He's dead. There are reports of a large funeral I am not hearing many complaints otherwise. They aren't going to say he is.

We finally have a President in Pakistan and a President in the Oval Office that sincerely care about the defeat of the terrorist networks that are harbored in this secluded part of the world.

Yes.

Afghanistan and Pakistan seem like a forever 'no-go' region.

Yes.

The casualities of both military and civlians are escalating. But, what the Pakistani people have done is incredible. They have placed their futures in the hands of people they elected to clear their land of vicious killers and global terrorists.

Do we say the going is getting to rough and leave or do we find ways to make peace, including the ever escalating tensions between Russia and Georgia, with countries where trouble brews and persist.

Can anyone state Sri Lanka is worse for their own war? It still needs vigilance. There were very tight elections recently. It was difficult for candidates to get clearence to campaign in some areas of Sri Lanka. I don't blame them for that. Their people died in the war to clean up the country and unit it, not to start all over again. That won't stop for at least a generation or two. (click here)



LONDON: Reporting without any ‘ifs’ or ‘buts’ the as -yet -unconfirmed news of Baitullah Mehsud’s death in a drone attack, the mainstream media in Britian credited the ‘success’ to close coordination between Washington and Islamabad in the battle against militants in Pakistan’s tribal area.

There is always a question as to what one calls peace. Does it mean that a particular government holds power by consent and demand of the populous and governs with strength and compassion as is expected in the USA? Or is peace a matter of oppression and managing the populous to the government's favor? Or? Is peace an initiative? Where by we understand each other, respect each other and work to live on the same planet together while improving the quality of lives of all the people alive in our time?

Certainly, the Pakistani people did not have peace within their country nor did they own their own lives. The Taliban are brutal men. Don't ask me what it took to 'survive the day' as a woman among them. I don't believe The Western Woman can begin to understand the oppression, the fear and the pain it took day to day to survive in a society like that. They behead women for flirting. Dear God, what kind of mind is that? I don't know. I don't want to know.

The laws within these militarized societies are brutal, cruel, primitive, arcane, any word that can describe uncivlized and heineous and it is that!

He's dead. They'll never admit he's dead. The evidence points to it.

It is a relief for Pakistanis to realize the advances Pakistan has made in such a remarkably short period of time with the best leadership within that society. Finally. I wish Benazir Bhutto could see her Pakistan today. Struggling for freedom and winning. We cannot turn our backs on that. Not with the world's worst killer there.

Maybe the task seemed to daughting for Rumsfeld and Bush. Maybe Iraq was a good side show for everyone because they were confident if the USA did not exit quickly we might have a real war on our hands.

Is Afghanistan our 21st Century Vietnam? I can't answer that. There is decades of time that has gone by with advances in technology. We are seeing some success with it? The people that can answer that question, should.

Honestly.

It seems we have an honest and sincere Pakistan government trying to achieve a goal nearly impossible to achieve in the days of Vietnam. Is it different today? I think it is to some extent. I think they have it right in Pakistan. Where the country's military has control with support from allies there is good results.

Even Bush had to face that when he allowed the alliances of Sunni Sheiks into the fold.

Where the people defend their own countries there is respect and success. If that could be achieved in Afghanistan then we have a winning plan.

But.

It also means that Russia has to come to our alliance and control their side of the problem as well. There needs to be some concessions on Georgia. What the Georgian President did was wrong. No one can deny that. He is attempting an arms build up that will begin confrontation all over again. It seems brutally unwise.

We might have another Thurgood Marshall. Nice.

...The most amazing thing about Sonia (click here), in my opinion, is that she has always embraced her Latina identity. While studying at Princeton, in a class that had just 20 other Hispanic students, Sotomayor served as co-chair of The Puerto Rican Club. Despite the stereotypes of Puerto Ricans at the time, Sotomayor never shied from her heritage. At college, she took numerous classes to learn more about Puerto Rico and even wrote her thesis about it. In her dedication she wrote, "To my family, for you have given me my Puerto Rican-ness."...

I believe Congressman Doggett has it mostly right. "...not to have a dialogue, but, to drown out any voice but their own."

I sincerely believe the Right Wing Media has 'whipped up' the opposition to the point of being irrational and there is no sense for the President to address them because they won't hear him anyway.

In most of the Town Hall Meetings I have seen or listened to there has been a lot of yelling with little discussion. They are beyond reason.

The Right Wing media is instilling fear in these folks and I feel badly for them. They state things such as the government has taken over our banks, Obama Motors and now they want to take over our health care. There is not a true word in any of it. None. Yet, these folks go on and on as if it was written in stone.

Wow.

