I read an interesting article today written by Associated Press reporter Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar. In it, he discussed the facts surrounding the elder care portion of the Obama healthcare bill. Much of this latest hoopla began when former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin wrote on her facebook page that the bill had "death panels" that would call for the killing of the sick, the elderly, and the unborn or mentally challenged child.
In the bill, Democrat Earl Blumenauer of Oregon calls for Medicare to pay doctors for offering voluntary counseling, every five years to the elderly, about end of life matters. It would bring doctors into the discussion about living wills, power of attorney, and other issues that are currently discussed with the family attorney. No monies would be paid and the bill does not advocate assisted suicide.
In spite of this, The National Right To Life Committee opposes the bill saying stronger language is needed to ensure that an older person would not willingly or unwillingly give up their rights to medical treatment in the event that they are confused about their options or depressed when being counseled.
It is on this point that I agree. Complex legal language is hard for anyone to understand and if someone is confused or feels depressed on the day he or she is receiving counseling, they may decide (in the heat of the moment) to give up their right to treatment.
Likewise, many people from our parent's generation never question their doctor's decisions, preferring instead to give them total control over their bodies. While I respect the training and judgement of most physicians, I am afraid that many older patients would be willing to hand over life and death decisions simply because they are afraid or feel unable to make them.
As Christians we tend to view life and death as a decision that can only be made by God, but all too often medical science has a different point of view. In the case of my own father, he was told by doctors that he would die in 3 months when he was diagnosed with Cancer in 1986. The doctors didn't want to give him treatment, saying he was terminal and it wouldn't help, but my mother demanded it, he wanted it, and fortunately he got it. The chemotherapy allowed my dad to live for another year. Had the decision been left entirely up to the medical community we would have lost 9 precious months with my dad. Fortunately, it was during this nine months that my father found his salvation.
I agree with the National Right to Life Committee that the wording on this provision in the bill needs to be changed, because all life is precious and all Americans have the right to fight to live. I will say however, that in spite of my general approval of Sarah Palin, calling the provision a "death panel" does nothing to advance the discussion on both sides of the issue.
How sad that something as precious as our right to life has become a football for the politicians to toss around. It's not about who wins the 2012 election and it's not about the cost of caring for our elderly who have worked so hard to fight for us. If we're going to pay for millions of illegal citizens to live in this country then we need to pony up for those who have lived and died to preserve our freedoms and our choices.
No, it's not about politics. It's about God and his "sole" right to determine when the end will be for the lives He's created. Instead of seeking outside counsel about whether we should live or die, we need to pray for His guidance when confronting our own health issues. If we do this, I'm sure we'll realize, that God's,(not the doctors) is the only counsel we'll need.
Showing posts with label christianity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christianity. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Weird Science
Ok bloggies, it's time once again to get on the phone with our Congressmen and Senators.
The president's new proposed health care bill has 50-million dollars earmarked for a revised sex education program for our schools. According to Dr. Miriam Grossman who is a respected child psychologist, and the author of a new book called "You're Teaching my Child What?" the program that would be implemented is based in social agenda versus medical science. It's focus would be to teach kids that any and all sexual behavior is ok, and would promote the idea of acceptance for behaviors that society has previously viewed as deviant.
One specific issue that Dr. Grossman mentions is the idea of teaching kids to reconsider their gender. In her work as a psychologist,she has maintained that gender is hardwired into all of us before birth, however the new program teaches kids to review their options for change. And that's not all.....
Another helpful tool (so they say) would be to introduce a new doll into the schools that would teach little girls how to breast feed a baby! The doll is already used in Spain, and the packaging shows a girl of about 8 holding a doll next to her breast simulating breast feeding. To me, there's nothing else to say except:
That's just weird!
Once again, the government is trying to take away the parent's choice about how to raise their kids, and quite frankly they want to teach things that I don't want my child to learn.
Strangely, I have a character in the book I'm writing who is promoting the concept that sex education should be taught in the church. She has a whole bunch of money, and wants to teach the little Sunday school kids all about the birds and the bees.
It's funny my government calls this progress, and in my book I call her the harlot.
Teri
The president's new proposed health care bill has 50-million dollars earmarked for a revised sex education program for our schools. According to Dr. Miriam Grossman who is a respected child psychologist, and the author of a new book called "You're Teaching my Child What?" the program that would be implemented is based in social agenda versus medical science. It's focus would be to teach kids that any and all sexual behavior is ok, and would promote the idea of acceptance for behaviors that society has previously viewed as deviant.
