Serendipity

Be a Squeaky Wheel, not a Nihilist.

Greta Christina's Blog discussed why calling, emailing, writing your public officials is not a waste of time and, in fact, essential.  It's so long, but good, I've created a pdf of it and it is attached HERE.  

But don't be a nihilist. Don't give up. People fought and died for the idea of participatory democracy: not just in the United States, but all over the world. In many parts of the world, they're still fighting and dying for it. You're lucky. You don't have to fight and die to keep this idea alive. You just have to call or email your elected officials. You just have to program the phone numbers of the President, your Senators, and your Congressperson into your phone. Or else Google the "contact the President/ your Senators/ your Congressperson" webpages, and bookmark them.

Greta Christina's Blog

[Her article provides links to find addresses, phone numbers and emails]

What is going to happen if there is NOT reform this year?

There are a number of reasons to have health care [or health insurance] reform].  The main one is what is being forgotten or ignored by the 535 members of Congress, left-right-and-center.  It is the consequence of not doing anything.

It's happening right now.  People who are either mired in the present system or not in it are suffering the very real consequences of public officials wrangling over policy positions as if real people weren't going to be impacted.  The fact is those on the right or who are conservatives will not provide or vote for a plan to reform the system and those on the left or progressives will not support any plan unless it has a public option need to look in the mirror.  They will be the reason people die.

Without some form of health care/insurance reform, people who are in or outside the system will suffer disease, blindness, amputations, organ failure, death, becaus of the stubbornness of those who will not realize it's necessary to pass reform now.

I know I wouldn't want that on my conscience.  Fine, fight for your principles and put forth your arguments, but at the end of the day realize that people in this country will become sick and die because of what you do.  

What is the Reality of the Health Care System in the U.S., now?

I woke up, unable to sleep, thinking about the present debate over heath care [or insurance] reform and decided to engage in some writing on the topic.  My initial comment follows and my more detailed analysis will be coming soon.  I am not doing this as a person with great knowledge about the medical care system or insurance system [except as an observer or consumer], but as someone who has seen how the system has operated over these years and has a view of how to improve it for the future.  After all, if we can't improve something, then it must be 'perfect' or unimportant.  That is not true at all of our U.S. health care system.

First point:  What is the Reality of this system, at this point in time?

Any improvements to the present system depend on recognizing what that system is and how it operates.  We are trying to change reality not build change on something that does not now exist.

The reality:  health care in the U.S. is tied to financing;  money drives health care, not personal decisions or choice.

 We have a medical care system in which people get care when they can or will afford it [through personal finances or  insurance coverage for the cost of the care] and when they cannot [through personally funded medical care or visits to an Emergency Room].  Because this system has grown up over the years and because of a traditional American skepticism of government and desire for independence, moving to a Single Payer system or abandoning the insurance policy-coverage methodology is not going to happen at this time in this country.  The system we are reforming relies on the participation in it of insurance companies as the source of funding for it.

Now, onto the goals of this reform process this year [coming]

70% Young Americans can't qualify for military service

The full story explains what's being done about this, but obviously this compromises national security, plus limits the opportunities for some youth who want to use military service as a method to gain education, and other benefits.  The basic point of the article:

Money spent on early-childhood education today can help protect America's national security tomorrow, former military leaders said yesterday at a news conference in Richmond.

About 70 percent of the nation's military-age young people cannot enlist in the armed forces because of inadequate education, criminal records or physical problems.

"We estimate that only about three out of 10 American youth between the ages of 17 and 24 are fully qualified for military service," said Douglas Smith, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Recruiting Command at Fort Knox, Ky.

Richmond Times-Dispatch

Mudflats: Alaska Senator Mark Begich on public service

A long interview [40 min.] which is really interesting:

There are moments in time…I’ve always believed that you can never create those moments that change things as rapidly as you would like, but certain things will happen and it’s a question of creating that opportunity out of that.  In a lot of ways I’m reminded of the legacy that he [Kennedy] leaves as a person, and what he did, and what we have to do.  Maybe we agree or disagree with his politics, it’s a question of the bold leadership and the willingness to step out for those that  are unable to represent themselves in the halls of congress with the special interest lobbyists that, you know…  Literally, you know, some day I’ll write the book on how thick it is back there, and reminding yourself of who you are and what you’re there to do. 

 And I sit around with Senators at times and we have discussions, and when they start whining about, you know, ”Geez, I got this call, I got that call, I got this…” and I look at ‘em and I say, “Look, we’re one of a hundred people out of three hundred million.  We are fortunate to be here.  We have a job to do, and we better get busy.”  Because when I’m hearing any of them whine about their time there, or about how difficult it is, or Geez, the schedule…  I always look at ‘em and say, “Hey, man.  Time to move on.  You’ve been here way to long, or been here with a jaded attitude, and we’re one of a hundred people out of three hundred million. We’re not always going to get it right, but we have been called to duty to do something that’s different, and bold and not the same old business as usual.”

via  Mudflats