I'm Trippin'!

I HATE MONDAYS


Have I made that clear in the past? Please forgive me if I haven't because they really do suck the life out of me!!!

I'd sue Monday if I could get it into court.

What evidence do I have?

It's mounting!


Well, today seemed like any other day; Up at O'dark thirty, out the door to the park and ride, on the bus downtown. I usually get off at the first stop so I can get in a short walk before work, to get my blood moving. On the way in I have to be mindful of traffic, road construction, closed crosswalks, other pedestrians etc as well as the path in front of me. Sometimes, I forget apparently. Today is no exception. I've walked this stretch of sidewalk many times, aware of it's uneveness and rough edges at times. Still it didn't help me much.

About two blocks from the office, after hastily crossing a street I stumbled about halfway down the block on a rough edge of concrete, caught myself momentarily only to tumble after catching my other toe on another uneven edge. Down I went, rolling over my right ankle, landing on my right knee/shin and both hands onto the concrete. Immediately after I hit the ground my water bottle shot out of my bag and smashed into pieces over my shoulder, followed by my coffee container. The water bottle is toast but the coffee did survive. My iPod hit the ground too, but appears to not be the worse for wear (I do have a nice case for it).

Feeling quite embarrassed I scrambled to pick everything up . I stuffed the coffee back into my bag, iPod into my pocket and picked up as many pieces from my broken plastic water bottle as I could before trying to get moving. After a step or two the pain in my right leg/ankle rudely reminded me that I just hit the concrete rather hard. I limped down to the next block and waited for the light to change. Beside stinging pain, I felt something trickle down my leg. Looking down I saw a nice streak of red sourcing from just under my kneecap & running all the way down.

As I wiped it off, I happened to notice the raked skin on the side of my calf as my hand unknowingly passed through it. I then realized my other hand was still holding the broken pieces of my water bottle. Right next to me I noticed a garbage can and tossed what was left of the bottle into it.

ARGH!!

After a handful of ibuprofen and some down time the hurt has abated for the most part. It still stings and my glass ankle is a bit tender.


Is it Friday yet????

Signs, signs, everywhere's a sign!

I just love this picture, so much so I had to post it. I found it while reading the Huffington Post blogs. It makes me smile everytime I look at it and it gives me hope. A couple others were funny, but this one is the BEST!

Jay Inslee US Rep (D) 1st Congressional District WA

If you live in the 1st District in Washington, you are in good hands. My wife and I met Jay when we lived in Yakima and he first ran for the Washington state legislature. At the time he visited every house in his district and carried his signs on street corners. We had a short chat on my front porch and he's gotten my vote ever since, proudly helping him later win the 4th Congressional District.

During the Republican revolution in '94, he lost his seat to the worthless Doc Hastings mostly due to the fact that Jay supported the automatic weapons ban. Jay moved on, realizing I'm sure that Yakima has little to offer a Democrat. We were delighted to find out that he was our US rep when we later moved to western Washington. He's smart, know's what he's talking about and someone I feel I can trust.

We have recently contacted his office to voice our concerns over the recent debate regarding health care reform. See below the letter he sent in reply (the actual and the text below), and signed personally to my wife, Eve after she called him. I think it includes some very key info that is not being reported on by the corporate owned press.

click to enlarge:

Jay Inslee's Web Site

Dear Ms. Pickard:


Thank you for contacting me regarding H.R. 3200, America's Affordable Health Choices Act, and to express your support for health care reform. I appreciate hearing from you.

I would like you to know that I have been strongly supportive of President Obama's public health insurance option throughout the health care reform process, and I also concur with our President that we have a unique opportunity to bring real reform to a broken system. I believe that it is important to protect the interest of the consumer by providing choices so that people may decide what solution is best for them and their family. That is one reason I am a strong advocate of a public option. The public insurance option will bring competition to the marketplace and consumer interests will be protected by addressing affordability and access issues that plague our current system. With my vote and support, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed H.R. 3200, a bill that includes President Obama's public option. This bill will now go to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote that is expected in September.

Like President Obama, I believe that controlling costs is of central importance to the overall health care reform effort. During the past two weeks I have worked hard with my colleagues and the House leadership to bend the cost curve, resulting in an agreement that will include two important Institute of Medicine Studies in the reform bill. These studies will be completed and their recommendations will be implemented over the next two years to address inefficiencies in the Medicare payment system that result in geographic disparities in reimbursement that affect Washington state physicians, and the current model of reimbursing volume of care rather than the value. Under the current Medicare reimbursement formula, payment for services rewards the quantity of services, rather than the effectiveness of those services. For this reason, Washington state physicians have historically been reimbursed at a lesser rate compared to their peers in other parts of the country, due to the efficient, high-quality service they provide. This deal will rectify this historic inequity and provide real cost-containment by incentivizing and reimbursing for the quality, not the quantity, of medical care across the United States. The agreement will also benefit Washington state's senior citizens, who suffer from limited access to providers as a result of the reimbursement inequality that affects low-cost areas.

