Thanksgiving is just a few days away. What are you thankful for this year? I know I am thankful for my loving family, my dear friends, and the blessings which have come this year. I am also thankful for the freedom I have, or should have, as an American. I got to thinking today how great it really is to be an American and why so many people want to be Americans. A great thing about America is its openness to others. We gladly accept new citizens, who are legal, and love that they want to improve their lives by living here. We still are, or should be, the land of opportunity. When someone comes here, they take an oath of allegiance. It's much simpler than other countries. Once a citizen, we have so many liberties, or should have anyways. Just think of the economic freedoms we have, or should have. Here, everyone, regardless of race, color, gender, creed, etc., has just about the same opportunity to become great. There are environmental factors, such as growing up on the South side of Chicago, that may impede on your success, but I remain optimistic that individuals are the ones that shape their own lives, instead of the government. Here in America, we have the best health care in the world and a great educational system. Both systems have their flaws, but I'm much happier with what we have compared to Europe. Here in America, we provide for those who cannot provide for themselves, although there is waste there too (on those collecting entitlements who don't really need them). I will digress on this topic a little. Last year when we were flooded, we were offered food stamps to help out. We kindly said "no thank you" multiple times. We realized we aren't the ones who need them...the impoverished are. It's very admirable that we care for our citizens. America is such a great country, and we should all be thankful for the opportunities we have because we live here. Just something to think about come Thursday.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Thanks for reading.
Joe
Monday, November 23, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
The Power Grab
I like to remain fairly optimistic about the direction of the country. It has become harder as the fringe continues to try to take power away from the people and transplant it into the federal government, the source of the problems. I'm not blaming Obama; I don't think the grab is entirely his fault. The people at fault are the ones like Nancy Pelosi, pushing for extreme government regulation in the private sector; namely health care.
I would like to see people get health care. In a Utopian society, everyone would have access to America's world class health care system. However, in reality, the proposed way to go about this is not feasible whatsoever. With this massive overhaul, the government would be taking over one-sixth of the US private sector, the sector that drives this country forward and keeps this country great. I can't forget to mention the personal mandates either. How backwards must one be to even suggest fining and raising the taxes of one who refuses to buy health care or take the sub-prime government run plan? I think it is foolish for someone with sufficient resources to neglect such an important thing. However, it is their decision to be foolish, and they will learn from their mistakes. Essentially this bill will only be expanding the free clinic system. People think it will cover cancer treatments and stays in ICUs, but they don't know how expensive those procedures and hospital stays are. The government cannot afford to do that, so they will favor the younger patients over the older patients, (a.k.a. rationing). You don't have to be a conservative to acknowledge the fact that rationing will occur. Also, what will happen to survival rates? In European countries, 5 year prostate cancer survival rates are at about 75-80%. Here in America, 100%. Does this say anything about government run health care? I think so. And what about the doctors and PAs? Their pay will decrease, and fewer and fewer people will actually WANT to practice. I'm not trying to pass off the typical stereotype that physicians are selfish. I believe it is just the opposite. No one goes through so much schooling to care for others as a selfish matter. Most docs and PAs are underpaid as it is, anyways.
What we do need to fix is malpractice. It has become out of control. People don't want to practice medicine anymore for fear of getting nailed with a malpractice suit. Also, doctors aren't willing to treat illnesses as aggressively as necessary because of malpractice worries. Malpractice must be redefined. It is ridiculous that a doctor must pay thousands of dollars every year to have access to defense funds, and to have to practice medicine defensively.
Thanks for reading.
Joe
I would like to see people get health care. In a Utopian society, everyone would have access to America's world class health care system. However, in reality, the proposed way to go about this is not feasible whatsoever. With this massive overhaul, the government would be taking over one-sixth of the US private sector, the sector that drives this country forward and keeps this country great. I can't forget to mention the personal mandates either. How backwards must one be to even suggest fining and raising the taxes of one who refuses to buy health care or take the sub-prime government run plan? I think it is foolish for someone with sufficient resources to neglect such an important thing. However, it is their decision to be foolish, and they will learn from their mistakes. Essentially this bill will only be expanding the free clinic system. People think it will cover cancer treatments and stays in ICUs, but they don't know how expensive those procedures and hospital stays are. The government cannot afford to do that, so they will favor the younger patients over the older patients, (a.k.a. rationing). You don't have to be a conservative to acknowledge the fact that rationing will occur. Also, what will happen to survival rates? In European countries, 5 year prostate cancer survival rates are at about 75-80%. Here in America, 100%. Does this say anything about government run health care? I think so. And what about the doctors and PAs? Their pay will decrease, and fewer and fewer people will actually WANT to practice. I'm not trying to pass off the typical stereotype that physicians are selfish. I believe it is just the opposite. No one goes through so much schooling to care for others as a selfish matter. Most docs and PAs are underpaid as it is, anyways.
What we do need to fix is malpractice. It has become out of control. People don't want to practice medicine anymore for fear of getting nailed with a malpractice suit. Also, doctors aren't willing to treat illnesses as aggressively as necessary because of malpractice worries. Malpractice must be redefined. It is ridiculous that a doctor must pay thousands of dollars every year to have access to defense funds, and to have to practice medicine defensively.
Thanks for reading.
Joe
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