The Days of Awe, Reflections of a Mad Woman...I think

What are the days of awe? well, for some people, that may mean something else. For me, being Jewish, it means a period of introspection, reflection, forgiveness and much, much more.

In the Jewish faith, there are 40 Days of Awe that culminate in the most holy of our holidays, the last 10 Days of Awe, Rosh Hashonah (the Jewish New Year) up to and including Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement where Jews fast, and usually spend time in synagogue, praying for forgiveness for sins, bad deeds, remembering those who died, and reflecting on their lives and how they will live a better life going forward. It is written that between Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur, G-d keeps "books" on everyone and by the end of Yom Kippur, HE decides what one's fate will be for the next year. That is why you hear people say to one another..."may you be inscribed in the Book of Life".

Why do I not write out the name of G-d? I was always told that the name of G-d is not to be spoken or written. That is true in the writings of the Torah (book of prayers). In English, their is no real translation for this other then the word G-d. Some Jews say in English, you can write out HIS name. Frankly, I am sticking with the old way since I take no chances, especially at this time of year!

I am not an overly religious Jew though I love and respect my religion and the culture: strong family ties and relationships, charity, forgiveness. In my own way, I observe my Judiasm. It probably does not coincide with what the Man Above had in mind, but it serves me and my immediate family.

That said, I always become more emotional and reflective at this time. And now, that is even more so. I am very blessed. G-d has been good to me and my family. I truly believe HE is watching over us.

I am a passionate person. When I believe in something, I fight for it. I have also been told I am funny, not funny enough to perform comedy but enough to provide myself and my family and friends with comic relief when needed. I am also very sarcastic but if you have been reading this blog, you must have gotten that by now.

So I have taken a little break from the realities of life : no health care reform stuff as Repubs and Dems are duking it out with over 600 ammendments, stall tactics, etc.

Glen Beck and Rush Limbo (intended) are in their own world primed with instigation, hate mongering and more (IMHO). Sick of them.

Still looking for job....along with millions of others but am hanging in there.

Having fun with my grandkids and that is a good thing.

Am thrilled to have distractions like Project Runway (please bring back Michael Kors and Nina Garcia), Top Chef, Biggest Loser, Ellen, Dr. Oz, Oprah, and more.

I have become intolerant of right wing-nuts who promote hatred and lies.

But I am not worrying about the future. Though I will pray on Monday for forgiveness, and for my family, I have become more of a fatalist: what will be, will be. I have lived a good life so far. G-d has been good to me. I believe that what will be is HIS will. I trust in HIM.

I am very fortunate to have wonderful grandkids. 2 of the 6 whom are pictured here. The ever drooling Lexi at 5 months, and the spectacular Chloe whom I spent 2 hours with at grandparents day at her pre-school where she exhibits her "tude" . Could life be any better?

So, Happy New Year...May you all be inscribed in the Book of Life.

More to come............

Updates to this morning HCR Call, and blog below

Just when I was feeling so discouraged after our morning conference call (see blog below) change has already started to take place. Not because of our call this morning, though I hope that will have an impact but because of comments the public has been making to Congress.


I just found out from the team on the call this morning two things:
An ammendment has been addes that would improve beneficiary access to primary and preventive care by adding a modified version of the Medicare Fracture Prevention and Osteoporosis Testing Act (S.769). This policy would improve beneficiary access to bone density tests. This policy was submitted by Senator Lincoln as amendment D2.

And more ammendments are coming in to change the bill that addressed our concerns. Here are links to original Baucus Plan and updated plan for your viewing pleasure:
the original Chairman’s mark released last week in case you still need it: http://finance.senate.gov/sitepages/leg/LEG%202009/091609%20Americas_Healthy_Future_Act.pdf

Here are the modifications to the Chairman’s mark – proposed by Baucus – that the Committee will consider: http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2009press/prb092209a.pdf



This is why it is so important to contact Congress.