In addition to the regional disparity agreement, I offered an amendment that was adopted during the Committee's markup that will help to bend the cost curve by promoting the development of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). ACOs create a system of incentives that tie provider payments to quality and resource use, thereby promoting quality of care while simultaneously reducing regional variation. This provision could save Medicare $300 to $400 a year per patient. As the bill moves through the legislative process I will continue to fight for these important cost containment measures.

I would like to tell you about some other provisions in H.R. 3200, such as the elimination of co-pays for preventative care and the cap on total out-of-pocket expenditures for an individual. In difficult economic circumstances, I believe that families must be protected from making a choice between basic health concerns and their overall financial security. The bill will further protect individuals be ending increases in premiums or outright denial of coverage based on pre-existing conditions, race, or gender. It would also create a small business health tax credit to make it easier for small businesses to cover their employees and assist in lowering premium costs for businesses. These are just a few highlights of America's Affordable Health Choices Act.

As I mentioned, H.R. 3200 was recently approved by the Energy and Commerce Committee with my support. In the interest of allowing for ample consideration of such a hugely important issue, the full House of Representatives will not vote on the bill until after the August recess. I want you to know that I am eager to proceed with the reform process and I am committed to passing a health reform bill within the President Obama's desired timeline. With regard to your interest in this issue, I encourage you to visit the Energy and Commerce website for a more comprehensive look at this bill. I hope you will find the following summary informative: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Press_111/20090714/hr3200_summary.pdf.

Please continue to contact me about the issues that concern you, as I both need and welcome your thoughts and ideas. I encourage you to contact me via email, telephone, or fax, because security measures in the House cause delays in receiving postal mail. For more information on my activities in Congress, and for information on services that my office can provide, please visit my website at http://www.house.gov/inslee. If you would like to subscribe to my email updates, please visit http://www.house.gov/inslee/signup.htm.

Very truly yours,


JAY INSLEE


Member of Congress

Some Days...

...I could use a little Tom to help me get by;




Walls

Some days are diamonds
Some days are rocks
Some doors are open
Some roads are blocked

Sundowns are golden
Then fade away
But if I never do nothing
I'll get you back some day

Cause you got a heart so big
It could crush this town
And I can't hold out forever
Even walls fall down

And all around your island
There's a barricade
It keeps out the danger
It holds in the pain

Sometimes you're happy
Sometimes you cry
Half of me is ocean
Half of me is sky

But you got a heart so big
It could crush this town
And I can't hold out forever
Even walls fall down

And some things are over
Some things go on
And part of me you carry
Part of me is gone

But you got a heart so big
It could crush this town
And I can't hold out forever
Even walls fall down

Baby you got a heart so big
It could crush this town
And I can't hold out forever
Even walls fall down
They fall down

Hurricane Bill Coming At You

Click on picture to get the latest on Hurricane Bill

I know the feeling! Are the powers above trying to tell me something? I have been on a bit of a tear lately. First Guillermo, now Bill. I'd like to think of it as a contained fury, not bent on destruction. Rebirth, not death. Change, reform and social progress. It does describe my feelings pretty good when it comes to our recent political exchange regarding these subjects. Although my wrath is not meant to be physical as much as philosophical.

Who is Wendell Potter?

Wendell Potter has served since May 2009 as senior fellow on health care at the Center for Media and Democracy, a nonprofit organization that says it seeks to expose "corporate spin and government propaganda." After a 20-year career as a corporate public relations executive, Potter left his job last year as head of communications for one of the nation's largest health insurers, CIGNA Corporation.

Thank You Jon

Talk about frustrating.

I have openly supported our President's effort to overhaul and reform our health care system that is firmly in the grips private insurance and answered his call for my help. I support the public option for health care, more out of moral reasons than economics. It's the right thing to do. So, I humbly ask of you Mr President;

STAY ON MESSAGE PLEASE!

Jon, please help me here;

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Heal or No Heal - Medicine Brawl
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Spinal Tap Performance

Obama risks losing the support of those that got him here. To side with or give into the mentality that has put us in this health care crisis in the first place deflates the entire purpose of reform. I don't know how much more proof America needs than what we currently have; our health care system is bleeding our economy to death by the private sector. If you really think that this is a government take over then I question your reality. WAKE UP! It appears private insurance has taken over health care.

