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Gator Girl, thanks for sharing all that. What an eye opener! - AIW
That being said, there is a limit to how much we can control guns. That is called the Constitution. However, that limit hasn't even been approached yet. We have yet to enact common sense licensing and logical restrictions on gun purchases. There is nothing unconstitutional about background checks. We don't even ban the sales of untraced guns such as online and in gun shows. There is so much we can do; but, because we have done nothing for so long the problem of illegal guns is completely out of control. As long as the black market is overflowing with such merchandise ending gun violence is going to be impossible. The REAL culprits in this struggle are the gun manufactures who are hiding behind the NRA. Thanks to them this problem is far from over. Although it would be the responsible thing to do to license, insure, restrict, and tract gun sales it should be made very clear that this approach alone will not solve our problem. The roots of gun violence in this country run far deeper than that.
Don't worry Chuck; I hate the AMA with a bloody passion. They're all about money, not medicine or health. The AMA has marginalized and shot down every cancer cure to have come along over the past century. - AIW
Before we blame the NRA for children shooting children (they do deserve some blame), we should put the bulk of the blame on irresponsible parents and careless gun owners. I, for one, am sick and tired of my rights being trampled on because of parents who won't supervise their children; and any gun owner who leaves his WEAPON laying out where children can find it should never be allowed to own a gun again, not even a toy one.
My beliefs about gun control run to two extremes: The 1st extreme: a total ban on guns; no one outside the military would be allowed to own a gun, not the police, not government agents, NO ONE. Even the military would be restricted as to when and where they could have guns in their possession. The 2nd extreme: everyone would be required, from the age of 18, to own and carry a gun after being fully and properly trained in gun handling. Would you mug a 90 year old lady if you knew she has a 9mm Glock AND KNOWS HOW TO USE IT?
Unfortunately, guns are a reality and are here to stay; that genie is not going back in the bottle. But, passing of criminal background checks, proper training, licensing, and psychological exams should be required for all gun owners.
Ironically, until very recently I would never have considered purchasing a gun; but with the rising tides of fear, greed, and hatred, and the violence that goes with them, I've been giving a passing thought or two to becoming a gun owner.
Life is getting really suckey.
Come on Thom! The NRA promotes guns to children? Really? What about Hollywood and toy manufacturers. Almost every high budget movie that comes out of that hell hole glorifies guns and violence. How about video games? How about the latest blockbuster GTA (Grand Theft Auto)? A game that not only glorifies guns and violence; but, that depicts the violence caused by them in disturbing high definition resolution. Compared to those influences on our kids the NRA is singing background vocals in a choir.
Another note on the for profit health care system. I'm sure most of you already know that these for profit insurance plans mandate that you sign away your rights to sue in court for malpractice. If not be aware that there is good reason for this. First of all by reducing their legal costs they increase their profits. Secondly, by not having to worry about legal issues they are free to cut corners on care in ways that endanger patients without fear of reprisal; thus, also increasing profits. Take it from someone who has already almost lost two people over unnecessary bumbling incompetence, who are very near and dear to him, this system is a rip off and extremely dangerous. The sad fact of the matter is that by the time most people learn this lesson it is too late.
AIW -- Don't forget the greedy, private AMA.
Here in Ocala, FL our last non-profit hospital- Munroe Regional Hospital - has been leased out to CHS which is the larges corporate holder of hospitals/healthcare in the world. First, for about 3 months it was taken over by HMA - which was not better, but the ink was not dry on those papers before it was then in CHS's hands. The changes started immediately. On one floor there were no longer any technicians or aides so nurses have not only all of their nursing duties (difficult enough in a specialty floor) but now they also have to chart their own patients, do all the work the tech's and aides did and there are less nurse to patient ratio in that unit. A perfect recipe for mistakes and errors which could lead to incorrect or non-care for patients, missed or incorrect medications and burn out for those nurses. All because the taxpayers did not want to back a $.05 tax increase to keep the not-for profit hospital - the best in the area going. But then the voters in Ocala, FL/Marion County, FL area are mostly moneyed and you can bet your sweet ass they have some type of financial ties to one or both of the area hospitals. Sad in that Munroe was the first hospital in this county and has a long and storied history of treating those who could not pay and where people were taken regardless of circumstances with money. My husband and I have had occasion to be admitted there on several occasions - as happens as you get older - and we could not have received better, more efficient, safe and professional care by all of the staff and technicians. From walking in the door to exit after release not one incident or bad experience.