The banks were bailed out. It has happened before. It has happened with S&Ls. You know Silverado and Neil Bush. The banks are being held responsible for the funds they took and they are paying it back. The USA Treasury is making 7% on the dollar. That is fairly steep by the way. It is to discourage them from having it happen again.

The Auto Manufacturers were bailed out and they weren't given free reign to do what they wanted with the people's money either. They had to present a 'viability plan.' From what I see so far, Chevy has got the edge. They are offering sporty cars without giving up power on the road while still getting incredibly good gas mileage. Not only that, but, their 'shares' the country now holds will go to the public in ten months from the date of bankruptcy. The 60.8% shares will go on the stock exchange for sale back to the public.

Tell me there is something "W"rong with this. See, because jobs have been saved and the American people are finally getting automobiles they can be proud of manufactured by an American company for the first time in modern history. I have yet to find fault with it, realizing all this was made possible by the "Paulson Pity Party." The man that wanted the economy to crash and burn in order for Goldman Sachs to receive huge amounts of money from AIG. It was contemplated and deployed and he just watched as the USA infrastructure became unraveled. Nice, huh? I think we did the best we could given the circumstances.

Now, onto health care. Where was everyone? During his campaign for President it was completely obvious National Health Care Reform was going to be addressed. There is absolutely nothing about the bill that will cost the Middle Class a dime over 10 years. That is what he promised and that is what he is delivering. Those might be the folks that are irate at these meetings. It might be.

But, the Right Wing media is using lies such as euthanasia will be employed. "W"rong. Grief Counceling is hugely different than euthanasia and there currently are not laws in the USA to allow it. I believe Oregon still has assisted suicide, but, we know what kind of back flips people have to go through to obtain that permisson and receive the drugs. Those laws were enacted for the primary reason of incurable cancer victims. Would it be nice to have most cancers completely curable and such laws wouldn't be necessary at all.

Grief Counceling has been around for a long, long time. It is employed with families for end stage of any disease or severe trauma. It has nothing to do with having a doctor perscribe euthanasia to a patient of any age. Yet the Right Wing Media is stating it will be used on the elderly in nursing homes in the form of euthanasia. It is flat out lie.

You know, regardless of the 'state of one's health' most Americans like their lives enough that they don't want it to end. The Oregon Assisted Suicide Law has seen few people seek the medications and even when they have the medications in their hands even fewer actually carry out the act.

The "Government Option." There is nothing evil or sinister about it. What the "Government Option" offers is a method to obtain health care as if one was a federal employee. Any person or family obtaining health care through The "Government Option" will have the right to choose from a menu of PRIVATE companies. My understanding is that it isn't free either. Anyone participating in the "Government Option" will have to pay the cost every month no differently than if they were on the payroll.

The "Government Option" has to exist. To begin with, all President Obama heard from people when he was campaigning was how nice his health care was as a Senator, but, the American people could not get such health care. In addition, it is a form of self regulation of other companies. If a preson can leave their insurance carrier without reprisal to take the "Government Option" it will cause a backlash to invoke change in the way Americans are treated by their health care providers. No company wants to loose members. Having a wide base of support by having large numbers of members is what provides the health care in the first place.

Monies collected bi-weekly or monthly are sent to the insurance companies and they are invested. Supposedly, there is far less expenditures than income to any company. That is their profit margin and it is allowed to exist. That is how life insurance companies work as well. They receive monthly premiums, invest them and pay on the policy when the insured dies. It is a sound principle. Where the American Health Care System took a turn for the worse is when the health care insurance companies increased their profits by denying claims. People died.

Now, when people are facing surgery they are locked out of for any reason by their insurance company, they can turn to the "Government Option" which cannot turn them away for coverage. They won't die anymore.

Is there something Un-American about this? Or. Is there something very American about this? I think it is the later. I believe what President Obama, the Senate and the House has done is care for the people of this country in a most compassionate way that will allow every American a fighting chance when they face illness or infirmity.

There is nothing wrong here. Nothing. Sorry to realize a sector of the public is vulnerable to Right Wing Media lies. Perhaps it is their access to the public for the purpose of instilling fear among the people we need to address. It isn't fair to them. I know those folks at the town hall meetings are good people and they think they are doing the right thing. But, they have been fed a huge amount of lies and fear by the Right Wing of this country. I find that very sad. If I believed every word said as well, I'd be scared, too.

Jesus Christ states National Health Care Reform for the USA is not necessary.

That is according to the Right Wing Talk Radio. (click here) On my trip returning from Traverse City, Michagan; hour after hour my President was defamed and his plans for health care reform was manipulated.

There wasn't an ounce of truth in the ranting and it was embarked on in the name of Jesus Christ. I listened day after day as radio stations along the I-77 Corridor defamed my President and defamed his attempts to change the face of American Health Care. It went on and on. The reason 'Jesus Christ' was interjected into the ranting was to 'justify' the manipulations and lies.