I certainly don't want the government taking over my life. If they do, I believe it won't be done via health care. It will be done with a gun, I have no doubt. Past history is full of examples that I could give you. Are we truly a Christian nation? I am at a loss to understand why the economics of the situation are more important than the morality of providing decent health care for all of our citizens. For some, defeating Obama is the only goal, the rest of America be damned! They seem to forget that there are other Americans, who do have different ideas who voted for Obama by a huge majority. Know this, they are NOT your mortal enemy. I too, love America, for good or bad.

Obama, I voted for you, supported your efforts to fix our economy and to reform heath care on these ideals because I want real change in this country. Here's your opportunity. When you ask for my help I give it because I believe in what you are doing. If you go back on those ideals, you've lost my support. I feel cheated and like you've put out red meat to feast on for your opponents. Even if they get concessions, they will still not support you. They've done it before and they will again. From where I sit, they are the cause of America's troubles by being more concerned about wars than wounds. When they hate, they hate worse than anyone.

Realize that not everyone will be pleased. I do understand the fear of not doing so for some of us Americans, like say Timothy McVeigh, or the complete asshole nutcase who showed up to a recent town hall in Arizona with an ASSAULT RIFLE over his shoulder complaining about his rights being taken away. But we have to meet them head on and show them that we mean business. This is a prime example of Obama's opponents; Instead of debate, they reach for their guns. What about the rest of the citizens who are there to exercise their rights to peaceably assemble without some jackass carrying around an assault rifle? It kinda infringes on others, who are actually exercising their First Amendment rights. WHY in the name of GOD do you need to do something like that? If you refuse to join the debate then go shoot your penis extension somewhere else before you or someone else gets hurt. It does nothing to further debate to hear your whining about perceived wrongs when reality offers something different. Oh the plight of the poor white man.

Now, what's to fear here? Open meetings? Everyone's invited to put in their two cents worth, even from those who don't have any sense? Do we fear public health care? Do we fear a public display of automatic weaponry? No one is going to kill the elderly under health care reform. How about this guy?

Okay sorry I've diverted from my original thought. This issue really bothers me if you couldn't tell. I am a loyal follower on this because I believe it's the right thing to do. But Dammit! I have to have a strong leader who's confident in what he's told me. If I can't get that then we lose, and this country just cannot afford to anymore.

I Made The News!

"Hurricane Guillermo"

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_ep5.shtml?5-daynl#contents

A Definite Case of Socialism

Thumbing through the "good book" I came across something rather confusing. I've been under the assumption that Jesus was a Republican.

Socialism in the Bible?

How could this be?

Please read from Luke, Chapter 10 verses 25-37;


25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

26"What is written in the Law?" he replied. "How do you read it?"

27 He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

28"You have answered correctly," Jesus replied. "Do this and you will live."

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'

36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."


I'll give two silver coins for health care reform. "Love your neighbor as yourself", what a freakin concept.

From my own experience;

I work for a large telecommunications company and am a member of the Communications Workers of America (CWA). Recently we went through contract negotiations. It appeared a strike was imminent. The sticking point? Health Care costs. The deadline was extended and we went back to work.

Again, the deadline approached and we prepared for a strike. They extended as negotiations continued past midnight. Finally an agreement was reached.

I got a raise, then I lost income all in one fell swoop. My company decried the average annual cost (medical benefits) per employee of around $12,000 per year, bargained that the employee pick up more costs so they can stay competitive. We now contribute more to our health care, essentially flat lining my raise. The new version has higher deductibles and less coverage, leaving me with a decrease in my salary. We relented, feeling lucky to even have jobs in this post Bush economy, wanting to help our company "stay competitive".

In my mind, if we continue to do nothing the time will come when I lose my coverage altogether. For some of my fellow co-workers it's already happened as we are currently under a "Surplus", which means the company is cutting more costs by laying them off even after we agreed to take on more of the health care costs to help them out. My friends and fellow employees face an uncertain future in a tough economy and limited coverage options like COBRA once they've been kicked to the street. Ever have to pay those premiums? I have. A few thousand dollars for about four months. I never will see it again while the insurance company has invested it I'm sure.

That should give you some idea as to my passion. I am thoroughly pissed off at the knuckle draggers who yell socialism when confronted with health care reform. It only shows ignorance. Signs showing Obama as Hitler makes me want to kick the persons ass who's carrying it. Do they even realize that if Obama lived in Nazi Germany he would have been sent to die in a gas chamber? He's hardly a vision of the Master Race, and when considering it, all I see are pissed off white people doing the yelling and screaming. They're just a turkey trot to a goose step themselves. What idiots, little to no self awareness whatsover and lost on historical facts. For GOD's sake, quit invoking that murdering, racist, fascist bastard so horrendously wrong! You could at least apply history correctly in your blinding rage.

