Still Here....

Been going through a bit of a personal situation, requiring my attention. I haven't been much in tune with the outside world the past week as a result, but I thought I'd add my two cents on some of the things I've witnessed here and there.

The event at Columbia University. What an ass the president of CU made of himself. Sure, the prez. of Iran is no prince, but he was invited as a guest to speak. And to be insulted that way right off the bat shows the ugly side of America. A side in most definite need of examination and healing. It's unfortunate that we're so pumped full of ego and pride and self-righteousness, this side likely won't be examined anytime soon.

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Saw Michael Moore on Oprah speaking further about the health care crap. They had on the president of the insurance industry's biggest lobbying group, which meant she spewed a lot of crap and found herself speechless several times by points put towards her by a medical doctor, Mike and Oprah. I don't know where she studied mathematics, but her numbers were interesting. For instance, she claimed the insurance industry processed 5 billion (yes, billion with a "B") last year. How interesting is that? There are 300 million of us, only approximately 250 million of us have insurance. The average american has, what, 3-4 visits per year to a health care professional, which adds up to a number hugely lower than 5 billion. When Mike pointed this out to her, she stammered and gave that glazed "uh uh uh" look. She also stammered when, after saying The American People need to speak up and demand some sort of a universal health care plan, and to start with, support the latest legislation to reestablish the children's health care bill. Mike said, "actually, you people who work in the insurance industry need to make those first calls." Again, she stammered. He then added "afterall, you own the politicians."

ZING! And again, she was speechless. Honest to god, whoever prepped her didn't do his/her job.

Mike lost me though when he began to pander to the audience and to the american public, saying we need to stop calling this socialized medicine and instead call it christianized medicine. "NOOOO Mike, don't go there!" His reason? What would Jesus do. You know what? I, myself, don't give a shit what Jesus would do. I care about what YOU AND I SHOULD BE DOING. I care about what our GOVERNMENT should be doing, which is taking care of the private citizen first and foremost, above the special interest groups, above the corporations. And way to alienate the Jews, the Hindu's, the Muslims, etc. etc.

Oprah nailed this skank when she said, her voice raised, clearly frustrated, "if i've been diagnosed with cancer, WHY SHOULD I SHOP AROUND AND COMPARE RATES FOR BONE MARROW TREATMENTS? WHY DOESN'T THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY JUST DO ITS JOB AND PAY FOR WHOMEVER I PICK, WHOMEVER IS CLOSEST TO MY HOME?!" Ohh, because it's important for people to pick the best and that means going to the biggest treatment center around (which, btw, the insurance industry pumps huge sums of money into--said huge medical facilities). Yeah, and what about the millions who live in rural america and for whom, driving 8 plus hours to such a facility is not only practical but simply not possible?

I think what disgusted me most was the testimony by a medical doctor. She testified in front of congress in the mid-1990's, her testimony which the oprah show aired in part. She had denied treatment to a patient for a procedure that would have saved his life. The reason? The insurance company said if she did so, they would pay her a large sum of cash. She said no one ever called her on it. She said it went on all the time and finally her conscience got the better of her and she stepped down from that position. Well, the skank insurance industry lobbyist said that rarely happens anymore. The doctor looked at her and said "that is a lie. It still goes on today and in fact, it's only increased. I see it all the time in my profession."

If that doesn't paint the picture for what the insurance industry is all about, I don't know what does.

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Listened to a bit of talk radio. We're in trouble in this country. Our holier than thou, we are better than the rest, is going to get us destroyed. And guess what? Government doesn't care one bit. Your elected official doesn't give a squat about you (unless they are one of a very small handful of people who do actually care, but those types are kept out of media spotlight or when they are in front of the media, are ridiculed).

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For those of you who still believe in the voting system, who will be voting, I would encourage you to only vote for candidates who talk about the stagnating wages, how wages have simply failed to keep up with the cost of living/inflation, going on about 25 years now. For a vote for anyone else will simply mean the incomes at the top will continue to increase while the rest see stagnation and decline. As for myself, I've failed to see any politician address this, therefore, I probably won't be voting in the PE. Maybe it's simply best to make change from where you are, locally, instead of trying (meaning beating your head against the wall with futility) to change things at the national level.
Peace out.