See, if radio stations simply lie and they do, they can justify it by stating it was done in the name of a 'belief system.' Therefore it is allowed. There were no compressive facts that disputed the Presiden't Health Care Policy. There was simply greed and hate of a man who has come to our Presidency for the right reasons.

So, in the name of Jesus Christ radio stations across this country such as The Savage Radio Show (click here), engaged in defaming my President his Health Care Initative and the best interests of the American People, while seeking to lace together the name of the Christian Savior to in its motivational speaking. Sorry folks, but defaming our President and his Health Care Initaitive in the name of Jesus Christ is not only fuax, but, highly immoral.

I do believe Christian Talk Radio needs to 'take a break' from using self-rightous positions and seek to bring those that need health care 'on board' to the National Initiative. A religious belief of 'convenience' seems to be the forte of the Right Wing Talk Radio Nut Cases.

...This story is one of many healing stories (click here) that were chronicled and that made it into the printed pages of our Bibles. People, who were the contemporaries of Jesus, are no different from the masses of people in our modern world. They want to live in healthy bodies.
Apparently, Jesus never avoided sick people. Rather, he called upon whatever powers were available to him and brought healing to people.
One of the games played by Bible scholars is to debate what we really know about Jesus from Nazareth. Elaborate rules are set to determine the authenticity of the material found in the four gospels.
Applying those rules, lists of “what we know about Jesus” are developed. The usual list contains eight to 15 items. I have never seen such a list that did not include Jesus was a Galilean who preached and healed....

Imagine Steel that doesn't rust.

It is all possible. (click here for 1980 article. This is not new.) There can be a polymer with greater tensil strength than steel, more diversity in use, adding life to products, lightweight. produced without air and water pollution and recyclabe and securing American jobs. (click here)


Trends in Polymer Development (click reference above)
B. C. Anderson, L. R. Bartron and J. W. Collette
Science, New Series, Vol. 208, No. 4446, Advanced Technology (May 23, 1980), pp. 807-812
Published by: American Association for the Advancement of Science


Industry earnings. Earnings in the steel industry (click here) vary by type of production and occupation but are higher than average earnings in private industry as a whole. Average weekly earnings of nonsupervisory production workers in 2006 were $1091 in iron and steel mills, and $775 in establishments making steel products from purchased steel, compared with $691 in all manufacturing and $568 throughout private industry. Earnings in selected occupations in steel manufacturing appear in table 2....

In the past the steele industry in the USA has been tragic. There needs to be a change in the way the USA addresses its need for 'raw products' to manufacture products used for the American Economy. There may not be application to the USA economy for polymer development in automobles, but, there certainly is a reasonable substitute for polymer use in manufacturing items such as washing machines and dryers.

There is no reason 'not to go there.' The USA in the past has been more than generous in allowing other countries into our markets. It has helped establish markets in other countries while filling the need of the USA. But. Enough is enough and if the USA has a better process in securing 'materials' for the manufacturing sector then by all means we are entitled to 'bring it home.'

Japan and China have economies developed by generously allowing consumers to purchase items from those countries. It does not have to continue, especially when the outlook is so dim.

Geithner Says Unemployment May Peak in Second Half of 2010

There is a way out of it. If every city and town manufactured items Americans need, it would be a return of the manufacturing sector and people would be back to work. There isn't anything that difficult about this. The Association of Mayors should be talking to each other. One city makes the gears the other city makes the hoses and before you know it an assembly plant for washing machines is employing our people again. Localize your economies. We can do this.

They did it to us. They took our money and threw up out the door. Now, if one wants a job there might be part time employment without benefits. Why should the companies that are rolling profit after profit actually compromise their bottom line to benefit the people of the country.

No reason.

I remember hearing people fearful for their jobs and their economy if vasts amount of money wasn't thrown at the banks. They believed Paulson while company after company downsized and rid themselves of costly employees.Think about it a minute. Why would any company restucture their work force back the way it was before the collapse. It far easier and less expensive to put two people to work where there was one, denying them any benefits including health care.

The fact is the USA will not find a 'boom' as with Bush and Paulson because it was all artificial. The Republicans ran up the deficit, instilled meaningless programs and called it necessary. The Bush/Paulson economy was buoyed by the US Treasury. Just that simple. Increasing the debt, while shrinking the dollar. There was a lot of money floating around, but, it was all government money, not profits The bottom line to most businesses during the Bush years had government money coming in somewhere.

Withdrawal is tough.

Thank you to the People of North Korea for expressing compassion during a difficult time.

