George A. Sprecace M.D.,
J.D., F.A.C.P. and Allergy
Associates of New
London,
P.C.
www.asthma.drsprecace.com
RAPID
RESPONSE (Archives)...Daily Commentary on News of the Day
This is a new
section. It will
offer fresh,
quick reactions by myself to news and events of the day, day by day, in
this rapid-fire world of ours. Of course, as in military
campaigns,
a rapid response in one direction may occasionally have to be followed
by a "strategic withdrawal" in another direction. Charge that
to
"the fog of war", and to the necessary flexibility any mental or
military
campaign must maintain to be effective. But the mission will
always
be the same: common sense, based upon facts and "real politick",
supported
by a visceral sense of Justice and a commitment to be
pro-active.
That's all I promise.
GS
APRIL FOOLS' DAY. "My Cup Runneth Over". 1) The "Drexel Professor" is mentally ill. He should be fired and should be committed. 2) George W/. Bush, I have always liked you. But you have always been an imperfect person. a) WMD'S: Really? b)
Your tolerance for the incompetent but yet insufferably egotistical
Donald Rumsfeld during all the time after the Summer of 2003 when his
incompetence became glaring. See my RR's posted during and long after
that time, while so many American military men and women under arms
were being unnecessarily killed and maimed. And you waited,
inexcusably, until the Fall of the 2008 national election year to
remove him. That is one reason that the disasterous Obama won. I still cannot say that fraud's name without !@#$%^&. c)
And now come you with that stupid comment. I know that you may be
trying to keep peace in the Bush extended family after Jebb's insipid
effort. But President Trump's Inaugural speech was right on point
and expressed the opinions of the tens of millions who voted for him -
and who elected him. If that's the best that you can do in the
public arena...go back to painting. I notice you're pretty good at that. 3)
Congress and funding for Planned Parenthood. Just read some of the
comments of the females who actively support the killing of a human
being. Hysterical...and evil. "Vengance is Mine. I Shall Repay, Sayeth the Lord." (Romans 2...). 4)
Now, the people of this town seem to have a reason for their action,
but I will bet that they are happier and more psychologically balanced
that the hundreds of millions glued to their gizmos, isolated in their
alleged "connectivity", depressed, taking drugs and committing suicide.
You poor Saps. 5) It now appears that "laws were broken", always
reported in the passive tense - but not for long -, by Obama folks who
should have known better. Erma Bombeck was never more prescient than when she made this observation" ORGANIZATIONS ARE LIKE CESSPOOLS: THE REALLY BIG PIECES FLOAT TO THE TOP".
The
delusional and hysterical Leftists like Pelosi and Schumer keep trying
to do an autopsy on a person who is still alive. But he keeps moving. What must be remembered here is a maxim we learned early in Medical School: "Piss and Pus must come out". And it will. Meanwhile, it's the politicians vs the people who elected our President. The politicians will not prevail this time. And when the smoke and mirrors clear, the "Media" will have lost all credibility...not good for a democracy.
OBAMACARE "REPEAL AND REPLACE": Not "DOA", but on Life Support, as is OBAMACARE itself. Here are three statements by careful observers that give us hope among the hopeless Jeremiads of delusional Leftists.
REPRESENTATIVE JOE COURTNEY IS A GOOD AND REASONABLE MAN.
GS
From Congressman Joe Courtney:
Over
the last two months, I held four town halls to hear from constituents
on the proposed Republican healthcare repeal bill, and received
thousands of phone calls and emails from people across the district.
The message I heard was overwhelming: do not dismantle the healthcare
system and start from scratch, rather work together to make
improvements where they are needed.
The bill proposed by
President Trump and Speaker Ryan was opposed across the board by
nurses, doctors, veterans, advocates for older Americans, and persons
with developmental disabilities. Practitioners of all different stripes
warned us that gutting the Medicaid expansion and income-based
subsidies would strip away coverage for thousands of our neighbors in
eastern Connecticut. The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office
warned, twice, that the measure would nearly double the number of
uninsured Americans and undermine our health insurance market. Instead
of moderating their bill or making reasonable changes based on these
criticisms, Speaker Ryan chose to further weaken patient protections
for emergency care, maternity care, addiction treatment, and mental
health coverage for purely political reasons. Incredibly, we also
learned today that last minute changes to the bill would harm veterans
who qualify for insurance tax credits by cutting them off from those
benefits. Eastern Connecticut is the home to tens of thousands of
veterans and senior citizens, and the harm this bill would have done to
those populations was totally unacceptable on every level. As I
said on the House floor earlier today, the vote scheduled today was a
"gut check" on who we are as a nation and our responsibilities as
elected officials.
Shortly after I spoke, the bill was pulled
from the floor and postponed indefinitely. With this development, it is
my sincere hope that Speaker Ryan and President Trump will work with
members on both sides of the aisle to craft real solutions which will
build on and improve the Affordable Care Act. That is what I believe
the American people expect of their elected officials, and that is what
I will continue to work towards as your Congressman.
