Grow Up Already!

Senate Democrats are being accused of placing a "gag order" on private insurance companies who are speaking out against the president's healthcare plan. The hoopla began when Louisville based company Humana sent a letter to its Medicare Advantage beneficiaries warning that if Congress cuts funding, millions of seniors and disabled people could lose many important benefits.

In response, Montana Senator Max Baucus who chairs the Senate Finance Committee denounced the letter as false and a blatant scare tactic. Other insurance companies have been warned by the government not to follow in Humana's footsteps.

My questions is, "How can the government issue a warning when this company was exercising its right to free speech in the marketplace?" Attornies who have reviewed the letter said that nothing in it is blatantly false, even though Humana obviously has a huge interest in stopping a public option for healthcare. Perhaps even more importantly, when trying to determine if illegal lobbying practices were used, wouldn't it have made more sense for Senator Baucus to engage in a private discussion/investigation with Humana so he could address his concerns? Now there's a political war over where the rights of free speech end, which ultimately makes the American public more suspicious of everyone involved. Now, there are no winners in the war.

Partisan politics have hit an all time low in this country, with both sides of the aisle refusing to comprimise on any issue. The anger and bitterness that has permeated Washington has never been worse,and conspiracy theorists have never been given this much fodder from which to build their false assumptions. This is just the latest battle in a time when political gridlock is the norm, and open, honest discussions on policy have been forgotten. Our lawmakers need to wake up and recognize that we have serious problems in the country, and we've given them our vote so they can represent our interests to the best of their ability.

The issue with the Humana letter isn't just about what they said or their right to say it. It's about having an open dialogue on an issue that will affect us all. Scare tactics? Gag orders? They're irrelevant. Lives are being affected by these decisions so it's time that our so-called leaders grow up and learn how to play nice.

Toto, We're not in Kansas Anymore!

I almost don't know where to begin today. I'm sitting here full of emotion, yet I don't know whether to laugh, cry, or throw things. (Those who live with me have voted "no" for the last option)

First, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is speaking out this morning calling everyone who disagrees and speaks out at town hall meetings about healthcare, "evildoers." At least George Bush coined the term "Axis of Evil" in reference to those who wanted to harm America. Now, if you speak out against a bill that is obviously "bad" for Americans, you're the evil one! All I can say is things are looking up for the GOP in 2012. (if we last that long) In reference to a previous post of mine, please send lawyers, guns and money. I've probably just put myself on a watch list, and I can hear my inbox filling with unsolicited white house e-mails.

Next, we have yet another attack on a Christian's right to free speech. There's a correction from yesterday's post, in which I said two teachers at Pace High School in Fla. prayed at an adults only breakfast and were put on probation--Oh no, there's going to be a trial! They're out and worse than that---they could lose their pensions because of their "radical" behavior. I think it's time to fire up the "love bus." We've got a protest to attend!

Finally, and this one's just bizarre! A little girl set up a lemonade stand in New York City recently, carrying on the age old tradition of earning some money to help others.10-year old Clementine Lee wanted to offer refreshments on a hot day with her proceeds going to charity. Sounds innocent enough, but then a police officer shows up, writes the kid a ticket for not having a license to sell and summons her to court. Now the good news is that cooler heads prevailed and Clementine has been let off the hook. The cop has been sent back for more training. As for Clementine, perhaps next time she'll stand on the N.Y. street corner and distribute pornography. At least then, her "community" will champion her rights for self expression. When up is down and down is up, it sure would seem to make sense.

Will they really kill my mother?

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.

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