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
Well, here's your answer as far as Diets are concerned. Also, visit our diet and nutrition web site, currently under re-construction: www.medidietresources.com.
"CHINESE CURSE: MAY YOU LIVE IN INTERESTING TIMES".
From recent editions of WSJ: 1) "Bernie
Sanders's Biggest Problem Isn't Socialism...It's his disdain for his
country. That's the lesson Democrats should draw from Corbyn's
catastrophe". (Referring to the recent national election results in Great Britain).
2) "Wealthy Americans Already Pay Their Share...Even
at the very top of the income distribution, the average household in
the top 0.1% has more than 31times as much income as the average as the
average bottom-quintile household, but pays almost 482 times as much in
total taxes."
3) "Religious Liberty Wins Another"...As Justice Samuel Alito wrote in the American Legion case,
"A government that roams the land, tearing down monuments with
religious symbolism and scrubbing away any reference to the divine will
strike many as aggressively hostile to religion".
4) "OK Boomer? Bernie, Biden and Bloomberg Are Older Still...By
Inauguration Day 2021, all three of them would have reached the average
U.S. male's life expectancy...At what point should age become
disqualifying? Only a fool does not think about it. At the very least,
all the candidates' medical records should be opened for inspection by
the public."
There
ya have it, folks. Now, let's watch the cockroaches come out of the
woodwork and complain that the state these people were in doesn't allow
such undercover practices. Well, we're not in court.
Maybe these
guys had a bad day at work. Make up any excuse to miss the forest for
the trees. Donald Trump (and conservatives in general) continue not to
be given a fair shake. Worse, they continue to be intentionally persecuted and lied about.
Anyone
who believes anything the mainstream media have to say in this regard
is simply an idiot, . . . or a leftist (not liberal, since they don't
exist anymore). But, I don't want to be redundant.
To quote the quotable part of the recent The Day editorial (Feb. 27, 2020): "What the public should not do is panic. What government must do is prepare for the worst, while hoping for the best." And what the media and the politicians should not do is to politicize / weaponize the story!
IN A RECENT "RAPID RESPONSE" OFFERING, I
made reference to a particularly insane Leftist piece of proposed
Federal legislation. An analysis of that fevered bill is linked here. Read it and weep'. And then GET ANGRY!
LIKE ANY MEDICAL CONDITION, THE RIGHT DIAGNOSIS IS CRITICAL. Beware
the current politicization / weaponization of the Corona virus story by
Democratic quacks...all in a continuing and desperate effort to
undermine President Trump by any means, no matter what.
MONDAY through WEDNESDAY,
February 24 through 26,
2020
YOU WANT "PRESIDENTIAL"? Read Newt Gingrich's commentary, LINKED HERE. Then
check out President Trump's report on the Corona Virus issue and the
subsequent press conference on Wednesday evening (February 26, 2020),
carried on Fox and other channels. Presidential.
GS
SUNDAY,
February 23,
2020
RR#1
THIS WILL NOT BE NEW, AND WILL NOT BE LONG. It is prompted by a recent article published in ctmirror.org (11/25/1219), entitled: "Separated By Design: Why Affordable Housing Is Built In Areas With High Crime, Few Jobs, And Struggling Schools". "Same Ol', Same Ol'": Wrong diagnosis, crocodile tears, hypocrisy and rampant self-dealing. Throughout
the last 50 years, Democratic policies have enfeebled our Black
population, paid off some of their "leaders", and produced a
lemming-like mindless following among a potentially great part of the
American scene. You want change? Start with keeping Black
families together, rather than chasing away their men and killing their
babies. Provide them with Health, Hope - and Discipline. Demand
effective competition and substitution for the failed Public School
systems, sustained in their moribund state by their wholly - owned
subsidiary, the Democratic Party. Replace "entitlements" with earned assistance for a potentially vibrant and appreciated part of the American family. Meanwhile,
the most "racist" part of our society are elements of the Black
community. Certainly, how not to make friends and influence all
the rest of us. The rest of us are waiting for you. The 2020 Presidential election results would be a great opportunity.
GS
RR#2
JAMES CARVILLE: ALWAYS GOOD THEATER - AND GOOD ANALYSIS.