Often almost as good as personal experience...and MUCH CHEAPER IN EVERY WAY. Now
comes "the nation that takes first prize in welfare-state
protectiveness...the putative paragon of human kindness: Canada."
Living the Christian ethos can be very hard. And as Abraham Lincoln
said a long time ago: "You cannot make a weak man strong by making a
strong man weak." See the following: 1) "The Ugly Truth of Canada's Welfare State", by Shikha Dalmia. 2) ADAM, THE SECOND LINK IS TO THE ARTICLE ABOUT "MONTH #13", WHICH I'LL FORWARD NOW.
See
: "Did Obama Abuse Raw Intelligence?", by Peter Hoekstra (former
Chairman of House Intelligence Committee), in WSJ March 24, 2017,
Opinion, pA15. "Mr. Trump was a little inarticulate in the context
of Twitter's 140-character limit, but it seems he got the general
picture right." "My greatest concern - the one that keeps me awake
at night - is that the awesome powers of our intelligence community
might have been corrupted for political purposes."
And if this is right, there are many "accessories before and after the fact".
GS
RR#6
THE NEW YORK TIMES WRITES A TRUTHFUL, INSIGHTFUL, VALUABLE REPORT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.
How
can that be? The Truth is actually so bad, mainly abut Republicans,
that they didn't have to distort it this time. Is that all we can hope
for from "The Newspaper of Record"? Time will tell.
OBAMACARE: Before the House Vote today, March 24. Repeal and Replace? Keep In Place...And Reap The Whirlwind?
I have been writing about Health Care issues since the late '70's, all posted on this web site. And I will not repeat myself. Look it up. But the following is a summary of where we are today, a fateful time for everyone who needs medical care - meaning everyone. 1)
ObamaCare was from its inception a Christmas Tree of Wants with no
regard given to needed Health Reforms. It is failing badly, both
financially and with regard to human needs. 2) There are many who
are against Repeal and Replace, or even Reform: the millions of people
receiving handouts with no requirements for personal responsibility on
their part; the Health Care Industry, including the Medical -
Industrial Complex, including the AMA and the ACP, that have been doing
well by gaming the system while allowing the disruption of medical care
at the physician - patient level. 3) Democrats: Very obvious: deluded; self-serving while destroying the followers they purport to serve; now "The Party of 'No'". 4)
Republicans: Devious. RINOs, serving self and big business with only
lip service for their constituents; "Conservative/
Fundamentalists"...who live a gospel of "the Perfect as the enemy of
the Good"...and who keep losing. 5) ObamaCare "Lite" vs real Reform,
beginning as eliminating some mandated coverage Christmas ornaments and
placing appropriate work requirements. 6) An opportunity for Real
Reform: Individual personal responsibility...for life-style choices and
for health care coverage desired vs. mandated (eg. Health Savings
Accounts); Cafeteria - style purchase of health care coverage from a
National insurance market with true competition; and all of the other
Reforms which I have previously proposed. Meanwhile, President
Trump demonstrated yesterday that he knows "The Art of the Deal". He is
walking away from negotiations where he is negotiating with himself.
Two possible results will be revealed today: a) the House of Representatives will either pass a Good Bill that will be progressively improved; or b)
the "Conservatives" will defeat the Bill...and will themselves be
defeated in their 2018 elections, by a host of Primary challengers and
by their long-suffering constituents. And President Trump will
then proceed with the rest of his important Agenda, leaving "draining
the swamp" for another day and another election. Good Work, Mr. President.
GS
TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY,
March 21 and 22,
2017
RR#1
FEBRUARY WAS "BLACK HISTORY MONTH" . March can serve as "Black Future Month", given three excellent articles recently published on the subject. 1) The article by Cal Thomas which was recently highlighted in this section. 2)
"The Education of an American Sage"...Thomas Sowell, an interview with
Tuinka Varadariajan, WSJ March 18-19, 2017, Opinion, pA13. 3) "'Hidden Figures' Is a Powerful Story of Black Achievement", by Robert L. Woodson Sr., WSJ March 17, 2017, Opinion, A17. Within
the substance of these three articles is a detailed diagnosis of what
has ailed and debilitated Blacks in America during the last few
decades. It has long past time for healing treatment, also
outlined and encouraged.
NOW NEAR THIS! There are Doctors and there are "doctors". That
explains the bleating sounds coming from the likes of the AMA and the
ACP as such MD organizations officially attack current efforts to
repeal and replace ObamaCare and its predecessors. That's because those
Organizations having been doing very well financially working with the
government, while their members have suffered for three decades. Please
see the attached article which describes one of the most serious
attacks on patients and their personal and financial health care -
which some of us Doctors have been fighting for years. Here I quote
just one of the related comments by an article reader: "TOO SICK TO GO HOME BUT NOT SICK ENOUGH TO BE ADMITTED. WHO IN THE HELL CAME UP WITH THAT CONCEPT?"
