Motivation; Standing up for what you believe in

On the news this morning, nationally, media outlets are reporting its official: the recession is over. Unfortunately, the jobless are and will continue to be the last to feel this impact. So what to do?

In between looking for jobs, I recommend using this time to get involved. There are lessons to be learned from Palin and the Tea Party advocates. They are vocal and organized in their efforts to keep the conservative premises alive and take down those who have worked hard to make needed change in this country like health care reform. Love it or hate it, it is needed. We should all have what the US Congress has for healthcare coverage. The question is: do you want what the Tea Party and GOP are advocating? Keep things the same; be obstructionist to progress; vote out those members of Congress who actually worked to make change?

We should learn from them to make an effort, as hard as it is emotionally, to keep those hard working representatives and Senators in Congress. Do you want what the GOP wants? Do you want to be part of a silent majority that lets the few over rule what is best for the majority and who uses fear tactics and lies to make it happen?

I think of Senator Reid who is a target of the Tea Party who did nothing wrong but work hard to compromise and bring change to the country. Health care is a liberty that each US citizen deserves. If you are looking to change places and people who do not do their jobs, I have some recommendations for you:

Veterans Administration: If you have ever dealt with them, this is the epitomy of turtle mentality....the slower the better; getting nothing accomplished in a timely manner; slough off to another employee who is overworked or just plain taking salaries for doing nothing. But this is a blog for a later time. That said, those of you who have ever dealt with the VA, know it needs change. Make it happen. Organize, Tweet, call and write everyone and anyone to make change. Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper; tell your stories of the inadequate follow through in this Federal Agency created to help Veterans and spouses.

Stop the Tea Party: get the facts and tell the facts to all those around you. Stamp out lies. Don't let a vocal majority ruin the democracy of this nation.

Congress: research your representatives and senators. Let them know your thoughts. If you really believe they have not done a good job, research the opponent and make the right choice for your vote.

For me, I would like to add the Maryland State Legislature and nominate them for the "doing the least for their salaries" ever in the history of this State or any state in the US.

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

Health Care Reform and Health Care for Seniors

This past year, I was fortunate to be one of 5 bloggers who got to communicate with Senator Reid's office staff on Healthcare Reform and health care coverage for seniors. Today I received the following videos which I hope helps all of us to understand more about the changes ahead.

Now that health care reform has passed, we just finalized a video that explains what the health care bill does for seniors:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJJrBbZJ5vA

For any information you might need on the bill and it's provisions that affect seniors, please go here:

Section by Section Analysis of the HCR: http://dpc.senate.gov/healthreformbill/healthbill63.pdf

There is more coming on the Donut Hole for Seniors.

I heard today from the Huffington Post that the Republicans are using an old tactic in the Senate: leaving at 2 PM daily as their means of obstructing progress. Are they kidding? they did not have to leave at 2 to obstruct progress; they did that daily!

I hope everyone is aware of who voted no and why they did it. Most of these people need to leave the Senate permanently not just at 2 PM.  To read a brilliant blog on this and more,  please go to see "Listen to Me!"


http://www.birdsonawireblog.com

More to come

CSPAN, Healthcare Reform Historical Vote, Twitter

I watched CSPAN well into the wee hours and tweeted on the progress of the HCR bill along with thousands of others. The experience of connecting with others and watching history being made was incredible and exciting.

CSPAN lets the vote and discussion unfold in front of your eyes with no pundits or media dissertations. You see first hand the workings of our Constitution. You also see some incredible stupidity, childish behavior, and scare tactics, lies, and in my opinion, hatred and one sided views of an entire party: the Republicans who want people to live their individual lives according to THEIR will. It was unbelievable to watch. It spoke volumes about who we have in Congress and who needs to go.

Twitter was actually fun; connecting with people of all types all over the US in discussing what was occuring live in front of your eyes was unbelievable.  There were so many lies being stated by Republicans that the Twitter group started a theme ""icanmakeupshittoo" in which people posted what would happen if health care reform bill passed to make fun of what the Republicans were saying. Some examples:

"If HCR passes, every American will be forced to watch American Idol"
If HCR passes, Republicans will join the biggestlosersclub"

It mimicked the mockery of the Republican party on the floor of the House and provided some levity.