The problem is, they are problem. Now they want to obstruct the effort to reform? My patience has long since waned. I got two words for those folks, any guesses as to what they are?

Consider yourself lucky if you have good health insurance. Also consider that it could get worse or go away at any time without reform. There's no guarantee that it will remain the same or available. Do we want the insurance companies holding all the cards or would you like more control over who you seek health care services from? This effort is nothing new, dating back to Harry Truman yet some of us act like we're rushing into this. I just wish we had the same considerations before we rushed into Iraq, spending trillions with little accountability.

My wife has her own business. No way could we afford to buy health insurance off the shelf. Most small businesses in America face the same thing. Big companies get breaks that the little guy could never negotiate. Talk about stunting free enterprise. The small business owner was Thomas Jefferson's ideal dream for America, yet our system punishes them while rewarding big business. Wouldn't it be great if there was a single payer option that's affordable that's not tied to whether we work for a large company or not?

I'd like to have some of those family values I've heard so much about. Apparently when they come with "costs" attached, they're liberal and evil. Just paint me a socialist then because I see health care as a moral issue. The Bible appears to say the same thing. Some of us consider it an economic issue. Jesus was certainly mindful of the health and well being of the people and never once discussed pre-existing condition (other than what affliction to heal), proper coverage and ability to pay. At least that I could find anyways.

If you do think the health care issue is purely economic, this is for you:

The Californian Odyssey: The Highway to Hello Vacaville!

The Story continues from the; Californian Odyssey

Summing up so far;


1. The Ford Pickup is living up to it's reputation as I knew it; It's a piece of shit

2. Also, It's a rolling death trap.

3. Crater Lake was really beautiful, when we finally made it.

4. I was becoming a very good cup holder while dodging the shifter between gears.

5. The trailer seemed smaller for some reason.

6. We're still pumped for California!

After a day enjoying the sights of the southern Oregon Cascades we continued down the highway. Up very early the next morning, it was dark and I was very sleepy, Jeff a zombie. This was the point where we really missed not having the pickup to crash in (so to speak!). Jeff and I were going to sleep in the back on early mornings or late nights. If we did however, we'd go to sleep and probably never wake. Instead we all piled into the truck at O'dark thirty and hit the road.


Again, my stomach held on ok, despite the early morn and long miles of travel with the excitement of getting there, I did not vomit. Considering what was coming, that may have been the highlight of the days journey.


We made it across the border, into Disneyla... I mean California without any troubles. Oh, how I wish it would have remained so. Talk about lots of nothing but rye grass, rolling hills, sage brush and scrub oak to meet the eye. Northern California looked more like a sunny side of the moon.

As we rumbled along, we started to take note of the heat of the day. Now I don't recall actual temps but let me give you an idea what we had to deal with. Remember me saying something about the hot floorboards? The frying pan comparison when considering the climate we were driving through? On one of our rest breaks as we crawled out, Mom grabbed the little plastic bucket with towels (My roadside puke kit) off the floor, but it was sorta stuck. All I recall is her prying it off and holding it up to see the bottom melted, part of it around the edges I could actually see through. Our holey religious bucket! (and as about as useful). I noticed a burnt plastic smell then, but hard to tell over the fumes in the cab as we rolled down the highway. Even with shoes you felt the intense heat. What a sight we had to be, crammed in the front of the truck with up to 3 pairs of feet on the dashboard.

Try doing that straddling a big gear shift. Jeff sometimes stuck his right foot out the passenger window to save room, like that was any cooler. We passed small towns; Weed, Red Bluff, Redding on the way. Nothing but long stretches of baking hot pavement in front of us. We'd make the occasional stop for refreshments and bathroom breaks. I have to say, pulling a small rolling house had it's advantages. It even had A/C, but did we ever use it? NO!! We couldn't along the side of the road, but we didn't even when in a trailer park. Mom and Dad said they hated the noise. Apparently heat stroke was a better option??

So, we're making good time. We planned on stopping in Vacaville for the night, but that was a long ways still. We tossed the bucket and climbed back in. I guess that was a fitting end to that bucket. Considering all the times I tossed into it, I hated it. Even the sight of it made me ill. It met its death on this trip. No more did I carry a puke kit until I had my daughter! Dad noted the great gas mileage we were getting after we got back out on the road. He pointed to the gas gauge showing half a tank. He said it hadn't moved for some time. I only noticed how $&%@^#! hot it was getting in the middle of nowhere.

The smile of delight on his face drooped into a frowning scowl as the truck started to sputter, then die. We rolled to the side of the road and stopped. Dad let out one of his huge, patented sighs and tried to start the beast but it would not wake. The engine turned, Dad's foot pumped, the engine whined, Dad cussed a few damn its.