Directly across the street - literally you can walk across a crosswalk to both hospitals - is ANOTHER for-pfofit hospital - Ocala Regional Medical Center. Have been admitted there only once and do not want to go back. It is under the auspices of HCA and gained status of the only Trauma Center in the area - without proper application processes which is now under litigation. Not a place I would want to go but if you are in an accident or suffer an incident and must be rushed to a hospital under "trauma" circumstances that is where the EMT's take you - or you are lifeflighted if necessary.
Munroe Regional Hospital's patients and staff are the losers in the take over of the other hospital by CHS but so far it has been the hospital my doctor told me to go to and NOT to go to Ocala Regional Medical Center.
A sad state of affairs but one which is happening all over the area and I do not see any end to it.
Alice I was using American stats but it was the same here in Canada then but things have changed since. Because of our "free" health care, cleaner air, and a lot less guns just to name a few we live a little longer. Health care is by far the biggest reason but we don't have near the poverty you have. Those huge projects packed with thousands of people full of drugs and guns can't be good for life expectancy. Yes you have to change your health care system but jobs would go a long way as well. Low cost health care doesn't help a bullet Through the heart, smog or poor food and water.
You can make a $100,000 a year for thirty years at your job
and get sick and spend a month in the ICU
AND LOSE IT ALL! AMERICA
I used to flip houses and we (the banks took them/we bought them to resell)
unfortunely took them from normal people not bums.
Tell me again how this is the best country.
As long as united states people dont unite, they win. Not us.
Kend says "Of course health was cheap in the sixties. It sucked. You were - ['were' not 'where', Kend!] - lucky to live to 70." In Canada? I don't know about Canada, Kend, but that statement doesn't apply to the U.S. during the sixties. Lots of people here lived well past seventy. I saw it with my own eyes, because I was here back then. Were you here in the sixties, Kend?
There is only one reason the cost of healthcare has become a problem for Americans. It became unaffordable because our government allowed a private insurance industry to hijack it and turn it into a cash commodity. And that, along with the ignorance of people like you, is what scares the hell out of me. - AIW
How much profit can be extracted from a dying man trying to stay alive? The American health care system is witness to how profitable it can be...and they still want MORE.
"There are some things in this world that shouldn't be turned into profit making machines and healthcare is defintely one of them." Add education and energy to the list of definites. With socialized energy we'd already be totally green.
If we are led to another bankrupting war our leaders have to demand higher taxes on those who can afford it. No more tax cuts for Billionaires.
Of course health was cheap in the sixties. It sucked. in the 60 you where lucky to live to 70. Now the average is about 80. Health care companies didn't have to pay for Pet scans, MRI's, insulin pumps, laser eye surgery or heart and lung transplant s because they weren't invented yet. Health care costs have partly skyrocketed because the care has advanced so much.
One of the reasons there is so many advances in health care is because there is so much money in it. If there was no money in it greedy right wingers would be investing it somewhere else.
the stories I hear about health care costs on here scare the hell out of me. Why is it that only a few of the 40 million that didn't have health care joined Obama care is it still too expensive?
Right! I remember in the late fifties in Queens NY (I was 11 years old) a Doctor making housecalls for $5.00 a call. In the late 60's, early 70's health insurance coverage was automatic (at a good price) with employment in large companies. Outside of that, without insurance it was affordable. Reaganomics did screw it, and just about everything else, up. I lived in Toronto Canada during the 70's and their Health Insurance Plan worked superbly, until now when I have heard that the Conservative influence in their government is trying their best to screw it up.
OY!
