This Blog is created to stress the importance of Peace as an environmental directive. “I never give them hell. I just tell the truth and they think it’s hell.” – Harry Truman
(I receive no compensation from any entry on this blog.)
No guns. They believe in peace. They want health care and not warfare. They are real people that want Single Payer and all sorts of social programs. They are not wayward people on an evil mission to the USA Treasury. They are decent people that deserve protection from violence.
I've had enough of the 'hate' espoused by Murdoch and Limbaugh. From morning until night Rush Limbaugh talks about nothing else. He covers no news, when all the other news media was reporting Olympic news about cross country skiing, Rush Limbaugh was quoting Chris Christy because his speech today was nothing but hate of unions and right wing rhetoric.
There is nothing healthy about the Limbaugh and Murdoch media service and they need to be reined in.
The Progressive Party of the USA are nice people, they are non-violent and they are correct from their point of view. If the USA backed off any war it could easily affored health care for all. They have a right to want a world entrenched in peace and wellness. The Tea Baggers, Limbaugh, Beck and Murdoch have no right to even approach a single word of hate that would overshadow their lives. Something needs to be done by the FCC and it needs to be done before all this mess gets out of hand.
Yesterday Senator Bayh said something that made me pause in wondering what this is all about, regardless of how I like or dislike his opinions. He appeared at a podium with his wife and children. How much of the 'hate' he understands does he carry as worry for his family or himself for that matter?
Beck is doing nothing, but, maligning the federal government and advocating violence. He stated the other day, "I saw a police officer standing on a corner the other day. He had a gun strapped to his belt and I wanted to ask him how he could handle the fact he had a gun and wasn't using it, because, if it were me I would be using it all the time."
There are a couple of things in that statement. It indicates those that are 'like' Glenn Beck are self-righteous and above the law. It also implants logistics to 'easily had' weapons that police carry on them. You know I never think about the weapons police carry. I mean never. I assume they are human beings and police officers first and expect them to defend and protect. I never see a police officer as a potential source for weapons.
Nor do I see a police officer as a threat. Beck saw the officer as a threat. A man or woman carry a weapon when he has none and he is trying to carry out a so called revolution against Progressives.
There is a limit to freedom of speech. Glenn Beck is way over that limit. I sincerely believe someone like Senator Bayh may be making adverse decisions in the best interest of the country because he is more a human being than someone like Beck ever could be.
In the article of this entry, the UK has noted an uptick in hate toward Muslims. The government is suppose to track these things and advice the Justice Department and leadership regarding issues that threaten innocent citizens. It is time the USA federal system do the job that needs to be done.
Glenn Beck on multiple occasions has advocated violence. He should not have access to the media and the FCC should begin prosecutions regarding the violence he advocates.
The United Nations prosecuted three journalists in regard to the Rwanda Genocide. Beck is not giving out locations of people to kill, YET. At least not that I know of. The guy is on a real power trip these days and the people in 'his movement' have substantially invested in its outcome.
There is something sincerely wrong when a well established and respected Senator doesn't seek re-election after he already researched and invested in his victory in 2010. I wish Senator Bayh well and hope he is successful.
Glenn Beck needs to be recognized for what he is and stop him from hiding behind the First Amendment of the USA Constitution. He is abusing the right to practice it. Fear accompanied by hatred is a real commodity and that is Beck's product. His only product.
Media and politicians 'fuel rise in hate crimes against Muslims' (click title to entry - thank you)
Report blames 'Islamophobic, negative and unwarranted portrayals of Muslim London' for increase in attacks in the capital...
Marja was their base of operations. $200,000 US per day was paid in taxes by the opium traders. If President Obama didn't re-enter Afghanistan the Taliban and al Qaeda would have grown into a global power.
Thanks to the Pakistan President and the military. Shazam !
I guess there are tons of land mines, huh? That's alright, be careful, its all good.I am proud of our military. They are to be contended with.
A senior official tells ABC News that "several days" ago U.S. and Pakistani intelligence captured the Taliban's Number 2, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, and he is providing intelligence.
"This operation was an enormous success," the official told ABC News. "It is a very big deal."
Baradar is second to only Mullah Mohammed Omar in the Afghan Taliban, and is the commander of the organization on a daily basis. The story of his capture was first reported by Mark Mazzetti and Dexter Filkins of the New York Times.
A U.S. counterterrorism official, while refusing to confirm the news of Baradar's capture, told ABC News that "if he were taken off the battlefield, it would deal a major setback to the Afghan Taliban and be a personal blow to Mullah Omar, who has relied heavily on him for years."...