"We can't be out of gas!" He exclaimed.

"I thought we were getting great gas mileage?" I asked.

"We're out of gas, George." said Mom.

"SIGH"

This is an actual shot (not mine) of Hwy 97 near Weed CA. I do have to say, Mt Shasta was a beautiful sight.

In a look that would make Satan cringe, Dad glared at me before lifting the door handle and throwing his shoulder into it. I remember looking at Mom, in complete silence I could see her holding her patience. In words I cannot remember, she then expressed her displeasure at the choice of vehicle we had to tow our trailer to California. I do remember that she wished we still had our CHEVY pickup. The A/C would have been nice traveling across Hades. There we sat. No cars, no one, nothing but the sun and the endless pavement through desolation. I remember feeling being about as far from civilization as I could ever recall.

A moment later, Dad appeared at the drivers side window, in his tan tank top, slightly red faced, vein pulsing in his forehead and rather sweaty holding 5 gallon jerry can. He popped the cap off and began to fill the tank with gas and the cab with fumes. Once drained, he climbed back in and fired up ol Rusty. Yep, we ran out of gas. Great gas mileage my sweaty ass! What I gathered from the conversation, Williams was the next town on the map. Doing the MPG math we were at the outer limits of our range with the five gallon gas can.

We were going to need some great gas mileage to get us there. So, we had to slow it up a bit. Just the ticket when you are trying to get through smothering heat. Our 2/65 air conditioning became 2/55. It may not seem like much but after being squeezed in between three very hot and sweaty people with their feet up on the dashboard because of the hot coals underneath. I was ready to climb into the fridge in the trailer, even though it wasn't on at the time. ANYTHING had to be cooler than that sandpaperish bench seat in the dastardly hot sun with hot air blowing on you as skin on skin contact felt rather slimy.

Slowly we moved, counting the miles and hours. Hot didn't even come close to describing the weather. Damn hot gets close. Sun surface gets a little warmer. Then there's riding in Rusty in Northern California in the middle of summer. Finally we made it to Williams and the truck was still running. The gas gauge read half tank all the way. We were getting great mileage after all!

We got off the highway and found a gas station but had to wait in line so we nervously turned the truck off. Luckily it started again and we rolled into the pumps. Dad filled the tank, the jerry can and the cab with fresh fumes again. This time he had to note the odometer mileage since we had no idea how much gas was left in the tank, other than half according to Rusty. Filled up and ready to go, we decided to find a place to eat and cool off. It took white hot heat and nearly being stranded on the highway in the middle of nowhere to actually get Dad have us eat out with our trailer still attached to the truck.

Here's Rusty in Williams CA, just before he dropped his tail pipe.

Dad found an A&W and we piled out and into the restaurant for ice cold root beer floats all around! It had A/C! YAY, WE WERE SAVED!!! We never wanted to leave but we had to get going. Warm, but refreshed we pulled out of the A&W. Mom commented on how lucky we were to make it here considering the troubles we were having with Rusty.

"At least the tail pipe is still attached", Dad said jokingly as we gained speed before a horrible "CLANK" rang out from underneath the pickup and the engine rumbled like a race car, no kidding. If I hadn't been there to see it, I would have not believed it. Now a metallic dragging sound followed as we rolled to a stop. Dad climbed out and grabbed a pair of gloves from behind the seat. We all climbed out as he looked under the truck to see the muffler hanging by the tail pipe bracket, detached from the rest of the exhaust.

Dad uttered some colorful language that I had never heard him utter before. Something about this Ford and it's lack of durability, and that it really was some type of red Dodge. He crawled back out covered in sweat and grabbed his tool box (I have to admit, the guy came prepared!) and crawled back under and removed the tailpipe from the bracket. Dad was kind enough to narrate the procedure as he struggled to break the tailpipe loose.

After a fit of blasphemy we climbed back in the truck & took off. Jeff and I thought the truck sounded really cool as it rumbled down the road like a race car. Dad had other thoughts. I don't recall much from there until we got into Vacaville in the early evening. Another decent trailer park with a pool to cool off in and Jeff and I took advantage of it. What a day. I learned some new words, lost a few pounds and started to notice how small our trailer was.

Here's another postcard home:



Mom says "getting hotter". Technically true. You could say a blast furnace is hotter than room temp too. But more importantly she says "on to S.L.O.!"

Take a Deep Breath Please

Usually, that's Dr's orders. In this case regarding health care reform, however please consider facts before pitch forks. I cannot believe to what depths our political debate has sunken to. Once reduced to yelling and screaming, open debate is a lost cause. Is this how we solve problems in this country?

Like George Carlin noted,

"We can't make a decent fucking car, but we can bomb the shit out of your country all right!"

