Tobin is way out of line, is victimizing a parishioner and is playing God.

The Law According to Tobin reads, "In the USA, in order to write Constitutional Law, every legislator must be a Jew or an atheist."

He has no right to practice 'Ex-communication' of a parishioner. No Right. Because that is exactly what the victimization of Patrick Kennedy is. Tobin is practicing politics and does not belong in the middle of the relationship Kennedy has with God.

Patrick killed no one. He separates church from state when he serves in office and he upholds his own morality within his faith. Tobin is attempting to 'instill' Catholicism on others through the powers of government. He should be removed from his status as Bishop.



Tobin is an extremist and a power hungry religious zealot. He does not belong imposing his will on the all of the USA. Patrick Kennedy is a moral man that is able to discern 'his place' in his democracy as practiced under the USA Constitution. His legislative ability is valuable to the people of the country and the state he represents.

Patrick needs to receive communion and if anything happens to that man that he is unable to garner his soul to his destiny it rests on the Zealot that has ABSOLUTELY no authority in this matter.

I am not a Catholic and no religous zealot is going to deny me the right to have a moral man in office REGARDLESS of his religion and he will NOT impose his religion on my rights under my Constitution. What an idiot.

The United States of America is founded on freedom, not religious oppression. We left the Church of England behind over 200 years ago, and I am quite confident the Vatican falls into that category as well!

This is really good news. Our 'new economic culture' is going to support local economies, including heavily, the arts. Culinary and otherwise.

Art appreciation classes anyone? How about a few more art dealers or small local museums. Local artists sometimes get their best recognition and advocacy within the culture they grew up. So a local museum that brings artists in for their first 'show' should be a welcome addition to any Main Street.

Nurturing is 'economy.' Artists 'grow' in expertise with exposure and maturation of talent. Curators are important people and also excellant mentors.

How many consumers of artwork would love to have 'originals' of artwork all over their home rather than 'Copy 200 of 2000?"



ART COLLECTING - Video
Market bouncing back in time for Art Basel Miami Beach (click title to entry - thank you)
After getting hammered during the global economic crisis, art prices seem to be making a comeback.
BY JIM WYSS
jwyss@MiamiHerald.com
NEW YORK -- When the gavel came down on Andy Warhol's painting 200 One Dollar Bills earlier this month, the usually staid audience at the Sotheby's auction house broke into applause as if they had won the bid themselves....

I don't believe 'Opting Out' is a viable option even Constitutionally. It sets bad precedent.

I'll add this right off the top. There is plenty of time for any State to discern its placement of the Federal mandate in their laws. That also applies to States that feel there should be an "option" not to comply.

It isn't as though the Democrats are sneaking up on every state and laying down the law overnight as some Republican measures of the past have done.

There is some breathing room here. And my 'understanding' that is also good precedent in 'plenty of breathing room,'- I mean 24 to 30 months maximum. 2014 is hideous, that is five years from now. I don't think so. That is like not having effective legislation for a quarter of a generation. That isn't workable.

The Federal Government has a right to pass legislation that the States have to abide by. Granted there are 'States Rights' but that is primarily in areas where Federal Statues don't apply.

Other measures such as commerce and natural resources 'can' fall under State's Right, but, in the case of Health Care whereby the people in States without Federal Statue will have 'inequality' under the law. Inequality is Unconstitutional.

"States Rights" is about handling 'difference,' primarily geographic, within the states and not about refusing to incorporate Federal Law into state statutes. It is a completely silly concept. Human health care is human health care is human health care. A person in California has no different needs than that of a person in Texas. They just don't. Opting Out is about 'political perference.' That is not a States Right issue. That weakens the USA Constitution and provides an assault to secession. No, no. That isn't going to fly.

Not only that, but, there is also a 'hostile court' in Roberts, Alito, Thomas and Scalia, and somewhat Kennedy, to human rights, conservation of resources and civil rights. If this were to go to the Supreme Court it would be better if the States brought the action against the Federal Statute rather than citizens seeking support for health care reform. There are issues of 'fiscal resources' to argue such a case for the average person, there are also issues of 'precedent' when it comes for States 'Opting Out' of Federal legislation.

It is not good precedent and 'sets up' the Federal Government for inequality issues as well as anarchy issues that might even lead to greater dissent from states like Texas that like to believe they have some kind of political 'impetus' to secede.

By setting up an 'Opting Out' version of the legislation it also states the government is simply 'hoping' people are receiving good quality health care and not demanding it. Health care is a human rights issue and in a First World country there is no excuse for any citizen to suffer without such a provision by government.

I really believe 'Opting Out' is not any measure of sustainable law in the USA. When a Federal Statute is passed, it is to be respected and not disregarded. Giving States that kind of power and setting precedent to do so, is weakening our Constitution and it is simply "W"rong.

This is NOT a "telephone call list." It isn't an individual 'preference' over a law that impacts a 'personal space' such as being inside the four walls of your home. This is about an entire segment of the USA economy and its fiscal viability, too. The Federal Government has a lot of clout here and has the right to insist on health reform across the board.

There are a lot of bad legislative habits that occurred under Bush and Cheney. The legislature was used as an economic tool with EVERY measure they passed. That is not what legislation is for. There was also 'designer' legislation such as "Terry's Law Dynamics" that if challenged in a 'reasonable' court would be viewed as poor use of the Federal Legislature. It is up to the Democratic legislature to 'set these' bad habits straight and return strength to the USA Constitution.

Tom DeLay was an idiot and sold out to 'election prowess' all the time. Due to the 'outrageous' behaviors of the Republican majority under Bush/Cheney people became transfixed on their government, especially when Social Security was assaulted, even verbally, by Walker Bush as soon as he was re-elected.

The populous of the USA should be able to elect reasonable people to office that act in their benevolence with a degree of intelligence. It is an insult to the people of the USA to have to be 'hyper-vigilant' of their legislatures. I think reasonable attention to the workings of government has a place in everyone's lives, but, daily to the volume the past administration demanded vigilance to fraud and all kinds of fiscal issues as well as human and civil rights issues is ridiculous.

People should be able to petition the government, not assault it daily. "Opting Out" is a conservative pleasing measure for Senators with difficult constituencies that want control at the 'individual' level over every action by their elected REPRESENTATIVES. It is altering the reality of the intention of USA Constitution and to that end, this mess needs to end.

"Opting Out" as a precedent is really interesting IF the USA ever needs a military draft. It is really silly and puts a lot of fiscal stress on states that adopt the law from states that don't adopt it.

Nice job, everyone. Love that picture. It has been a long road.

Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) (L), and Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) (R) watch as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) (2L) is hugged by Senator John Rockefeller IV (D-WV) (C) after a vote on healthcare reform.

...The 60-to-39 vote (click title to entry- thank you), along party lines, clears the way for weeks of rowdy floor proceedings that will begin after Thanksgiving and last through much of December.
The Senate bill seeks to extend health benefits to roughly 31 million Americans who are now uninsured, at a cost of $848 billion over 10 years....

That is cheap health care if you ask me. $85.8 billion per year to be sure an entire nation, or nearly an entire nation, is receiving health care at an affordable rate. Wellness programs and a health nation. Well done. Happy the country isn't just spending its treasury on wars and 'impoverished Wall Street Executives.' It is only just the country is doing all the people's business.

The article above is from The New York Times and below is outlined a difference between the House and Senate Bills in The Washington Post.

I think the Senate Bill probably retained some tricky language from the Finance Committee Bill and that should be scrutinized by the committee when the bills are consolidated. The House Bill is 'better' language and keeps intact the spirit of the bill.

Senate vs. House bills (click here)
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Government-run insurance
Employer mandate
...The Senate bill does not require employers to offer health insurance, but it fines employers with more than 50 employees if even one receives a subsidy through the new exchanges. The fine is equal to $750 for every person on the payroll.
The House bill requires employers to pay 65 percent of family premiums or pay a penalty based on payroll; businesses with less than $500,000 in payroll are exempt....

This is my assessment of the violence affiliated with Nidal Hasan.

Fort Hood Familes

According to people that loved Nidal Hasan, he was a peace loving man that did not want to be dispatched to a war zone. His reasons were his own, but, basically he never owned or used weapons up to the point where he purchased those he unleashed death on the soldiers at Fort Hood.

The reaction of the soldiers and the military in relation to the community was remarkable that day. The soldiers lived up to their training and saved lives and the military commanders at Fort Hood immediately reached out to the community to secure their understanding and peace of mind.

Nidal Hasan is a lone soldier in this act and it has no reflection on any 'movement' within the USA military to succumb to the violence advocated by Imams in Yemen. There is no way this is more than what it is.

Major Hasan was conflicted within his own 'person' as to how to address the 'conflict' of his 'chosen' profession, his status in the military, its quality of life and the fact he abhorred war or being involved with it.

Major Hasan was a CO. He was a conscientious objector with no way out of his profession or the military. When he was faced with being in a war zone he attempted to 'find himself' by affiliating with Imams that consented to violence.

When he confronted the issue of violence he resolved to act against 'the authority' that had control over his life and destination. That was facilitated by an Imam in Yemen, or believed to be in Yemen, that ministers 'violence' as a resolve to anger.

The Imam was 'successful' in dismantling the personality of Major Hasan because of the profound 'conflict' he was facing regarding his own values verses that of his dispatch. He simply gave over to the violent act against those that caused his anger and allowed a sociopathic Imam to evoke not only murderous rage, but, suicidal ideation to insure 'his pleasure' in the afterlife.

End of discussion regarding Nidal Hasan. The USA military investigation should definately seek to enhance mental health services to its soldiers and secure a high quality of life to the families of Fort Hood from a grateful nation.

This Imam has a significant history of 'dismantling' personality.

Basically, what is significant about the USA military experience with this Imam is the dismantling of a peacefully practicing Muslim in Nidal Hasan into a man without a country and a purpose of killing for the ideological reason of some 'idea' that Allah sanctioned such an act.

To understand the 'intricacy' of permission to kill for Allah as ministered by this Imam is to understand the alienation of citizens from their governments in nations globally.

I think the 'business card' is an American standard that was translated into an icon of importance with Nidal Hasan, illustrating the 'demoralizing' that was occurring in thoughts 'evoked' by 'permission' to act in a hierarchy of authority at a Yemen University.

Internet sites to these Imams should be blocked by most global governments. The Imam is sociopathic.

The 'act' of violence is narcisstic in its etiology. It is done for a 'reward' in the 'afterlife.' That is a narcisstic act. Pleasure principle. The ultimate 'hubris' if you will. The psychological 'triggers' this idiot pulls must be very interesting.

This is the same kind of 'portrait' that is seen with 'figures' such as the 'Sheik' in Palestine. The Sheik was responsible for random acts of violence on a regular basis. The best thing Israel ever did was to rid the planet of the jerk.

As a matter of fact, I remember Yasar Arafat being opposed to the Sheik's influence among the young men that congregated to him. Arafat was unable to win the Sheik's loyalty to the best outcome of the people of Palestine and it was a major hurdle to peace with Israel because no different that the rockets over the border, people in Israel had their lives disrupted and deaths occurred. The thing with Palestine is that it is a smaller populous and the 'incidence' of young men coming in contact and influenced by the Sheik was very high. So it was a major 'policy' issue for the USA State Department.

Not to diminish the importance of the security of the USA and its military, but, the 'incidence' of occurrence with this Imam can be controlled and isolated to those that have contact with him in Yemen if the global network works together to 'shut him down.'

That should be a priority to issues at the United Nations Security Council as well. These people are 'victims' to a sociopath.

Welcome to President Rompuy. It is good to know 'the little guy' can finish first!

“I will remain discreet.”


Belgian Herman Van Rompuy selected in a closed-door meeting to be the first permanent president of the world's largest economy and the chief representative of 500 million people.


Europe chooses a quiet president (click title to entry - thank you)
Doug Saunders
London — From Friday's Globe and Mail Published on Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009 10:45PM EST Last updated on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 2:59AM EST
...Europeans had barely finished their dinners Thursday night when they were introduced to their George Washington, the man who had been selected by the leaders of their countries in a closed-door meeting to be the first permanent president of the world's largest economy and the chief representative of 500 million people.
It was the shock of the strange. Few in Europe have heard of Herman Van Rompuy, the Belgian head of government, and many were doubtless startled by what they saw: a bespectacled man whose dishevelled hair producing a mad-scientist aura, avoiding eye contact with the camera as he spoke shyly in three languages and made a most unpresidential pledge: “I will remain discreet.”...

The Iraqi Nation has oil income. If the Iraqi government is not stable enough to finish projects, it is not the problem of the USA military.

The picture below is from The New York Times and the article is at the title to this entry.

The people of the United States of America has spent billions of dollars, if not trillions of dollar on assisting Iraq. We did it with the sincerest of wishes to help the people there.

If Iraq is so unstable it cannot accomplish something as valuable as a children's hospital within a reasonable period of time (four years being far too long compared to the need of the people there), then we aren't going to accomplish it in a lifetime.