ONCE AGAIN, "WHOM CAN WE TRUST?"
For alleged crimes great and small, involving persons strong and weak,
the line dividing prosecutorial discretion and prosecutorial abuse is
becoming more and more blurred. Beware!
GS
FRIDAY,
February 21,
2020
RR#1
"STOP THE WORLD. I WANT TO GET OFF".
Not me. I'm staying to the last stop.
The following are some of the stations we are passing now.
For those of you who are not regular readers of these offerings, you
might want to read the postings of the last month, to give the
following more context.
1) A review of the Netflix docu-drama entitled "Two Popes", in addition
to my article this month, is on point:
"Netflix's Two Popes Proves The Catholic
Church Is Rotting From the Inside", by Rosa Bruno-Jofre (in
The National Interest).
2) Given the "new city revival" efforts going on through the nation, a
review of the experience of "Urban Renewal" between 1949 and 1973,
including in New London and in other Connecticut cities, should be
required reading:
"City Revival - Did We Learn From The Urban
Renewal Era?",( in ctmirror.org, June 24, 2019).
3) David Collins article entitiled: "Passero Still Is Sweating Details Of
Lamont's Bad Wind Deal" (in the day.com, Feb. 18). Read
especially the last third of the article.
4) Any article offered by Professor Alan M. Dershowitz.
See: "Democrats Are Lying About My Argument",
(in WSJ Feb. 4, 2020, Opinion, pA17).
5) From the results of the most recent Democratic debate, it appears
that their ultimate "prophet" must first be crucified.
See: "Democrats Want A Prophet, Not A President",
by Bobby Jindal (in WSJ Feb. 11, 2020, Opinion, pA17).
6) Here we go again.
Before "Trump Derangement Syndrome", we had "Pope Pius Xll Derangement
Syndrome".
Now it appears to be relapsing.
"Four Things To Know About Pope Pius Xll's
Archives", (in Yahoo.com, Feb. 20, 2020).
The antidote (aka "the facts") are in my earlier posting here this
month, and also in the many postings in this website Section entitled:
" The Catholic Church", including my wife's monograph on the subject.
Are we returning to this station?
7) "Yes, But...."U.S. Medicals Schools Boost LGBTQ Students",
by Lindsey Tanner (in theday.com, Feb. 21, 2020).
As I have noted many times, biologic variations in human sexuality can
and do occur. But any decisions regarding permanent alterations in
human hormones or anatomy should never be done before completion of
puberty.
8) Regarding children's vaccinations: a NO-BRAINER, if there ever was
one. Public Safety TRUMPS!
9) Practising Without A Medical Licence!
"Wake up America. Insurance Companies
Prescribe Your Medications", by Christine Alexandra Bottone,
(in ctmirror.org, Feb 22, 2020).
No hyperbole: THE GOD'S HONEST TRUTH.
Read it'. Weep. And then get Angry and Motivated.
And the Last Stop Is Nowhere In Sight.
GS
RR#2
AND SO: WHOM CAN WE TRUST - ESPECIALLY IN THE FBI AND IN THE CIA?
This is no longer rampant derangement or craven political theater. This
is Serious.
This is straight forward country thinking
by Jeff Foxworthy
Which side of the fence?
If you ever wondered which side of the fence you sit on, this is a
great test!
If a Republican doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.
If a Democrat doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.
==============================
If a Republican is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat.
If a Democrat is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for
everyone
==============================
If a Republican is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a Democrat is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.
==============================
If a Republican is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his
situation.
If a Democrat is down-and-out he wonders who is going to take care of
him.
==============================
If a Republican doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
A Democrat demands that those they don't like be shut down.
==============================
If a Republican is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.
A Democrat non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.
==============================
If a Republican decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping
for it, or may choose a job that provides it.
If a Democrat decides he needs health care, he demands that the rest of
us pay for his.
==============================
If a Republican is unhappy with an election, he grumbles and goes to
work the next day.
If a Democrat is unhappy with an election, he burns down a Starbucks,
throws rocks at cops and takes two-weeks off for therapy.
==============================
If a Republican reads this, he'll forward it to his friends and have a
good laugh.
A Democrat will delete it because he's "offended."