REGARDING THE CONSTANT AND LIKELY PERMANENT ATTACKS ON THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY. A
lot going on here, folks: psychologic fragility; misplaced religious
fervor; developmental arrest; self-interest; ignorance; cynicism;
cynicism; cynicism; and a total lack of personal responsibility. A few examples will suffice.
"Sanctuary Cities", aka Votes and no respect for the Law.
"A Nation of Immigrants"...but not of terrorists determined to kill and maim us.
"Heartless meddling with our health care"...with no attention to individual responsibility.
"Immoral
attacks on our Welfare rights"...which over the decades have reduced
large elements of an entire noble culture - Black Americans - to penury
want and academic ignorance.
"Outrageous Attacks on Womens' Rights"...including a license to kill their unborn children.
I
could go on...and I will, as long as these attacks on our President and
his administration continue. But for now, please read and re-read the
article by Cal Thomas recently reproduced in this Rapid Response
section. Not Fake Facts, but real facts and history.
GS
RR#3
GOD BLESS THEM AND US.
GS
Imagine that -- prayer in the White House.
President
Trump, his two eldest sons, Vice President Pence and wife Karen, Reince
Priebus, and Justice Scalia’s widow Maureen and son Fr. Paul Scalia,
among others, praying with Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch and his
wife Marie Louise in the White House. The time taken to publicly
pray for the Senate confirmation and future career of man who may
become one of America’s top decision-makers for decades to come is a
momentous occasion for Christians who considered Trump’s Supreme Court
pick to be a primary reason for voting for him.
FRIDAY and SATURDAY,
March 17 and 18,
2017
"BY GEORGE, I THINK I'VE GOT IT!" We have heard that President Trump is a fan of Andrew Jackson. Good selection for him. And maybe he has another mentor: Ali. Perhaps what we have been seeing in these 100 Days is ROPE-A-DOPE.
GS
THURSDAY,
March 16,
2017
HURRAY FOR THE PROCTOLOGISTS! That way, everybody gets it in the end.
GS
The AMA [American Medical Association] has weighed in on the new health care proposal:
The Allergists were in favor of scratching it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves.
The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.
Meanwhile,
Obstetricians felt certain everyone was laboring under a misconception,
while the Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted.
Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said, "Oh, grow up!"
The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it.
Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing and the Internists claimed it might be a bitter pill to swallow.
The Plastic Surgeons opined that this proposal would "put a whole new face on the matter."
The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea.
Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no.
In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the assholes in Washington.
READ THIS...AND THEN GET VERY ANGRY!
For decades, actually since the 1960's when this tool was intentionally
developed as an "open system", it has long been clear that "Internet
'Security' is an Oxymoron". What has in the intervening decades enabled
most of our 400+ billionaires to come into existence has been this
tool, this "plow-share" that has now been turned into a sword at our
throats. Why was it developed in this way, enabling what we read in
detail below? A warped sense of charity and liberality? Greed?
Treachery? Stupidity? All of the above.
I have written about this obvious vulnerability several times in the
past. And I have also said that the Internet is irreparable and needs
to be divorced from anything other than personal, social and artistic
uses - and that we need a NEW TOOL, SEPARATE AND SECURE FOR ALL OTHER
USES - AND ESPECIALLY FOR NATIONAL SECURITY. This is exactly what is
now proposed by Rachel Ehrenfeld in the article reproduced below.
The comparison with the Manhattan Project is entirely apt. Building on
the work of world scientists in the 1930's, that project barely won the
race with the Axis Powers to develop nuclear fission and the atom bomb.
We came very close to having had to learn German and Japanese - and
having had to bow down deeply.
Based on the status of our vulnerability as described herein, and until
America undertakes and develops the proposed alternative, our only
defense to the real threat of enemies destroying our infrastructure and
returning us to the Dark Ages may be our threat of Nuclear
retaliation.. that is if we can still control that deterrent from
hacking.
We need to show more sympathy for these people.
*
They travel miles in the heat.
*
They risk their lives crossing a border.
*
They don't get paid enough wages.
*
They do jobs that others won't do or are afraid to do.
*
They live in crowded conditions among a people who speak a different
language.
*
They rarely see their families, and they face adversity all day ~every
day.
*
I'm not talking about illegal Mexicans
~
I'm talking about our troops!
Doesn't
it seem strange that so many are willing to lavish all kinds of social
benefits on illegals, but don't support our troops?
Wouldn't it be
great if we took the $360,000,000,000 (that's billion) we spend on
illegals every year, and spent it on our troops!!!
A veteran
is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made
payable to The United States of America for any amount, up to and
including their life.