A Farewell to Ice (click title to entry - thank you)
Sea ice cover in the Arctic Ocean grew by an average of 13,000 square miles a day last month.
Great news, right? Well, not so much.
For one thing, it was January. Mid-winter. Sea ice cover is supposed to grow. For another, it ain't growing like it used to. In the 1980s, the average rate of ice growth was 35,000 square miles a day. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, average sea ice extent in the Arctic last month was 5.32 million square miles, which was 69,000 square miles above the record January low, set in 2006, but 417,000 square miles below the 1979-2000 average....
...This thinner ice, in other words, is prone to melt earlier, and when it does, the heat-reflecting light-colored sea ice is replaced by heat-absorbing dark-colored ocean water, which causes the melting to increase....
...until recently, models predicted the Arctic would be sea ice-free in summer by the year 2100. Today, however, most researchers agree that, at present trends, a more likely date is 2030.
Climate change, said Barber, "is happening much faster than our most pessimistic models expected."
It is not really acceptable to 'speculate' on the outcomes of Human Induced Global Warming. Logic demands priority. I don't appreciate the politics in this article, but, I felt is was an important article to mention. The author of the article is passing on an opinion at the same time he is calling the alarm. That is not prudent and is very dangerous.
There is an overwhelming TRUTH to Human Induced Global Warming and that it is a UNIQUE event to Earth.
For the first time in four to five decades the USA has a President that believes overwhelmingly in 'the science' and 'the scientist.' President Obama bases many of decisions on FACT and not opinion. The scientists involved in 'measuring' the effect of Human Induced Global Warming DO NOT. I repeat, DO NOT have to have a political stand in order to be heard. As a matter of fact it would be extremely refreshing if every decision in the USA and in the area of Climate Change including the international venues were 'depoliticized.'
The Science and Scientists that have brought the warning of Human Induced Global Warming to the global landscape to facilitate governments to come to terms with its impending disasters and adverse outcomes have been abused by Wall Street for decades now.
Human Induced Global Warming is NOT a 'belief system.' It is NOT a religion. It is NOT subjective. It is an objective science and it needs to be treated in that way, given brevity and governments need to act up on its wisdom.
For anyone to take the reality of Human Induced Global Warming as nothing more than a nuisance and a political 'play' has not been 'in touch' with the reality of its devastation to date. Many people have died, crops were lost, land inundated with water, personal property laid to waste and species devastated or extinct.
A warming Arctic Ocean is not a 'simple' concept that can be measured exclusively by the fact 'Oops, the ice is gone.' But, more, "Dear God the ice is gone." The ice ocean has been the thermostat to the planet. The entire planet. With all the old ice gone and ONLY reoccurring winter ice apparent, there is much danger to be realized, not just to the biotic Arctic and Polar Bears, but, to the entire planet.
There is nothing to say that once the 'ice residuals' of Earth are gone, humans will be able to continue to live on it by some chance the winter ice of the Arctic Ocean is enough. It won't be. The land masses will become hostile to life and the global temperatures will continue to rise. For anyone to simply believe it is 'okay' for Earth to be without ice, is placing simplicity before reality.
And I will state it AGAIN.
"Earth has never had this many people or the impact of those engaged in modern day consumerism before." THAT cannot be ignored in understanding the brevity of what is occurring on Earth.
Hospital Care in the USA started widely across the country with the Hill-Burton Act of 1946 (click title to entry). It was matching funds to improve hospitals.It was started during the Great Depression.
$4.6 billion total grants and $1.5 billion total loans between 1946 and 1997
6,800 health care facilities in more than 4,000 U.S. communities
I want to thank the League of Women Voters and the Temple Shalom in Oxford for recently hosting a great forum on health care insurance reform. The speakers, for the most part, focused on facts and not on political rhetoric.
Here are some of the facts presented at the forum. Fifty million Americans are uninsured, and another 10 to 15 million are under-insured. The citizens of Great Britain, Canada, France, and Germany spend much less on health care than Americans do, receive higher quality care, and generally like their health care systems.
The American citizens who are most satisfied with their health insurance are on publicly funded plans, through Medicare or the Veterans Administration. Under our current system, health care spending in the United States is expected to increase from 2.1 trillion in 2007 to $4.2 trillion in 2016. Right now, the average monthly premium for private insurance for a family of four is $1,000 per month. Fears of medical malpractice suits increase health care costs because doctors order unnecessary tests and must purchase expensive malpractice insurance. Nurses, on average, spend about half of their time doing paper work.
