Arkansas Blog

Since we've got all those distracting health care posts on the Argentine Firecracker thread, I'll move it over here:

Since when do the laws of supply and demand and the free market apply to health care? Yeah, sure, I want to go out and get the cheapest health care I can find.... Why is it that the media/political dialogue on this issue continues to ignore that basic fact? Life is a basic human right. Denying health care to anyone is a civil rights issue. The richest nation in the world is the most immoral nation in the world if we are going to continue to deny basic health care to our citizens. You can rant about "national socialism, free market, blah, blah, blah, all you want, but that's the fundamental issue. Are we willing as a nation to care for our own citizens?

"Join the Discussion on Health Care with President Obama Wednesday at 10pm/9c
How does Obama's plan for health care reform impact you?"
on eLwood.

On last nite's open line I posted how the Rwingnuts were howling about a TV special that had not been aired. You can read ABC PResident David Westin's reply to them here

http://blogs.abcnews.com/pressroom/2009/06/david-westin-responds-to-members-of-the-congressional-media-fairness-caucus.html

"Are we willing as a nation to care for our own citizens?"

Obviously NO!!! Were we willing, we would have taken to the streets (ref Iran) in 2000 when NumbNuts was "elected."

As for now, the overwhelming majority of Americans favor some version of "public option" and most are even willing to pay more taxes to accomplish it. The BIG problem is that REALLY fixing it requires thinking outside the box, which is a "poison pill" in DC. Will. Never. Happen.
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Re: Health Care: Senator Pryor's DC office is (202) 224-2353 and Senator Lincoln's is (202) 224-4843. Or you can get the general switchboard toll-free and ask for their office: 1-888-797-8717. CALL THEM! And your congressional rep - Snyder has heard from me, too.

And on the religion thing...

The largest survey of mainline Protestant clergy in seven years finds them strongly supportive of government action in health care and the environment, and in addressing social problems such as unemployment, poverty and poor housing. They are hesitant, however, to address controversial social issues.

"The Mainline Protestant Clergy Voices Survey" (CVS) was conducted by Public Religion Research (PRR), Washington, D.C.
CVS chart

{snip}

Mainline clergy strongly support government action in the areas of health care and the environment. More than two-thirds (67%) of clergy agree that government should guarantee health insurance for all citizens, even if it means raising taxes.

all hospitals which received any Hill-Burton grant money are required to treat everyone who walks in, for free if necessary. course this doesnt apply to, say, the AR Heart Hospital. Im sure private hospitals can turn away whoever they choose, but not if they got any guvment money to build it.

people who can't afford a primary care doctor at $75 a pop use the ER for everything, because they have no choice. So what would have cost someone with the money to spend $75 and someone with insurance a 20-35 copay ends up costing 350 or so, for an ER visit, add that together with medicare paying peanuts for just about everything and thats why hospitals squawk about being broke. But they can't turn sick people away. Unless the rules have changed since I knew what I was talking about, which is entirely possible.

And then, there's this healthcare story:

After the 89-year-old lady's annual physical exam was finished, the doctor said, "You are in fine shape for your age, Miss Irma, but tell me, do you still have intercourse?"

"Just a minute, I'll have to ask my husband," Miss Irma said. She stepped out into the crowded reception room and yelled out loud: "Floyd, do we still have intercourse?" There was an immediate hush in the room. You could have heard a pin drop.

Finally, Floyd answered, impatiently: "If I've told you once, Irma, I've told you a hunnered times that what we have is Blue Cross."

A friend found the Bill's Retro World link, which is at the blue clicky. If you have any doubt that you're getting really, really old, this should resolve it.

I particularly recommend that all husbands click on the Retro Life button, scroll down about 2/3's of the way, find "The good wife's guide," and read it aloud to your spouse at the dinner table.

>>all hospitals which received any Hill-Burton grant money are required to treat everyone who walks in, for free if necessary.<<

If you read a sign or two posted in For-Profit hospitals you quickly realize that "treat" takes on an entirely different meaning. The signs will say that the For-Profit hospital is required to "stabilize" anyone's condition regardless if they can pay. That could mean giving the sick person a pain pill instead of the emergency surgery that's needed.