SEOUL, South Korea – North Korean leader Kim Jong Il (click title to entry - thank you) issued a "special pardon" freeing two jailed American journalists after talks with former U.S. President Bill Clinton, North Korea's official news agency announced Wednesday.
Clinton, who arrived in North Korea Tuesday on an unannounced visit, met with the reclusive and ailing Kim for talks described as "exhaustive." It was Kim's first meeting with a prominent Western figure since his reported stroke nearly a year ago....

　
Thank you Former President Clinton for bringing understanding to the circumstances during a private visit. We appreciate your compassion as well.

North Korean Press nonspecific as to Former President Clinton Trip (click here)

August 4. 2009 Juche 98
Bill Clinton Arrives Here
Pyongyang, August 4 (KCNA) -- Bill Clinton, former president of the United States, and his party arrived here Tuesday by air.
They were greeted by Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly, and Kim Kye Gwan, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs.
A little girl presented a bouquet to Bill Clinton.



There are no press releases regarding Former President Clinton's trip on the State Department Website (click here). Bill Clinton has his own organization of which there is no mention of the North Korean visit either.

It might be an unofficial and personal trip to assist diplomatic relationships regarding the American journaists. There is an article on Current TV that states same. It would seem as though Current TV was surprised by the visit as well. It appears as though this is a personal initiative of which few people were appraised.

I congratulate him on the initiative and wish him success. The journalists worked for Current TV when they found themselves in custody of the North Korean authorities after losing their parameters and finding themselves over the border from South Korea.

Bill Clinton to negotiate release of Current reporters in North Korea (click here)
Bill Clinton, former president of the United States, made a seemingly surprise visit today to North Korea to negotiate the release of Laura Ling and Euna Lee, two reporters for Current TV and Current.com. His visit to North Korea is expected to be for two days, and if he does meet with Kim Jong-Il face to face, it may provide us with more insight of exactly how much power North Korea's leader truely has.

Let's get something straight about the 'naysayers' of the media in regard to taxation.

The testimony given by Summers and Geithner is similar to asking whether the sun will rise tomorrow vs if it is going to rain.

The sun will definitively rise in the morning, however, it depends on condtions as to what the weather will be.

That is what Geithner and Summers is saying. No one wants this economy to 'go bad.' Least of all me. We know for a fact the Obama Stimulus saved jobs and began to create new jobs. It provided opportunities across the board for expansion of a 'sustainable' economy. That will result in a wider tax base and more income to the USA Treasury.

There isn't anything 'magical' I see that will result in a tragedy the magnitude of the Bush/Paulson Economic collapse. Nothing. I would be incredibly surprised if anything started to rattle the American economy.

We have seen the worse of it.

What does that mean?

That means the 'estimates' President Obama and his Cabinet are working with in regard to 'growth' and 'taxation' and where the monies are coming from to fund health care and otherwise are sound.

Got that?

Sound.

While Geithner and Summers 'CYA' their futures by stating 'everything' is on the table, the LIKELIHOOD of change to the estimates in regard to spending and income and growth will not change.

We are good to go regardless of all the naysayers in the media !


Obama's economic team— Larry Summers, Peter Orszag, Tim Geithner, and Christina Romer

The weather at Glacier Bay National Park is (Crystal Wind Chime) melting !

I had written about this before. As the ice melts in the Arctic Ocean there will be movement of ice flows into the Northern passages and Northern Atlantic. The Arctic Ocean flows FROM the North Pacific INTO the Northern Atlantic. The question is NOT are the passages into the Northern Atlantic clogged with ice flows, but, are the passages in the Northern Pacific clogged with thick, old ice. The answer is NO. Come one already, this is not rocket science. If the Pacific is 'jammed' with 'aged' ice flows then I'll be impressed.

Ice pockets choking Northern Passage: officials (click title to entry - thank you)
By Randy Boswell, Canwest News Service
August 1, 2009
Despite predictions from a top U.S. polar institute that the Arctic Ocean’s overall ice cover is headed for another “extreme” meltdown by mid-September, the Environment Canada agency monitoring our northern waters says an unusual combination of factors is making navigation more difficult in the Northwest Passage this year after two straight summers of virtually clear sailing.
In both the wider, deep-water northern corridor and the narrower, shallower southern branches of the passage, the Canadian Ice Service says pockets of more extensive winter freezing and concentrations of thicker, older ice at several key “choke points” are complicating ship travel....

Bill Bennett is dead "W"rong and I don't appreciate his skepticism to try to effect poor opinion of my President.

This weekend Mr. Bennett made the statement that President Obama's Stimulus may not be responsible for the up tick in the USA economy. He stated it remains to be seen. He is "W"rong in every sense of the word.

