Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Bravo Laura Bush!

Just yesterday I said that I wished that Laura Bush, as a former school librarian and educator, would come out in support of President Obama's address to school students and today she did. Bravo, Laura. Her husband, President George W. Bush, addressed school students, too, as did President Reagan. It's terrific that presidents engage our young people.

Monday, September 7, 2009

Friday, September 4, 2009

Gibbs: Resistance to Obama school speech just plain ’silly’ | csmonitor.com

Gibbs: Resistance to Obama school speech just plain ’silly’ | csmonitor.com

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Now I know too many people in our country have totally taken leave of their senses. When the President of the United States can't give a back-to-school speech encouraging kids to learn, study and stay in school without people getting upset, we have reached a new and foolish low. Those that say the President is playing politics with this ought to go look in the mirror and feel ashamed. We should be thankful we have a president that cares enough about the kids in our country to express these thoughts to them.

The Republican (Catholic church) Captivity | National Catholic Reporter

The Republican (Catholic church) Captivity | National Catholic Reporter

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Lack of data hinders prevention efforts | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star

Lack of data hinders prevention efforts | IndyStar.com | The Indianapolis Star

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A 2008 Congressional Research Service Report on the issue put it bluntly: "There is no nationwide system for surveillance of suicide specifically among veterans."
How can the rising numbers of suicides among our military veterans be prevented? It's terrible enough that they suffer in war, are sent away from their families, and deal with PTSD and injury, but then to die by their own hand because of their suffering, how terrible for them, their families, for all of us.

'Surge home' overwhelms Veterans Affairs clinics | csmonitor.com

'Surge home' overwhelms Veterans Affairs clinics | csmonitor.com

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Thursday, September 3, 2009

Why so scared of the "public option"?

The fear of the so-called public option for universal health care is ridiculous. Medicare is a public option. I don't see seniors out campaigning to get rid of Medicare, complaining of rationed care or not being able to choose a doctor. Instead I know people who are anxious to become 65 so they can have Medicare.

Instead of I know people who have employer-sponsored or other private health care plans that require them to use only network doctors (not much doctor choice there!) or the plan either doesn't cover them or covers only a small percentage of the cost.

Instead I know people whose medical insurance plans don't cover needed services or only allow so many visits for a particular condition. Talk about rationed care!

The idea that the health insurance companies (translate, "big business" in it for huge profits) either could or would "do things better" is nonsense. They've had YEARS to do it better and haven't made the effort. Too much money in business as usual. They are behind the campaign to get rid of a public option because they are scared they will not have profits as high as they do now. People might begin to see through the smoke screen.

The idea that government is always a bad choice is also foolish. I don't see the public screaming that we should get out of national defense (the military), law enforcement (from the FBI to the courts, from local police to state troopers) because private enterprise can do it better. I don't see the public screaming to replace the federal highway system (federally administered but contracted to contractors) with a hodgepodge of business interests.

From what I have seen, my friends and relatives on Medicare have more choice of doctors and hospitals and less rationing of care than those on many of the private plans sponsored by employers.

My family has had federal health care insurance for over 40 years due to military service. Whatever problems we've had weren't the result of the insurance, and we are very grateful for the health care we have received. We have a choice of three plans with varying copay and deductible arrangements. One is an HMO plan.

We are extremely thankful that we have not had to fear a lack of affordable medical care or going broke because of a family illness or injury. We would like to see that kind of security and freedom extended to everyone in our country.