One specific issue that Dr. Grossman mentions is the idea of teaching kids to reconsider their gender. In her work as a psychologist,she has maintained that gender is hardwired into all of us before birth, however the new program teaches kids to review their options for change. And that's not all.....
Another helpful tool (so they say) would be to introduce a new doll into the schools that would teach little girls how to breast feed a baby! The doll is already used in Spain, and the packaging shows a girl of about 8 holding a doll next to her breast simulating breast feeding. To me, there's nothing else to say except:
That's just weird!
Once again, the government is trying to take away the parent's choice about how to raise their kids, and quite frankly they want to teach things that I don't want my child to learn.
Strangely, I have a character in the book I'm writing who is promoting the concept that sex education should be taught in the church. She has a whole bunch of money, and wants to teach the little Sunday school kids all about the birds and the bees.
It's funny my government calls this progress, and in my book I call her the harlot.
Teri
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
God & Country, Crazy Councilmen, and Happy Geese
I have a "must read" alert for Christians who have kept the faith, and for those who
erroneously argue that this country was not founded on Christian principles. I saw a great interview the other night on the Mike Huckabee show with David Barton, the creator of the website, www.wallbuilders.com.
Barton basically pointed out the fact that of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, something like 90% of them were not only Christian they were considered theologians of their time.
Even Ben Franklin ( who was not one of the more religious men,) called a recess when the Constitution was being written so all of the men who were working on it could pray for three days for Godly guidance. (and yes they were praying to the Christian God.)
Other Interesting Facts:
1. The first English language Christian Bible was printed in the 1790's by none other than the American Congress who wanted it printed so it could be used as a textbook in the American schools.
2. Thomas Jefferson (again, not one of the more religious men)signed a presidential document "In the year of Christ". Can you imagine the uproar if that happened today?
(One thinks of George Bush's comments about his worship of Jesus, which is where I believe his media troubles began)
3. Some of the men who signed The Declaration of Independence were people who founded the concept of Sunday School, were University Presidents who wanted their schools to be the place where young theologians were trained and many of them were ordained Christian ministers.
The list goes on and on and definitively proves that America is here today because of the Christian faith of the many men who risked their lives to defend their right to worship. Shame on those who want to take God out of America. Without God,and these dedicated Christians there would be no America! Check out the website, I'm sure you'll be fascinated, and it will give you great ammunition the next time you debate your ACLU friends.
Today's "Get A Clue Award" (and I don't mean the ACLU this time) goes to the city councilman in Clearwater, FL. who decided to remove all of the American flags as part of a city budget cut. Obvious uproar occured, and now the city has had to put up twice as many flags to appease those who were upset. Hey buddy ---Have you ever heard the term "God & Country?" I don't think you can remove America from America! I bet it's great to be a veteran in Clearwater....(she said sarcastically)
Finally, I love the man in Fairfax Co. Virginia who hopped out of his car on the four lane highway between his home and Washington D.C. You see, a flock of geese was crossing the highway, and he physically stopped traffic so they could pass without injury. Oh sure, some may say he risked causing an interstate pile up, but even the judge who ticketed him saw that his heart was in the right place. God Bless you sir.
You were kind to our fine feathered friends. You can walk my dog anytime......
Teri
erroneously argue that this country was not founded on Christian principles. I saw a great interview the other night on the Mike Huckabee show with David Barton, the creator of the website, www.wallbuilders.com.
Barton basically pointed out the fact that of the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence, something like 90% of them were not only Christian they were considered theologians of their time.
Even Ben Franklin ( who was not one of the more religious men,) called a recess when the Constitution was being written so all of the men who were working on it could pray for three days for Godly guidance. (and yes they were praying to the Christian God.)
Other Interesting Facts:
1. The first English language Christian Bible was printed in the 1790's by none other than the American Congress who wanted it printed so it could be used as a textbook in the American schools.
2. Thomas Jefferson (again, not one of the more religious men)signed a presidential document "In the year of Christ". Can you imagine the uproar if that happened today?
(One thinks of George Bush's comments about his worship of Jesus, which is where I believe his media troubles began)
3. Some of the men who signed The Declaration of Independence were people who founded the concept of Sunday School, were University Presidents who wanted their schools to be the place where young theologians were trained and many of them were ordained Christian ministers.
The list goes on and on and definitively proves that America is here today because of the Christian faith of the many men who risked their lives to defend their right to worship. Shame on those who want to take God out of America. Without God,and these dedicated Christians there would be no America! Check out the website, I'm sure you'll be fascinated, and it will give you great ammunition the next time you debate your ACLU friends.