SUNDAY,
March 12,
2017
RR#1
AS WE PHYSICIANS HAVE BEEN SAYING FOR DECADES...
Half of all
health care costs are the result of unhealthy life-styles.
The
"repeal and replace" effort is based upon truth, individual
responsibility, choices and consequences. The Left, the Establishment
Right and its Medical - Big Pharma - Health Insurance and Wall Street
cabal want no part of that. And the old and young dependent generations
just want to be taken care of. No decisions for them, thank you.
So
who's left? Good question. But I have hope that those people
who
put Donald Trump in office will continue to be the patriots that they
showed themselves to be on Election Day, 2016.
FINALLY THERE'S HOPE FOR MY FOUR GRANDCHILDREN WHO ARE ABOUT TO ENTER
COLLEGE.
"Political
Correctness", that idiotic, dangerous and despotic demand of "Leftists"
has never been so malignant as when taking over some of our colleges
and institutions of higher learning in recent years.
But now comes a
very important article by Frank Bruni entitled: "THE DANGEROUS SAFETY
OF COLLEGE" (in NYTimes Sunday Review, March 12, 2017, pSR3). It tells
the recent story of Middlebury College; and more importantly it reports
the strong reaction of many college professors to this cancerous growth.
This
is not hyperbole. In fact, this repulsion led to the founding in 2015
of "...Heterodox Academy, a group of hundreds of professors who, in
joining, have pledged to support a diversity of viewpoints at colleges
and universities." Bruni also quotes Stephen Carter, a professor of Law
at Yale: "The downshouters will go on behaving deplorably and reminding
the rest of us that the true harbinger of an authoritarian future lives
not in the White House but in the groves of academe."
THE PARIS CLIMATE ACCORD: DECISION TIME.
Please see my extended
section on "The Arctic and Global Warming" in this web-site.
The
following is another up-date, earlier than usual and prompted by the
need in the near future for America to decide whether to ratify the
above Accord.
Some recent publications data available to the layman.
1) "The U.S. Geological Survey hails an early Spring - and ties it to
climate change". (in The DAY, 2/25/2017).
2) "Warming Signs: Is Climate Change to Blame for Antarctica's
Meltdown?", (in Paste Magazine, 2/2017).
3) "Rapid Cooling Threatens North Atlantic", (in Aljazeera, 2/2017).
4) "Climate Change Unfreezes 200,000-year-old 'doorway to Hell'", (in
NYPost, 2/28/2017).
5) "Cows Will Save the Planet...or Not", (in Sierra magazine,
march-April, 2017).
6) "Paris Climate Accord Is A Big, Big Deal", by Thomas L. Friedman, in
NY Times Dec. 16, 2015, Op-Ed.
The
article linked below, from The Guardian, offers data regarding
implementation of the Accord that comports with my earlier position: a)
that global warming is occurring; b) that human activity is
contributing to that warming, although the extent of that contribution
us unclear; c) that we have an obligation to temper that contribution,
although with no obligation to impoverish the world of now.
Under
these circumstances, I am in favor of America approving and following
the Accord. Of course, the world has not been exactly waiting for my
decision, but it satisfies my sense of duty.
ABOUT THIS WEBSITE AND ITS EVER-GROWING OFFERINGS.
First: "Chi Mi Lo Fa Fare?" Who makes me do it?
For
insight into that question, please see the quotations posted at the end
of the "About" section of this site. To those I now add: "Aspire to
Inspire...Before You Expire".
Secondly, a public Thanks to my son
Adam, the web-master who posts (and who hopefully reads) all that you
find herein. Given the pace of developments during the last 16 years
since 9/11, I have been indeed "carpet-bombing" him nearly daily with
my offerings. Thank You, Adam.
And now: two more offerings that once again demonstrate the importance
of knowing History to make sense of the Present.
1)
"All Falling Faiths", by J. Harvie Wilkinson lll (Encounter, 2017);
Book Review by Lee Edwards: "The Decade That Changed Everything", WSJ
Books, Feb. 25-26, pC7.
2) "The Allure of Battle", by Cathal J.
Nolan (Oxford, 2017); Book Review by Ian F.W. Beckett: "The Myth of
Decisive Battle", WSJ Books, Feb. 25-26, pC5.
This second reviewer
ends his piece by paraphrasing the obvservation of T.S. Eliot "...who
reminded us that there are no 'lost' causes because there are no
'gained' causes. There is only an unceasing struggle to preserve
liberty, no matter the decade."
GS
RR#3
UNA MAS...REGARDING IMMIGRATION.
This proposal, by a
distinguished and (after 37 years) retired ICE attorney, is probably
too simple, too logical and too applicable to be embraced in the
Machiavellian halls of Congress. But it would be a stroke of genius for
all legislators of both Parties to adopt, since it would immediately
guarantee the votes of millions of good and hard-working family folks,
most notably the Latinos.