　

The Obama Stimulus and his intervention with the auto industry has DIRECTLY saved jobs. Every State of the USA that has accepted Simulus dollars have saved jobs and created new ones. In new articles across the USA it is noted there have been jobs saved. The ones most frequently noted as saved are those in education. I do believe Governor Patrick has stated the Stimulus dollars were vital to continue to bring services to the people of Massachusetts.

　

So, I don't want to hear it anymore. The views of Mr. Bennett are nothing but lies and I am tired of it. At the very best they are guesses and not facts because he doesn't do his homework. None of the critics of the President ever have a better way, either. They simply want to defame the President and his agenda of change in 'hopes' the listening audience will 'buy it' and carry a poor opinion of President Obama.

　

The Obama Stimulus was vital to this country, ESPECIALLY, the Middle Class. President Obama is the only one that sincerely cares about the Middle Class other than their power to vote.

Balancing the 'needs' of the American people vs. the National Debt requires vigilance. I do believe Secretary Geithner stated only recently he would be monitoring the debt vs the economy and be sure the best outcomes are achieved for the people of the USA.

　

Gosh, Paulson didn't even try !!!!!!! He waited to let everything go to shit and then screamed for help.

　

Hello?

Turbulence hurts 26 on US flight - 4 are injured seriously.

August 3, 2009
0930:13 z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES East Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop)

There is a air mass interface within the Turks and Caicos Islands that the Boeing 767 airplane interacted with causing it the turbulence the pilot reported.

There is a vortex off the east coast of the USA. There is a 'darker line' south of that vortex in this image. It is that 'darker line' that is an interface between two air masses. The interface is where air pressure differences result causing the turbulence. There were significant injuries because the plane was at cruising altitude and passengers had their seat belts off.

The Boeing 767 is really one of the safest planes in the air. It has crashed, but, they are from human error. They are also the 'airplane of choice' for terrorists and certainly were on September 11, 2001. But, the Boeing plane itself has never been the issue in any crash. In this case, the passengers faired far better than if they were in a different plane.

When flying in any plane, always wear your seatbelt unless you have to move around. It simply makes sense. It is a safety thing.

Stopping the media from debasing its authority. I think it can be done.

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (l.) with Chris Rock during the filming of 'African American Lives'


Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. (click title to entry - thank you) has sent a bouquet of flowers and a note to the woman whose 911 call led to his arrest earlier this month.

Wendy Murphy, lawyer and spokeswoman for Lucia Whalen, said yesterday that Gates had sent her client a bouquet of flowers as an “expression of gratitude.’’ Murphy said she believed it was a bouquet of tulips. The flowers came with a note from Gates, the contents of which Murphy would not disclose....

The lawyers are all assembled. It seems like the worst nightmare for these folks. At least Dr. Gates is attempting to 'make peace' and 'propagate dialogue.' I congratulate him and his dignity of carrying out these tasks without press conferences which force all parties into their own camps.

Disarming a volatile social 'dynamic' takes a willingness by all parties and skill by the media covering it. That skill remains under developed in our USA media.

Sergeant James Crowley departed from not exploiting the 'dynamics' surrounding the arrest of Dr. Gates by holding a press conference. The White Guy actually had a 'No-No Moment' by departing from 'willingness' into 'self protection' and an agenda demanded from peers for an apology. In other words, he embarassed himself by 'creating higher stakes' for everyone else.

By stating no one apologized allowed others to understand that he was allowed to maintain 'his stance' while everyone else did the same thing. That CREATED victimization of everyone including the citizens of the nation that was actually seeking a dialogue to RESOLVE such dynamics in communities across the USA.

I rather not get into further victimization of Sergeant Crowley, but, let's get this right. Here was an officer that is supposed to be a lecturer on how to avoid racial profiling 'creating' a platform that would victimize everyone else. He 'created' a platform for police officers. A self-righteous platform that was supposed to 'cause' a particular 'stand' on the issue. It is self protectionism and disabled the openness between parties. There is no 'stand' to take within a process that is to produce a dialogue between persons and authorities. There is no 'platform,' there is simply the FACTS and a WILLINGNESS to openly examine all the 'understandings' of what occurred with HOPES of revealing a TRUTH that resolves tensions and prejudices.

What occurred with Dr. Gates should not have. It was a misunderstanding that escalated when it should have de-escalated with learning 'the truth' of the circumstances. There is something wrong here. If 'platforms' are going to take the place of facts and examination of those facts we will get nowhere. I am a little surprised Sgt. Crowley doesn't seem to know that. I believe the 'rush' to 'create' a platform for police officers regarding racial profiling speaks loudly to a paranoya within the 'police culture' that drives them into self-protection.

Then the press disembarked from the purpose of the meeting President Obama ALLOWED and NURTURED to exploit it for defamation (which is somewhat racial, by the way) with potential to capture 'a public enthusiasm' to defame as well. There was also an element of 'judgement' by the 'names and types' of beer being served as 'favorites' of the participants.

