Mother of Palin daughter's boyfriend arrested 0 comments
From hockey mom to diva, back to hockey mom in a matter of two months, for those who said things could get no worst for former GOP Vice President nominee Sarah Palin.... they have.
Last week a church that the Governor attends was burned in broad daylight and is under investigation for arson, leading the Governor to apologize to not only the priest there, but also to the congregation as a whole stating that she was sorry if the fire was due to her "undeserved negative attention."
To make matters worst according to the Associated Press today Sherry L. Johnston the mother of the guy that knocked Governor Palin's daughter up has been released on bail after being arrested Thursday, in which troopers served a search warrant on a Wasilla home....Johnston is being charged with 6 felony counts of drug poessession....
I wonder what her drug of choice is?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081219/ap_on_re_us/palin_johnston_arrest
news and politics
Uninsured Overwheleming Emergency Rooms 0 comments
A lot of people are fraying from uttering the word recession in the open these days, everything from layoffs and lost jobs to decrease spending on unnecessary, and necessary items this economic downturn has caused a lot of unhappy Christmas shoppers. This article is about the overcrowding of hospital emergency rooms with uninsured patients. Cutting back on sweaters, scarves, travel, and big screen TV’s, people are feeling the pinch, but when you have to cut back on the one thing that so many people take for granted (health care) there stands to be a problem. “I am definitely seeing patients coming in presenting worse in their illness because they are further along,” said Dr. Katherine A. Bakes, the director of the program’s emergency services for children. Although this has been an increasing pattern with the rise in health care costs, how will this same situation play out in the wake of a recession? According to Reed Abelson writer for the NY Times, emergency rooms will feel the hit the hardest. Emergency rooms which once consisted of over populated, extreme case measures such as car accidents, and stabbings, are now being transformed into your modern day family general practitioner. The sole reason for this transformation is simple; those without health insurance know legally that they cannot be denied access to health care treatment when in the emergency room, and whose too blame them, if you need medical treatment, you need medical treatment.
The hidden question in all of this is what does this mean to the quality of care received for those within the emergency room? Increase case loads, increased patient nurse ratios, less time for pertinent patient teaching, higher occurrence of misdiagnosis because of rushed fed ex delivery of care leading to a revolving door pattern not conducive for optimal health for patients seeking treatment. Not to mention that a doctor’s major concern has got to be the long waits by patients requiring a hospital bed. The doctors group, surveying its members last year, learned of at least 200 deaths related to the practice of “boarding” in which patients on stretchers line the corridors until they can be moved into a bed, this in some experts opinions including my own will lead to a destructive health care crisis if left unresolved.
There is no question in my mind that because the health care system is not closely regulated we are in the trouble we are in today, universal health care coverage will only expand this problem further due to over utilization of medical attention once it is acquired. “We have no capacity now,” states Dr. Angela F. Gardner, the president-elect of the American College of Emergency Physicians, which represents 27,000 emergency doctors. “There’s no way we have room for any more people to come to the table.” In my opinion more government funding will be needed in order for already over populated, and over burdened emergency rooms to extend, and employ more health care providers giving hospitals a higher capability to house and treat patients more effectively.“What they don’t understand,” Bakes said, “is that the system is fundamentally flawed and will fail.”
Let’s do more than just hope she is incorrect!