Both houses of Congress and both major political parties need to work together to create a system that provides affordable, quality health care to all Americans. It is the right thing to do.
Jane Hepting
Leesburg
This is the 'Table of Contents' to HR 3400:
TITLE I--TAX INCENTIVES FOR MAINTAINING HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE
Sec. 109. Credit for small employers adopting auto-enrollment and defined contribution options.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 110. Require employers to disclose amounts paid for employer-provided health plan coverage.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink
Sec. 111. HSA modifications and clarifications.
None of the provisions in HR 3400 are required. This is a tax credit for the cost of health insurance upto $4000 per month for taxpayer and spouse / $2000 per month for an individual. A tax credit means the country is paying for their health care.Health Care Insurance Companies are doing well so far. And there is a $500 per month allowance for each dependent.Now, I remind these are tax credits for low income. Right? If people are receiving at least $4500 per month income to pay for health insurance premiums is that LOW INCOME? Ahhhh....No.A couple with a child will have to pay for the insurance before they take the credit. Got that part? Don't forget that now.
SEC. 101. REFUNDABLE TAX CREDIT FOR HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS OF LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS.
(a) In General- Subpart C of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to refundable credits) is amended by inserting after section 36A the following new section:
This is where it really gets interesting.
‘(B) THRESHOLD AMOUNT- For purposes of this paragraph, the term ‘threshold amount’ means, with respect to any taxpayer for any taxable year, 200 percent of the Federal poverty guideline (as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Service for the taxable year) applicable to the taxpayer.
So, the federal guidelines for a family of three states 200% of the poverty level is $36,000. Okay? Now, these folks are suppose to go out and purchase health insurance for themselves and their child for not more than $4500 per month, pay the insurance cost for an entire year along with deductibles and then ask for a refund for the cost of the insurance upto $4500 per month on their taxes.
None of it is mandatory. Does anyone actually believe a family with an income of $36,000 annually is going to go out and buy health insurance while the rest of their bills, including quite possibly housing, goes unpaid for at least the first year until their initial refund comes?
No. Those folks are not going to be able to afford health insurance and they won't being paying it. There are supports to the child in this family already in place in most States, but, I am confident with a federal bill those supports will be cut back if not eliminated. So, now we are going to have families without health care and we will be worse off than before.
BUT.
This is where it gets really interesting. Ready?
In the paragraph previous to the one above is this:
‘(A) IN GENERAL- For purposes of this section, the term ‘credit percentage’ means 100 percent reduced by 1 percentage point for each $1,000 (or fraction thereof) by which the taxpayer’s adjusted gross income for the taxable year exceeds the threshold amount.
Work the math.
Example: If a couple with one child is making $37,000 annually, they can deduct 99% of up to $4500 per month for health insurance.
If a couple with one child is making $66,000 annually, they can deduct 70% of up to $4500 per month for health insurance.
If a couple with one child is making $96,000 annually, they can deduct 40% of $4500 per month for health insurance.
Now.
Whom is this bill written for? The couple making $36,000 annually or the couple making $96,000 annually?
Think about it. I'll be back in a few hours.
I just want to talk about the couple making $96,000 per year. I already the folks making $36,000 annually don't have a chance at having decent health care. But, it gets real interesting with the couple making $96,000 per year.
Let's just say, for the sake of simplicity that they pay taxes on the entire amount they make. They don't, but, for this I'll say they do.
The tax bracket they pay their taxes in requires a tax rate of 25%. That would be a tax bill of $24,000 annually as long as they filed jointly.
If they spent $4500 monthly on health insurance in a cadillac plan, they would have a deductible of $21,600.
$4,500 X 12 = $54,000
$54,000 X .40 (40% above federal poverty level) = $21,600.
That just about wipes out any tax liability and they would be living 'tax free.'
Now they pay a lot less than $24,000 annually because even if they only take the standard deductions their tax bill is far less than that. But, get this, where the tax bill exceeds their income tax they get a payment back. So, as long as they are allowed $21,600 and their tax bill is let's say, $19,600 they get a check from the government for $2000 in addition to the $19,600 they will get refunded. Not bad, huh?
Okay, so it can get better than that, too. Because if the couple making $96,000 annually has another child their health insurance 'bonus' goes up $500 to a total of $5000 monthly or $60,000 annually. But, it stops there. A couple with three or more children are flat out of luck.
This math goes on all the up to $135,000. When on makes that much money they are still allowed to take 1% of their health insurance cost off their taxes. When in the case of $60,000 would be $600.