To see more from people who are talking, go here

Conference Call with Senator Reid Team; Health Care Reform

Ronni Bennett of TimeGoesBy blog organized a bloggers outreach on Health Care Reform that motivated me to blog, ad nauseum to some, about my thoughts on this very important matter. As a result of that, Ronni  spoke with Senator Reid's team yesterday and then today 4 other bloggers, myself included, we invited to speak this morning with a team from Senator Reid's office, health policy people and staff, related to Senator Baucas plan. Ronni will be blogging on more specifics on the Medicare aspects of reform; the actual process involved in getting this bill through, and more tomorrow at http://www.timegoesby.net/. My post is my view point on the general topic of getting health care reform bill passed. Some facts, a lot of opinion, and pure emotion.

I spent most of last night and this morning reading Senator Baucas plan that the team graciously supplied to all of us on the call. I am now officially brain dead. This bill is, in my opinion, awful. There is NO public option plan. It is a lesson in how politicians keep their jobs and give buraucracy a lousy name.

What I learned from the call that is positive:

Medicare will cover prevention testing free to subscribers

Medicare will cover free annual check ups(instead of just ONE when you sign up)

If you are in the donut hole on Medicare, you will get a 50% reduction discount on brand name drugs but get credit of 100% toward coming out of the donut hole

There will be a .5% increase in reimbursement to doctors and NOT the 21% reduction. This will keep doctors on the roll of providing medical care for seniors.

What is negative:

no public option plan

574 ammendments submitted as of yesterday

still no coverage of bone density scans as prevention for osteoporosis which has increased health care costs related to this disease to a whopping $19 billion!

No agreement between Repubs and Dems on bills and ammendments

What is hopeful:

House bill does have public option plan

HELP has public option plan (HELP is the anacronym for the Senate's Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Finance)

The call: the staff were very nice, helpful and listened to our concerns and explained the process.  For me, someone who has been in health care in one way or another for more years than I care to count, I do not understand why Congress continues to make something so simple, so difficult.

My question: Medicare is in place. It is not perfect but provides good health care coverage for over 40 million seniors. You do pay a premium for Medicare that is managable to most. If you cannot afford it, and are eligible for Medicaid, Medicaid will pay for Medicare. This is called dual eligibility.

Medicare has an infrastucture in place. True it has some bureacracy but what health insurer doesn't? So, very simply, why  not make Medicare the PUBLIC OPTION plan for the uninsured? tada! Simple. Easy, Fast.

Frustrating...some of congressional staff/members actually suggested this but its not going anywhere. Don't ask me why.

The good: Congress is getting calls, emails, phone calls on Health care reform. So if you have a view point, make it known. Or suffer the consequences of non action.

I know the President's bill and others make certain conditions a necessity in changing the managed care insurers but they forgot to eliminate the term MCO love: Medical necessity which is used to deny coverage for "anything" the plan deems too expensive.

I loved the staff today who were very helpful and honest. More than that, they were willing to listen. Tell everyone you know to call, email, blog about health care reform. Congress is listening. And that is the best news I can offer.

Frankly, I am drained from frustration related to what I perceive as the mind boggling reticence on the part of Congress to make a simple, easy to use health care system possible. Health care coverage is a liberty. I thought liberty for all was part of our US Consitution. Remember when Patrick Henry  said: "give me liberty or give me death"? It is evident today that he was also including health care coverage.....pun intended.

More to come.....

Add Your Name; the Myth of 60

The Senate only needs 50 senators and Vice-President Biden to pass -- by majority vote -- healthcare reform including a public option in a budget bill this year. there are  50 senators on record ready to vote for real reform.


The budget process can start as soon as October 15. Need to hit the critical mass of at least 250,000 signers by then to make sure our call to action has an impact on every member of Congress nationwide.  If we work together, I think we can double it and gather 50,000 signatures by Monday.


As the President said in his speech to Congress last week, this is the season for action. The majority of Americans want the choice of a public option and majority votes in Congress will pass it. Join me in calling on Congress to get the job done this year.



ADD YOUR NAME RIGHT NOW http://americacantwait.com/dfaemail2



The myth of 60 is pushed by those who want to kill reform.



But the foundation of American democracy is based on majority votes and the United States Congress is no exception. While Senate rules allow a procedural tactic known as the filibuster to block most bills without the support of 60 senators, there are exceptions -- because Senate rules also ban the use of a filibuster to block budget reconciliation bills. That means, if the Senate can't pass healthcare reform including the choice of a public option with 60 votes, they can still pass it in the budget bill this year by majority vote.