Those are NOT our structures and if they fall VICTIM to sqaundering resources to complete them, employ the people and improve the life of Iraqi children it falls on the shoulders of the Central Government.

We are finished in Iraq. If 'contractors' want to remain behind to work for the government there then they are welcome to do so, but, we aren't paying their salaries anymore either!

A construction worker at the site of the Basra Children's Hospital in southern Iraq. Its completion has been delayed by more than four years, and it is still not ready.



...But there are growing concerns among American officials that Iraq will not be able to adequately maintain the facilities once the Americans have left, potentially wasting hundreds of millions of dollars and jeopardizing Iraq’s ability to provide basic services to its people....

Carl Levin and Joe Lieberman are "W"rong. Dead wrong. Their approach 'politicizes' the act of violence.

Could either of these men lead a terrorist network?

ONLY if orchestrated to have a 'greater meaning' through propaganda that directed an entire military.

The picture below is from the Washington Post and the article that accompanies it is at the title to the entry.

What Nidal Hasan did was NOT terrorism.

What occurred on September 11, 2001 IS.

Is it because of the 'volume' of the violence that September 11, 2001 is an act of terrorism? No.

Was the violence, anger and hatred of Timothy McVeigh terrorism as his act was more damaging and included a building? No. Although the argument can be made when one includes Terry Nichols and others.

However, the 'network' Timothy McVeigh belonged to was superficial in its ability to organize against the people of the USA and was isolated to the incident that occurred. Therefore, McVeigh and Nichols acted TOGETHER to carry out the attacks in Oklahoma City, but, they had NO CAPACITY to carry out more!

Terrorism is COMMITTED by a terrorist network such as al Qaeda. It is why the USA declared war with the nation of Afghanistan after the attacks of al Qaeda that killed thousands of people.

Terrorism is the act of people engaged in a war against humanity that leads to greater danger to the populous of a country. Are the suicide bombings in Iraq, Afghansitan, Israel and other places acts of terrorism? Yes. Why? Because they are conducted with the THREAT OF MORE. And that 'threat' is connected with human beings CONSENTING to carry out more violence in the same manner to obtain an ideological goal.

Is having contact with a radical Islamic Imam an act of terrorism? No.

It is however suspicious and why it wasn't questioned with Hasan is because of his 'military status.' He was an officer and it was concluded when investigated by the military that he was engaged in research in regard to his practice in psychiatry.

Professionals at any point in their career are 'granted' authority to act within their capacity to do so. That is especially true in the military where 'authority' is granted because of rank. If military investigators found that Nidal Hasan was in contact with this Imam and questioned him, they would give him the benefit of the doubt considering his rank and his status.

That would be true if the Secretary of Defense did the same thing. Scary thought to think Secretary Gates might have that kind of contact, right?

"W"rong.

Why?

Because all Secretary Gates can do is issue orders to the USA military to act. Any act of terrorism ordered by Secretary Gates would be stopped with the next person he spoke to. The ONLY capacity Secretary Gates has in this 'rank' is to do what Nidal Hasan did and seek to be full of hatred toward the military structure he found authority within and act in a single act of violence.

That is ALL any military personnel can do and it is why the USA miltiary is NOT a threat to the people of the USA and/or any other country, except, when propaganda wars against the American people are carried out, ie: The war into Iraq.

It is why the media is guilty as hell of propaganda surrounding this case and accusing the violence to the status of September 11th by a misguided and conflicted Muslim in the ranks of the USA military.

Nidal Hasan acted ALONE. There is NO further danger to the people of the USA and his contact with the Muslim Imam in question was isolated. What occurred is troubling. It occurred among people most near and dear to our democracy and we are extremely worried about this occurrence and its propagation, HOWEVER, this is NOT terrorism and this is NOT an ideological issue with Islam and its practice in a peaceful manner.

What Nidal Hasan is guilty of is murder. He acted alone as LONE WOLF does and caused the death of people dedicated to defending this country. It is NOT an act of terrorism and it never will be in a way that will wage war anywhere else in this world. Absolutely not!

The military investigation will be welcome and hopefully will include strong recommendations as to 'containment' of authority to the individual involved when this occurs UNTIL the individual is found to be 'completely' harmless. It might be that the 'intelligence capacity' of the people within its ranks has to be expanded and perhaps an 'Anti-violence' Task Force established to stop not only 'murderous acts,' but, also suicide among the soliders that serve this country.

I find the statements that Nidal Hasan is a terrorist acting in a form of terrorist act irresponsible, misguided and completely stupid UNLESS he is proven to be connected to a greater and organized threat.

file - This Oct. 2008 file photo by Muhammad ud-Deen shows Imam Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen. The imam, who communicated with the Fort Hood shooting suspect Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan, said he did not pressure Hasan to harm Americans, The Washington Post reported Monday, Nov 16, 2009. (AP Photo/Muhammad ud-Deen, File)
Photo Credit: AP Photo

I love this. This is wonderful. I congratulate Sens. Reid, Nelson, Lincoln and Landrieu for really talking to each other. This is progress!!

Who cares about the Republicans, they are stuck in "The Land of No," and have nothing but lies, innuendos and fear working for them. The Democrats are making history. The Republicans should be so lucky.

Let's get down to brass tacks here. This is incredible stuff. This is an accomplishment no other Congress or President has been able to accomplish for nearly a century. I am proud of my country, I don't care what anyone else thinks. This is magnificent use of our Democracy and it is really working. People of the USA are going to be better for this initiative. Who cares what Republicans think? They hate this country and simply claim the right to use it for their own purpose. The Democrats are making this democracy work for the people. This is monumental.



...Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson (click title to entry - thank you), who was among three Democratic holdouts, announced that he would back an all-important procedural vote set for Saturday that will allow the chamber to take up the wide-ranging bill unveiled this week by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).And Democratic leaders expect Sens. Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana to support a cloture vote on the so-called "motion to proceed," although the two lawmakers have not formally announced their plans...

I don't know exactly what the context of the new Senate bill is, but, I can continue what I started. Top of Page 20, I believe. Left off with line 16.

I would love to find some merit in this bill, but, there really isn't any. I thought I was on to something when it extended benefits to all those that were family of the insured. It is typical of this bill and the Senate Finance Committee evidently, to give benefits to the people in one paragraph and take them away in another.

Page 20, lines 17 through 25 and Page 21, lines 1 through 6:

There has to be special rules for guaranteed issue? And there are capacity limits to policies as to how many people can belong to a plan? That isn't even competition. THAT is allotment. I don't think so.

