Another Rant

Okay, it gets on my nerves when people refer to a governmental health plan as "socialism." It's not socialism, friends, when the government is running the program. That's social democratism, and it's like what they have in Germany or Scandanavia. True socialism is a step in the supposedly inevitable process toward communism, in which there IS NO GOVERNMENT to run ANY programs. At least, this is according to Marx's definition, and considering that he is the one who conceived of the entire concept, I think we can agree that his definition should be the generally accepted one. I have this on authority from an expert in political science.

And while we are on the subject of health care reform, it's clear to me that the present system cannot continue. We can all assume the wealthy and politicians will always have good coverage; the rest of us, however, can probably assume the following: our premiums will continue to rise, our deductibles will continue to go up, everytime we change jobs or plans, we will lose coverage for any previous illness or condition (because to the new insurer, it is pre-existing), and employers will be forced to stop offering insurance coverage entirely. Businesses, small businesses in particular, won't be able to afford to cover employees and continue to engage in their primary business with its accompanying, normal, overhead costs. Duh! At best, we will all be dreadfully UNDERINSURED, as so many of us are already!!! So how can anyone argue that we don't need to revamp this system? If your problem with overhauling the health care system is that you don't believe in public assistance to the poor, realize that the above argument doesn't even take into consideration those members of society who can't get any insurance without public assistance, because they are: unemployed, disabled by a pre-existing conditions, the working poor, or the innocent children of any of the above. Although it is beyond me how any person who calls herself a Christian can, with a straight face, argue against assisting members of our society who genuinely need help. But that is an argument for another day and another post.

Anyway, it seems to me that a public option system is a fair compromise. Keep your private insurance if you can afford it, you like it, and so forth. But let the government offer a competing plan, or plans, to rescue those who don't (or soon won't) have decent private insurance. Not everything can be covered! Liver transplants, expensive procedures designed to prolong life in terminal patients (other than those to manage pain or possibly for children with terminal illnesses), cosmetic surgery and the like will not be covered. No one should expect the taxpayers to contribute to unreasonable medical costs/care. But the fundamentals should be available to everyone: vaccinations, amoxycillin for strep throat or ear infections, eye exams and corrective prescriptions, prenatal care, care for traumatic injuries, prescriptions drugs for those with diabetes, arthritis, and cardiovascular disease. Preventative care, health education, and incentives to lose weight, get healthy, and stay healthy should be built into the system somehow.

But FOR-PROFIT, MANAGED CARE SHOULD BE ELIMINATED. Profit gouging has no place in health care. For those of you who argue that the free market should apply to health care, I say this: what have they done to help the system over the last twenty years? NOTHING!!! Any costs they cut, on the backs of providers, they have taken as profits. We, as the paying insured, have seen our costs skyrocket, while managed care CEO's and wealthy shareholders have benefited. This bleeding of the health care system has done nothing to improve the quality of care; it has done the opposite, by preventing caregivers (especially highly trained medical specialists) from exercising their own educated judgment about how to treat patients. Gate-keeper primary caregivers, who are less trained, get to decide whether we even need to see a specialist and whether to order to tests, in fact whether to treat our illnesses/conditions at all. It's a tragic waste of specialized medical training and expertise, putting all this power in the hands of generalists.

And for those who complain about government bureaucracy and paper-pushing, let me ask you this? Has managed care reduced the amount of paper? Do we, as the insured, not have to fill out countless forms, make countless copies of bills and payments, subbmit here, submit there.. open HSA's, adding on all of that additional recordkeeping? And the caregivers? Ask them how much time/money they spend on recordkeeping, submitting requests, etc. It's a nightmare. How could anyone argue with a straight face that the current, private system is efficient?

Okay, rant over for now...

Grunting in Tennis

As we tennis enthusiasts all know, women grunting when they hit the ball is practically de rigeur these days in tennis. Apparently, officials are now considering whether to make some rules about it, because some people are complaining. Funny, no one complains when the men grunt... Anyway, I am convinced that the coaches "teach" grunting at Eden Prairie Lifetime Fitness, where I play. I find it hilarious, particularly because the particular grunting style at my club is far from Sharapova's screech. It's more like the Uuuhhhh... (pitch rising toward end of word) that one utters during sex when one is close to achieving orgasm. I truly believe the coaches got together and decided to teach that particular noise to club members so that the coaches could imagine how we all sound during sex! (All of coaches but one are men, and the one woman teaches mostly kids. I don't think she teaches grunting.) Anyway, that sexual grunting noise is fascinating to me. I don't do it; I'm far too private for that. On the other hand, I have been known to let loose with the occasional,"Oh, God!"

Chance or God?

Chance or God?

Emptiness.
And then…
A burst of energy,
A fountain of matter,
Fusion and reaction,
Formation of elements,
Suns, space…
How did the carbon and hydrogen and oxygen
Eventually combine
Into you and me?
And however did we come to find one another
In the infinite expanse of our universe?