See "Retired ICE Lawyer Believes
'Simple' Law Update Could Solve Immigration Problem", by Judy Benson,
in The Day (www.theday.com) March 6, 2017.
Congratulations and
sincere Thanks to Attorney Robert Bingham of Salem, CT. This
should get you out of "retirement", a bad idea generally.
SORRY, NO "POLITICAL CORRECTNESS" HERE.
Regarding Abortion, Planned Parenthood, and the recent Washington Post
article re-published in The Day with its obvious approval: "Planned
Parenthood is right, 'Non-Negotiable'".
What cynical tripe, full of distortions and errors.
As was finally admitted by a female protester recently when asked what
she was specifically protesting for, namely "reproductive rights",
these females are protesting for destructive rights: The Right to Kill.
You had better hope that your God is a merciful God.
The young guns may not understand the meaning of this, but you should!
The Roy Rogers Museum in Branson, MO has closed its doors forever.
The contents of the museum were sold at a public auction.
Roy Rogers told his son, if the museum ever operates at a loss, close
it, and sell the contents. He complied.
Note the follow-on article truly the end of an era.
Here is a partial listing of some of the items that were sold at
auction.
Roy's 1964 Bonneville sold for $254,500. It was estimated to sell
between 100 and 150 thousand dollars.
His script book from the January 14,1953 episode of This Is Your Life
sold for $10,000 (EST. $800-$1,000).
A collection of signed baseballs (Pete Rose, Duke Snyder, and other
greats) sold for $3,750.
A collection of signed bats (Yogi Berra,Enos Slaughter, Bob Feller,
and others) sold for $2,750.
Trigger 's saddle and bridle sold for $386,500.
One of many of Roy's shirts sold for $16,250 and one of his many
cowboy hats sold for $17,500.
One set of boot spurs sold for $10,625. (He never used a
set of
spurs on Trigger).
A life size shooting gallery sold for $27,500.
Various chandeliers sold from $6,875 to $20,000, very unique and
artistic in their western style.
A signed photograph by Don Larsen taken during his perfect game in the
world series against the Dodgers on Oct. 8, 1953, along with a signed
baseball to Roy from Don, sold for $2,500.
Two fabulous limited edition BB guns in their original boxes with
Numerous photos of Roy, Dale, Gabby, and Pat sold for $3,750.
A collection of memorabilia from his shows entertaining the troops in
Vietnam sold for $938. I never knew he was there.
His flight jacket sold for $7,500
His set of dinnerware plates and silverware sold for $11,875.
The Bible they used at the dinner table every night sold for $8,750.
One of several of his guitars sold for $27,500.
Nellybelle sold for $116,500.
A fabulous painting of Roy, Dale, Pat, Buttermilk, Trigger, and Bullet
sold for $10,625.
One of several sets of movie posters sold for $18,750.
A black and white photograph of Gene Autry with a touching inscription
From Gene to Roy sold for $17,500.
A Republic Productions Poster bearing many autographs of the People
that played in Roy's movies sold for $11,875.
Dale's horse, Buttermilk (whose history is very interesting) sold
below the presale estimate for $25,000. (EST. 30-40 K).
Bullet sold for $35,000 (EST. 10-15 K). He was their real pet.
Dale's parade saddle, estimated to sell between 20-30 K, sold for
$104,500.
One of many pairs of Roy's boots sold for $21,250.
Trigger sold for $266,500.
Do you remember the 1938 movie The Adventures ofRobinhood, With Errol
Flynn and Olivia de Havilland?
Well, Olivia rode Trigger in that movie.
Trigger was bred on a farm co-owned by Bing Crosby. Roy bought Trigger
on a time payment plan for $2,500.
Roy and Trigger made 188 movies together.
Trigger even outdid Bob Hope by winning an Oscar in the movie Son of
Paleface in 1953.
It is extremely sad to see this era lost forever. Despite the fact
that Gene and Roy's movies, as well as those of other great
characters, can be bought or rented for viewing, today's kids would
rather spend their time playing video games.
Today it takes a very special pair of parents to raise their kids with
the right values and morals.
These were the great heroes of our childhood, and they did teach us
right from wrong, and how to have and show respect for each other and
the animals that share this earth.
You and I were born at the right time. We were able to grow up with
these great people even if we never met them.
In their own way they taught us patriotism and honor. We learned that
lying and cheating were bad, and that sex wasn't as important as love.
We learned how to suffer through disappointment and failure and work
through it.
Our lives were drug free.
So it's good-bye to Roy and Dale, Gene and Hoppy, the Lone Ranger, and
Tonto.
Farewell to Sky King and Superman and Sgt.Friday.
Thanks to Capt. Kangaroo, Mr. Rogers, and Capt. Noah and all those
people whose lives touched ours, and made them better.
It was a great ride through childhood.
HAPPY TRAILS MY FRIENDS
RR#3
REGARDING HEALTH CARE DELIVERY...
