The problems in our health care

I just viewed an excellent interview from the PBS station’s Moyer Report. This interview with Robert Reich (who, in my opinion, is the best qualified and humane person to ever hold a cabinet position), as well as interviews with people who have been treated unfairly by the insurance companies and a whistleblower who was an executive with a major insurance company. You can view this video at: http://www.pbs.org/moyers/journal/07102009/profile.html.
.

The interviews definitely point out the shortcomings of our society when it comes to medical coverage. The corporations are getting rich off the backs of sick people. There is no humanity in a capitalistic society! The thousands of percentage markups on medications by the pharmaceutical companies, higher insurance premiums without payout, etc.... all leads to a medical crisis in our country. We are the ONLY major country that does not provide health care to their citizens.

When my husband died 15 years ago I had the option of keeping his insurance (COBRA is required to offer it after you have lost your job), but the rate went up from $17 a week to $394 a month! With three children under 14, and the loss of a paycheck, I could not handle that kind of increase - so have not had insurance since. Michigan is great in that they offer free medical coverage for children under 19 if your income warrants it - but nothing for adults who make more than minimum wage, but not enough to pay high premiums.

There are millions of people like me, who need medication and can not afford to pay for a doctor visit, much less the medication itself. We only go to a doctor or hospital when there is an emergency, and then the bills are ridiculous. I just received bills from a 4 hour visit to the emergency room (because my doctor over-prescribed high blood pressure medication and I passed out). The bills totaled over $3,000 for them to check my blood, heart, scan my brain and talk to a doctor. Regular and routine preventative medicine would eliminate many hospital visits and surgeries, and if I could afford to go to a doctor regularly could have found out that my blood pressure had gone down and the medication could have been decreased.

Robert Reich is my hero! I always thought he was the smartest member of the Clinton administration. I wish Obama had included him when choosing his cabinet. He has the right attitude, and his concern is for the "average" person and not being a “butt kisser” for the lobbyists and large corporations. Look what corporate American has done to our economy. They don't even have to do a good job and get bailouts, without strings. What a perfect idea this is for them! Meanwhile, the average person struggles to make ends meet and pay the corporations to mismanage.

You are welcome to comment on what you see. It’s always good to have some discourse on topics relevant to most of our population.

Abuse of power

I simply have to make a statement about the abuse of power by some people who are supposed to serve and protect our rights. I am not making a jab at all police officers or lawmakers, but this is aimed at the ones who think their badge or title affords them special privileges.

Recently a friend of mine was retained in the Ingram County (MI) jail for back support (I do not condone this, but it is not relevant to this discussion). While there they placed his cell phone, watch and other items in an envelope - which was given back to him when he left. Missing was the watch! Since the only people who had access to this envelope were police personnel, I am not going out on a limb to say that one of them stole it. The watch was not expensive, it had a couple special features, but nothing to brag about. When he complained they found another watch to give him - a cheap Casio, probably taken from another prisoner.

Fifteen years ago, when my husband was killed in a hunting accident, I went to retrieve him new rifle from the police department - only to find it was missing, along with the new case that was in his car. Both items were in separate places when he was found, yet managed to be missing after the police arrived. When I demanded to speak to someone about the theft I was told an officer had taken it home to clean it up for me, and I could come back in a few days to get it. I did get it, but it was not cleaned up. Suffice it to say that if I had not complained this expensive new rifle would still be at the policeman's home.

These are just two examples of the irony of the situation. Police are there to protect the innocent, jail the thieves and criminals, arrest those who speed or break the law, yet feel they are above all of that.

I once rode with a friend, who was a policeman, and he drove right through stop signs. When I said that I would be ticketed if I do that he said, "It's a perk of the job." He was not in uniform, nor was he in a police car at the time.

Lawmakers are just as guilty of usurping their authority in order to get "perks" or special treatment that is not afforded the rest of us.

I have the utmost respect for those who face danger in their jobs every day. Without their service we would have a chaotic society. What I have a problem with is that these people are supposed to be examples - following the law to show others the right way. Is it no wonder that when youths see this they think they have the right to do the same thing?