Today's "Get A Clue Award" (and I don't mean the ACLU this time) goes to the city councilman in Clearwater, FL. who decided to remove all of the American flags as part of a city budget cut. Obvious uproar occured, and now the city has had to put up twice as many flags to appease those who were upset. Hey buddy ---Have you ever heard the term "God & Country?" I don't think you can remove America from America! I bet it's great to be a veteran in Clearwater....(she said sarcastically)
Finally, I love the man in Fairfax Co. Virginia who hopped out of his car on the four lane highway between his home and Washington D.C. You see, a flock of geese was crossing the highway, and he physically stopped traffic so they could pass without injury. Oh sure, some may say he risked causing an interstate pile up, but even the judge who ticketed him saw that his heart was in the right place. God Bless you sir.
You were kind to our fine feathered friends. You can walk my dog anytime......
Teri
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Big Drugs - Bad Doctors
For those of you who know me, you know that my conservative nature tends to treat the idea of more government control like the plague. But to show my more liberal friends that I am always ready to be open minded, I have finally found an issue that I think needs some intervention. Namely, prescription drugs and unethical doctors.
Like many, I've been riveted to the continuing coverage of the death of Michael Jackson. Perhaps, because "Thriller" and "Bad" were huge albums about the time I was busy shaking my groove thing at Cincinnati dance clubs. Perhaps, because the Jackson's were truly the fulfillment of the American dream. Perhaps, because I'm still guilty of singing "I'll be there" when I bathe.
Whatever the reason I do know that I've always been a huge Jackson fan, and I still request "Smooth Criminal" when I play Upside Down trivia on Thursday nights.
The idea that Michael Jackson died from prescription medicines that were illegally given to him by unethical doctors saddens me, and it's not the first time it's happened. First we had Elvis, then Anna Nicole, and now Michael. I do think that as new health care laws are put into place there should be some kind of crack down on doctors who abuse celebrities addictions for their own monetary gain. I know it's hard when aliases, and back alley purchasing are involved, but this is not only a problem in the world of celebrity, but in everyday life. Statistics show that prescription drug abuse is the "new" cocaine problem in America, and it's frightening to think that the bizarre abuse of drugs like "Diprovan" could possibly become more prevalent for those looking for the "big buzz."
We've all seen fans of famous people, as well as the celebrities themselves do strange things in the name of hero worship. Chris Farley wanted to go like John Belushi. Anna Nicole compared herself to Marilyn Monroe and forecast her own death to be carried out in the same way. Even Michael asked former wife Lisa Marie Presley to detail her dad's death because he fanatasized about going like the "King."
With all of the talk about more control over what we eat, what we smoke, and where and when we can do it, I hope that the "experts" tackle prescription drug abuse, and crack down on the doctors who care more about lining their own pockets, than about a person's long term care.
Rest in peace Michael --I'm afraid your death will be declared totally "Bad." Hopefully, on this issue the government will "Be there" for you.
Teri
Like many, I've been riveted to the continuing coverage of the death of Michael Jackson. Perhaps, because "Thriller" and "Bad" were huge albums about the time I was busy shaking my groove thing at Cincinnati dance clubs. Perhaps, because the Jackson's were truly the fulfillment of the American dream. Perhaps, because I'm still guilty of singing "I'll be there" when I bathe.
Whatever the reason I do know that I've always been a huge Jackson fan, and I still request "Smooth Criminal" when I play Upside Down trivia on Thursday nights.
The idea that Michael Jackson died from prescription medicines that were illegally given to him by unethical doctors saddens me, and it's not the first time it's happened. First we had Elvis, then Anna Nicole, and now Michael. I do think that as new health care laws are put into place there should be some kind of crack down on doctors who abuse celebrities addictions for their own monetary gain. I know it's hard when aliases, and back alley purchasing are involved, but this is not only a problem in the world of celebrity, but in everyday life. Statistics show that prescription drug abuse is the "new" cocaine problem in America, and it's frightening to think that the bizarre abuse of drugs like "Diprovan" could possibly become more prevalent for those looking for the "big buzz."
We've all seen fans of famous people, as well as the celebrities themselves do strange things in the name of hero worship. Chris Farley wanted to go like John Belushi. Anna Nicole compared herself to Marilyn Monroe and forecast her own death to be carried out in the same way. Even Michael asked former wife Lisa Marie Presley to detail her dad's death because he fanatasized about going like the "King."
With all of the talk about more control over what we eat, what we smoke, and where and when we can do it, I hope that the "experts" tackle prescription drug abuse, and crack down on the doctors who care more about lining their own pockets, than about a person's long term care.
Rest in peace Michael --I'm afraid your death will be declared totally "Bad." Hopefully, on this issue the government will "Be there" for you.
Teri
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