I applaud the House for passing healthcare reform. Its far from perfect but it is a start. Now we need to make sure the Senate passes the House is Reconciliation Act with changes to the Senate bill that was passed by the House last night. The fight continues. I urge you to watch the Senate vote when it occurs. Republicans are already promising to challenge this vote. But then, they have challenged everything that makes sense to human beings.To describe their actions is a disservice to seeing this for yourselves....my children did not act like this in the worst days.

More to come....

Of this and that

First and foremost, healthcare reform, yes I am still at it. (Two different views and I actually agree with both of them but then, I am a Gemini). You should read BOTH of them:

National Coalition on Healthcare statement on healthcare reform bill passed by Senate: click here

And, the Pittsburgh Trib on Democrats playing doctor: click here

Ok, moving on to lighter topics. I saw 2 great movies this year, total opposites (just like me). That's 2 more then I saw last year!

Precious: brutal truth, heart wrenching. A must see.

It's Complicated: Brilliantly hysterical yet poignant story of divorce. Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin are superb but so is John Krasinski who is absolutely HYSTERICAL. I would see this movie again. I never laughed  so hard and that felt great. GO SEE IT.

David and Shaun Goldman reunion: does NBC have no shame since it provided the charter plane...do they have to report on this time when these two need time alone?

Ok, am done. Happy and healthy new year to all!

Health Reform as we wished for has been pronounced dead

According to the Huffington Post (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/10/pelosi-backs-off-public-o_n_387197.html}, Pelosi has thrown in the towel, and no one is standing up for the public option. So almost 50 million US citizens, will now not have the hope of life with health care coverage. Personally, I cannot stand Pelosis or the other power monger, partisan, imbeciles in Congress. Senator Reid: where the heck are you in this?

Almost 70% of the US citizens want a public option. The good news is that Medicare will have an option for 55+ now. Gee,.....duh...some of us have been saying just do Medicare for all to share the risk and lower health care costs and get it done quickly. But some of us actually work in health care. What makes us think we know what we are doing? We have people in Congress who know how to use anatomical parts of their bodies and take oodles of money from managed care companies....but are soooo clueless when it comes to actually providing legislation to protect, perserve the citizens of the United States. And they get their health care coverage paid for by you and me....that's good because I bet some of these congressional geniuses couldn't write a check for payment...but they know how to deposit those checks don't they......

So sick of this. Wish there was an election tomorrow to get rid of all of Congress and start over. Mr. President, I voted for you and am disappointed you did not stand up for this public option. Senator Ted Kennedy must be turning over in his grave.

Happy Birthday Sesame Street

My daughter was a fan of Sesame Street and now her daughter is a fan; my son loved Cookie Monster; my grandaughter loves Elmo. I took her and my other grandaughter to see Elmo in person. I thought I was at a rock concert with 2-5 year olds doing the screaming.

So the question around the web is which character are you?

Some days I am Oscar the grouch like when the Senate is stalling on the passage of the health care reform bill and the public option without triggers. These people have the best health insurance possible. We pay for it. Don't we deserve to have some of that coverage for ourselves and our children? I am also Oscar when the House passed HCR with a public option (thank you) but sold out women to the conservative right in prohibiting the public option from covering abortions. Uh, excuse me but when was Roe vs Wade overturned? and when does one group over-ride the freedom for all?

Somedays I am a cross between Snuffleupagus (however you spell it), Elmo, with a touch of Ernie. Then there are somedays I'm Bert. Ah if life could only be so simple.

So which character are you?

Make the Most Important Call of Your Life

Here is the main number for Congress – the Senate and House – in Washington, DC. 202 225-3121

Call this number and ask to speak to YOUR  representative in the House. The House will be voting on their version of the health care reform bill on Monday or Tuesday. CALL TO SUPPORT THE PUBLIC OPTION with NO TRIGGERS. It's a matter of life or death.....