TUESDAY,
February 18,
2020
AS THE MAN SAID A LONG TIME AGO:
"It's the economy, Stupid."
And this time so much more...
AMERICA IS UNDER ATTACK FROM WITHOUT AND FROM WITHIN.
And neither of those attacks is coming from President Trump.
The attack from without is coming from China, overall our most powerful
adversary. For more proof than that which is staring you in the face,
see the article by Nicholas Kristof entitled: "I Cannot Remain Silent" (in
NYTimes , Sunday Review, p9).
The attack from within is discussed in the article by Ross Douthat
entitled:
"The Bloomberg Temptation" (ibid).
"Those who choose Bloomberg should know what they're inviting: an
exchange of Trumpian black comedy for oligarchy's velvet fist."
In all of these Rapid Response offerings, don't believe me. READ and
THINK for yourselves - for your own sake.
GS
RR#2
HERE'S MORE EVIDENCE THAT, IF THE NYTIMES WOULD JUST STAY OUT OF "HAIR
ON FIRE" POLITICS, IT COULD BE A GOOD NEWSPAPER.
Read a very interesting article entitled: "Fear, Knowledge And The Coronavirus"
(NYTimes Sunday Review, Feb. 16, 2020, p7).
Once again: "Just the facts, Ma'am...just the facts".
Here
is yet another example of the status quo / self-serving Swamp that
President Trump set out to drain nearly four years ago. Only this time
it involves our Department of Defense. As the author points out, we've
been here before - in the official military attitude in the 1920's
towards planes and tanks in warfare. That resulted in America nearly
losing WW ll - and definitely losing too many of our men.
Read it. Then get Angry and Mobilized.
GS
SATURDAY,
February 15,
2020
AN "OUT-OF-MIND EXPERIENCE".
I
was recently reminded of a nearly out-of-mind experience I had during
psychiatry training as a senior medical student in New York City.
Time
was always of the essence. Among my many pending tasks, I was assigned
to do a complete work-up on a paranoid schizophrenic patient at Kings
County Hospital, a task that could take up to three hours and two or
more trips to the hospital. And this was long before the effective
medical treatments available since then for these patients.
So, I
decided to this this in one swell foop. For over two hours I sat
listening to and probing the ruminations and hallucinations of this
middle aged man.
That was almost an out-of-mind experience for me: for a short time
thereafter I could not get my thinking straight. Never Again!
"WHO'S ON FIRST. WHAT'S ON SECOND....?
As I try to keep up with this stage of the 2020 presidential election
activities, that's the best I can do...almost.
But let's try.
President
Trump's national approval ratings continue to rise, largely because he
is accomplishing the actions he promised to take in 2016. What a
concept!
Then there is this: "Are You Entertained By President Trump?"(by
Lee Elci, in The Day, Feb. 12, 2020).
Then there is "Trump's Smart Play for African-Americans"
(by Jason L. Riley, in WSJ Feb. 12, 2020, Opinion, pA17): not only
smart for Trump, but also a gift to that hypnotized and man-handled
group.
And then come the Democrats - certainly not the Party of
which I was a member for 30 years until 1990 - and for which I served
three times in elected public office. The Democrats of today have
largely lost their way, thanks to the fevered and even insane
activities and demands of the Leftists...of whom liberal but reasonable
Democrats are terrified.
That was evident when Speaker Pelosi was
stupid and intimidated enough to proceed to Impeachment despite the
losing cards in her hands.
And that is evident now in the
candidate / wannabees they have fielded: all Leftists or Leftist
impersonators - including Klobuchar and the former small town mayor
with the difficult name. Just look at their positions.
Or just read the anguished cries of James Carville, that colorful and
very savvy Democratic political consultant:
"Notable and Quotable: Cajun Is Ragin'" (in WSJ Feb. 10, 2020, Opinion,
pA19.
My
opinion right now: if you Democrats are hoping for Joe Biden or Mike
Bloomberg, you're betting on the wrong horse. Reasonable Democrats are
too intimidated for that. They will pick a Leftist - and they will lose
Big.
GS
TUESDAY,
February 11,
2020
RR#1
MORE...
See: Ransomware Attacks
Grow, Crippling Cities and Businesses,
by Nathaniel Popper ( in NYTimes Feb. 10, 2020).