In the year 2009 it was estimated the average family of four paid about $1000 per month for health insurance. That is an annual bill of $12,000.
How long do you think that bill will remain at $1000 per month after a bill like this is passed? THAT isn't pandering to Health Insurance Companies? That is not only pandering to Health Insurance Companies, that is a GOLD MINE.
I haven't gotten to the part in how this is paid for by the House Republicans. If it is paid for at all. Being this is simply an obstructionist bill I doubt there is any brevity to it and there may not be any provisions to pay for this. HOWEVER, how immoral is this bill considering somehow this has to be paid for? And whom exactly is going to pay for it? Why would we ask anyone to pay for a Gold Mine for health insurance companies?
THAT is immoral. There is no other word for it except corrupt and immoral. This is the bill House Representative John Bohner stated was the one that far exceeded anything the Democrats had in mind. He stood by this bill and so did the RNC. I didn't make this up.
This bill might redeem itself, but, I honestly doubt it.
Why are Americans trusting these people? We have a decent man in the White House, a good person as Speaker to the House and a Senior legislator as Senate Majority Leader. What is everyone thinking?
I'll read more tomorrow. Let's hope it gets better from here.
As a matter of fact, it was just the opposite. The Bush White House REFUSED to entertain an exit strategy as it would allow the enemy to 'wait it out.' I don't want to hear it. At least Cheney admits President Obama can recognize we are doing the best thing in Iraq. But, to say the Bush White House deserves credit? I don't see it.
I remind, at the time Bush was demanding inventories from Saddam Hussein and there were no inventories to be found because they degraded in the Iraqi desert; Hussein was being offered asylum to leave Iraq. I am confident if the Arab Nations were given more time, Saddam would have left Iraq and the civilian casualties would never have occurred.
According to the last projection of dead Iraqis it still stands at about 800,000. I doubt the actual number will ever be known. They are buried everywhere.
...Obama opposed the war in 2003 and, as an Illinois senator, the troop increase ordered in 2007 by President George W. Bush. Then-Delaware Sen. Biden voted in 2002 to authorize the use of force in Iraq but later declared the war against U.S. interests and opposed the troop surge, which he once called “a failure.”...
...“We took our eye off the ball, putting us in a much different and more dangerous position in Afghanistan. We lost support around the world. It's taken a lot of hard work to get it back. But we were handed — we were dealt a hand, and I think we're handling it incredibly well,” Mr. Biden said....
Army flight medic Sgt. Michael G. Patangan, right, of Houston gets help from Marines as they carry one of three wounded Taliban fighters captured after a firefight in Marja. (Brennan Linsley, Associated Press / February 13, 2010)
I guess if numbers matter, here are numbers. The real issue with Afghanistan is maintaining a consistent presence that will secure the people from oppression. That is difficult if economic ties are maintained to the Poppy Culture.
The Taliban tend to carry on, resurgent presence outside the perimeter. I think it was called, "Wack a Mole." There has to be a conscience decision by the people of the region to reject 'old ways' and 'old ties.' They need to give themselves and their leaders a chance to show them a better way.
The first place the coalition can make points with the Afghans is by showing off its new weapon 'against mines.' We know how the late Princess Diana donned gear to walk among the lands where minds removed the legs of children if they weren't killed by them. It would be nice if children were able to live without fear of playing 'in the wrong place at the wrong time.'
It has probably been a long time since the people of Marja have walked to road that was lined with mines. They may even be missing the presence of relatives and friends for their inability to move about freely. The Taliban really did take a coward's stand in that area. They used people as shields and land mines as fences.
I would think freedom of movement and new places to sell goods might be a considerable improvement over the oppression of their captors. I would think there might be more opportunity for goods trade, other than Poppies, from others coming into the region as well.
There have to be some perks to be rid of the Taliban. Certainly, it is not all imposition and danger. I would hope the Soldiers were welcome and not scorned.
I would hope the CIA would entertain a new headquarters in Marja. One where civilian members could turn the economic corner for the Afghans. Overwhelming turn the economic corner for them. I am quite confident there are schools to be built along side of police barracks, new shops, new businesses and NEW homes. Homes of quake-proof tragedy. Are the people hungry, ill? The basic needs of life when realized can be a very good 'bonding' ingredient.
Schools need books, police barracks need beds and shops need TV and their favorite 'tea.' And children needs "Sponge Bob Square Pants." All the cashmere wool from the goat farmers don't HAVE to make its way to Fifth Avenue, now does it? Goats are more important than donkeys. Absolutely. Milk, wool and meat. Sustaining livestock, not fashionable mountain travel that can be used to transport illegal goods and weapons.