One of the biggest rips going on in our health care system is mental health treatment. It's one of the larger RACKETs, close to keeping old, dying people alive for an extra week or two.
What can be simple behavioral problems are quickly diagnosed as "disorders" and subject to treatments. The treatment "plan" will last just as long as the insurance coverage will pay for psychological problem treatments, then suddenly, the patient is better and shows improvement.
That "treatment plan" must be flexible enough to cover insurance payments which can extend from 4 weeks to 16 weeks.

As a therapist I dated several years ago told me, the goal is to get them on meds as quickly as possible because most interactional therapy does not work.
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Seems the Guv has it bad, bad, bad. Middle age man finding bliss with a young woman. Remember how they determined if King David was dead or alive in his old age?

One of the biggest rackets in health care was the Federal Government giving extra money to hospitals that provided care to the uninsured. The states would have the hospitals put up the "matching funds" and the Federal Match was many times that amount. The state would then put the Federal Dollars into the general revenue and give the hospital back their "matching" money plus a little extra. At it's peak this was a $15 billion dollar/year scam by the states. I think the "loop holes" have mostly been closed but again the uninsured got screwed.

Great Guide Silverback. One TV show out of the entire listing remains, SNL. Will be 35 next year.

I think the governor copied that dog mess out of a Harlequin Romance is what I think.

eLwood of course you are right. And there is really nothing quite as important as checking for that Positive Wallet Sign. Positive findings of a medicaid or VA benefits card can result in a U-turn on the interstate by the ambulance to carry that patient to UAMSC or the VA. Im only about half being a smartazz. still, I don't ever recall hearing of anyone being turned away from our county hospital.

I transcribe some psych evaluations and have learned from those that it's hard to get some psych patients to stay on their medicines because they have such dismal side effects, like weight gain & grogginess, and sometimes patients say they feel better without them. if you're manic or hypomanic, evidently you feel like Superman, and thats more fun than feeling like I feel, Im sure. Tonight, no self-respecting cat would drag me in, thats for sure.

Now I have to go and correct myself with what I just read in Slate online: I hope this copies but if it doesnt there are, surprise, studies that show that ER care is and is not more expensive than a doctor's office.

There's no consensus among health economists about the relative costs of a trip to the emergency room and a regular visit to the doctor's office. But many researchers point to two competing studies of the issue, both published in 1996. One major paper, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that the cost of care in emergency departments ends up being pretty low and that there's no great economic incentive in diverting nonurgent cases to private physicians' offices. But another study, published in the journal Medical Care, found that E.R. outpatient visits in California cost on average three times as much as an outpatient visit in a nonemergency unit.

I'm about to go grill some lime-garlic-ginger chicken. But, before I go here's a little
puzzler for you. A game that magically guesses which number you selected.

It's magic until our resident genius, Jake-Snake, comes on and explains. Other geniuses step right up.

clicko.
don't forget the "Start" and "next" buttons then "again" buttons.

I feel dirty after reading that. It's personal communication between two consenting adults. I don't care that he's a hypocrite. That's been established. This is just piling on in the worst way. If anything it makes me feel compassion for a man that deserves little.

It's all about the republican hypocrisy to me.. I care not at all about the details, nor the gossip.

between the endless hypocrisy and the determination to make sure 50 million Americans have no health care... or go bankrupt trying to pay for it... they should never be taken seriously again.

They are evil hypocrites.

John Grisham. Age 54. Born at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas. It's been twenty years since the publication of his first book, "A Time to Kill." Another 21 books have been written by this former lawyer since then, most of 'em legal thrillers that have sold more than 245 million copies and translated into 29 languages. While much of his life has been spent outside of the state, Grisham still has strong ties to northeast Arkansas. His grandfather owned Skidmore Piano Store in Blytheville, and many of his relatives continue to live in northeast Arkansas. His parents, I think, reside in Mountain View. Grisham's journey from young lawyer to master of the legal thriller is a tale in itself. el clicko for a USA TODAY cover story published Monday.

As a lesbian, I've been highly amused by the Sanford scandal. Marky is obviously "in love'' but is chained to his wife and four sons because of his "Christian'' beliefs.

Oh, Mark, forbidden love! Your heart aches, doesn't it? The "right'' thing is to stick by your wife (who gave up a Wall Street career to give birth to your 4 - count 'em FOUR - sons.) I bet you'll follow your penis all the way back to Argentina.