At some level the beer breweries were probably pullling for their brands. Sorry, but, this is nothing but commercial exploitation of an opportunity to improve issues surrounding racial profiling. IT IS NOT ALLOWED.

Now, I don't know what it takes to have the USA media actually demand a return of dignity to their craft, but, it is becoming an embarrassment to realize such a 'precious' moment in raising relations within communities with their law enforcement agencies turned into a nasty nest for victimizing in hopes of politicking and potential commerical exploitation that would no doubt errupt into beer brawls in taverns with all elements sequestered further into their corners.

I have a tough time believing the media wasn't a willing participant in this witch hunt, but, the purpose here is for reflection of what occurred and why 'the moment' was lost at all.

Isn't it enough to realize racism is still alive in the USA? Isn't it enough to realize we are presented with a President not only allowing transparency, but, demanding it? Isn't enough to stop the hate at every available opportunity? Or is the fact that is most relevent here the one that dictates irresponsiblity and authority defamation to 'juice' the headlines and sell more papers.

What I am concerned about through this experience with the USA media is the realization we do not know boundaries anymore of the appropriate nature of the media as opposed to the commercial exploitation of the news. You'll excuse me, but, I thought commercial exploitation is supposed to occur in the ADVERTISING and not reporting of the facts or editorial content.

The 'dynamics' of seeking a resolve to social 'dysfunction' within the USA society needs to be appreciated by the media IF they are to be participants. Sincerely. Like. What the heck does the media think they are doing anymore? Competing with commentators that lie for political gain at a corrupt media service? Wow. Not good. Not good at all.

The House is doing the 'tough' work. There is every indication they can get a bill when they return.

There is an interesting 'disconnect' I believe most Americans can identify with in regard to 'quality of care' and 'access to care. This was a Gallup Poll from May of 2008.

Most people believe (the blue column) the USA has high quality health care. But, they also state their personal experience (the tan column) is not what they believe. In other words, there is a disconnect between a person's personnel experience with health care and what they generally believe.

That is a 'phenomena' attributed to the 'aloneness' one feels when experiencing poor quality access to care or poor care at all. It is a reality that needs to be explored. The movie "Sicko" began to bring a consenus of understanding that people were actually receiving poor care on a larger scale then they believed.

For the most part, Americans believe the poor care they receive is isolated. That is not the case. We are 'told' that we have the best health care in the world. We 'believe' that. Perhaps we HAVE TO believe that to seek care and not regress from hope. The REALITY is that while we are told we are receiving good care, we are not.

The question arises as to how an American defines good and poor quality care. Do we define good quality by 'pain relief' or 'relief from worry' or 'grateful access?' Or do we define quality health care by ease of access that prevents disease, worry and pain?

The current trends in the USA in regard to a spiraling poorer and poorer quality of care are due to 'cost' and 'access.' As health care becomes more expensive, fewer Americans can afford it. The percentages of 'copays' might remain the same from year to year in any policy, but, the escalating cost drives up the actual out of pocket costs to consumers and health care becomes unaffordable.

There has to be a National Health Care Reform Bill that brings costs under control while returning function to all Americans. In other words, with new parameters on how health care costs are allowed to impact on Americans across the spectrum of income, the access will generate a far healthier nation with access to preventative care. That access stems the higher costs of chronic and potentially fatal disease.

Everyone knows that preventive care and early detection saves lives. It is vital to the USA that a new health care system will result in actually lower costs across the board of health care to the average American. With prevention of disease, costs will decrease. More Americans will have quality of life returned to them and the nation will have a healthier work force. That is a fact. Early detection saves lives and lowers the cost of health care. Stemming chronic illness through early intervention will definitively return function to lives and our economy.

The goal of any USA health care system has to be to empower its citizens to better quality of life. With better quality of life comes a better economy by people that are not sedentary, but, 'involved' in life's enjoyment. A person that is active is happier and healthier. Changing our nation's 'lifestyle' from one of 'screens and dreams' to an active and involved citizen will perk our economy and diminish our nation's costs.

There is so much more to achieving high quality health care that brings a new reality to Americans than just access. Understanding what to 'expect' from our health care system and knowing that a poor experience is the reality of many and not just one will bring a higher esteem to the demand for 'good health' and 'quality food and water' empowered by our legislative experience.

We have to do this if we want to turn the corner on 'quality of life' for our country. There is no doubt we need to change the health care system and access.


This was a survey in August 2008 by the Better Business Bureau and Gallup.