GS
RR#2
IN THIS AGE OF POPES AS SUPERSTARS,
we should not forget Pope Pius Xll, who carried and protected both the
Church and the Jewish community in Italy through WW ll.
For decades this good man was subjected to calumny from many
uninformed sources.
That period was recently brought to recollection by an article about
Father
Robert Graham, S.J. in Columbia, the publication of the Knights of
Columbus (February 2020, p15). It was he with whom my wife Therese
communicated and whom she met at a seminar in Maryland in the course of
writing her monograph in 1989:
"POLAND AND THE CATHOLIC CHURCH DURING THE NAZI DOMINATION".
That
monograph In Toto and many other relevant references can be found on my
website (asthma.drsprecace.com) within the Section entitled:
"Catholic Church".
This is in reply regarding the article entitled:
"New Year's Resolutions For Concerned
Catholics: A Few Suggestions", by George Weigel (in the
January 16, 2020 publication of Catholic New York).
If there was ever an example of "bringing a knife to a gunfight", this
is it.
The predicted trials for the Church are accurate but incomplete.
The proposed responses are laudable but totally inadequate.
God's
Church will survive all of this - as it survived the heresies of the
early Church and the egregious sins of many Popes in the Middle Ages,
the excesses of the Inquisition, its more recent suffocation of Pope
John XXlll' "Aggiornamento" aborning, and the Clergy sex scandals.
But it will be a truncated vestige of its past and proper self - and a
failure to its Laity and Clergy.
I
am certainly not a theologian. I am just a life-long faithful and
thinking Catholic. I am open to being corrected and convinced by
appropriate and knowledgeable authority. I certainly do not want to
spread scandal.
But this I believe at this time as necessary for the
Church to restore its necessary authority and guidance for its many
disaffected present and former followers.
There is nothing wrong and morally prohibited regarding:
1) Married Priesthood...and Women as Priests;
2) Recognizing Homosexuality as a biologic fact for some, from
conception;
3) The "Unitive Function of Sex" as a disastrous misreading of God's
plan
for man and woman in marriage;
4)
Non-Abortive Contraception as a legitimate decision between a committed
married couple who are open to bearing and raising offspring;
5) Abortion as Always wrong, except when absolutely necessary to save
the Life of the mother;
6) Denying all pro-abortion "Catholics" access to Holy Communion;
7) Allowing divorced Catholics who took that action thoughtfully and
necessarily a path to full return to the Church.
Complete
and open discussion of these issues and opportunities, with full
participation by the Laity - the Body of the Church - would go very far
to restoring Catholics' interest and participation in a now -
vestigial Church which is in the middle of an actual although
denied schism...and whose Authority is either seriously questioned - or
worse, ignored.
In all of this, I pray for guidance from God: for myself and for the
Magisterium.
GS
MONDAY,
February 10,
2020
"CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?"
"Internet Security" is an Oxymoron.
How
long can the big tech companies keep up their charade before
individuals and nations pull the plug on them and insist on developing
a new "www", this time beginning with SECURITY rather than "Open
Source", as this one was created?
Not long, and maybe even before a nation's electrical grid is totally
compromised.
TUESDAY
through THURSDAY, February 4 through 6,
2020
I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO HAPPY TO HAVE LOST A BET.
Several
months ago, I made a $10 dollar bet with someone that House Speaker
Pelosi would not be so STUPID as to attempt to impeach President Trump
on the available evidence.
Well, thankfully she was - and is.
I
now hope that the Democrats and their certifiable Leftists continue to
do exactly what they have been doing for the last three years. That
will guarantee the re-election of the President for a second term in a
landslide.
And, if that is not enough for you, look up a Bill that has been
introduced in the House of Representative by 40 Democrats:
"THE NEW WAY FORWARD ACT". Don't believe me. Just read it.
HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE SCOPE OF MY OFFERINGS ON THIS WEB SITE?
One is "Movie Reviews: The Good, The Bad And The Ugly".
With the exception of references to excellent Netflix Documentaries, I
have found slim pickings in recent years.
Of course, "Docu-Dramas" are different: some good, some not so good as
too reflective of their authors' biases.