Then CALL Your Senator using the same number listed above and tell them to support the PUBLIC OPTION WITHOUT TRIGGERS.


Don't know who your representative is? Find out here:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/directory/congdir.tt

It takes 2 minutes. Do it now. Then watch the voting on CSPAN.

More to come....

Who Does Congress Really Represent?

While I heard some encouraging news from a conference call several bloggers and myself had on Friday with Senator Reid's staff, I am still left wondering: who does Congress really represent?

The good news? Staffers reported that Congress really is taking note of what their constituents are saying (let's hope they actually confirm a healthcare reform bill based on what their constituents want). So, that part is up to you and while I am sure you are sick of reading that here...if you truly care about the future of healthcare and how coverage plays out, you MUST make your voice heard. Here is link to contact information: http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

The Baucus Bill has no public option even though recent polls showed over 67% of the US voters want it. This week and ongoing, the Congress will try to reconcile the Baucus bill with other bills that do have a Public Option. Ronni Bennett of Time Goes By does a much better job of describing this on her blog:http://www.timegoesby.net/weblog/

What Ronni reminded me of last week was that it only took 11 months for Medicare to be implemented. And while not perfect, Medicare works. If it were revised and streamlined, its infrastucture could be used for the Public Option. More then that, this merging could finally remove the age factor in health care. Health coverage is a freedom...a liberty. We are the only large nation that does not have a public option for its citizens and our health care is viewed as one of the worst in the world. The Baucus Bill does not go into effect until 2012 or later. Really? More people will die...thousands...I find that appalling but then I find a family wanting publicity and willing to have their children lie..also appalliing (balloon boy)...what are we coming too? Did they learn that publicity is more about negatives, fear, possible death and negative outcomes? then doing good? I have my own thoughts on that and won't bore you with those.

The truth is, we cannot count on the Media to help push a public option through even though that is based on need and facts; we cannot count on the Senate to push a public option through based on current history; we could CHANGE outcomes if we believe and take 5 minutes out of our day to contact CONGRESS NOW and let your voice be heard. CLICK HERE

I could go on and on about the money factor: the greed and perceived buying of votes based on profits and huge salaries, rather then need (and it's more then my opinion). Frankly, it is exhausting to repeat this crap again. Right wing Democrats and Republicans have tried, and often succeeded, to rule the lives of all Americans. This country was based on the freedom for all principle; not just the few.

So my question to you today is do you want your health care coverage decided by a few? based on profits? or based on need?

more to come

Life, Liberty, the pursuit of Happiness, Part 5 I think

First, update on healthcare refom: Senate finance committee passed bill with No public options; taxing of those who do not get health insurance, etc. Not perfect, not even good frankly. We need public option. Am part of conference call (with several bloggers) with Senator Reid staff tomorrow. Will let you all know.

But it is very important that ALL human beings have the freedom of health care coverage. Please, please let your voice be heard and contact your Congressional reps and tell them you want PUBLIC OPTION.

Ok, moving on.....to the flight from reality to reality shows and more. Top Chef was great last night, as usual. Can't wait to see Project Runway tonight as Nina Garcia is BACK!!! Sorry Drop Dead Diva is finished for their season. Really enjoyed the show.

Noticed Today Show today (pun intended) has some feel good stories. One inspiring story about a kid with one leg who is a sports player with no use of prosthesis.
See this:



And they did some other feel good stories. Hurray for Today! I actually feel pumped after this. I think I will promote the good stuff that I see. We all need some great stuff to inspire us to move on in life and do good for others. When you give, you get.

Heard any feel good stories? Feel free to post them here. Oh, and did you visit Emma Wallace on youtube yet? See post I did on her recently.

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

A Must Read today; blog on HCR :Will it make us healthier?

Please visit, http://www.birdsonawireblog.com/ for important interview with
Howard K. Koh, M.D., assistant secretary for health in the US Department of Health and Human Services on the topic :will reform make us healthier as a nation.

No use my blogging on this when Birdsonawire has done a great job...please visit the blog and see for you self this very interesting topic...that deals with what we seemed to have lost site of: Are we going to be healthier with health reform?