So you think that America is in a crisis?
A little perspective here, please. How about the situation in 2030 and
2040 and 2050.
Since
I can't be sure that I'll still be in Medical practice in 2030, when
I'll be 97 years old, the following is some information gleaned from an
article in "Biosupply Trends Quarterly", Winter 2017 edition, entitled
"Healthcare Crisis".
After that, I'll offer some advice...of course.
This
is about the aging Baby Boomer Generation, born between 1946-1964. They
number about 75 million. In 2011, 41 million had reached the age of 65.
In 2030 there will be 71 million, a 73% increase. They are
living
longer...but they are not aging well: Diabetes, Arthritis, Heart
Diseases, Obesity, Hypertension.... They will need a 100% increase in
knee replacements. They will need a 100% increase in hospitalizations.
And a big factor will be Alzheimer's Disease. In 2015 there were 4.7
million of this group. In 2040 there will be over 10 million, all
needing a great deal of care.
In the above article, these present and future patients are described
as a "highly opinionated and vocal demographic".
Folks, that won't be enough for you to navigate your "Golden
Years". Herewith, the elements of a plan, also my plan.
1) Live a healthy life -style. You know what I mean.
2) Your "Retirement Plan": DON'T RETIRE! Rather, plan for a second and
even third career. You're likely to have the time.
3) Save your 401-K for your health care expenses. Sounds terrible...but
it's realistic.
4)
Explore different kinds of health care for yourself. Make personal
choices, and not only for end-of-life. Not everybody needs or wants
"everything".
5) Choose your physician(s) carefully and for the long-term.
6) Advocate to unchain physicians from the regulatory and legal morass
in which they find themselves now.
7) STAY FRIENDS WITH YOUR FAMILY!
8) PRAY.
Good Luck to all of us.
GS
RR#4
THIS IS A CALL TO ARMS...
and legs, and voices and the written word.
The
most obvious truism of the day is that "the country is divided". It
surely is, with the roots of division firmly planted in the rice fields
and mine fields of Viet Nam, a period of American history at least as
damaging to the nation as was the Civil War and its aftermath.
But
in today's division, we Americans have a choice. Do we want to engage
in a civil war or in a third Civil War (the American Revolution having
been the first). As noted by Gerald F. Seib in his recent
article, both the Republican and Democratic Parties are giving way to
"grass-roots activism" (ie. you and me). See "That's The Way The Party
Crumbles", in WSJ Review, Feb. 25-26, 2017, pC1. This is our
opportunity to engage in a civil war that will determine the course of
America for decades to come. But that will require energy, engagement
and information on our part, each of us, for the long term.
Notwithstanding
the garbage that passes for news in the thoroughly compromised "Main
Media", there are actually sources of reliable information out there.
What follows is an example reading list.
1) "The Settlements Through Israeli Eyes", by Yossi Klein Halevi, in
WSJ Review, Feb. 4-5, 2017, pC1.
2) "How Intelligence Works (When It Does), by Herbert E. Meyer,
Imprimis (Hillsdale College), Feb., 2017.
3)
Two articles by Bill Donohue in Catalyst (The Catholic League), March
2017: "Politicizing the Culture", p3; and "DeVos Will Shake Things Up",
p13.
4) "Trump Time", Foreign Affairs, March -April, 2017, the entire
edition.
If we Americans don't take this opportunity, there is an
alternative...God save us from that.
GS
WEDNESDAY,
March 8,
2017
RR#1
IF THIS STORY IS TRUE...BARABING!
IF IT IS NOT YET TRUE...HAVE AT IT!
GS
Trash pick-up
I have a friend who is president of his homeowners association in the
Dallas, Texas suburbs. They were having a terrible problem with litter
near some of his association's homes. The reason, according to my
friend, is that six very large, luxurious new houses are being built
right next to their community.
The trash was coming from the Mexican laborers working at the
construction sites and included bags from McDonald's, Burger King and
7-11, plus coffee cups, napkins, cigarette butts, coke cans, empty
bottles, etc. He went to see the site supervisor and even the general
contractor, politely urging them to get their workers not to litter
the neighborhood, to no avail. He called the city, county, and police
and got no help there either.
So here's what his community did. They organized about twenty folks,
named themselves the "Inner Neighborhood Services" group, and arranged
to go out at lunch time and "police" the trash themselves. It is what
they did while picking up the trash that is so hilarious.
They bought navy blue baseball caps and had the initials "INS"
embroidered in gold on the caps.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand what they hoped
people might mistakenly think the letters really stand for.
After the Inner Neighborhood Services group's first lunch time pickup
detail, with all of them wearing their caps and some carrying cameras,
46 out of the total of 68 construction workers did not show up for
work the next morning -- and haven't come back yet.
It has been ten days now.