‘‘(b) SPECIAL RULES FOR GUARANTEED ISSUE.—
‘‘(1) ENROLLMENT.—Each offeror of a health benefits plan shall establish annual and special enrollment periods meeting the requirements of section 2236(d)(2) and may restrict enrollment described in subsection (a)(1) to such enrollment periods.
‘‘(2) CAPACITY LIMITS.—For purposes of applying subsection (a)(1), if, as determined under regulations prescribed by the Secretary, a plan has a capacity limit, the plan may limit enrollment to that capacity limit but only if the plan selects individuals for enrollment on the basis of the order in which the individuals applied for enrollment and in a manner that does not discriminate in any manner prohibited under section 2202.

Healthcare Bill: Section 2236
‘‘SEC. 2236. FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY SECRETARY, STATES, AND EXCHANGES.
‘‘(a) AGREEMENTS TO PERFORM FUNCTIONS.—The Secretary shall enter into an agreement with each State (in this section referred to as the ‘agreement’) setting forth which of the functions described in this section with respect to an exchange shall be performed by the Secretary, the State, or the exchange.............
‘‘(d) ENROLLMENT.—The agreement shall provide for the establishment and carrying out of an enrollment process which—
‘'(2) provides for—6
‘‘(A) an initial open enrollment period from March 1, 2013, through May 31, 2013;
‘‘(B) annual open enrollment periods from March 1 through May 31 of subsequent calendar years;
‘‘(C) special enrollment periods specified in section 9801 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and other special enrollment periods under circumstances similar to such periods under part D of title XVIII; and
‘‘(D) special monthly enrollment periods for Indians (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act).

This provision is mostly self explanatory once all the words are there. It states there will be enrollment periods from March 1 throgh May 31st. I don't believe that is a good idea because competition happends on a rolling calender and not just for the weeks of March, April or May. But, that isn't the beautiful part. The beautiful part is that it lays out an enrollment period, EXCEPT WHEN

EXCEPT WHEN

EXCEPT WHEN

Except when there is a 'special circumstance' between a state or states and the Secretary. That means a state doesn't have to offer an enrollment period at all if the Secretary (Under Republican Leadership) agrees it is not necessary. If enrollment periods for health insurance can be manipulated and restricted, people will fall through the cracks. They will end up 'outside' the enrollment period for one reason or another and they won't have health insurance and they'll end up breaking the law.

This kind of lassitude in the bill can't be tolerated. There has to be an open enrollment period for all people with an understanding that once they have enrolled in a health care plan they can't change for a year. If there are going to be penalites for NOT enrolling, then the opportunity to enroll has to be available all the time. There is no reason why enrollment has to be this ridge. No reason at all. Insurance companies are able to enroll people as they come into employment if it is an employer-employee relationship, there should not be any problem with a rolling calender enrollment at any time.

And there cannot be capacity limits. That is giving preferential treatment to insurance companies rather than competition. If Plan A is allowed to have 1 million enrollees and Plan B is allowed to have 1 million enrolles, but, Plan A is a better plan for the money and 1.5 million people want to enroll than it should be possible for 1.5 million people to enroll, while 0.5 million enroll in Plan B. If every plan available is allowed to fill their allotment, there won't be competition. The populous of the USA will be divided up into allotments and every insurance plan will receive their allotment as people are required to enroll in an insurance plan and it will be like a huge insurance cartel.

No, no, no !!!!

The ONLY aspect that will compete with this type of allotment enrollment is a government option that is continuously available that people can choose at any time if they find their insurance does not fit their needs or their budget.

And this is from a Senate Finance Committee, huh? Really? Because I would think the Senate Finance Committee would understand competition and NOT undermine it.

I really just want to end this reading of this bill because it is bad law. I don't dare though. There is a basic flaw in this entire 'scheme.' It places the States and States Rights before the authority of the Federal Government. The Federal Government is allowed to legislation broad ranging plans like this and have the states apply them. For the Secretary of Health and Human Services to draw up 'designer health plans' for every state, every native American nation, every province and territory, there would have to be an entirely new beaucracy set up to carry out that function. That isn't the way Federal legislation is supposed to work. Federal legislation is passed and the States apply the law. The Senate Finance Committee Bill (The Baucus Bill) is designed to fail the consumer while throwing weight to 'leaving it all intact' except for adding some Americans to the insurance rolls. That isn't what is needed here and that isn't what has to pass the USA Senate tomorrow.

This bill never stops bothering me. Page 21, lines 9 and 10:

‘‘(1) rescissions of coverage shall be treated in the same manner as non-renewals of coverage; and

Having that language in this bill, allows health care insurance companies to refuse coverage. They are not suppose to refuse coverage.

Recissions are a reversal of a contract.

So, let's say an American family enters into a contract with Insurance Company A. Their history is minor when it comes to cost of health care and they are accepted by Company A without a problem. During the year, one of the children are found to have leukemia from a toxic waste dump down the road. Insurance Company A believes it is best those responsible for the toxic waste dump should be responsible for the health care bills of the child. So, instead of pursuing the toxic waste company for reimbursement, they refuse further coverage of the family and end their contract stating the parents need to obtain a lawyer for reimbursment of cost for the child. Now, the family will have to shop for health insurance all over again, but, this time with a pre-existing condition; so their new policy will be far more expensive than the first one and there goes the American Dream.

When that happens it will become a methodology for the insurance companies to raise premiums on high risk health conditions. The provision goes on to say:

Page 21, lines 11 through 13:

‘‘(2) the premium rate at the time of renewal shall be determined using only the same categories of rate adjustment factors that were used at issue.

That is a great provision, but, it is proceeded by the allowance for Rescission. So, when a person/family runs into a catastrophic health care problem within a year where they want to resubscribe, they can be denied the opportunity to renew their policy at the same rate as when enrolled. They will be forced to buy a different policy because the law requires it and they could literally lose their home if the insurance premiums of the new policy are out of reach.

The Senate Finance Bill has no merits what so ever at all. It victimizes the consumer and lends graces to insurance companies to provide a client base that has no advantage over their profit margins. It is my understanding that Senator Baucus has worked on this bill for years. I find that fact disheartening to a reality that disregards the citizen to uphold the companies. This is pretty terrible stuff.

Page 21, lines 14 through 16 has the Secretary unilaterially rewriting the laws on a whim. Paragraph 2 is the provision for renewing with costs based on the original enrollment formula:

The Secretary may prescribe rules for the application of paragraph (2) during any period during which the reforms under this subpart are being phased in by a State.