A Personal Story on Health Care

This is a personal story as to why healthcare reform must occur. Today, my friend Ronni Bennett, posted a video from Senator Kohl where we submitted questions related to health care reform and he answered. See it here: http://www.timegoesby.net/.

There is a new bill on the table and Senator Kohl has posted a fact sheet on health care related to aging issues here.

However, health care affects more then the aging. That said, no one should dispute the need for changes in Medicare also. You will be there one day if you are lucky.

My grand daughter is on the SCHIP program. She is 15 months old. My son has 4 children and he and his wife do not have access to a company provided health insurance program. To purchase an independent health insurance would cost them over $2000/month but my grand daughter would be exempted for a pre-existing condition. She was born with hyperinsulinism whereby her body produces too much insulin causing her blood sugar to drop. I wont get into details but when she was born, she was misdiagnosed by a large Baltimore hospital that put her on the wrong medicine for 15 months.  Now, thanks to SCHIP she was allowed to go to a huge center with a world reknowned Endocrinologist who diagnosed the correct issue and started her on a path to doing better.

There are still issues with SCHIP. They always question everything and may not cover a $200 a month medication. Still, she was able to get a great health care entity treat her. Thank you SCHIP. The problem now is if she ever has access to private health insurance that many of us have access to, she would be exempt from coverage for a pre-exisiting condition. Nice huh?

To those of you fighting change in health care reform: you should know that this change will be mandated in every single proposed bill. And it must be. No child, no human being should be without health coverage.

Those of you who are apathetic and still have not contacted your congressional representative to make your voice heard, shame on you. It takes only a minute to send an email to make your voice heard. This bill could affect you or your family one day. Just do it. Or face the consequences. Only a minority of Americans have made their voice heard. Do you want a few to dictate what the majority must face? Here is link to getting in touch with your Congressional representative.

And here is a link to finding out the truth about the proposed health reform bills. Click on picture.

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

By the way, Top Chef was back last night...a good omen for things to come?

Stay tuned...................

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.....

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.

Health Care reform: Be informed

In health there is freedom. Health is the first of all liberties.
– Henri Frederic Amiel

Are you insured? What's the cost? Know someone who is not on health insurance? I do.

Do you understand the health reform act? Do you believe the garbage conservative Republicans are promoting all over the Internet?

You owe it to yourself to get the facts.

And, if you are a blogger, blog the facts, the truth, the whole truth.

Get involved...It's your right to freedom

Health Care Reform, Activate yourself, part 2

Not sure what is real and what is not in the health care reform movement? I urge you to go to Ronni Bennett's post on it NOW. This is real, this is truth, this if factual: http://www.timegoesby.net/weblog/2009/08/elders-for-health-care-reform.html

You owe it to yourself and your family and friends to be involved. But first, you need to understand this in real terms...no political pontification. Go to the link above....more to come!

An Amazing Calm

I don't know what's happened to me but I kind of like it. No job, too much competition, too many people out of work. But I seem to be going with the flow, finally.

I have let go of the past with my former company. I wish them well. They had yet another devastating layoff 2 weeks ago. Many more of my former colleagues are gone. I understand what they will go through,and have been emailing them to offer support because I have so much support from former colleagues, family and friends. But the company and their issues are no longer on the top of my list. Instead, I am taking what happened and trying to make something positive from it.

I worked for 5 days at a temporary job and reported it as one is required to do to unemployment. I got cut off but am allowed to re-apply which I did. And, it did not freak me out. Who knew?

Cobra costs suck but no alternative so am directing my energy to pushing for health care reform. It is needed and am sick and tired of media and political pontification on this. If you did not have health care coverage, what would you do?

Today I finally finish cleaning out and removing junk from my mother's apartment as she is in an assisted living complex now. It was hard to do but it was her choice and she is doing well.

The cleansing is more then my mom's apartment.I am getting rid of lots of stuff at home also. It feels great. I keep busy. Life is good mainly because of children, grand kids and friends. Onward and upward.....more to come.