Aliceinwonderland ~ Yes! I think you are so right about Nixon. So many of the major problems we blame on Raygun actually originated with Nixon--like the War on Drugs. Raygun steals the show; however, by far, Nixon did much more harm to this country. Look at all the people who perished in Vietnam because of the man. Look at all the civil strife he cultivated in this country. Fathers and sons were at each other's throats because of that man. If you say our healthcare problems originated with Tricky Dick you'll get no argument from me.
I had a PPO for many years that was not only affordable, but comprehensive. Then WellPoint bought the company, and the rates immediately doubled. Three years later, when I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis... OMG! The rates seemed to double every 6 months. By the time I qualified for MediCare, just my personal policy was over $2800+ every 60 days. And, those last few months prior to Medicare, so many of my prescriptions and diagnostic tests were either not covered anymore at all, or the 40% I had to cover financially could have paid another family's rent each month.
True, MediCare isn't perfect. I was shocked a few years back to learn that my mom had four teeth that needed to be pulled, but her Access Policy (Medicare Supplement) only covered pulling 1 tooth every quarter. So we ended up paying for a dentist in another AZ city to pull all 4 at once. She also had to have colon surgery several years prior to MediCare and Access, so when the time came for her yearly colonoscopy, none of her insurances would cover the anesthesia she so desperately needed so she could tolerate it. We had to pay $750 every 6 months just for her anesthesia. But having MediCare or the Affordable Care Act is far better than going without being able to even think about seeing a physician when someone feels ill.
It ALL needs to be improved. We need to go back to NON-POFIT healthcare.
Marc, despite my eariler post, we are basically in agreement. I just don't happen to think this whole problem began with Reagan. As I recall, it was sometime after Nixon's presidency that things started going downhill. Prior to that, in the fifties and sixties while I was growing up, medical bills were no big deal. I've mentioned this a number of times since I started posting here. I highly suspect it was Nixon who first injected the profit motive into healthcare. Reagan only made the problem worse.
Back in the 1970s I was on MediCal, and I remember how much work it was staying on MediCal. My eligibility was constantly being scrutinized. However MediCal saved my butt more than once, picking up the tab for several hospital stays along with smaller expenses. I wonder what MediCal is like today, or if it even exists anymore. - AIW
Aliceinwonderland ~ You make a strong point; however, health care in this country during the late sixties to early seventies was so much better that I think you are over generalizing a bit. Back in the sixties I remember once having what was called a "house call." Doctors used to actually come to your house to treat you when you were sick in bed. Despite the inconvenience I remember the bill was only $25. Of course that was a lot of money back then; yet, today, it is only half of some of the copays. By the way, a house call might seem like a luxury; however, I personally know of two automobile accidents that were caused by friends of mine who had no choice but to drive themselves while medicated into emergency. Luckily no one was hurt in either accident. I can only guess that there are a huge number of such preventable accidents that happen as a result of the loss of house calls.
I also remember the first insurance plans. My father got ours through his work and covered our entire family for about $125/month. These first plans had no copay. You had a card that you showed whenever you needed to be seen and everything was covered. This was the closest this country ever came to single payer; and, it didn't last long. By the late seventies copays were introduced. The first were $1, to cover processing your card. By the time Raygun got into office--like Thom said--the copays jumped up to $5 and the premiums started liftoff. Shortly thereafter everything started to deteriorate at an accelerated pace.
Now, an emergency room copay can run anywhere from $50-$500 dollars. Some insurances don't cover ambulance rides and they charge ridiculous amounts. One 10 minute ride can sock you for $5K. Now, insurance companies pick and chose what they want to cover and what they don't. They have spending limits, out-of-pocket costs, and deductibles. This was never a part of the original insurance systems. The original insurance systems worked well because they were more non profit than anything else; however, clearly not enough.
