Legalization of Marijuana…. Coming to a Coffee Shop near You! 0 comments
As California goes, so does the nation, or at least that is the way the saying goes, but truthfully, and honestly what is the big deal. Everyone from Presidents, to an 8 time Olympic Gold Medal winner has used it, some openly admitting to it, while others end up ranked number one on search sites based upon page views, but all in all these people as well as many others have accomplished extraordinary achievements in life. Do not get me wrong, I am not referring to the seventh, or eighth grader who happened to stumble upon a joint in a member of his families room, nor am I referring to the eleventh grade junior still struggling to discover his or hers identity. I am referring to the overall usage of marijuana. I am talking about the ability to purchase, and consume it, let’s be frank, there are far greater items classified as legal in this country, but pose much superior health and social risks to our nation. The primary reason marijuana is still illegal is because the FDA has not approved the drug, thus crushing any government funding for the research showing a medical usage purpose for it.
So how can an item as bad as people claim it to be; being used so widely and socially accepted be outlawed for personal usage….Is it not we the people, by the people….for the people? There are many debates that take place, both pros and cons about the legalization of marijuana, but what points are valid, and what points are just bunches of smoke? .
If the government had the ability to collect taxes off of the generated revenue of businesses, and individuals, (which enables a free market) it would be killing more than one bird with one stone. First, it would be introducing new supply to the demand, thus lowering prices. That lowering in prices will drive out many competitors that cannot run a business with that low of a profit margin, it is just not economical. Next, put some Americans back to work by setting up a Homeland of Security for marijuana that would monitor closely the effects, usage, and sales of the Green substance. There would be less violence, in the United States, due to criminal acts in order to recompensate, or “score,” more money could be poured into the much needed areas of the justice system that works on prevention, rehabilitation and an effective exit strategy of deterring criminal activity, and who knows maybe people will give up smoking cigarettes in the process too!
Take into account the huge lobbyist of these gigantic corporations, which have huge amounts of money to throw around; these individuals which by the way pose as a dominant influence affecting the reason why this drug is still banned. The interest of huge billion dollar corporations, and industries would be at stake, from alcohol companies, to tobacco companies, to name brand pharmaceutical companies the list goes on and on. Think of the city, state, and federal budgets that are funded with criminal dollars, from search and seizure, to incarceration, to restitution, on a revolving door basis.
For more insight on this theory check out Mark Kleiman a professor at the School of Public Policy and Social Research at the University of California.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/dope/interviews/kleiman.html
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
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=health