Musings of a Mad Woman: Health Care, Republicans, Media

I am a cut to the chase person. Forget the BS and get to the bottom line. As I grow older, the ability to listen to pontificators, people who enjoy listening to their own voice, is gone. I cannot tolerate hypocrites either. I also absolutely have no use for those who use other people to embellish or push their own ambitions. This listing is a disclaimer to those who choose to read this blog for what's to come.

Media and Health care reform: Obviously, to me at least, the media must be struggling for readers/viewers because they have pumped up the pontifications, the polls, the exclusives, and more to demonstrate only this anchor, this station, this whatever, knows anything and everything about health care, politics, the president, and anything else that hits the news.

Example: Larry King and Michael Jackson. Larry's show has been declining in viewers even though Larry was a pretty respected interviewer, though on the soft side. Michael Jackson dies; Larry King's show is alive and well and up in ratings. Why? because he has someone or something about MJ almost every night since MJ died. What does this have to do with healthcare?

Simple: this is the prime example of leeching media who grasp at anything to get their names in the news and in ratings. And it translates to the mainstream news. Remember Rush Bimbo? and how he stated and was widely reported in every media outlet that he hoped Obama failed? Got attention didn't it? Worse, it reflects our political arena well.

I believe that is why the Republicans are stalling on the Supreme Court nomination and now health care reform. Plus it gets their names on the news. And the media are already grasping at the fact that they believe this could be the downfall of the Obama Presidency. Really? Excuse me but Obama has worked harder in his 6 months than any of the prior presidents did. Remember please, these so called elected officials and media types make money, have jobs, and even more have healthcare coverage paid for by their companies and by us for our Congressional reps that most of us would love to have. Maybe we should strip Congress, especially Republicans, of their health coverage and see then how quickly they would vote on health care.

I don't know about you but I don't want my views analyzed by people who, in my opinion, have no clue about the realities of life. You want reality, let me tell you about reality:

Medicare: It's not free. Med A and B is needed by most people because A is for hospital coverage, B is for doctor coverage: the cost of each is over $98 and it covers 80%. You are then responsible for the 20%. No prescription coverage unless you buy Part D: average cost $57/month and it only covers to $2500 then you go into the hole, that deep hole that requires you pay full price for meds until you reach another $2500 then it picks up again but in the new year, this all starts over again. In order to get coverage for the 20% not covered by Medicare, you need a supplement or a med advantage plan: cost is anywhere from$ 150-200 per month. Do the math. If you are on a fixed income, this takes up almost $500 per month. Nice huh. Does not affect our Congressional reps whose health coverage you and I pay for. And, in my mind, its age discrimination. But that is a story for another time and place. The problem with Medicare, in my opinion, is that it is staffed by people who have never practiced health care or been in real life situations; get rid of them

Medical Assistance is coverage for people who have little or no income. You and I pay for it. And whether they admit it or not, most doctors and hospitals treat these people like scum.

Some 50 million people have no coverage. But it still costs us when they go to hospitals and they go because they aren't able to go to doctors so they get sick and sicker. We pay for those costs also.

Excuse me but wouldn't it be better to roll all of this into one health plan that would share risk over some 100 million people? Got money? Buy what you want in health insurance. no money? you are still a human being who brings value to this earth. You deserve to get health care.

Obama took this on because good health care coverage means LESS cost. Do the math. It's simple. Even the American Med Assoc. and American Nurse Assoc get it.

I have a great idea. Take all the Republicans who are stalling to get health care reform done, and take away their health care coverage. Let them pay out of pocket. Betcha they would pass health care reform then.

I haven't even dealt with COBRA that affects 10% of the population now without jobs or benefits.

I urge you to contact your media outlets and your Congressional reps and push healthcare coverage NOW. Stop the BS! Let's get it done.

Healthcare Reform NOW, Make some noise

Please read Ronni Bennett's post on healthcare reform today, Friday, July 10th at http://www.timegoesby.net.

Time for change? Yes it is time for change. Isn't that what we voted for? If you believe in change, read the blog, contact your congressional leaders. Make your voice heard.

No need to rehash what was said so eloquently. Read the blog. Do it now!