Knowing when to shut up and listen is a rare art. RIP George.

Hey, if you've got any great ideas to deal with the current state of health care affairs, I am all ears. While mulling that over, consider some of these facts in regards to our current health care system;

http://www.nchc.org/index.shtml

Facts on the Cost of Health Insurance and Health Care

By several measures, health care spending continues to rise at a rapid rate and forcing businesses and families to cut back on operations and household expenses respectively.

In 2008, total national health expenditures were expected to rise 6.9 percent -- two times the rate of inflation. Total spending was $2.4 TRILLION in 2007, or $7900 per person.

Total health care spending represented 17 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP).

U.S. health care spending is expected to increase at similar levels for the next decade reaching $4.3 TRILLION in 2017, or 20 percent of GDP.

In 2008, employer health insurance premiums increased by 5.0 percent – two times the rate of inflation. The annual premium for an employer health plan covering a family of four averaged nearly $12,700. The annual premium for single coverage averaged over $4,700.

Experts agree that our health care system is riddled with inefficiencies, excessive administrative expenses, inflated prices, poor management, and inappropriate care, waste and fraud. These problems significantly increase the cost of medical care and health insurance for employers and workers and affect the security of families.


National Health Care Spending

In 2008, health care spending in the United States reached $2.4 trillion, and was projected to reach $3.1 trillion in 2012. Health care spending is projected to reach $4.3 trillion by 2016.

Health care spending is 4.3 times the amount spent on national defense.

In 2008, the United States will spend 17 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) on health care. It is projected that the percentage will reach 20 percent by 2017.

Although nearly 46 million Americans are uninsured, the United States spends more on health care than other industrialized nations, and those countries provide health insurance to all their citizens

Health care spending accounted for 10.9 percent of the GDP in Switzerland, 10.7 percent in Germany, 9.7 percent in Canada and 9.5 percent in France, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.


Employer and Employee Health Insurance Costs

Premiums for employer-based health insurance rose by 5.0 percent in 2008. In 2007, small employers saw their premiums, on average, increase 5.5 percent. Firms with less than 24 workers, experienced an increase of 6.8 percent.

The annual premium that a health insurer charges an employer for a health plan covering a family of four averaged $12,700 in 2008. Workers contributed nearly $3,400, or 12 percent more than they did in 2007. The annual premiums for family coverage significantly eclipsed the gross earnings for a full-time, minimum-wage worker ($10,712).

Workers are now paying $1,600 more in premiums annually for family coverage than they did in 1999.

Since 1999, employment-based health insurance premiums have increased 120 percent, compared to cumulative inflation of 44 percent and cumulative wage growth of 29 percent during the same period.

Health insurance expenses are the fastest growing cost component for employers. Unless something changes dramatically, health insurance costs will overtake profits by the end of 2008.

According to the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health Research and Educational Trust, premiums for employer-sponsored health insurance in the United States have been rising four times faster on average than workers’ earnings since 1999.

The average employee contribution to company-provided health insurance has increased more than 120 percent since 2000. Average out-of-pocket costs for deductibles, co-payments for medications, and co-insurance for physician and hospital visits rose 115percent during the same period.

The percentage of Americans under age 65 whose family-level, out-of-pocket spending for health care, including health insurance, that exceeds $2,000 a year, rose from 37.3 percent in 1996 to 43.1 percent in 2003 – a 16 percent increase.


The Impact of Rising Health Care Costs

National surveys show that the primary reason people are uninsured is the high cost of health insurance coverage. Economists have found that rising health care costs correlate to drops in health insurance coverage.

A recent study by Harvard University researchers found that the average out-of-pocket medical debt for those who filed for bankruptcy was $12,000. The study noted that 68 percent of those who filed for bankruptcy had health insurance. In addition, the study found that 50 percent of all bankruptcy filings were partly the result of medical expenses. Every 30 seconds in the United States someone files for bankruptcy in the aftermath of a serious health problem.

A new survey shows that more than 25 percent said that housing problems resulted from medical debt, including the inability to make rent or mortgage payments and the development of bad credit ratings.

About 1.5 million families lose their homes to foreclosure every year due to unaffordable medical costs.

A survey of Iowa consumers found that in order to cope with rising health insurance costs, 86 percent said they had cut back on how much they could save, and 44 percent said that they have cut back on food and heating expenses.

Retiring elderly couples will need $250,000 in savings just to pay for the most basic medical coverage. Many experts believe that this figure is conservative and that $300,000 may be a more realistic number.

According to a recent report, the United States has $480 billion in excess spending each year in comparison to Western European nations that have universal health insurance coverage. The costs are mainly associated with excess administrative costs and poorer quality of care.