It is imperative that we remember that short moment in time around 1970 when insurance companies in this country demonstrated how easy it would be to set up single payer healthcare for all and how well it would have worked. If we actually had single payer instead of for profit health insurance back then it never would have self destructed like our healthcare system of today has. If we had single payer health care back then, the healthcare crisis of today would have never happened. That system back then did suck--mostly because it wasn't universal--however it is the closest this country ever came to a functional healthcare system--aside of Medicare. Before we ditch everything about our healthcare industry let us remember we once had 1)Affordable provider rates ,2)Affordable insurance premiums, 3)No copays or uncovered services, and 4)Housecalls {Better services} We need to demand more for our money and not less. To do that we need to start with improving the services we used to have; and not the ones that we have been conditioned to accept.
Health Care as a Right not as a profitable Business
For Republicans, helping the 99% to access health care is secondary to greater profits to the private corporate insurance companies and keeping the 1% in luxury. Over 50 bills have been passed by House Republicans to repeal the PPACA while ignoring bills which would scuttle “Obamacare” such as one which would open Medicare to all.
But Medicare is flawed and retains health care as a profit making business even though it may limit some costs. Profit making hospitals and exorbitant fees for specialists remain. Consider the morality and lack of compassion of profiting excessively from the unfortunate sick and injured. There is a functioning American alternative which could open health care to all and considerably reduce costs, now the highest in the world, to a more reasonable level and achieve much improved results for the nation’s health and well being. Open and expand the VA to all residents. Nationalize hospitals and health clinics by federal purchase. If the feds can afford to bail out the financial and auto industries, and flush trillions of dollars down the toilet for militarism and wars which have been questionable benefit, we can do this by rearranging priorities. Sickness or injury are greater threats than terrorism or enemy attack. We can start by providing free training to qualified and committed medical students as they do in poor Cuba. This is needed to provide service without long waiting for medical services. It is likely that this reform will lower costs drastically while providing service we Americans, the richest nation in the world, deserve. Why should America be satisfied with less?
Reagon was a Ferengi; probably the Grand Negus himself.
Thom, this healthcare system sucked even before Reagan. It's only gotten worse. But even when it was nonprofit, it wasn't universal. I'm the same age as you and for my entire adult life, I don't recall a time when it didn't suck. - Aliceinwonderland
Thom,
I just read this about methane. It is a very long, detailed article with fastidiously accurate scientifc data on methane concentration in our atmosphere and the very high probabily of GEE (Global Extinction Events) as of 2051. Here is one of the graphics which sort of says it all for your perusal.
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5rI01qK0m0w/U5WReqJGp-I/AAAAAAAANdw/I8eVTxsLofU/s1600/FIG1-2A.JPG
I am not ready to give up on Homo sap yet! I am sure you agree there is much we can do to prevent a dystopian, apocalyptic future. I am writing to ask your help in convincing President Obama that we can no longer afford a delay in the transition to 100% Renewable Energy. I have prepared a petition to be delivered to the President in early September.
I know you are a busy man so I'll cut to the chase. The idea is to emulate the Blue Star mother banner started in WWII (son in the service) with a Green Leaf Star American Banner (in the service of Future Generations - see my avatar). This is a banner that anyone in support of a massive WWII style effort to build renewable energy machines and technology to eliminate all fossil and nuclear fuel dependency in a DECADE can fly. <i>Ad astra per aspera</i>
The meme is "Liberty From Fossil Fuels Through a 100% Transition to Renewable Energy". I use the word "Liberty" for obvious reasons but also because, during WWII, the Liberty Ship building effort was fantastically successful and proved key to winning WWII. We can WIN the climate Victory the same way! I love the Liberty Ship building model because it brought UNSKILLED people of all races, colors and creeds together to achieve success in rapidly gaining the skills to pump out ships in record time. We did it before. It showed how much we can do when we all work together!
I will now provide the details for your staff look over and brief you. Please help get millions of signatures for this petition. Let's make the politicians listen!
PETITION TO: Demand Liberty From Fossil Fuels Through 100% Renewable Energy WWII Style Effort
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/420/529/456/demand-liberty-from-fossil-fuels-through-100-renewable-energy-wwii-style-effort/
OVERVIEW:
This action is important because the health and very survival of future generations depends on it. We must strive tirelessly to provide a Viable Biosphere for our children. They deserve as beautiful a planet as the one we have lived in.