...NATO also reported its forces had accidentally killed 12 Afghan civilians in a misdirected rocket strike in Nad Ali, the district in which Marja lies -- the first major episode of civilian casualties since the start of the offensive on Saturday. The alliance expressed deep regret and said it was immediately suspending use of the weapons system involved.
Afghan officials said 27 insurgents had been killed so far in the fighting in Helmand province, long a heartland of the insurgency. NATO reported the death of Western service member in an explosion Sunday in southern Afghanistan, but did not disclose the nationality involved, or say whether the fatality came in the course of the assault on Marja....
Nodar Kumaritashvili prepares for the start of his first training run on Friday. His fatal crash happened during his second training run.
The athletes don't have a choice, but, to accept the challenge and hope all goes well. They could pack up and go home, but, to miss the opportunity of winning a metal at an Olympics Game is enough to die for.
The point is this is the beginning of their careers in some cases. They are the pride of their country. They have come to compete while obeying all the rules imposed upon them.
The Olympic Venue is NOT safe. There should be no solid objects that aren't wrapped in something to prevent injury at 100+ mph, yet alone 80 mph.
There should be padding at all the critical areas where sleds can become air bound, especially considering this incredible hairpin turn to the finish line. What is the Vancouver Olympic Organization thinking? Their venues are probably going to be toughest the world has seen and they accept carnage as a potential outcome to that reality.
The USA military advanced their position in Afghanistan to secure the nation from the Taliban. The campaign is mostly considered successful. I understand there are soldiers dead. I am sure there are unintentional consequences in civilian deaths.
Nothing that happens in war is good. Only necessary at times. There is no upside to any conflict. Not really.
Al Qaeda and the Taliban never put children first in New York City or on planes from Boston or those that might have been by chance in DC. They never put into perspective the civilian involvement in Afghanistan or Pakistan when they carried out their attacks in the USA and with our allies. They never stopped in remorse of their acts. Bin Laden and Mullah Omar continue to grovel for existence among the people of those countries using intimidation for their justification for living.
There is justification for the actions of the USA military. NATO has suffered significant deaths among the troops, but, it has also suffered significant deaths among its civilians. I can't justify second guessing General McCrystal and his decisions. I believe he acts in ways he feels necessary and the region of Afghanistan that was 'taken' by NATO and the USA military was justified. It is unfortunate any of this occurred due to the diversion of a war to Iraq. It is somewhat silly at this point to even reflect on that reality. The abandoned war and escalating corruption.
If NATO and the USA are to go forward to secure the nations they came to fight for, then the operations into Marjah were vital. Eliminating the training grounds and 'base' of Taliban and extremist operations had to take place and it was high time it did.
The Iraq Inquiry goes forward in Great Britain and in the USA we are still waiting for Obama nominations to take their offices to carry out necessary inquires. Unfortunately, it takes time to account for wayward directions of past administrations.
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The Olympics went forward after the venue committees determined outdoor competition was again safe to continue. How horrible was that and the opening seemed to admit there was a missing spirit when one of the flame wouldn't light.
What a loss that was. I am sure the rest of the events with be festive and provide for the experience of a lifetime for the rest of the contestants and their nations.
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And what is this Alabama thing all about? Anti-Depressants? Like the guy that knocked out over $20,000 worth of television screens. Bizarre stuff.
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No sense in discussing Congress, no one is happy no matter what they do. I actually believe Harry Reid did the best thing he could do by cutting down the size of the jobs initiative. I mean let's face it, all the 'bipartisan' Republicans have to contribute is pork. Maybe what the country really needs is to give in to the "W"rong minded Republicans for the sake of 'political peace.' I don't believe peace occurs in the USA without a Pow-Wow and Peace Pipe. Speaking of which it looks as though the Native Americans that have been snowed in without power might have been saved by Keith Olbermann (click here). That is like so cool.
Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. It is a better day to read the Republican Health Care Bill.
The people that drafted this bill back in July 2009 as an obstructionist measure have told the American people they have declared the Constitution of the United States of America doesn't provide for wellness of its citizens. (click title to entry - thank you). IF THAT IS THE CASE then Ms. Bachman and all her peers should have brought Homeland Security to court to stop the administration of the H1N1 vaccine. The 'idea' that health and wellness of citizens is unconstitutional is the most hideous notion I have ever heard. If no one in the USA was vaccinated against H1N1 and it swept the country annihilating millions of people, whom would be left to govern? It is all nonsense. If citizens of the USA cannot provide for good health, then the sovereignty of the USA is lost.