The United States spends six times more per capita on the administration of the health care system than its peer Western European nations.


Time for Action on Reining in Health Care Costs

Policymakers and government officials agree that health care costs must be controlled. But they disagree on the best ways to address rapidly escalating health spending and health insurance premiums. Some favor price controls and imposing strict budgets on health care spending. Others believe free market competition is the best way to solve the problems. Public health advocates believe that if all Americans adopted healthy lifestyles, health care costs would decrease as people required less medical care.

There appears to be no agreement on a single solution to health care’s high price tag. Many approaches may be used to control costs. What we do know is if the rate of escalation in health care spending and health insurance premiums continues at current trends, the cost of inaction will severely affect employer’s bottom lines and consumer’s pocketbooks.


Who is the NCHC? Well, click on the link and read it for yourself. In short, it is a bipartisan coaltion aimed at health care reform, founded in 1991. Honorary co-chairs are George Bush Sr and Jimmy Carter.

There's some info and there's more to be found. Turn off the noise and read it for yourself. Think, for yourself. I found this while web surfing info on the current attempt at health care reform. Please don't tell me that we are rushing into this. The info listed above should be enough to make any American sick, regardless of political affliation. This effort is nothing new. Harry S Truman had the very same idea. The reasons for opposing this shows true ignorance of the situation. Get the facts or shut the hell up. Some of us are willing to give in to irrational fear and paranoia instead of calm decorum if not a robust debate on the facts. Our media today is not liberal by any means. It is the trumpet of the corporations. It plays and the minions come out in force and dance along with the tune.

United States of America Inc. LLC
"Home of the Brave & the Land of the Free"*

*Void where prohibited/Some restrictions may apply

Happy 14th Birthday Adelle

Let me tell you about a day, 14 years ago to be exact. We went to the hospital, Yakima Memorial, so that Eve could be induced, since she was past due. She was in labor for most of the day, finally giving birth at 5:03 pm.

I have always said that if having kids were left up to man, we'd become extinct. When they finally told Eve it was okay to push, she put her chin to chest and bared down. Three good, hard pushes brought us to the brink. On the fourth, Adelle came into the world. She didn't utter a sound, but looked all around the room at the lot of us. So small, so sweet, my baby.

That night, near midnight I collapsed on the short couch in our room, legs hanging over the end. Eve was up and flitting about with baby. After all she had gone through; a day of labor, a brief scare when baby's blood pressure dropped, a nurse with the stubbiest, fattest fingers I've ever seen, the delivery and something called an episiotomy, which to this day makes me cringe and cross my legs at the very thought, she still had strength to be Mom. Let me tell you, that strength could lift the universe; A Mothers Love.

Here's to my girls, my life and my loves.

Thank you for what you do for me

Happy Birthday Adelle. I Love You.

MOVE OVER

MOVE OVER

Words and music by
John Kay and Gabriel Mekler

Things look bad from over here
Too much confusion and no solution
Everyone here knows your fear
You're out of touch and you try too much

Yesterday's glory won't help us today
You wanna retire?
Get out of the way

The country needs a father
Not an uncle or big brother
Someone to keep the peace at home
If we can't get together
Look out for stormy weather
Don't make me pay for your mistakes
I have to pay my own

Yesterday's glory won't help us today
You wanna retire?
Get out of the way

I ain't got much time
The young ones close behind
I can't wait in line

If we can not wake you
Then we'll have to shake you
Though some say you'll only understand a gun
Got to prove them wrong
Or you will lose the battle
Don't you know we'll start a war
Which will be won by none

Yesterday's glory won't help us today
You wanna retire?
Get out of the way

I ain't got much time
The young ones close behind
I can't wait in line


Move over

Come on, Move Over

I listened to this song on the bus this morning, written in 1970 when I was 4 years old and had no clue about our political process. I've heard it many times since and never really considered the words that closely, more into the melody instead. Considering current events, the struggle to save our economy and associated "way of life" I find it applies just as well today as I listened closer, paying attention to the meaning.

Either come up with solutions and join the discussion instead of disrupting it, or MOVE OVER so the rest of us can repair the damage done by the previous administration and it's complicit congress, who have tried to turn my country into a corporation.

"Don't make me pay for your mistakes I have to pay my own"

The Californian Odyssey:Off We Went!