The question is do they have the political will to fight back against right-wing fear mongering and misinformation to deliver real reform?



It's up to us to demand action. Let's work hard to get 50,000 signers by Monday.



ADD YOUR NAME -- THEN PASS IT ON
http://americacantwait.com/dfaemail2

I added my name. Will you add yours?

Referral to another blog, read it, facts

Please see http://www.timegoesby.net/weblog/2009/09/reflections-health-care.html

A factual and personal view of health reform. Not by me. I am drained. It is written by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Saul Friedman . Here is a brief point from the blog:

One of the several health care proposals before the Congress comes closest to Medicare for All. It was approved by the Democratic majority on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee (HELP) without a single Republican vote. It was Senator Edward Kennedy’s bill.




Why didn’t Barack Obama put his actions where his fine words were and tell the Democratic Congress to pass the Kennedy bill?

Ellen DeGeneres, New Judge on American Idol

Yes, no healthcare reform post today. It is what it is. The President did his best, and so did I. The fact that the GOP sat like blubs and looked like spoiled children with several screaming liar to the President, says more for who they are and what they represent, then anything else I could say or do. So I am moving on....to good news: Ellen is the new 4th Judge on American idol.

It doesn't hurt that she is best buds with Ryan Seacrest, or that Simon loves her, more then that, we all love her. She says she represents the average potential buyer of music. I believe her. And she is not a teeny bopper. She will certainly revitalize the show which is badly needed. Shame the President didn't pick her as the health reform czar...that would have really ticked off the conservative right...hahahaha.

Thank goodness for Drop Dead Diva, Top Chef, and Project Runway...even Joan Rivers' show: How'd they get so rich, relief from the political pundits, news outlets and fox, no they're not a news network, at least in my mind.

More to come........................

HCR act now; repubs sit on their brains...cause that's where they are

President Obama was brilliant. Called out the liars; spelled out the plan. Everything remains as is if that's the way you want it. NO DEATH SQUADS; will force no more pre-exising conditions; no more use of medially unncessary; insurers must pay for members health care.

Public option available to those who have NO OTHER OPTION FOR HEALTH CARE COVERAGE. YEAH. It will be non-profit

Will cut waste and fraud. Mediare and Medicaid remain: with better options.

Repubs sat like little children. Some did join in but most sat on that part of the anatomy not usually thought of to house brains, but in their case, it was where their brains are. I hope someone knows the names of the repub hecklers. I hope they all are replaced in Congress.

Time for change is NOW.  Make your voice heard.

Time is Now; WSJ reports Prez endorse Public Option Plan

Twitter alive and well with healthcare reform updates BUT conservative right wing-nuts are more prevalent; news reports they raised $20mm to destroy what they call: ObamaCare. They almost destroyed free speech by the President yesterday and actually blocked some schools from listening to a president who wanted to show and talk about the importance of school, commitment and responsibility. Is this who you want speaking for you? And, they are out to kill healthcare reform with such a vengence, it blows me away.

Contact the white house today and let the President know you want a public option health plan. this plan is NOT mandatory if you want to continue with the health plan you have. It is a CHOICE. 202-456-1414. FAX: 202-456-2461 are the White House numbers. I hope they are jammed with people letting the President know we support health care reform

Done.

A Matter of Life or Death: Are you ready to choose?

I said I was taking a break from the political and media pundits giving voice to the minority who want to control the USA and destroy the Presidency. Those who know me, know that is difficult for me to step back. So, motivated by a true story that is recent, I had to post this:

A young woman, mother, wife, in her late 30's, suffered a cardiac event: ventricular fibrillation (this is not conducive with life). Rushed to the Emergency Room, the doctors there initiated immediate cardiac surgery to correct the problem. They were successful. She did very well after the surgery and has returned to living a fairly normal productive life.

2 Weeks after her surgery, she received the hospital and physician bill totaling almost 100,000 dollars because HER MANAGED CARE HEALTH INSURER DENIED THE CLAIM as UNECESSARY MEDICAL EXPENDITURE. She is fighting it. I hope she wins. And if I knew the name of the insurer, I would name them here. But I don't want to affect her case.

In the NEW health reform public option plan, there would be no such incident or denial. And I believe, once a public option is in, managed care insurers will have to compete and denials as ridiculous as this one, will go away.