I have a full weekend. I will post an entry or two over the weekend, but, to proceed with the reading of this bill requires attention to detail and a lot of explanation that the House Bill did not. I look forward to the debate the Senate will embark on tomorrow, but, for tonight I'll say good night and look forward to reading more on Monday evening. I don't hold much regard for the Senate Finance Committee Bill. It isn't reform. It is playing with words to allow anything goes. It is what we have now, but, worse as it requires for everyone to have health care but doesn't protect the consumer from the ravages of 'the bottom line.'

Swine Flu Declining in Some Parts of U.S.

Posted on12 September 2009 at 19:16 - the genetic composition of H1N1. Take the vaccine.

It could be the falling numbers in 'new' outbreaks of H1N1 is because of vaccination rates.

..."We are beginning to see some declines in influenza activity around the country (click here), but there is still a lot of influenza everywhere," Dr. Anne Schuchat, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, said during an afternoon press conference.
Current flu activity is higher than typically seen during the peak of seasonal flu season in mid-winter, Schuchat said, adding that she expects a lot more swine flu infections in the weeks and months to come.
The H1N1 virus continues to hit young adults and children hard. During the past week, 21 more children died from the flu, bringing to 171 the total number of confirmed deaths among children....

It would appear a strain may have mutated. I don't recall hearing anything official from the WHO about this yet. But, please keep in mind this resistant strain is due to Tamiflu, a treatment for any flu, and NOT a vaccine resistance. There is every reason to continue to be vaccinated for H1N1. When the vaccine takes effect people won't need Tamiflu.

British hospital hit by swine flu strain that resists Tamiflu (click here)
By Jenny Hope
Last updated at 1:01 AM on 21st November 2009
...Five patients on a unit at the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff were diagnosed with swine flu resistant to the drug.
The infection is believed to be the first confirmed case of a person-to-person transmission of a resistant strain in the world.
It appears to have been passed to three patients while they were in hospital. They caught it from two patients who developed flu symptoms after being admitted for other conditions....


4 Duke patients have drug-resistant H1N1 (click here)
Published Fri, Nov 20, 2009 03:07 PM
Modified Fri, Nov 20, 2009 03:17 PM
...Two earlier cases of Tamiflu-resistant infections were reported last summer in North Carolina, but Dr. Cameron Wolfe, an infectious disease specialist at Duke, said there is no evidence the cases are linked.
Resistance to Tamiflu, which has also occurred in seasonal flu, removes one of the weapons against the illness, although only the vaccine can protect patients from getting the infection. Another anti-viral drug, Relenza, has shown no weakness against the H1N1 virus.
Wolfe said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the mutant strain in the four Duke patients after doctors became concerned the patients were not responding well to treatment....

Emotional abuse (soft political targets) of women as political targets just before a Senate vote on health care.

Twice in one week, women have been emotionally assaulted by a remote government agency that has no clout. The final decision making about these recommendations comes from the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the panel of experts she enjoys. Write to the Secretary and give your opinion. Every woman's interest group should do the same.

The announcements came out prior to the USA Senate beginning their debates and votes. This is manipulation of populous opinion. This is exactly why we need reliable people to set policy and make insurance companies pay for preventive services. These are irresponsible announcements at a sensitive time for Health Care Insurance Reform. Enough already.

Twice in one week, women were targeted by incompetence. There is not ONE oncologist on any of these panels. Not one!! It is incompetence and the Secreatry of H&HS needs to take her responsibility seriously and investigate the new guidelines and why QUALIFIED persons were not on the panels for women.




Stay on track with your screenings with your doctor. There are young women now receiving vaccines, FINALLY, to stop any chance of this cancer from occurring. Until there is solid data regarding any occurrence of cervical cancer with this generation of women, they should be followed with Pap Smears with sexual activity.


The best guidelines for ascertaining the reliability of 'prevention measures' is a twenty year study. Until there are twenty years of Pap Smears with the youngest generation of women now receiving vaccines for cervical cancer it will be necessary to 'track' their progress.

By definition, fodder is coarse food for livestock, composed of entire plants, including leaves, stalks, and grain.

But, for Republicans the 'political fodder' they favor is bargaining for the next election with American lives over health care. What should have been a strongly bipartisan initiative has been turned into a platform of opposition by Republicans. Their party opposes everything about IMPROVEMENTS to health care delivery to the American people, even if they have to lie.

Fodder from fields outside the village being taken to cattle tethered in barns in Tocuaro, Mexico.

The point was raised in an article in The Philadelphia Inquirer by Paul Starr, a Princeton Univeristy professor, and it is valid one, that the GOP is opposing changes to health care as a means of political fodder to attempt to hold or win seats in elections.

That isn't really the issue that needs to be addressed in elections. The health of Americans and their longevity as related to their need for health care should not be at the heart of any re-election bid. Unless, they are supporting this much needed initiative.

What does this clearly say about Republicans?

They'll fight over anything without regard to live or death?

That is rational?

That is sane?

In who's book?

Posted on Fri, Nov. 20, 2009
Health-care historian: GOP opposing ideas it long espoused (click title to entry - thank you)
By Stacey Burling
Inquirer Staff Writer
...This time, it's different. There has been considerable grumbling from the medical establishment, but the approach Democrats are taking "doesn't really threaten any of those groups," said Paul Starr, a Princeton University professor who won a Pulitzer Prize for his book on the history of health care: The Social Transformation of American Medicine. He later was involved in the creation of the Clinton health plan.
Starr spoke yesterday to about 70 lawyers and Widener University professors and law students at the Union League. He later spoke at Widener.
This time, "one group remains unmollified, and that is the Republican Party," he said. The battle "has become a test of the ability of the Democrats to govern."...

Who put this deal together, Paulson? He was in China often enough. He was in China very frequently.

I sincerely doubt the Afghan people will be using their own copper as craftsmen. Nothing like supplying a Chinese company with a NATO military to secure the mines.

This is a concern.

I think there needs to be reassurances from China it will contribute to the BENEVOLENT development of Afghanistan if it is going to be a 'trade partner.'

While Afghanistan's people need an economy and some of this is good news to them, I sincerely hope China will be employing local people to conduct the operation. That will require the Chinese to be educating the Afghans in technical information to conduct the mining. China's mining techniques have not necessarily proven the safest and the country of Afghanistan frequently is open to earthquakes. There is much more to mining this copper than meets the eye.

China has been involved with Pakistan as well, selling Musharraf weapons. That creates tension with India. China has to take a hard look at the issues with stability to the region and address these trade relationships in a way that will benefit the 'region' as well as Chinese companies.

The possible corruption of a 'payoff' to secure the mining rights is an issue. If indeed Mr. Mohammad Ibrahim Adel is now a wealthy man, he needs to be building schools and hospitals and adding to the benevolence of the Afghan economy and not his own offshore bank account.