Try saying to oneself, "We do not have good quality healthcare in the USA and I have experienced that." Then realize that experience is in the majority when poor quality healthcare also includes more than medical errors and poor technique, but, also access and low costs. Americans have gotten used to being 'burdened' rather than relieved of burdens and that needs to change.

Please support the new National Health Care Reform Bills being drafted by the House and Senate and be sure Representatives and Senators understand that reality and support.

Thank you.

"Morning Papers" - Its Origins

The Rooster

"Okeydoke"

If Massachusetts is an example of the economy, the Stimulus is doing its job.

I think he did well and estimated exactly what it would take to stop the decline and initiate a return to functional and sustainable growth. I never expected a 'booming economy' to spring up over night. It's looking good.

Growth. When have we heard that word last?

...That growth rate (click title to entry - thank you) won’t be strong enough to stop unemployment from rising as employers meet increasing - but weak - demand by improving productivity of existing workers rather than hiring new ones, said Alan Clayton-Matthews, the UMass-Boston professor who prepared the report. The state’s unemployment rate hit 8.6 percent in June, the highest rate in nearly 17 years, and several economists expect it to exceed 9 percent when it peaks in 2010.
“The Massachusetts labor market is still suffering, and job losses are expected throughout the second half of the year,’’ Clayton-Matthews said. “However, the pace of job loss should decline significantly.’’...

Evidently Detroit has an incentive to build their 'green' autos. It was a lot of money that fell under scrutiny to be too much.

With these CO2 machines off the road, it will be interesting what scientists can discern as real emission issues in the USA. It demands attention. Really cool stuff. Tail pipes have always been one of the primary sources of CO2 emissions.

What could have been assessed are the States vehicle registration files to find out exactly the number of 'supposed clunkers' in the nation. This will probably make a significant difference in CO2 emissions while giving the new auto industry a 'leg up.' The 'pit fall' will be if the auto industry over estimates their future 'market' when the program ends.

This is 'kinda neat' to have everyone want to achieve a better vehicle and rid the nation of CO2. We are great as Americans. We really are. Nice. Very nice.

"Go, Obama, Go."

Who knew? It appears as though the Bush economy in the USA simply killed the auto market. I think President Obama has stumbled onto something here. Interesting. Can the nation afford not to continue the program? That's the question. It would seem with $4500.00 incentive auto dealerships have hope of liquidating their assets. That should open a real discussion with the SBA as well. What sells, what doesn't, best way to market.

I think this opens up the issue, "What is realistic as far as 'sticker price?' The auto manufacturers need to 'conference' with their dealerships to continue to propagate their success over this program. Fertile groud for better marketing and viability.

"Teachable Moment" turns into Beer Gate by media. Can "Racial Profiling" be resolved seriously? Not with this media baffoonery.

I found ABC's unenlightened view the least offensive and that isn't saying much (click title to entry - thank y0u). This 'issue' wasn't about the President or his openness to 'dialogue' which was so important when Danny Pearl was killed. The issue has become a question over whether the press is capable of facilitating dialogue. I don't believe it is.

The Cambridge Mayor is taking it seriously and while President Obama tried to appeal to the average Republican "Joe Six Pack" the media attempted to exploit the moment for viewer preference.

The sad truth is that a 'moment' President Obama attempted to invite a nation to explore a very delicate subject. I mean at one time Crowley and his peers were demanding an apology. Like what? A subject, that opens 'skin tone' to visual interpreation of 'judge and jury,' A subject that subjects 'skin color' to levels of 'untrustworthiness' and 'suspicion.'

Was the attempt, with a tone that would facilitate a constructive discussion, taken seriously? No. It was turned into a laugh over reclining back for a perspective with beer.

Perhaps President Obama needs to address media coverage of any event at the 'emotional maturity' the media is capable. "A Child" is the best 'constructive' tone the media is capable. So, let's hope the Cambridge Mayor will have better results with her conference.



I wonder. Is the media and Republicans hoping if they mimic the 'sad' career of Sarah Palin enough, the President might decide on a two and a half-year career as well?



Bottom line is that it is nearly impossible to treat issues of brevity in the USA with welcoming postures without the 'risk' of being profiled. In all reality, the 'levity' the media has welcomed a 'teachable moment' while adding a 'sense of casual conversation' to a serious issue has proved a notable failure in improving the discussion of 'racial profiling.' They failed their President. They failed a Harvard Professor. They failed a police officer that propagated the event resulting in 'ill will.' And they did it with a furvor of anger that exhibits their frustration with being unable to 'obtain a level of bloodsport' on a President they want to bring to his knees.

Wow. So much for attempting 'good will' with the press and attempting to 'spark a constructivce debate.' I don't believe the media is capable of any constructive conversation. They are only able to harness destructive coverage to Democratic goals.