It's time to reverse all this environmental trashing and get real about the fact that sustainability is not optional for a caring, intelligent human population. We are the caretakers of the biosphere because we are self aware beings. It's high time we began living up to our responsibility to be good stewards of nature.
"Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors; we borrow it from our Children." Ancient American Indian Proverb
Civilitas successit barbarum
Ubi Jus Ibi Remedium
Equity sees that as done what ought to be done
Equity will not suffer a wrong to be without a remedy
Equity delights in equality
One who seeks equity must do equity
Equity aids the vigilant, not those who slumber on their rights
Equity imputes an intent to fulfill an obligation
He who comes into equity must come with clean hands
Equity delights to do justice and not by halves
Equity will not complete an imperfect gift
We need to roll up our National sleeves and GIFT FUTURE GENERATIONS with a VIABLE BIOSPHERE! If we put our coordinated efforts into it, we can, like we did with the Liberty Ships in WWII, get it DONE in less than ten years!
PETITION:
Federal agencies have a target of making their buildings carbon neutral by 2030. We can do better, much better than that. We need a WWII sized effort for the health of our country and that of future generations.
The Federal Reserve provides low interest loans for cars and houses. They can also, for the good of the economy and the future of our country, provide the same low interest loans for a nationwide massive effort to transition to 100% Renewable Energy. We did this before with the Liberty Ship building effort of WWII to help us win the war. We can win the Climate Victory with a "Liberty From Fossil Fuels Through Renewable Energy" massive manufacturing of Renewable energy machines. I have all the details and have prepared a poster campaign to get all Americans on board with the effort like we did during WWII.
Mr. President, as you know, during WWII and up to this day, a banner was (and is) flown by Blue Star Mothers (son in the service) signifying their sacrifice and patriotic commitment to the national effort in the war front and the home front. Posters were widely distributed that asked people to save fuel with a mature lady (with the Blue Star Banner in the background) asking, "Don't you want our boys to have a chance to come home?".
We can do the same thing now and get everyone on board to win the Climate Victory. The banner for all patriotic Americans to fly is the Green Leaf Star American in the Service of Future Generations" banner/flag.
My first poster in the series has a lady (with the Green Leaf Star Banner in the background) asking, "Won't you give our children a chance for a healthy future?".
The effort would provide an explosion of jobs and a real chance at an economy that bioremediates the environment, rather than trashing it. Everyone, rich and poor would benefit. It's a win, win, Mr. President, despite the fierce opposition you will encounter from the polluting nuclear and fossil fuels vested interests. We can no longer afford profit over planet business as usual.
We all need to work together in the Service of Future Generations to regain a viable biosphere. Ubi jus ibi remedium.
Let's get it done!
http://renewablerevolution.createaforum.com/general-discussion/historical-documentaries/msg1268/#msg1268
http://renewablerevolution.createaforum.com/general-discussion/historical-documentaries/msg1273/#msg1273
http://renewablerevolution.createaforum.com/general-discussion/historical-documentaries/msg1275/#msg1275
http://thecreativeactionnetwork.com/10540
http://thecreativeactionnetwork.com/10532
Respectfully,
Anthony G. Gelbert
Colchester, Vermont
Green Leaf Star American in the Service of Future Generations
http://www.createaforum.com/gallery/renewablerevolution/3-110614145742.jpeg
http://renewablerevolution.createaforum.com/index.php
Demand Liberty From Fossil Fuels Through 100% Renewable Energy WWII Style Effort
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/420/529/456/demand-liberty-from-fossil-fuels-through-100-renewable-energy-wwii-style-effort
The numbers I crunched Proving WE can do the same thing for Liberty From Fossil Fuels (Climate Victory) that we did with Liberty Ships (WWII Victory):
It's time for Americans in the Service of Future Generations to GET WITH THE PROGRAM! We did it with the massive, industrial scale building of Liberty Ships in WWII. We can do it again with the massive, industrial scale building of Liberty Renewable Energy Machines.