Oh, we all know you'll be divorced soon. Sounds like your wife will grow a backbone and dump you. You'll be happy at first, but then the sex will wear off. In five years, you'll be yearning for that old ball & chain (Jenny), who overlooked that your feet smelled bad or that you always had food in your teeth.

Here's my question for the panel...Mark has committed adultery (which is a top-10 no-no in the Ten Commandments). Shouldn't Mark be stripped of all civil rights relating to marriage if he marries the mistress? Better yet, shouldn't Mark be stripped of all civil rights relating to marriage because he committed adultery?

The argument against gay marriage is based on "religion'' and what is written in the Bible.

Really, why is this different? I know adultery is much worse, according to the Bible.

I'm not being an ass in asking, I just want to know.

As usual, great point Sistertoldya.

You know there are over 600 Biblical laws proscribing every thing from how to trim your hair, diet, and what days to paint your house with blood and when a woman must marry her rapist. But the current crop of pseudo Christians politicians
use two minor Biblical so-called issues to frame their current "moral values" or "family values."

One is what you mentioned, homosexuality which didnt make it to the TOP TEN as in Ten Commandments. The other is abortion which the three ancient leaders of Christendom, Moses, Abraham and Jesus, never mentioned.

There are other sins so serious they call for the death penalty. One is touching or worst of all is ingesting swine. Another is working on the Sabbath. Now some big fundie is going to come on here and tell me those old Mosaic laws were repealed by the Law of Grace. Well, then so was the prohibition in the OT of homosexuality so what's the big deal?

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I don't know about you Sis but both of my Cousins are Argentine and they are pretty damn hot!

I heard on the radio today that in South Carolina adultery is still on the books as a crime. Sanford has confessed to committing adultery. Does anyone really think he'll be prosecuted?

Oh eLwood, this "mentalist" feat is SO old. I won't explain it and spoil it. But you can figure it out. Just play it again and again and again. If you play it 9 times, you'll get it, if not before.

BTW, when you mention "the OT of homosexuality" are you talking Operating Thetan?

Holy Xenu!

(Are there ANY Scientologists in Arkansas?)

You know what ticks me off about dick brain???His arrogance...this idiot really thought he could just leave S.C. and tell no one [he's not a private citizen..Hello] fly to Argentina and then just zip on back when he got ready and no one would be the wiser???

This man is a total dumb ass and needs to resign ASAP! Men!

...and he deserves to have all his e-mail made public...again arrogance and stupidity!!

The people of South Carolina should demand his resignation, not for screwing around but for his pathetic [can I stay stupid again?] and sanctimonious behavior.......trying to explain it all away.

Its just like Rhett said to Scarlett..".Your not a bit sorry for what you did...your just sorry you got caught".

>>Oh eLwood, this "mentalist" feat is SO old. I won't explain it and spoil it. But you can figure it out.<<

Oh sweetie, I did when I saw them a few years ago. They were more clever and entertaining back then.

Nanc, the guy cannot help running his mouth 50 min out of every hour. He is Gemini, like major.
Sun in Gemini, Merc in Gemin and Venus in Gemini so with Venus in the sign of duality doubtful he's ever been true-blue for very long, even though it may be something he would think about.

NormaB, if you're still watching, the man has major quincunxes in his solar chart. Very stressed individual...like all the time, rarely gets a break.
May 28, 1960 (no time-assume noon) Ft. Lauderdale, FL

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I don't know Nanc, I can't see how he thought of not getting caught. But I think what he was really thinking, is what ole' Billy Boy should of said, it's none of your darn business, and frankly Scarlett I just don't give a damn. But leaving in an irresponsible way, and neglecting his sworn duties like that was a sign he is going through a 50 plus crisis. And the rest of the matter his between him, his family, the other party, and his Lord. I consider it poor judgment, but it is not my cross to carry.

It's wonderful to see those who've sinned cast the moat from their own eye and beg understanding on TV and YouTube.

Ensign, Sanford, Perez Hilton -- what a week!

More schadenfreude at clicky!

Good thing they got those moats cast from their own eyes, but now I guess they'll have to surround their castles with beams.

I like what Mark Kleiman says:

"In a sane world Sanford's previous attempt to increase the misery of the poor people in South Carolina would be a much greater disability than his forgetfulness about his marriage vows."

Oh, Kleiman said something else of note:

"Ken Starr set a rotten example, and it would be too bad if his critics now became his imitators."

What? Did I spoil the fun?