What the heck did Barak do to deserve the 'wrath' of laugher over this one? Seriously. It was a perfect opportunity to bring everyone 'on board' to dialogue and the media failed royally. They opened the opportunity in a news conference and they proceeded to trash every aspect of it. Crowley was determined to not only maintain his status, but, tried to exonerate every 'ineffective' word and action any police officer anywhere ever made that had racial undertones.

Maybe it was Crowley that failed more than anyone else. His first words were, 'No one apologized...we just discussed the future and not the past.' I believe everyone else did their part and he simply 'stood his ground' which defeats the purpose of dialoguing at all.

It was a 'teachable moment' alright. It taught everyone how ineffective a national dialogue can be when invited by attempted media exploitation. I believe the nation is incapable of 'visiting' community issues in a serious methodology to 'disarm' the issue while allowing dialogue. Since the event yesterday, I believe the nation is dead locked between 'the badged' and the 'unbadged.' The police own the issue. Their leadership will have to solve it.

At this point, President Obama needs to reflect on the ability of national press to actually care about the nation and the resolve of its problems before 'inviting' them into any more open discussions. Seriously. I don't think they are capable. All one has to do is look at the headlines today and 'beer' appears there more than 'racial' anything does. That wasn't the point. The 'laugh' wasn't supposed to dominate 'the reality.'

It was amazing when almost 'on cue' the Right Wing Press started defaming our President as a racist. And then every other media service attempted to compete with the idiots.

Well.

They ALL showed there true colors this time. It was definately a teachable moment as far as I am concerned.

As a side not to the new National Health Care Reform Bill...

...at The Traverse City Film Festival, on occassion, Michael Moore has made an appearance or two. He looks wonderful. Before too much longer he won't look like himself. I congratulate Michael on learning about health care while pursuing 'the truth' as reflected in "SICKO" and then reflecting on his own health.

Michael Moore is an inspiration to the seriousness he has addressed his 'largeness.' I admire him and his level headed weight reduction. Tomorrow he'll be participating in the first 5K Run the festival is sponsoring. I don't expect him to do the 5K so much as the one mile, but, two years ago he wouldn't even fathom it. He is doing remarkably well. I applaud him.

Polls are irrelevant. They cast their ballots in November for Change and this is part of it.

I'd say differently if the polls were not tainted by political propaganda, but, it is very clear the Republicans want no change in Washington. The polls are 'effected' by political propaganda at least by 10% if not more.

We need to address a health care system that is out of control and increasingly so. The economy won't recover well if we do not address this issue.

One thing the Democrats have to realize is that health care workers are scared they will lose their inflated pay scales, including MDs. So, this is a very difficult pill to swallow for many because they are scared of the 'unknown.'

I don't trust the Wall Street polls as that is Murdock and there is nothing News Corp puts out that is quality anymore with the exception of an occassional editorial from the old staff.

...In the Times/CBS poll (click title to entry - thank you), attitudes about how Obama is handling the health-care issue have remained roughly the same since mid-June. In the new survey, 46 percent approved of how he is dealing with the matter, while 38 percent disapproved. In the June poll, 44 percent approved and 34 percent disapproved....

Also, these polls are NOT REFLECTIVE of the populous of the country since the President has been touring and speaking to citizens. We need move this forward. Time is wasting. The American Research Group is a household survey and was also completed before the President toured the states to speak with people concerned about the changes in the country's infrastructure, primarily with healthcare.

July 21, 2009
Obama Job Approval DropsAs Expectations of a Rapid Economic Recovery Fade (click here)
A total of 52% of Americans say they approve of the way Barack Obama is handling his job as president, which is down from 57% in June, and 44% say they disapprove of the way Obama is handling his job, which is up from 41% in June, according to the latest survey from the American Research Group. When it comes to Obama's handling of the economy, 47% of Americans approve and 47% disapprove.
Among Americans registered to vote, 51% approve of the way Obama is handling his job as president and 46% disapprove. On Obama's handling of the economy, 46% of registered voters approve and 48% disapprove.
The drop in Obama's overall approval rating comes as expectations of an economic recovery are extended beyond a year. A total of 44% of Americans say they expect the national economy to be better a year from now, down from 51% in June. Of those saying they approve of the way Obama is handling his job, 70% say they expect the national economy will be better a year from now, which is down from 81% in June. Of those saying they disapprove of the way Obama is handling his job, 15% say they expect the national economy will be better a year from now, which is up from 13% in June....

Look, people. I am as concerned as anyone, but, I am not scared of the future so long as we can acheive a new National Health Care Reform Bill with President Obama and the current legislature. I am more SCARED of NOT reforming health care. There are people in this country that are deserving of the 'best of our efforts' to change the face of health care. We need to do this and we need to do it now.

Thank you.