, etc etc. It was never a lack of learning! Granted by the time I moved to the Philadelphia area, I was going to a pretty good school.

And for the health care thing. Specifically, about looking around and seeing how much worse off the people are in other countries. To a degree this is true. Middle class on up generally can get vaccines and treatment for diseases that they don't have the ability to treat in places like Africa. However, I guess when I work in the inner city hospitals, I'm referring to real people that I see. People with no insurance. People who are dying because they could never afford to get treated. People who don't even know what disease they've had for the past 3 years because they have never been able to see a doctor.

I don't think it is politics that fills up my brain. I think it is compassion for the human situation. Yes, people are suffering in other parts of the world, but people are suffering in THIS country too. No, I doubt either Bush or Kerry will be able to answer these problems, but... what I would like to know is when IS someone going to step up and help the people in our own country? It's discouraging to hear the stories day after day when I go to work about how they couldn't buy this and the HMO denied that. How about having to reuse your inner tracheostomy cannulas because your insurance won't pay for the sterile disposable kind?

Or reuse your own syringes because you can't pay to replace them? Or reuse your colostomy bags because you can't afford new ones. Yes, these ARE things that many of us take for granted because we don't have to think about them every day necessarily. I know I think about the price of every Amerge pill I take, as most of you think that way about Imitrex.

So I say that it still makes me sad that we have such incredible technology and skilled medical staff....and yet still people can't even buy an antibiotic to treat a simple infection, which turns into sepsis, which leads to death. What is that?

Wow...I normally don't get this heated up! Just makes me sad to see this day after day.

Carrie

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Kevin_M on Oct 8^th, 2004, 9:06pm

The campaign has everyone thinking on large scales. Take care of everyone the best you can Carrie and you will be doing what is needed for the people you see.

2 cents

:)

Kevin M

ps take care of Carrie too. ;)

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Jonny on Oct 8^th, 2004, 9:12pm

VOTE OR DIE!!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b4da37b3127ccebca412d01f4e0000001610

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Grandma_Sweet_Boy on Oct 8^th, 2004, 9:15pm

Lord, I'd have to move to the States, give up my Canadian citizenship, give up our wonderful medical care here, but ya know, I'd do it in a hearbeat, just to vote for you! :)

Someone did ask though why would you want to run for president when you're already the King. Is that not downsizing at its finest!!! ;;D

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Lizzie2 on Oct 8^th, 2004, 10:34pm

Anyone notice that "John Q" is on TNT this weekend? That's kinda funny in lieu of all going on regarding health care. This movie is a good example of what HMOs can do to a person's mental stability! I know I could definately relate to this during June ,July, and early August when I was having all the problems with Aetna HMO!!

Anyhow...if you haven't seen this movie, you should check it out! It's a good one :)

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Charlie on Oct 9^th, 2004, 1:14am

For our British and European friends:

Quote:

I don't have the rate of uninsured in this country,

There are about 45,000,000 uninsured Americans.

This the way it works over here for a lot of us: Even with HMOs (health maintenance organizations) A dumber system would be harder to derive, as they are allowed to make things tough on us whenever they like it. For instance; I take an anti-seizure drug that was covered at first by my insurance. It's used for bi-polar depression and seizures. They decided that it's too expensive and removed it from what they call their "formulary." Great. This means that because of this, I have to pay twice the copay for this than my other drugs. I point out to them it will be cheaper for them to ante up now than pay for my hospitalization when I fall down the stairs.

I pay about $3,000 year for Community Blue insurance. I won't be able to much longer and I will have to go on disability in year or two. Because of my refractory epilepsy, I won't have much trouble. I don't want to but I will have no choice. The thing about New York State Medicaid is that there is no better deal. Everything is paid for. The problem is that hospitals and clinics know it is and gouge the shit out of the State. They get away with it too.

For you NHS folks, even if you are not on disability, here in New York State, you can get health assistance for children without too much trouble, and even yourself if you spend a LOT of time working on it. It's not easy but it's possible. It is still damn hard and those that need this assistance most are often the least likely to effectively fight for it.

We will have national health someday but I'm not sure my baby boomer generation will be around to enjoy it.

Charlie

Title: Re: Correction Please?(political not CH)
Post by Jonny on Oct 9^th, 2004, 7:12am

on 10/08/04 at 21:15:18, Grandma_Sweet_Boy wrote:

Someone did ask though why would you want to run for president when you're already the King. Is that not downsizing at its finest!!! ;;D

More chicks ;;D

............................jonny