The United States of America now and in the past has spent huge amounts of money on medical research to combat communicable diseases, there are Public Health Departments, there is The Center for Disease Control, the USA military innoculates soldiers for deployment, the employees of the federal government have health care available to them and the list goes on and on and on. The people that make these statements do not know what they are speaking about. In every venue of government, at every level of government there are issues of health care all the time. Children are required to be vaccinated to enter the public school system.
I DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT ANYMORE. It is the biggest bunch of horse hockey I have ever heard in my life.This from the woman that said, "Oops, I can't attend the Tea Party Nation Convention because it is an ethical issue." THAT is an ethical issue, but, denying citizens quality and affordable health care is not. Wow!
Mr. PRICE of Georgia (REPUBLICAN) (for himself, Mr. AKIN (REPUBLICAN MISSOURI), Mr. ALEXANDER (REPUBLICAN LOUISIANA), Mr. SCALISE (REPUBLICAN LOUISIANA), Mrs. BACHMANN (REPUBLICAN MINNESOTA), Mr. SOUDER (REPUBLICAN INDIANA), Mr. MILLER of Florida (REPUBLICAN FLORIDA), Mr. BURTON of Indiana (REPUBLICAN INDIANA), Mr. JORDAN of Ohio (REPUBLICAN OHIO), Mr. GINGREY of Georgia (REPUBLICAN MEDICAL DOCTOR GEORGIA), Mr. ROE of Tennessee (REPUBLICAN TENNESSEE), Mr. CASSIDY (REPUBLICAN LOUISIANA), Mr. LAMBORN (REPUBLICAN COLORADO), Mr. FLEMING (REPUBLICAN LOUISIANA), Mrs. LUMMIS (REPUBLICAN WYOMING), Mr. WAMP (REPUBLICAN TENNESSEE), Mr. MARCHANT (REPUBLICAN TEXAS), Mr. ROONEY (REPUBLICAN FLORIDA), Mr. COFFMAN of Colorado (REPUBLICAN COLORADO), and Ms. FALLIN (REPUBLICAN OKLAHOMA)) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, the Judiciary, Rules, the Budget, and Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned...
Georgia (Ranked 38th in the number of doctors with 217 doctors per 100,000 people)
Missouri (Ranked 29th in the number of doctors with 242 doctors per 100,000 people)
Louisiana (Ranked 15th in the number of doctors with 267 doctors per 100,000 people)
Minnesota (Ranked 10th in the number of doctors with 287 doctors per 100,000 people)
Indiana (Ranked 40th in the number of doctors with 215 doctors per 100,000 people)
Florida (Ranked 27th in the number of doctors with 243 doctors per 100,000 people)
Ohio (Ranked 17th in the number of doctors with 264 doctors per 100,000 people)
Tennessee (Ranked 18th in the number of doctors with 264 doctors per 100,000 people)
Colorado (Ranked 21st in the number of doctors with 259 per 100,000 people)
Wyoming (Ranked 47th in the number of doctors with 184 doctors per 100,000 people)
Texas (Ranked 42nd in the number of doctors with 212 doctors per 100,000 people)
Oklahoma (Ranked 49th in the number of doctors with 172 doctors per 100,000 people)
For these legislators that is an average of 235.5 doctors per 100,000 people which places this group in the average range of 30th in the nation.
To complete the perspective Number 1 is Massachusetts which has legislated and mandatory health care for all its citizens. The number of doctors per 100,000 people is 462.
Idaho is 50th in the nation with 169 doctors per 100,000 people.
Massachusetts median income per household ranks 7th at $62,635 US.
Idaho is ranked 34th in median income per household at $46,253 US.
And 30th rank is Indiana at $47,448 US.
I do not believe this is a good representative group of legislators for the purpose of reform for the USA health care system or insurance industry. There should not be this type of disparity in the number of doctors per 100,000 people across this country. There absolutely should not be this spread of difference.
One of the provisions in the Health Insurance Reform Act that was passed by the House provided for the education of more doctors, especially in General Practice as Family Medicine folks.
I'll continue to read the bill, but, considering this was an obstructionist bill by legislators with an average ranking of 30th in doctors per 100,000 I don't really expect much in the way of sincere reform. Why? Because educating doctors costs money and I doubt any of these folks spent money to facilitate equity across the USA.