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/business/09emergency.html?_r=1&ref=healthnews and politics
Straight talk is hard to come by..... 0 comments
Straight talk is hard to come by... especially when dealing with politics. No one answer can be the right answer, but the right answer cannot be the one answer. I recently invited two Bexar county political candidates that are running for election this term, one for judge, and the other for constable (whose names will remain anonymous for now) to sit down with myself and a co host, and conduct an interview regarding some social issues that citizens of the community want addressed, and resolved. I didn't think it was asking too much, all of the questions were going to be given to the candidates beforehand, and they were going to be given sufficient time to practice and rehearse their responses. Ironically, when contacted for the interview one of the candidates declined time and time again to pick up his phone, or return phone calls after numerous attempts in lieu of vibrant messages left on his voice mail, and the other who is a female must be suffering from that same set of symptoms, but maybe in a more worse condition, because at a fairly recent communications committee meeting when I extended my hand for a genuine handshake the lady candidate was reluctant to shake it, as if I had leprosy. I'm not really a political guy... don't really see myself running for political office (well maybe), but I'm like most Americans... I just want straight talk with real answers. Now if you are camera shy ok, or not so good at public speaking that's fine, even if a person is absolutely clueless about a plan to change, alter, and fix a broken issue that lies deep in a community chanting to be addressed, these are all understandable concerns of why a person wouldn't want to put themselves out there in the spot light like that, (although Sarah Palin did a tremendous job in proving this theory absolutely wrong) but if the reason is that you are plainly trying to beat around the bush until election time comes up hoping the American PEOPLE will simply forget about their concerns, and just go out and vote, in my opinion one is sadly mistaken. It’s about more than attending the local fundraisers, meeting and greeting the elite groups in the city, or hanging signs up around the city and claiming to have a presence in the community. It’s more about having a sense of the little guy in the room, and wanting to know, and learn that person’s views, thoughts, and mind set surrounding an issue.news and politics
Technology Revolutionizing the Health Care Industry! 0 comments
Patient Care Technology Systems of Mission Viejo, California has developed technology that will futuristically change the system of health care as we know it today. The game changer used to avoid newborn abductions in the early eighties has now revolutionized the way Health Care Administrators track and monitor their patients, staff, and equipment. Electronic tags similar to bar codes used in products at local stores such as Wal Mart, and JC Penny are being used by hospitals to keep an eye on vitally necessary equipment used for emergency purposes such as EKG’s, and defibrillators in the emergency room, all the way down to monitoring arriving patients, and sending needed staff to understaffed areas of the facility. On one side of the table this technology provides for a more efficient health care facility, one that keeps patient waiting times low, inventory control more effective, and accurate, and staff more closely available for emergency tasks at hand. “Christiana Care Hospital, a 907-bed teaching hospital in Newark, Del., installed an electronic tracking system in 2004. The system, using infrared sensors in the ceiling that automatically read badges, shows the location of patients and doctors on an electronic map. By keeping closer tabs on people, the hospital says it has been able to cut about 40 minutes from what used to be a typical emergency-room stay of four to six hours. It's also reduced by about half the 4% to 5% of emergency patients who used to become frustrated and leave without treatment.”
However, this technology does not sit well with the pundits, which although given all of these qualities still poses major drawbacks; one in particular is the privacy issue. In a way it is like treating all of your assets as if they were items, in terms of equipment that would be perfectly acceptable, but when closely monitoring your employees for known, or unknown reasons that in my opinion crosses the lines. Staff members also felt that administrators could, and would use this device to track employee coordinates, thus eliminating confidentiality of paid or unpaid downtime. Also, a study published this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association warned that systems using high-frequency radio waves, the most powerful of the tracking systems, could interfere with the functioning of medical devices. The signals could stop a hospital pump from operating, switch off a ventilator or interfere with a pacemaker, the researchers warned. It is almost like using the philosophy of kill one to save a thousand, if the benefit outweighed the risk in the majority of circumstances it may just be in the best interest of companies to install, and utilize the up and coming technology.
Do you believe that health care facilities would benefit, or lose from this type of technology? Why or Why not....
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122645364411819495.html
news and politics
What Is? The Future of Healthcare in America 0 comments
A diminishing U.S. dollar, tightening in the credit markets enabling banks to lend and make a profit, discouraged business owners unable to invest in expansion methods and/or new technology to grow their business, rendering them no choice, but to result to lower wages, massive layoffs, and higher unemployment rates. Inflation is intensifying beyond belief, due to the decreasing purchasing power of the U.S. Dollar, and several other failed policy factors. Although recent activity in the markets have caused a drawback in energy prices leading to deflation…. a sign of relief, this is only because of a bleak forecasted outlook of economic activity for the ensuing months to come, the effects are still damaging to present day life’s. The everyday essential items like gas, water, and food are rising, and our personal income hence our disposable income is steady if not declining, and at the pinnacle of the iceberg comes the baby boomer generation on the verge of retirement.
