Take a look at this article: The Case for Killing Granny
I sat in the front seat of my friend Jim’s car this week listening to his diatribe about the insurance industry. He is an Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon who has a practice of 40% medicare and medical patients. Livid over having to fight tooth and nail every day for care for his patients. He wants to retire and is not able to find anyone to assume the responsibility and care for his patients. I’ve rarely seen a man as angry. A man who has performed for humanity for the better part of a 30 odd year career. Desperate for a public option for HIMSELF! Where are the voices to rise up in this country. The voices of reason and humanity needed to be heard above the rabble of ignorance and greed. I wish I’d had a camera on him tonight. He was brilliant in the dim street lights. People are having these conversations everywhere seeking to find the road to affordable quality healthcare for all. We all get it don’t we? People are suffering and dying because they don’t have health insurance or as he put it, the way the insurance companies make a profit is by taking our premiums and refusing care. THEY didn’t take the Hippocratic oath. They are a business. Truthfully it would be wrong if they weren’t trying to make a profit for their shareholders and owners. But we can’t be held hostage by insurance companies. Make them compete with government who is working for the people. Am I blind or out of my mind completely? What is the freedom we are all fighting for? I’ve said this before. I’m lucky. I have good insurance and haven’t been refused care ever. Also I have the wherewithal to pay for care. I am able to pick up a phone and make an appointment any time I want. A very famous writer friend of mine is in disbelief that I still believe in doctors and medicine. It’s science for God’s sake. Tested as far as possible to the day. I know Doctor’s PRACTICE medicine, but they watch the statistics of millions of trials and use what works the best historically. Do you want to create the wheel again??? Go ahead and try, but until than I’ll drive my car and bicycle. To hear the continuous stream of stories of our neighbors being denied care or going bankrupt because of medical bills. What is that? Bad luck. Should have been smarter in school. Tried harder. Saved More. Where does the hysterical fear of me wanting what you have come from? I won’t know until I give it all away, but I’d like to sit in a room with Max Baucus or any of the Democratic and Republicans that are opposed to an equitable resolution to reform. Want to wait another 15 years? That’s about how long since Bill Clinton tried to move forward. Not good for me. I’ll very likely be dead like those before me, unable to enjoy the knowledge that our fellow countrymen will not have to fear sleepless night’s worrying about whether or not they can get treatment for themselves and their families for what hurts. As simple as that. Now in 2009.
Are you surprised that everybody is discussing healthcare reform? I know tonight over dinner the conversation will turn that way again with the two physicians we’ll eat with. Even at the expense of rewinding my same mantra in front of my girlfriend for the umpteenth time in the last 4 weeks. The conversation must be had and it can’t be stated strongly enough. The time for change is now. “Respect must be paid” Especially to the elderly who are walking around in fear that their coverage will disappear or not be afforded or worse yet that they will be euthanized.
My older friend Peggy who is in her mid 80’s, who I met thru Valerie, is scared to death that there will be no benefits left for her. Watching the fear on FOX every night. Petrified in her 90 pound skeleton shell. A life well lived believing that she will be abandoned in a country far greater than her native England. I hear the Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity talking points stumbling out of her mouth with fear and force. Did not the President refute these claims this week. There are no “Death Panels”, Medicare services will not be reduced much less taken away.
I was sitting at a “family style” table at a local favorite lunch place. “Le Pain Quotodien” (bread of the day) a bit pretentious probably but Catherine my girlfriend lives over the original in Brussels and its really simple food, salads, pastries etc. An older couple sat across from us and I heard them energetically discussing potential reforms to the healthcare system. They were in thier late 70’s early 80’s and I don’t believe they were married. In fact it sounded more like a date conversation with both their points of views be laid on the table. As I reached over to get the sugar laden jams to sweeten my brunch I told them that I had overheard some of their discussion and that I was glad they were discussing the subject as it’s obvious the results of action by Congress will affect us all and I believed their generation was in a position to lead because they’ve seemingly been dismissed as active players in it all. We have to remember that it was under their forethought decades ago that we got Social Security and Medicare. I can’t help seeing older people without being reminded of my Mother and the trust I had in her decision-making. Well they sparked to the conversation and wanted to make their thoughts known on a variety of issues. In fact I need to realize that I can’t open that door without being prepared to listen and listen. Folks are concerned and it is an issue that I sense people feel more connected to than the economy, which seems like big magic and war, which seems like bad magic. In fact these two trusted the President and were not as sure about the Congress. They felt the country had given a mandate for change in the election and wanted it followed.
I’m off to see a buddy who had back surgery this week. He’s miserable. We have to take care of each other. That’s what it’s all about.
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