So it's a matter of life or death. Which do you choose? If you are currently insured with one of the managed care health insurers, this story could be about you.

Make a difference. Make your voice heard. CALL your congressional representatives, senators, and tell them you support the public option health plan. Here is the phone number, just ask for your representative: Congressional Switchboard: (202) 224-3121

Taking a break from hate mongers: conserv right wing-nuts and fox news(Lies)

Is there anyone else out there who sees that the Repbs, conservatives, bimbo limbaugh, fox news are having a field day organizing lies and media coverage not to be believed. In my lifetime, I can't believe at this stage of our country, we promote hatred and lies and make a President wanting to encourage school kids to stay in school be on the verge of a criminal act. Bush spoke to kids in school: where were this idiots then?

These are the people, in my opinion, who fought against civil rights, and who are really exceptional at taking people's fears and appealing to them. What's worse? The media coverage of this crap.  Here is an example of distortion :http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2009/09/01/kevin-mccullough-obama-implode/; beyond the article are the comments from people who obviously never went to school.

Am retreating to relishing Project Runway, Top Chef, and more. Where are the sane people? No complaints on how these hate mongers are trying to take over our country? that is the part that saddens me most. The voice of reason is no where to be found.

Obama inherited this mess. He is doing his best to clean it up. We should all be praying he succeeds because we will succeed if he does.

Whatever, no one listens but if YOUR job was taken, if YOUR health care was denied, if your child wanted to hear a president speak and was denied it, what would you do?

Support those in Congress supporting a public option health plan, sign up now

Sign your support of the health heroes who are backing a public option health plan.....do it now

From Democracy for America:
This week, we kicked off September reminding Congress that passing the choice of a public health insurance option is about people -- not politics.



Organized by our partners at MoveOn, DFA members joined in holding over 350 "Can't Afford To Wait" vigils nationwide. Local papers covered many of the events whether there were 15 people attending or several hundred. And members of Congress were reminded that real people have real stories and are depending on them to pass real reform.


Over 60,000 Americans have signed on to thank the House Healthcare Heroes for committing to not vote for a bill if it doesn't include a public option. We will deliver all the signatures next week. Can you help us get to 75,000 signatures by Tuesday night?


SIGN UP NOW TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE 64 Democrats who have stood up to draw a line in the sand (AND SUPPORT THE PUBLIC OPTION PLAN) need to know we have their backs. They need to know that no matter what happens we're depending on them to not back down. Here is the link:http://www.democracyforamerica.com/activities/181

Health Care Reform UPDATE

Read this post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-creamer/why-health-insurance-refo_b_276202.html

Finally a rationale analysis of why a public plan and health reform must pass.

Health Care: Speak Out. Now is the hour

My friend, Ronni Bennett of TimeGoesBy.net, has been doing a great job blogging on health care reform and the importance of the public option plan.  President Obama is speaking to Congress on September 9th. Have you spoken to the President lately: go to http://www.healthreform.gov/ and make your voice heard.

Lots of lies out there. Ronni talks of a site to help you sort fact from fiction. I am putting information here:

http://www.ncpssm.org/truth_squad/

It's the Truth Squad. Please check it out. Please contact your Congressional Representative. Karl Rowe is now speaking out on health reform: is this the man YOU want deciding what health care coverage you or your family has? Not me!

My Motivation for Life, health care for all

Meet my grandchildren....the stars of my life who inspire me with their unconditional love, complete trust in those they love, and absolute innocence.

First is Chloe, the first grandchild who at 2 1/2 yrs has attitude, personality, loves to dance and has dance moves Dancing with the Stars would die for. A zest for life, loves her little baby sister though hates to share toys with her and is a little too enthusiatic about pushing the swing and tickling her. Some pictures are with her little sister Lexi.

Now meet Lexi, almost 5 months. A very smilely baby, excited by her parents and sister, and bubbie of course:

Now meet Cassidy, 15 months, who appears with her cousins and by herself...a much more laid back young lady who when push comes to shove, makes her views known.

Chloe is constantly moving and often it is hard to capture her incredible smile and attitude in pictures. But all of them are the joy of my life.....they deserve the best and that includes affordable health care.