According to Dr. Michael Ragain (2008) Health Affairs “by the year 2017 one dollar out of every five dollars spent in the United States will go towards healthcare costs”, equating to 20%.
The rising costs associated in healthcare are attributed to many reasons. Some include the amount of money spent on research and development in this country, emerging technology, reduced government reimbursements related to healthcare issues, and the increased utilization of health care services by the elderly, and those with chronic health issues. Whatever the case may, or may not be, the insured, and uninsured are feeling the woes. More companies are raising premiums paid by their employees to offset the rising healthcare costs. It’s also said that healthcare is the 3rd leading expense company’s pay next to payroll, and administration costs. This leaves employers no choice now that market conditions are cutting away at profit margins, but to shift this cost over to their employees.
Healthcare availability is a touchy issue, whether a country has universal healthcare, or a delivery system such as the United States, there will always be problems. The only thing that gets me is that although healthcare costs are going up, why is the quality of care staying the same if not declining from previous levels? With these tremendous strains on our economy two front runners have emerged from the billows of smoke Senator John McCain, and Senator Barak Obama with insightful ideas of correcting the issue. One poses a $5,000 tax credit per family to buy your own policy, which will be taxed by the government, while the other poses universal coverage for those who want it, and imposes fines for those who don’t. (Hmmm) none of these seem like solutions to me.
news and politics
Vice Presidential Debate 0 comments
The Vice Presidential debate was a classic, both candidates hit the stage with style, and charisma. Trying to differentiate their views as well as their party’s views from the other party’s views was certainly not a problem for either candidate to do. Although a lot of beating around the bush, and dancing around the questions took place in this debate, overall both candidates displayed knowledge of their particular position. The first question brought to the forefront, for many is the reason we are in this financial meltdown today, which is the sub prime mortgage lending that took place resulting in millions of Americans being left with no choice, but to fall victim to the hands of foreclosure. Was this the plan by Bush to undue all that President Clinton had done over ten years prior when he made it more affordable for millions of middle class citizens to afford a home? This topic can be debated another time when time is permitted, but for now back to the original topic. Sub prime lending, when asked who were to fault for the collapse, Governor Palin states “darn right it was those predator lenders” with no hesitation or second thoughts. Adding fuel to her burning flame Palin also goes on to say that “we need to demand from Government strict oversight” meaning more government regulation, in our country’s institutions, make a mental note of this because we will be referring back to this later. When Senator Biden, or as Palin puts it “Joe” was asked the same question he refers back to his central running mates views, and says, “Obama for saw the sub prime lending crisis two years ago” never directly expressing his personal views of the subject matter. Biden also goes on to say that “McCain calls for more deregulation” favoring smaller governments, and those governments being rarely involved directly in the so called free market, in my point of view this is a fundamental difference that goes totally against Palin’s push for “strict oversight.”
The next topic of discussion was taxes, Governor Palin was asked the question first what are the tax proposals for health care from the republicans stand point, she starts off fantastic with her slogan saying “Government is not always the solution, in some cases you are the problem,” in this instance I would say she’s the problem, doesn’t that once again go against her stance for big government, or small government involvement? The governor goes on to say that when we give big tax breaks to corporations “we lessen the tax burden” for these companies. Palin also goes on to criticize Obama’s proposal of one trillion dollars in new spending. One trillion dollars is definitely a lot of money for government spending, especially with no set agenda for allocating these funds, but as long as this spending is transparent, and for growth purposes it will still benefit the American people. Biden did not really defend Obama’s point, all he needed simply to say is this economy is stranded on the side of the highway, with no on star system, and needs a jump start. From the tax stand point Biden clings to the term “fairness” claiming that the middle class American is the economic engine of the economy, therefore proposing tax cuts not for the wealthy, but for the working class. From the health care aspect Biden blast McCain’s plan to provide a five thousand dollar tax credit per family which goes directly to the insurance company, but here is the tricky part, in order for McCain to do this he must raise “$3.6 million dollars in order to get that $5,000 tax credit per family”, Biden says, “he is going to for the first time in history, tax employer based health care plans”, which from the get go will raise the cost of doing business for most businesses, and eventually causing companies’ to abandon their typical health care benefit reimbursement plans, and adding an estimated “20 million people” among the ranks of the uninsured unwillingly.
