Health Care & Insurance Debate

There is a huge debate going on back home about health care and how the whole system is running. Here are my simple points I would like to make.

1. The US system IS NOT the best in the world. It is not the best in mortality rates, life spans, and access to doctors. Nay sayers are trying to SCARE you into thinking that you won't get good health care. That is blatantly false.

2. Lots of people are uninsured. Not just the lower class. So when these people get sick, it costs ALL of us.

3. I would much much much rather have a government employee who has nothing to gain from denying me care approving what my doctors do then some insurance company employee who will get a bonus if I don't get my procedure. FOR PROFIT health care simply doesn't work.

4. Health care costs are increasing. It's a reality. We pay 3 times as much for the EXACT same treatments then other people under a national health care plan.

5. A nationalized system would keep costs under check. Competition is key.

6. People get denied health care ALL the time now. Once again, nay-sayers are trying to SCARE you that you won't get a procedure you need under nationalized health care. The reality is, you will denied NOW under the CURRENT system if the insurance company stands to make a buck.

7. There are simply too many loopholes now for insurance companies to deny you coverage. Pre-existing condition anyone? Everyone has one. Ever been to the doctor? They may count it as a possible pre-existing condition. Even if you are granted coverage, if they find out ONE doctor visit you forgot about when filling out the paperwork, they could deny you coverage and claim you lied about preexisting conditions. Does that seem like a system that is working well?

8. If you want to check out some nationalized health care systems of the world, try looking outside Canada and the UK. The Swiss have a great system and so does Taiwan. Don't let another language stop you from informing yourself.

9. Did you realize people are AFRAID of traveling to the US because our health care system is so bad? Silly yes, but the stigma is there. You don't get bad stigma's from having a perfect system.

The whole point is, the system needs to change. And why not now? Don't be scared to work towards the future!

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Did you know that in Switzerland . . .

Did you know that in Switzerland . . . assisted suicide is legal? The swiss has some crazy laws and fines, but they have it right on this one. Don't invade in other's people lives. If they want to end their life, let them. It is nobodies business but the individual.

Here's the NYTimes article about a couple who had to flee to Zurich to end their life together. Rob sent it to me and of course it made me cry. I am not exactly sure why it made me sob like a baby. Maybe it was because it was sweet and sad at the same time? I'm not sure I fully agree with their decisions but I respect that it was their decision to make. There are a lot of complicated issues that come with assisted suicide laws including whether somebody is mentally stable enough to make the decision or not, or does somebody have to be deemed terminally ill to have the right? It may be extremely complicated, but the system the US/UK have in place now (with exception of one state) burdens the life of so many who have a wish to end their existence. Something needs to change. It's an extremely hard topic of conversation but the conversation is but necessary.

One of the commenters on the article said this which I fully agree with, "It's the same people who would shout that the unborn have a right to live that shout that the living have no right to die."

This was kind of a downer post, huh?

More Information & Research . . .

Here's another article from Times Magazine . . .

Another quote on the opposition side - Gordon Brown UK Prime Minister, " I believe that it’s necessary to ensure that there is a never a case in the country where a sick or elderly person feels under pressure to agree to an assisted death or somehow feels it’s the expected thing to do. That’s why I’ve always opposed legislation for assisted deaths.”

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Yay For American "Nones"

A new religious survey of the US came out today. Finally, the numbers with no religious affiliation is rising! Check out these articles. Richard Dawkins has said, atheists are like cats. They all have a mind of their own and are impossible to heard. But if angered, they can make a lot of screeching noise.

USA Today Article

US News

Washington Post

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Today's News & Politics

News Story #1: UBS refusing to hand over names of people from America with bank accounts in Switzerland.

Thoughts:

How much money is in secret off shore accounts here? Millions? Billions? Gazillions? Maybe they can compromise and just hand over names of people with accounts (or sum of accounts) totalling over a certain amount.

If I was a rich person with off shore accounts, I would be ashamed of myself. People are suffering because of the financial crisis. If you are rich and hiding money, you are contributing to their suffering. They probably already live crazy luxury lives, why shouldn't they pay for their fair share of taxes?

Switzerland is in serious risk of being blackballed in the global financial system. Tax evasion can't be tolerated. The swiss "rules" need justification. The laws shouldn't continue to be the way they are just because they are laws. Rules and laws should have good reasons. But, there are always two sides to the coin. Right now, switzerland, by helping extremely rich people, is hurting those who are suffering and could benefit from the money instead of it sitting in a bank account.

Gordon Brown, thanks for standing up and saying what needs to be said. Sen. Levin, thanks for standing up to UBS.


Links To Learn More:

WRS Story

Bloomberg Article

UK Gaurdian Story

Washington Post




News Story #2: CA High court listens to opening arguments in the Prop 8 debate.

Thoughts:

Finally, a court case and a court trial. We all knew it was going to come down to this. Thousands of people across CA held a candlelight vigil last night to rally in hopes to spread awareness and attention that the trial is beginning today. Rob and I plan to listen to the webcast tonight. I think this issue is a simple one.

Protect minority rights and do not let religious values dictate laws for everyone.

If either of these two ideas are broken, we will have inched closer to majority and religious rule. Do I need to explain further? Maybe. But I think founding fathers of this country can do it much more eloquently.