The Story continues from the; Californian Odyssey

Off we went to California

Taking to the highway a rusty red Ford

The trip was as fun as a hiatal hernia

and funny things, like a baking floorboard

Earns it's living as a truck

& doubles as a car

In this piece of crap we were stuck,

Home was so very far

We made it down,

We made it back

We survived the disaster,

& the heat stroke

To live and laugh about it years later

Peace out,

Jeff

Finally, the time came to hit the road. I was ready & excited to go to California, especially to escape Deadrock (Yakima) for a while. We left on June 26th 1975 and returned for home on July 11th. Recently, my Mom gave me a manila envelope full of pictures, postcards and various pamphlets/brochures, programs, guides and ticket stubs from our journey to the center of the earth. Reading some of the post cards made me chuckle, recalling the times so long ago. My brothers Jeff and Tom were quite the comedians who made voices and spoke for our pets; Sid the cat and dogs Sunny and Duke (Da Doo). Ah, the simpler times. Little did we know just how complicated, if not aggravating the trip would be.

Really, there wasn't much that happened on the first leg, which was more a Journey of Discovery than road trip. We traveled to Kalamath Falls, OR on the first day before we parked the trailer for the night. I remember the park we stayed in was really nice and quiet. I'm not sure where the photo below was taken but it appears to be somewhere on the way in Oregon.

White Trash Rest Stop:
From L-R Brother Jeff, Me (#15) and Dad along the Highway with the RV that Cousin Eddie would be proud of!

One of the first things we discovered about our new Ford pickup was that exhaust fumes filled the canopy. So much for the plans of letting Jeff and I relax in the back as we drove. Those days, seat belts were not really used all that much. Rarely did I ever use one that I recall. Especially here when all four of us were crammed in the cab of the truck like redneck sardines, on a bench seat meant for three, the three seat belts stuffed underneath. Also, adding to the fine aroma was the fact that the gas cap leaked. Even with a new cap, it still would slosh around & spill out of the filler tube which was located on the side of the truck, right behind the drivers door.

Not only did we get those fumes in the cab, but in the canopy too. I remember the horrid smell in the back and flagging Dad down to let us out. So, even with the truck not running, we could smell gas. Good thing none of us smoked, but we did unknowingly become huffers. Perhaps that could explain some of my issues today???

8^D

I don't recall getting sick either. Traveling with Bill usually meant many a roadside stop so I could void my stomach in front of my family, in full view of the cars whizzing by. I know it endeared myself to my older brothers. This is about the time I grew out of that I think. Considering the trip, not only was I lucky not to be wretching along the highway, we were all lucky not to be scraped off of the pavement;

*We rode four abreast on a seat for three, no one wore seat belts.

*Right behind the seat, between the cab and bed, was over 25 gallons of very flammable liquid that leaked and filled the cab with noxious fumes.

*The canopy was basically a rolling gas chamber of exhaust

I got to know the gear shift very well on the way down as I basically straddled it while Dad shifted. As it warmed up, I got a direct blast from Dads armpits with each gear. Also, showing a sign of the times; I would hold his beer as he shifted. At least it was cold!

Somewhere along this part of the trip we discovered that the heating system worked very well. The floorboards would get sorta hot after a few miles. But only about as warm as the surface of the sun. It really became more of an issue as we got further south and crossed into the frying pan of Northern California, which in the dead of summer makes Hell look like the North Pole. We managed to fit all of our feet on the dashboard to escape the intense heat. Except for the driver of course!

Yes, this "new" Ford was just the ticket (or death trap) to get us to California and back!

Here's a couple of post cards home from our first part of the trip;

Is this really 34 years ago???

I am now about my Dads age when we took that trip!

After staying the night in Kalamath Falls, we got up early the next day to go see Crater Lake. Leaving the trailer behind we rode Rusty up the highway. On the way we found a surprise; the road into the lake was closed and the detour took us all the way around to the other side to get there. I distinctly remember a big sigh and groan of disgust from Dad as we sat at the closed turn off before following the signs. We did make it however, eventually.

Crater Lake is a really cool place to visit. It's perched on a blown out volcano; Mt Mazama. It blew it's top centuries ago leaving a perfect crater in the middle of it. It filled with water over time. Apparently the force of the explosion made St Helens look like a fire cracker. I remember seeing the thick band of ash (about 6 ft deep) along the Yakima Canyon walls from that event. We're talking a few hundred miles away and it still left all that ash.

Driving up to Crater Lake looks like driving up a mountain. Along the way there are signs showing the depth of the lake compared to where you are. From what I recall from the lake, it was stunning. It is extremely deep, going below the base of the mountain. Someday I hope to go back and see it. We packed our lunch, weren't allowed to buy anything to eat or drink, which later turned out to be a real good thing because once at our destination in San Luis Obispo, we found out something rather interesting about Crater Lake that is not found in any history, geology or other science book. I'll save that story for another dispatch of the Californian Odyssey.

We made it back to the trailer late that day with plans of leaving early early the next morning to get through the NorCal desert. Thank you Mom for all the great info, it brings back great memories.

We can laugh about them today!