Health Care Reform

I know it's been a while since I posted anything with a political bent, but the time has come to speak up.

First of all let me speak to the Baucus plan. How Max is considered a Democrat is a topic for another time. For now, I'll just say this plan is a farce and a cynical person might propose that it was put forth to rally the American Middle Class against health care reform since it includes several key items that are completely unacceptable to most Americans.


* Allowing Insurance companies to charge up to 5x more in premium rates based on age is absurd and will only ensure that millions of people cannot afford insurance.

* Couple the provision above with a penalty for not having insurance and you effectively kick people when they are down. The whole idea of a mandatory insurance provision is to buffer the pool of insured with relatively healthy people tp help offset the risk associated with insuring older and/or more seriously ill people.

* Cooperatives that would be created by this plan would lack the power to negotiate rates and would therefore be rendered impotent in their ability to garner fair and affordable rates for the people who need them most.

* The lack of a public option clearly stands to appease irrational fears of insurance company executives who do not want the perceived competition that a public option could bring.

Let's hope that the other members of the Finance Committee kill this where it stands and let the other proposal from the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions committee head to the full Senate for a vote and progress towards the eventual reconciliation process.

At least we're all still talking about the issue. That, in itself, should be considered progress these days.

Parker masters the 2 wheeler

I'm back!

Greetings to all who regularly visit this blog and to those who happen upon by chance!

The holidays are upon us, so I'll start by saying a warm and heartfelt Merry Christmas to all. If Christmas isn't your bag, than happy & merry salutations to you for whatever is important in your life at this time of year.

Financial meltdown, recession, multiple wars, massive unemployment. The list of things to be concerned abut goes on and on. When things get like this, I manage to ground myself by harking back to the 3 spheres I apply in both my personal and professional life to keep from being overwhelmed.

Here they are from 1st to last.

Control - Is it within my sphere of control? Can I control the events that are unfolding? If yes, I act. If no, I move on to the next one.

Influence - Is it within my sphere of influence? Can things I do or say have meaningful influence on the events that are unfolding? If yes, I act or speak. If no, I move on to the next one.


Concern - This is where 80 % of things fall. Is it within my sphere of concern? If yes, I make note of it, I adjust my long or short term plans and goals if prudent and I move on with my life. If no, then it's a non issue and I pay it no further mind.


I know this sounds simple. It is simple. Remember the principle of Occam's Razor/ Loosely translated: "All things being equal, the simplest solution is usually the right one."


That's all I have to say for now. Merry Christmas.

Be nice.

Peace

Time to rethink our strategy...

I know it's been a while since I blogged. Life gets busy.

Now that Hilary is out and it looks like a horse race of Old Bitter vs. Young Hubris, I think we really need to look at where we've been and where we want to be.

I was once a McCain supporter. Back in 99, after reading Faith of my Fathers and watching a truly independent spirited man stand up for what he claimed he believed in, I drank the cool-aid. I believed what he said. Hell, I even bought the t-shirts!

Then, he was brutally smeared by Rove and Company. He caved in to the pressure and began the long suck up to the religious right and the Bush/Cheney machine. That was it for me. I swore then and I repeat it now. I will never vote for that man as long as I live! As the saying goes, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!"

And in the immortal words of The WHO, "We won't get fooled again!"


Now, back to the topic. Obama may not have been my first choice, but I firmly believe he is our only choice at this point.

Is he a bit high on himself? Sure

Does he think he's smarter than the average American? I sure as hell hope so! :-)

The last 7 years have been brutal on our economy. Our standing in most of the world is in shambles (certain areas of Africa & South America where we've been helping to fight aids and malaria notwithstanding). Our citizens are sorely disillusioned and we need to fix things.

It's going to be a long haul. Four years won't be nearly enough. But, it'll be a start. It will show the world that we are not all Bushites who want to democratize the world. It will show ourselves that we can do better and we will have hope once again.

And for the young 'uns reading this.

Clinton / Richardson 2008

Here's what I believe about this year's election.



We can't afford to have a new candidate for change inheriting the mess of the past 7 years. Like it or not, we need someone who knows how the Washington machine runs and who will be realistic in their approach to fixing it.

We also need a veep who has street creds in the international community, who will hit the ground running to mend fences around the world and who knows what it takes to deal with the cast of characters all over the globe.

Hillary can accomplish much of what is required on the domestic front with respect to the economy, infringements of civil liberties, lack of adequate health care and repealing the unfunded mandate that is No Child Left Behind! VP Richardson can set to work securing nuclear weapons that are unaccounted for, establishing relations with nations we've ignored for the past 7 years and, hell, maybe even open up Cuba! Be a nice play for a tropical vacation!

That's all I have time for at the moment. Clinton / Richardson. Think about it!

Relax, breathe and let it flow....

Vinyasa Flow Yoga has been one of my best discoveries over the past year. Seane Corn's DVDs are terrific and easy to follow.



A lot of you may eschew yoga has a hippie trend or have some other bias against it, but in my experience it's a great addition to life's routines that helps to keep me grounded, relaxed and able to deal with whatever comes my way.

What do you have to lose besides a few pounds and a ton of stress!

It looks as though Al's going to stay on the sidelines.

So, our next best hope to fix the mess we are in has to be Hillary!