The General Contractor, I'm told, is madder than hell, but can't say
anything publicly because he could be busted for hiring illegal
aliens. My friend and his bunch can't be accused of impersonating
federal personnel, because they have the official name of the group
recorded in their homeowner association minutes along with a notation
about the vote to approve formation of the new subcommittee -- and
besides, they informed the INS in advance of their plans, and
according to my friend, the INS said basically, "Have at it!"
SO, FOLKS, I THINK YOU COULD SAY THAT TEXAS INGENUITY TRIUMPHS AGAIN!
Reminder: Don't forget to pay your taxes.................... 12 million
illegal aliens are depending on you.
No apology for sending this! After hearing they want to sing the
National Anthem in Spanish - enough is enough. Nowhere did they sing
it in Italian, Polish, Irish (Celtic), German or any other language
because of immigration. It was written by Francis Scott Key and should
be sung word for word the way it was written. The news broadcasts even
gave the translation -- not even close. I'm NOT sorry if this offends
anyone because this is MY COUNTRY - IF IT IS YOUR COUNTRY, SPEAK UP --
Please pass this along. Come through like everyone else. APPLY FIRST -
Get a sponsor; have a place to lay your head; have a job; pay your
taxes, live by the rules AND LEARN THE LANGUAGE as all other
immigrants have in the past -- and GOD BLESS AMERICA!
It is Time for America to Speak up. No wonder, California is in such
financial trouble!
RR#2
Why We Need The Marines
The Department of the Navy is now assigning females to quarters in a
separate private "OFF LIMITS" area on all aircraft carriers.
Addressing all boat personnel at Pearl Harbor, CINCPAC advised, "The
female sleeping quarters will be "out-of-bounds" for all males. Anyone
caught breaking this rule will be fined $50 the first time."
He continued, "Anyone caught breaking this rule the second time will be
fined $150. Being caught a third time will cost you a fine of $500. Are
there any questions?"
At this point, a Marine Gunnery Sergeant from the security detail
assigned to the ship stood up in the crowd and inquired...
"Sir, how much for a season pass?"
RR#3
"THE BUSINESS OF AMERICA IS BUSINESS"
is a famous quotation of "Engine" Charlie Wilson.
LIKEWISE, THE BUSINESS OF PHYSICIANS IS TO TAKE CARE OF PATIENTS.
But some physicians and physicians groups have lost their way.
That has been true of the American Medical Association since the 1990's
(at which point I resigned after 30 years of membership), and more
recently of the American College of Physicians...both in misguided
efforts "to be at the table" of government decision-making. Both have
not yet realized that they have been placed "under the table" while
abrogating their responsibilities to represent long-suffering
practicing physicians. The AMA has just come out "against"
the current efforts to replace the moribund ObamaCare. The
ACP flirts with "a one -payor system" which would be a disaster for
patients and physicians alike.
Both groups have failed to call out the newly hyped MACRA health care
payment system now being implemented: an unethical scheme that pays
physicians more depending on how much less they do for their patients.
For the first time, this places the physician's self-interest in direct
opposition to interests and needs of the patient. Forget about a
physician's fiduciary duty to his patients.
If you would like to see where all of this may well lead your American
Medical Profession and your personal physicians, read the attached
article: "Canadian Docs Bitterly Divided". To avoid this, I suggest you
actively support the current mainstream Republican efforts to replace
ObamaCare.
We are seven days away from one of the most dangerous meetings of the
year; the UN Commission on the Status of Women.
I want you to meet the leaders of the organizations that are the most
dangerous in the world to men, women, and children; the leaders of the
organizations that will spend and direct hundreds of millions of
dollars to spread the sexual revolution even to Christian and Muslim
countries that do not want their poison.
Tewodros Melesse is Director-General of International
Planned Parenthood Association. He is an economist educated at the
Catholic University of Louvain, the font of much heresy in our world.
Melesse and his organization are directly responsible for hundreds of
thousands of deaths of unborn children and the spread of sexual
immorality throughout Africa and much of the developing world.
Nancy Northrup is President & CEO of the Center for
Reproductive Rights, a group of lawyers dedicated to forcing countries
to accept abortion on demand and making governments pay for it, too.
Her organization has been at the forefront of imposing baby-killing all
over the world. If there is a lawsuit against your government in favor
of baby-killing, Northrup and her crew are involved.
Help us stop their murderous agenda. Help us stop Nancy Northrup and
Tewodros Melesse. Help us stop International Planned Parenthood
Federation and the Center for Reproductive Rights, among the most
murderous groups the world has ever known. And I am not exaggerating.
"TERRORISTS ON OUR SHORES:
93 CUMULATIVE TERROR PLOTS SINCE 2001."
This
is the title of an informational poster produced recently by The
Heritage Foundation. These attacks occurred throughout the country, are
described in detail, and mostly were not known to me...and probably not
to you.
This is not an endorsement of everything that this Conservative
organization stands for, but this matter is IMPORTANT.