This is tough, because, when there are 'divided' loyalities in a country among the government when these ministers act as warlords, all kinds of trouble can contribute to local dynamics that act against the efforts of an American general.

This is case in point. Here a NATO British soldier was on foot patrol and shot by small arms fire. Why? What did he stumble into he wasn't suppose to?

How can NATO proceed when there are divided loyalities among the inner circle of the Karzai government? How can President Karzai lead a country to be united to stop the violence of the Taliban when in fact his own advisors might seek to align themselves with Taliban if their secrets are too dangerous to have revealed and how does NATO know that if the going gets tough for someone like Mohammad Ibrahim Adel and China has an investment in the copper that China won't be compelled to arm the Taliban if asked to do so.

I mean China compromised itself if it paid a 'ransom' for the rights to the copper mine. That is what a bribe is. It is a ransom to the rights being bargained for. I would hope China is smarter than this. China should seek to compel 'good business dealings' and stop any covert bargaining to make these trade relations legitimate. They aren't legitimate if there were bribes paid. The relationship China has with Afghanistan can fall under scrutiny if all the transactions are not open and honest. China is compromising the security of its own investment by dealing outside the understanding of benevolent consent. There should not be anything covert in a war zone.

There are a lot of questions here and it would be beneficial to ALL the parties involved to 'clear the air' and set up a trusting relationship that benefits the people of Afghanistan while disarming the Taliban and stopping their violence.

I don't see that the USA or any NATO country has to be the ONLY trade partners Afghanistan has, but, in the same methodolgy, those other trade partners have to agree to benevolent terms to their participation. It is the soldiers of NATO and the USA that have more on the line here than simply 'trade.' I apologize if that sounds as though I am placing trade in an insignificant light compared to the struggle to secure Afghansitan from the violence of the Taliban, but, the life and blood of the soldiers are a commodity that doesn't belong as part of any trade agreement.

China has to understand that while it is admirable to begin benevolent relationships with Afghanistan, there is a war going on in a region of the world where men sought to attack the USA through its civilian population. China cannot engage in any adverse actions to the USA and NATO operations in Afghanistan.

This could be a very interesting opportunity for all the countries involved. Recently Russia decided to sell NATO helicopters. Hard to believe NATO had to go to that extent, but, on the other hand it is an indication that Russia is more or less a full partner to end the violence in Afghanistan and secure the region.

Basically, every country involved with Afghanistan has to be working toward the same goal. If that could be accomplished we will see a secure Pakistan and Afghanistan. The region will actually provide some kind of decent quality of life to its people. A lot is going on with Afghanistan and the corruption has to end. But, it has to end with the efforts of all involved, not just NATO and the USA as a cheerleading section.

Russian helicopters for NATO's war in Afghanistan (click here)
01:3704/11/2009
MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti military commentator Ilya Kramnik) - Russia is ready to provide NATO with helicopters for its war in Afghanistan - on commercial terms.
Dmitry Shugayev, general director of the state-owned corporation Russian Technology, made this announcement last week at a meeting in Brussels with officials in charge of logistics for NATO forces.
During its operations in Afghanistan, the alliance has faced an acute shortage of helicopters. In Afghanistan's extremely harsh conditions, helicopters often break down and need replacements even in non-combat situations. And the need for military hardware grows with continued increases in troops....

Last message of TA soldier shot in Afghanistan: 'Still waiting for new body armour' (click here)
Two weeks after being deployed Rifleman Andrew Fentiman was shot dead while on foot patrol in Helmand province
Richard Norton-Taylor
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 17 November 2009 21.33 GMT
He had put his career as a sales manager at a software firm on hold to pursue his ambition of becoming an army officer.
In a blog from the frontline, the Territorial Army soldier Andrew Fentiman, 23, described his Afghan base as calm and was cheered by the cheap cigarettes but worried troops were still waiting for the body armour and helmets they had been promised. Two weeks after being deployed Rifleman Fentiman, who was serving with the 7th Battalion The Rifles, was shot dead while on foot patrol near Sangin in Helmand province on Sunday....

China Metallurgical Group Corporation (click here)


Published online 28 November 2007
Nature 450, 599 (2007)
News in Brief
China secures contract for Afghan copper mine (click here)
Afghanistan last week announced that a Chinese firm has won the bid for the first post-Taliban natural-resource development project: the US$30-billion Aynak copper deposit outside Kabul (see Nature 449 , 968–971 ; 2007).
The state-owned China Metallurgical Group will now negotiate the final terms of the deal, in which China is pledging $2.9 billion to Afghanistan to create a mine in five years that will tap the estimated 13 million tonnes of ore.
China's operation of Aynak will be closely watched by scientists, aid agencies and economists because of environmental and socio-economic concerns raised over mining projects elsewhere.

There is a much broader picture regarding Fort Hood that over shadows the base.

Ft. Hood has had 10 soldier suicides this year, the second-highest of any Army post. Families of troops who have committed suicide say troubled soldiers are slipping through the cracks.

Teri Smith holds a photo of her son, Iraq veteran Staff Sgt. Justin "Jon" Garza, who shot himself in July at a friend's apartment near Ft. Hood, Texas. Last week's shooting rampage has drawn new attention to soldiers' mental health. "My son slipped through the cracks," Smith says. (Luke Sharrett / New York Times)

From the Seattle Post Intelligencer:

Last updated November 19, 2009 11:22 a.m. PT
Gates names West, Clark to lead Fort Hood review (click here)
By PAULINE JELINEK AND ANNE GEARAN

ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER
WASHINGTON -- Trying to avert another tragedy like the Fort Hood shootings, Defense Secretary Robert Gates named a former Army secretary and former Navy chief to review a broad range of Pentagon programs, ranging from medical and personnel policies to how well military bases are secured.
Army Secretary Togo West and former chief of naval operations Adm. Vernon Clark will head the 45-day review.
"The shootings at Fort Hood raise a number of troubling questions that demand complete but prompt answers," Gates told a Pentagon news conference. He said the review would seek to ensure the health and safety of military members and their families.
The review will try to find gaps in procedures for identifying service members who could pose threats to others, he said....

Togo West named Pentagon's next U.S. Army Secretary (click here)

Nomination by President Clinton

Brief Article

A distinguished 51-year-old Howard University trained lawyer who served as the Navy's general counsel during the Carter administration was selected by President Clinton as the next U.S. Army Secretary at the Pentagon.
If he is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Togo Dennis West, Jr. will take over the duties of an office which recently was vacated when John W. Shannon, who was the Pentagon's highest ranked civilian Black, was placed on administrative leave on charges of shoplifting a $30 blouse and skirt ensemble....