Country of Origin: United States of America
Manufacturers: Alabama Dry Dock Co, Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards Inc, California Shipbuilding Corp, Delta Shipbuilding Co, J A Jones Construction Co (Brunswick), J A Jones Construction Co (Panama City), Kaiser Co, Marinship Corp, New England Shipbuilding Corp, North Carolina Shipbuilding Co, Oregon Shipbuilding Corp, Permanente Metals Co, St Johns River Shipbuilding Co, Southeastern Shipbuilding Corp, Todd Houston Shipbuilding Corp, Walsh-Kaiser Co.
Major Variants: General cargo, tanker, collier, (modifications also boxed aircraft transport, tank transport, hospital ship, troopship).
Role: Cargo transport, troop transport, hospital ship, repair ship.
Operated by: United States of America, Great Britain, (small quantity also Norway, Belgium, Soviet Union, France, Greece, Netherlands and other nations).
First Laid Down: 30th April 1941
Last Completed: 30th October 1945
Units: 2,711 ships laid down, 2,710 entered service.
Despite being initially labelled an 'ugly duckling' by the newspapers, and intended to be expendable if necessary, the ships eventually caught the imagination of the public. They proved to be easy to build, reliable and versatile, exceeding even the most optimistic expectations for their overall contribution to the war effort.
It was a project on a massive scale, undertaken with great speed and efficiency. The first Liberty ship (the Patrick Henry) was launched on 27 September 1941 (and completed on 30 December 1941), which was an incredible feat considering that just seven months previously neither shipyard nor workforce existed to build her.
Average Liberty Ship deadweight = 12,500 metric tons. (33,875,000 metric tons of ships built!).
Convert short tons to metric tons by multiplying the number of short tons by 0.907184
On the GE 1.5-megawatt model the total weight is 164 tons. The corresponding weights for the Vestas V90 are 75, 40, and 152, total 267 tons, and for the Gamesa G87 72, 42, and 220, total 334 tons.
164 x 0.907184 = 148.8 metric tons
33,875,000 divided by 148.8 = 227,655 wind turbines X 1.5 MW = 341,482 MW = .3415 TW x 20% capacity factor = 68.3 x 24 hours X 365 days = 598.3 TWh/year.
2012 wind power production United States 140.9 TWh 26.4 % of world total wind power.
1 TWhour per year = 1,000,000 MW / 8765.8 hours in a year) 114 megawatts per hour.
USA total annual electric consumption = 3,886,400,000 MWh = 3,886,400 = GWh = 3,886 TWh
3886.4 / 598.3 = 20 to 40% of US electrical demand just from Wind Turbines in less than five years of Liberty Ship scale manufacturing wind turbine tonnage.
Liberty Ship scale manufacturing wind turbine tonnage can provide 25 to 40% of US electrical demand in less than five years. Double that in ten years and add in Solar Panels, Geothermal, Tide and Undersea Current and we have MORE than 100% Renewable Energy!
WE can use the excess to bioremediate the environmental damage done in the last 100 years. WE can rid ourselves of Planet Polluting Fossil Fuels and Nuclear Poison Plants in a decade and win the Climate Victory for Future Generations! We can set an example for all the nations on the Earth of the Proper Path to a Viable and Vibrant Bounty filled, harmonious Biosphere.
Let's GET IT DONE! Our children and grand children are counting on us!
http://renewablerevolution.createaforum.com/general-discussion/historical-documentaries/msg1214/#msg1214
WWII BLUE STAR MOTHER (son in the service) POSTER
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/55/b1/39/55b139135cd522d27213a305f50cd780.jpg
The following WWII poster can be used AS IS (with perhaps a slight change in hairdo..).
WWII "Wake Up America! Civilization Calls Every Man, Woman and Child!" POSTER
http://www.posterenvy.com/catalog/vi441thumb%20-%20Wake%20Up%20America%20-%20Civilization%20Calls.jpg
Help push this and Future Generations will thank you for saving the biosphere from conscience free profit over planet human predators.
Jeez Kend... are my feelings really THAT important to you?! If they are, something's definitely amiss... Hell hath no fury like a mama grizzily! Don't mess with Mama. - AIW