One which is worth viewing is "The
Two Popes".
Excellent actors, superb scenes and scenery (eg. The Vatican). And if
you have a personal bias in favor of one or the other of the Popes, as
I do, that also will resonate.
But make sure also to read the
movie review on this docu-drama offered by Steven D. Greydanus and
entitled "Papal Caricature". It appears in National Catholic Register,
Feb. 2, 2020. The writer purports to know a great deal about his
subjects; and he paraphrases Roger Ebert on this:
"The more you know about the subject matter and movies, the less you
are likely to enjoy them".
Having
lived and through Popes back to Pope Pius Xll, and having been in the
presence of and blessed by Pius Xll in1950 in St. Peter's Basilica at
the age of 17, I will continue my direct observations - and my biases.
GS
RR#2
WOW. THE IN-HOUSE PHYSICIANS AT THE NYTIMES MUST BE VERY BUSY.
Just check out Maureen Dowd's article and Ross Douthat's article in the
Feb. 2, 2020 edition of the NYTimes, Sunday Review.
("Trump, Unrepentant And Unleashed",
by Dowd).
("The Only Way To Remove Trump", by
Douthat).
With
the amount of hyperbole on parade there, you can see their hair on
fire. I just hope for their sake that there is "a doctor in the house".
GS
RR#3
MORE REGARDING MEDICAL PRACTICE,
this from ground level.
Read it and weep...and then get angry and motivated - for
yourselves.
SO YOU WANT TO PAY LESS FOR HEALTH INSURANCE...AND HEALTH?
Now, this is something you should Really Get "Woke" On".
1)
Good Health is your responsibility. Start by "picking the right
parents"...and being the right parents. Choose your mates wisely.
Genetics Counts!
2) At least 50% of illness and health care delivery
is Life-Style related: Obesity, excess alcohol use, smoking, illicit
drugs, sexually transmitted diseases, avoidable stressors, avoidable
adverse occupational exposures.... If that's you, live and die with
it...and don't expect me to pay for it.
3) Don't go to your doctor
with a "national lottery" mentality. Medical Mal-practice is a growth
industry for lawyers, not for doctors. Most adverse outcomes are not
the result of negligence - and don't lead to wins in MM suits. But
that's why over 25% of health care costs are related to "defensive
medicine": physicians and other "providers" trying to protect
themselves by over-testing and over-treating.
4) The "Medical -
Industrial Complex" is massive and growing, consisting of health care
insurers, the hospital industry, the pharmaceutical industry - and your
Government / legislators beholden to all kinds of pay-backs.
The
higher the costs, the higher the profits. You the patient, and now the
physicians who are becoming mere widgets in the system, are the fodder.
That's the diagnosis.
What is the Treatment?
A) Be aware
of your genetic background, your heredity. Learn from it and adjust
your life and actions accordingly. As an example,women with a family
history of breast cancer should know about their Brac 1 and 2 status.
B) Live a prudent life-style. It's easy, safe, responsible and
reassuring.
C)
Although it is becoming much more difficult, search for and select a
good doctor who can also be a good friend - for life. There are still
some out there, although they are ever dealing with Moral Outrage at
the stupid, unfair and cynical conditions under which they increasingly
have to operate - even the private practitioners who are still out
there literally fighting on your behalf.
D) Be a Knowledgeable
Advocate for yourself - or have one with you at all health care
encounters - especially in hospital ER's or as in-patients. It's a
jungle out there. Ask questions. Demand answers that you can
understand. Rattle the Cage. The time is long gone when you could
"don't just do something; lie there".
And demand effective changes in health care costs:
Health Savings Accounts that force you to Think about what costs you
are incurring. Self-Insure prudently.
Government
Negotiations with pharmaceutical companies regarding drug prices -
something that your legislators made it UNLAWFUL for them to do in the
Medicare Act of 2002! I wonder why.
And don't expect prior medical problems that are the direct result of
irresponsible personal Life-Style to be covered by prospective health
insurance policies.
MORE ON GLOBAL WARMING (WITHOUT QUOTATION MARKS)...
but this time a rational approach.
See: "Ignore The Fake Climate Debate",
by Ted Nordhaus (in WSJ Jan. 25-26, Review, pC3