Here is what Thomas Jefferson had to say about majority rule:

"Bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate would be oppression." --Thomas Jefferson: 1st Inaugural, 1801. ME 3:318

Here is another simple thought. America is a republic and we elect leaders to study the issues and create laws. The mass of people in America do not have the time or the intelligence necessary to create laws. One person can be smart, a crowd of people is always dumb. Therefore, I don't want uneducated people voting on my basic human rights.

I could go on and on about how much I really want religion to stay out of government. The answer always boils down to this one thing. People are scared to die. Instead of facing this fear, they fill their head with a religious story (fairytale) that tells you "your never going to die in mind and spirit". With this fairytale, in order for you to prevent death and suffering, you have to follow these religious "guidelines" and impose them on others. NOT COOL. Recognize that your religion should have nothing to do with others. Keep it out of other's lives. Forget about me, save yourself and we'll both be happy.

Sorry, need to stop ranting.

I would love to hear your comments on this one. I am always up for a good debate.

A Funny Post CA Election Sign

Get it? Let's not do either.

Links to Learn More:

LA Times - Candlelight Vigil's

Mercury News - Calif. Legislature supports gay marriage challenge

USA Today

And for fun - an intresting Dilbert Blog thread. Some people get it, some people don't.

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Another Interesting Prop 8 Cartoon

I can't really let the Prop 8 issue go back into the shadows till the next election round. I am constantly reading articles about it and am still very passionate about the subject. Anyways. I found an interesting cartoon you might all enjoy . . .



In other news - I finally got off my lazy butt and got a gym membership today. It is right across the street and really conveniant. I also restarted using sparkpeople to track goals, calories, and excercise. It has helped me in the past and hopefully since I have all the time in the world now to dedicate to my health and well being, hopefully it will work even better.

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Perfect Holiday Gift

Last year - Rob and I were given the "gift of giving" from Rob's grandmom. We chose a great organization called Kiva. It is a great gift to give this holiday season! You can even get gift certificates to send! 

Kiva describes themselves this way: "Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website, empowering individuals to lend directly to an entrepreneur in the developing world. By combining microfinance with the internet, Kiva is creating a global community of people connected through lending."

People who want to start businesses in developing countries often find extremely high interest rates from large banks being their only option to build capital. Kiva provides what is called microfinancing. Lenders (you and I) give our money directly to the person via the website. 

Kiva is great because ,you get to choose who you invest in, read their plans for the money, and they repay their loans. Once they repay their loans - you can invest in somebody else! 

In one year - Rob and I have made 58 loans. 12 have been paid back completely. Check our lender page! It has been super rewarding and I love to check in on how they are doing. Field partners visit quite a few people and give updates on how the businesses are doing. 

Here are some links to some of our favorite enterpreneurs we have helped fund - 

Nguyen Thi Chen - Vietnam - Soft Drinks (Rob has a love for carbonated sodas)

Nheb Tra - Cambodia - Selling Jasmine Flowers (I wish I could smell them!)

Sath Sim - Cambodia - Construction  (I always try to fund construction businesses!)

Mohammad Nasar Hayaider - Afghanistan - Food (Check out the cookies  in his picture!)

Hopefully - some of these businesses have inspired you to loan youselves! 

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Worst Best Man Ever Video

Erin sent Rob and I this little youtube video. We watched it about 10 times to see if we thought it was staged/fake. I am not convinced either way. Take a look for yourself.

Wouldn't this be mortifying? Rob suggested that the groom should have jumped in too - to make things fair. Maybe this is a good reason not to get married right by the water?  Thank you Rich for not throwing me in a lake, catching me on fire, or inflicting other traumatic pain.

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Random Internet Findings

Have you ever seen in the US those really cheap frozen pizzas in the freezer section that are 99 cents or so? Totino's is the main brand and it comes in a bright yellow box. Growing up I used to heat these up in the toaster oven and have a serious snack. Now I realize how much processing and preservatives goes into them. Oh well. Live and learn. I wish I did know about this - rolling them up! Mmmm. I have a soft spot for those little cheap pizzas too.

Live in San Francisco? This article made me wish I was there. I am normally opposed to food off a truck. For good reason too. The lunch trucks that show up at jobsites smell like 3 day old fried chicken. I also feel like I need to speak Spanish to get my order just right. Too much of a chance to catch Hep B or Gastroenteritis. The lunch truck described in SF though - looks very much the opposite. 

Govenor Blagojevick got caught trying to sell a senate seat. How disgusting.  It does make you wonder, how many other politicians are doing dirty things. All of them? Where are their ethics? Where are those very American ideals of fairness and equality? He sunk to a serious low. I think we are lucky he was caught in time. 

We are having a UCI Christmas Dinner tommorow night. I am making dessert. Check out the recipe I am using. I think I am going to add some banana rum sugar topping to it. Rob discovered that our "microwave" oven is also a regular convection oven as well. We couldn't tell right off the bat since everything is in french. 

Happy Human Rights Day! UDHR (United Declaration of Human Rights) was passed 60 years ago today. There are a ton of articles out there that are showing the roadblocks in the way. Here is an interesting one about Islamic culture and the direct conflict with human rights. 

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