Please review this information, available through The Heritage
Foundation, PO Box 97057, Washington DC,
20077-7315.
GS
RR#4
WHOM DO YOU WANT TO BELIEVE: DESPERATE DEMOCRATS OR THESE REPORTS?
This is becoming "THE STORY OF THE BOY WHO CRIED 'WOLF'".
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON HERE?
And while you're at it, look up the definition of
"SEDITION".
GS
Breaking News from Newsmax.com
The
Federal Information Surveillance Act has been a hotly debated piece of
legislation, but nobody could have conceived that a sitting president
or administration would use it to spy on a candidate from the opposing
party, former Education Secretary Bill Bennett said Saturday.
"There
is no question under the law that you can do surveillance of private
citizens when they are talking to foreign powers," Bennett told Fox
News' "Fox and Friends" after President Donald Trump, in a series of
early Saturday morning tweets, accused former President Barack Obama of
wiretapping his phones at Trump Tower in October, just before the
election.
However, said Bennett, who could have conceived that
Obama, or his FBI or Justice Department, would have used the act to
watch Trump? Bennett does not blame the president for being "hot on
this one, as he should be. What will the American people think of this?"
In
February, author James Hirson reported that days before Trump's
inauguration, Obama issued an executive order allowing the National
Security Agency to share raw communications with other intelligence
agencies including the FBI, the DEA, and the Department of Homeland
Security.
Further, the Justice Department and the FBI under
Obama had been seeking FISA warrants against Trump's campaign insiders
and Trump in the last months of the 2016 campaign, mere days before
then-president-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, former President
Barack Obama expanded the ability of intelligence agencies to share
unfiltered telephone surveillance information.
RR#2
REGARDING OBAMACARE:
Repeal and Replace...or Repair?
Notwithstanding the very sensitive "politics" involved for all
legislators facing elections in 2018,
expanding
"Medicaid" is yet another "entitlement" for an ever-larger group of
people including those who can and should take care of themselves.
Where is the incentive for individual responsibility for one's health,
education and welfare? I take care of everyone, regardless of
insurance, at ever-increasing cost to me and ever-declining financial
return. I am being responsible. Is anybody else?
Singing
the praises of Medicaid is like "putting lipstick on a pig".
And
simply and markedly expanding the current modus operandi for delivering
Health Care, with all of its current warts, is Einstein's definition of
"Idiocy". Please review my approach and recommendations, proposed for
the last 40 years and outlined in my most recent Rapid Responses on the
subject.
There are no refractory problems. There are only unwilling
problem-solvers.
See also the article
entitled: "Leaked ObamaCare Bill Fires Up Debate", in doximity.com,
Health Affairs, Feb. 25, 2017.
Between
the politics involved for House members already preparing for
their 2018 elections, and the massive cost of Health Care in general,
the answer may be yes.
But there is another way if
enough of them are true patriots and heroes: REDUCE HEALTH
CARE
COSTS BY ADDRESSING THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS:
Half of all
health care costs are due to unhealthy health habits, "life-style
related". I recently heard one politician say that "personal
responsibility cannot be legislated". The Hell It Can't! Has he ever
heard of motivation, of legal coercion if necessary?
Drug costs
are much too high and are artificially propped up by Government action.
Remember the specific provision placed in the Medicare Act of 2002 by
recipients of Big Pharma graft (aka "donations")...the one that
PROHIBITS THE GOVERNMENT FROM NEGOTIATING DRUG PRICES?
Employer
provided Health Care benefits to employees, tax deductible to both,
have for decades shielded both from the results of their health choices
and treatments. Marvelous. Health Savings Accounts, properly
structured, can restore patient consideration and decision-making into
those choices.
Half of all Health Care costs are generated in
the last 6 months of a person's life. Given mechanisms for
meaningful choice (ie. Advanced Directives actually completed by the
patient and actually followed by physicians and families), a vast
amount of these costs would disappear...without any reference to
"assistance in dying:".
Now we go to the doctor and
"take a chance on the National Lottery", ie, Medical Malpractice
suits. Wasteful, unjust to all and simply a money machine for
the
Trial Bar, this situation generates about 25% of Health Care costs that
are called "Defensive Medicine" ordered by health care professionals to
protect themselves. Health Care Courts, akin to Bankruptcy
and
Patent Courts with their special expertise, would generate more Justice
at much less cost than the current "system" provides - and would
obviate the need for "Defensive Medicine".
Physicians and
related health care workers, by virtue of their position at
the
entrance to Health Care, are responsible for ordering over 20% of all
such costs. Pay them adequately (not now the case) and remove
the
unnecessary encumbrances on their professional expertise, and they will
do a better job of triage, care, coordination and education. This is
not happening now.
SO YOU SEE, YOU DO HAVE CHOICES.
ANY PATRIOTS, ANY HEROES OUT THERE?