Something tells me these men know a little bit about the military.

STATEMENT OF ADMIRAL VERN CLARK, U.S. NAVY (click here)
CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS
BEFORE THE SENATE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE ON STATUS OF THE NAVY
27 SEPTEMBER 2000

Vernon E. Clark (click here)

Vernon E. ClarkChief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy (retired)
Admiral Vernon E. Clark joined SRI’s Board of Directors in 2007.

...Admiral Clark serves on the boards of Raytheon Company, Horizon Lines, Rolls Royce North America, the Armed Forces YMCA, the World Board of Governors of the USO, and he is a member of the Defense Policy Board. He is on the Board of Trustees at Regent University and the Board of Visitors at Air University. Admiral Clark is on advisory boards with Fleishman-Hillard Inc., the U.S. General Accounting Office, Computer Science Corporation, and Whitney, Bradley & Brown.

Could "The Ed Show" be the next Walter Cronkite? Quite Possibly.

We can't stop now.

USA: GDP UP 3. 5% IN THIRD QUARTER (click title to entry - thank you)
...The last GDP growth in the U.S. was in the second quarter of 2008, while the U.S. economy had officially entered a recession at the end of 2007. Consumer purchases in the third quarter are up 3.4%, the highest growth rate since the first quarter of 2007. Three months ago the had shown a 0.9% drop....

For as long as I can remember I have advocated for a return to local economies that will benefit the American people directly in sustaining their country and hence their freedom with a high quality of life standard. That message is finally taking shape and Congressman Defazio is leading the nation in recapturing this focus. I believe the first stimulus did what it was supposed to do and stopped the country from sliding into a far worse recession, but, it also was sapped into recovering from the grossly misguided eight years of Bush/Republican crony spending. We simply can't do that anymore.

Defazio Wants Another Stimulus Package (click here)
9:29AM
He says the previous stimulus didn't create jobs.
by Julia Gray / KBND News Sources
Take the TARP money back; Wall Street can bail out Main Street. That's what Congressman Peter Defazio wants to do. He says it should have been done in the first economic stimulus package. Defazio wants to create a second economic stimulus package in the form of a jobs bill. He wants this one to focus on transportation and infrastructure projects, which he says will put Americans to work.



What I find refreshing about The Ed Show is the fact there aren't words minced with politics. It is the truth and the blantant truth. I appreciate that. And if that isn't 'bipartisan then I don't know what is.

All too frequently I am hearing how President Obama never meant to be sincerely bipartisan, but only said it for votes. That is a lie. The meaning of bipartisanship takes on many dynamics and speaking THE TRUTH is what this administration and Democratic Congress is all about. The truth is more non-partisan than any other words that can be stated.

The fact of the matter is that the USA sovereignty can only be guaranteed by an internal economy that carries the nation's needs now and for future generations. That is only possible with strong and viable local economies that contribute to the federal and state tax bases. It is upto people like Congressman DeFazio working with Labor, Governors and Mayors to bring about the best economic stability and viability for the people of the USA.

As far as TARP, I believe Congressman DeFazio is correct. Secretary Geithner and Mr. Summers is talking right past the President and Vice President whenever they make testimony and speak to the allocation of TARP as Wall Street as the focus.

While I believe some of the funds being returned to the USA Treasury needs to be set aside as these banks might actually continue to fail and we can't allow it in order to reap our treasury back, there is still yet another TRUTH that Congressman DeFazio is exactly correct.

If funds are not directed into the infrastructure of small business in the USA, the economy here will never improve. The Deficit will never be paid down and the USA will enter into a negatively spiraling economy that will be impossible to recover to raise the standard of living of the people of the USA with low unemployment and companies that provide valuable services.

Given that, the question arises as to how much of the TARP funds were actually squandered by bailing out these banks and will never be recovered. It is a reality no one likes to address in that Bush's Bailout is actually a huge folly.

What if those banks are never able to pay back the TARP funds and there is little to no income for the Treasury due to the neglect of the 'real economy' that the USA needs to generate. The American electorate actually believes the banks were going to put people back to work by lending and rebuilding the country in a functional way. That isn't happening, but, it was some of the propaganda that was being handed out when the Congressional votes were coming down.

The USA needs an autonomous economy that can provide good paying jobs to people. It is the 'income of our people' that will stabilize this economy. It is time we had a strong economy in the USA and if that means a strong dollar along with it, then I am not going to apologize for it.

While having some residual in the USA Treasury to attempt to keep these failed companies alives is prudent, having that as the only focus to our treasury is more of a folly than that of Bush's Bailout.

We need another stimulus package and THIS time the states can't simply 'take the money and run.' It has to go to building the infrastructure the first one was supposed to provide along with loans to small businesses to stabilize the USA on a firm basis realizing we may have to pay the entire TARP mess ourselves.

GOP is terrified of its own reality.

They broke the law. They committed atrocities against other peoples under the pretense of a National Defense, they tortured human beings when they shouldn't have and now that the cases are moving to the venues of the USA Justice Department, the GOP is scared they are going to loss because of their own 'illegality' in handling evidence and treatment of prisoners.

There is nothing else to say. Gitmo is a MEDIUM security prison and those prisoners should have been in maximum security since their arrests. So, now, it is upto the USA Courts to try the prisoners and secure justice for the American people. It is going to be interesting, because, the defense lawyers won't hold back. The GOP stood behind their Executive Branch and now they feel compromised because they have been replaced with people that uphold the law the way it was supposed to be upheld. Let them learn that the USA lives by 'The Rule of Law' and NOT 'The Rule of Men.' Incompetent men no less.


GOP senators grill Holder on decision to try 9/11 suspects in federal court (click title to entry - thank you)
12:00 AM CST on Thursday, November 19, 2009
FROM WIRE REPORTS McClatchy Newspapers
WASHINGTON – In a series of testy exchanges, Republican senators confronted Attorney General Eric Holder on Wednesday over his decision to try the Sept. 11 terrorism suspects in civilian court.
President Barack Obama, meanwhile, expressed certainty that the suspects would be found guilty and executed.
In his testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, Holder didn't go as far as Obama did. But the nation's top prosecutor said he was confident justice would be delivered to Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and other accused plotters of the 9/11 attacks.
"Failure is not an option," Holder declared.
Opponents of the plan have accused him of adopting a "pre-9/11" approach to terrorism. Holder emphatically denied that.
"We are at war, and we will use every instrument of national power – civilian, military, law enforcement, intelligence, diplomatic and others – to win," Holder said....

On many occassion on this blog I reported there were wind events when fridge air would 'fall off' the top of the Blue Ice to the sea.