When you don’t know an answer to a question sometimes it is best if you just stay quiet, or make something up that is short and brief, but Governor Palin would beg to differ; when asked when in office what promises can’t she keep Palin responds, “how long have I been at this five weeks… hasn’t been a whole lot I have promised.” Doesn’t that scare you, or at least make you a little bit uneasy from a voters stand point that a person who has a fairly moderate chance of being the President’s right hand man or in this case right hand woman responds in such a nonchalant round about manner? Another very important topic of discussion during the debate was the V.P. nominees foreign policy approach, and there exit strategy for the Middle East. Now this topic is a little touchy, because both Biden and Palin have children stationed in Iraq. Palin stuck to her guns though saying we would be putting up “white flags of surrender if we leave now”, Palin also transitions to the offensive thrashing Obama for being out of touch with the military forces by voting against more military funding, and claiming that the Senator “buckled under political pressure” in voting against the bill, two swift jabs in my opinion at the Democratic Presidential nominee. When prompted for a response to the same question Biden states, that we need to “shift responsibility to Iraq’s” stating that the “U.S. faces a $10 billion dollar deficit each month, while the Iraqi’s receives an $80 billion dollar surplus.” He also goes on to say that “McCain also voted against the bill to supply more government funding for the military because it set a timeline for withdraw”, almost nullifying Palin’s recent remark about Obama regarding the unsigned bill. Biden hits some key notes in his plan for the Middle East when he says coming from the commanding General in Afghanistan “the surge principals used in Iraq will not work in Afghanistan” Biden states part of the solution would be more troops, more infrastructure, and more government developments. Lastly Biden closes off with a breakdown of how the war is going from his point of view, captivatingly put Biden states “the current Bush Administration has spent more in the last three weeks in Iraq, than the entire six and a half years we have been in the war.”
To further conclude this discussion I will wrap this up with some food for thought. First, what are the responsibilities of a Vice President? According to Article 1 section 3 in the Constitution of the United States of America “a Vice President is the first person in the presidential line of succession, becoming the new President of the United States upon the death, resignation, or impeachment of the president, should he or she accept the position.” The Constitution of the United States also designated that the “Vice President also serves as the President of the Senate, and may break tie votes in that chamber. He or she may be assigned additional duties by the president but, as far as the Constitution it assigns no executive powers to the vice president, in performing such duties, he or she acts only as an agent of the president.” Another interesting and very redundant safe haven for Governor Palin in this debate was her constant referral to John McCain as a maverick, wasn’t quite sure of what the term meant so I decided to look it up. According to Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary the term “maverick” is defined as an independent individual who does not go along with a group or party. Considering that McCain has voted ninety percent of the time in line with President Bush, I don’t see that as an independent view, but since we are on the subject of individual views how about Colin Powell’s. When you have a prominent member from another camp vocally expressing his endorsement for a candidate of a different party, without any formidable reason, I would say within that party there is a dilemma. I think the media is glorifying Palin’s dumb downed responses, all of which is taking away from the only true aspect of a speech/debate, and that is the content. If the media would spend less time emphasizing her blunders, funny antics, and selection of words and just like Katie Couric did, force her to answer the questions I think Americas eyes could not stay shut for the final two weeks of this election.news and politics