This is a picture by NASA of those winds. Climate Change is REAL and is an emergency.

There was also a report by a British science team stating the 'sea ice' off East Antarctica was increasing. I stated it was because of the winds sweeping from high altitudes with very frigid temperatures that actually caused the increase in sea ice. It was not a 'hopeful' sign Earth was recovering, but, simply one of those phenomena that occur with degradation of the planet's ice reserves.

Well. Guess whom was correct? The added sea ice has nothing to do with a 'reversing trend' of global cooling, it had to due with 'melting glacial ice' in the 'dead of winter' in Antarctica. As the WATER ran across ice to the sea it cooled and took those far colder temperatures from the blue ice to the sea as fresh water and cooled enough to increase the sea ice.

Sea Ice Study Yields New Insights (click here)
Wednesday, 4 November, 2009 - 13:33
NZ scientists endured the dark polar winter to find what drives the dramatic growth of sea ice
A New Zealand scientific team has shed light on an important role of ice shelves around Antarctica. Initial results have shown for the first time that cold water melted from ice shelves enhances the dramatic growth of sea ice over winter. This mechanism potentially explains why Antarctic sea ice has not seen the same dramatic decline as Arctic sea ice.
The team from NIWA, Otago University, IRL, and Victoria University, was led in Antarctica by Dr Andy Mahoney (Otago University). They wintered at New Zealand's Scott Base from February - October, conducting surveys at two locations in McMurdo Sound.
They recently returned from their eight-month stint in Antarctica with prodigious amounts of scientific data....


Katabatic Winds Rake Antarctica's Terra Nova Bay (click title to entry - thank you)
Posted November 10, 2009
Just days away from the beginning of the Southern Hemisphere’s spring, Antarctica’s Inexpressible Island and the Northern Foothills Mountains were illuminated by a glimmer of sunlight from a low angle when the Advanced Land Imager (ALI) on NASA’s Earth Observing-1 (EO-1) satellite captured this image on September 16, 2009. The seaward slopes of the mountains are gleaming white, and they cast long shadows inland over the Nansen Ice Sheet. Terra Nova Bay appears in shadow.
The scene provides at least two indications of the bay’s persistent and fierce katabatic winds—downslope winds that blow from the interior of the ice sheet toward the coast. One is the windswept ground in the mountainous terrain. In many places, there is a pattern of bare rock and snow drifts that suggests the winds have scoured snow from upwind (inland-facing) slopes and deposited it on the lee sides....

Below is a 'Climate Map' by NOAA. It shows a planet burning up.

The cold air over the USA and Europe is due to 'heat transfer' to the North Polar Cap and the shunting of Arctic air to lower latitudes. I've discussed that mechnanism many, many times. No one can state this is 'Global Cooling.' No one. Global Cooling is a myth.

The base period used to determine the increase in global temperatures was from 1970 to 2000. The temperatures reported are higher than that 'mean.'



Ocean Losing Its Appetite for Carbon (click title to entry - thank you)
Christine Dell'Amore
National Geographic News
November 18, 2009
The world's oceans, which normally gobble up carbon dioxide, are getting stuffed to the gills, according to the most thorough study to date of human-made carbon in the seas.
Between 2000 and 2007, as emissions of the potent greenhouse gas carbon dioxide skyrocketed, the amount of human-made carbon absorbed by the oceans fell from 27 to 24 percent....

The less of a 'carbon sink' the ocean is the higher the density of CO2 in the troposphere and the higher the temperatures become globally. It is a matter of physics. Nothing civilization hasn't been warned about.

The Commonwealth Fund - a comparison of quality of health care delivery across the USA.

Every Federal State Senator that believes they can return home after standing in the way of profound health reform when ALL the facts about the 'status of their state's health care system' is known is only fooling themselves as to any sincere welcome by their constituents.


(click on image for larger resolution and click on it again for largest resolution.)

3 Democrats Could Block Health Bill in Senate (click here)
By CARL HULSE
Published: November 17, 2009
WASHINGTON — Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, says he is not sure he is ready to help a Democratic health care proposal clear even the most preliminary hurdle: gaining the 60 votes his party’s leaders need to open debate on the measure later this week.
Two of his fellow Democrats, Senators Mary L. Landrieu of Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, are proving tough sells as well, raising the prospect that one or perhaps all three of them could scuttle the bill before the fight over it even begins on the Senate floor....

I am sure these three Senators are not appraised of the full impact they can appreciate for their states of the Health Care Reform Bill. Otherwise, I can't phatom why they would seem to want to thwart improved circumstances for the people of their states.

Louisana and Arkansas has some of the most abysmal conditions for health care of the fifty states. I mean the lower quarter of all the states. Abysmal. Completely.

Nebraska fell in ranking as to the best outcome to health care in the nation from 10th to 13th in JUST ONE YEAR. It shutters me to realize what it is going to look like in two years.

I realize Democrats in states that normally lean right in most elections feel exceptionally threatened by participating in active passage of this health care bill. However, there is more peril in lacking profound 'conscience' about the moral implications of not participating in improving the outcome to their states with a federal mandate. It is 'sorta' of how one defines 'morality.' Does one define morality with a stack of dollar bills or by the quality of life of their fellow human beings?

Neither Louisiana or Arkansas can afford to avoid passage of a comprehensive overhaul of the health care insurance industry that leads to higher quality of care.

This health care bill actually gives these Senators a real chance to be heroes to their constituencies.

As illustrated in figure 1 (click here), the higher the poverty rate in a state, the fewer federal funds that state receives per capita. The “Katrina states”— Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas—have higher poverty rates but lower federal payments, while a group of mostly northeastern states with lower poverty rates gets approximately twice the amount of federal funds per person in poverty.

In the case of Lousiana, there is a chance to bring equity to the 'per capita' funds spent on the children of that state, based on 'cost of living' in comparison to national standards of health care costs. There is one aspect to health care in the USA that cannot be ignored; there is no such thing as 'Regional Health Care Costs.'

Every state in the USA competes equally for 'talent.' So, while the cost of living might be lower in Louisiana, it does not mean their cost of health care delivery is any different. They have to compete with all the other states to recruit 'talent' to treat their people and when they can't offer equal incentives for Health Care Workers to 'settle' in Louisiana. thus, their people suffer.

I am confident there is a profound opportunity for Louisiana, Arkansas and Nebraska to bring better talent and better quality of health care thus leading to better quality of life to their citizens with the passage of this health care bill.

Good luck in what these Senators are seeking that will provide much needed reforms to their states. I am sure they can be accommodated in the needs of their people.