I agree with Kucinich : H.R. 3962 sucks!

I’ve been following the health care debate (with millions of other Americans) and the passing of H.R. 3962 was a sell-out to the current insurance system. I like the fact that Kucinich voted against his fellow Democrats - setting ideology and party politics aside.

The Dems celebrated a hollow victory because this version of the health-care bill is unacceptable, and will get shot down if not heavily revised in the Senate.

After voting against H.R. 3962 - Affordable Health Care for America Act, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) made the following statement: 

Kucinich: Why I Voted NO

“We have been led to believe that we must make our health care choices only within the current structure of a predatory, for-profit insurance system which makes money not providing health care.  We cannot fault the insurance companies for being what they are.  But we can fault legislation in which the government incentivizes the perpetuation, indeed the strengthening, of the for-profit health insurance industry, the very source of the problem. When health insurance companies deny care or raise premiums, co-pays and deductibles they are simply trying to make a profit.  That is our system.”

Read the rest at Congressman Kucinich’s website.

Technorati Tags: health care votes,senate,congressman dennis kucinich

NBA great Abdul-Jabbar has rare form of leukemia

One of my favorite Lakers is Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. I was surprised to see that he has a rare form of cancer this morning.

Apparently, it’s not the worst kind of cancer you can get, and chances of survival are good.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is being treated for a rare form of leukemia, and the basketball great said his prognosis is encouraging.

Read the story at Yahoo Sports

AP File Photo

Technorati Tags: basketball hall of famer,Abdul-Jabbar,leukemia

Who says turkey’s are dumb?

With Thanksgiving coming up the smarter turkeys are already practicing their imitations of other animals….

cartoon via Marbella text by Dave Stancliff

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The problem with legalizing pot is…

Cartoon via dopesmoke.com

Technorati Tags: editorial cartoons

Suicides in the downturn raise worries about recession’s real cost

Coroner John White is presiding over a sad tally in this northern Indiana county, tracking rising numbers of suicides he believes are linked to the lingering recession.

Read the whole story at msnbc

Data on every U.S. county
You can see the suicide rate for U.S. counties for 1979-2006 in these PDF files:

• an alphabetical list of counties
• a ranking of counties by suicide rate
• year-by-year suicide figures for each county

Photo by Jennifer Shephard / The Elkhart Truth

Technorati Tags: recession,suicides

A look at seven subjects that seriously tick people off

 I’m back…it’s time to start posting stuff again. I wonder if you missed me as much as I missed blogging?

Here’s today’s offering:

By Dave Stancliff/For the Times-Standard

Posted: 11/08/2009 01:27:25 AM PST

Remember comedian George Carlin's 1972 “7 Dirty Words” monologue? It's still controversial, but every one of those words can now be heard on cable TV. I wondered what words would cause such a controversy today?

Then it came to me. Not words; subjects. The following subjects are guaranteed to cause controversy. If you don't want to start a heated argument, don't mention any one of them. Of course, if you're bored with a dull conservation and looking for a stick to throw in the fire, then toss in one of these subjects to warm things up. Click here to read the seven subjects.

Don’t be concerned – everything will be ok

  I’m taking a blog break for a week.

I’m going to recharge the batteries that tickle my brain with ideas.

I’m doubling my walks and I’m going to read a book (fiction).

Shirley has taken the week off and we’re going to explore the nooks and crannies of this beautiful area we live in.

Just because.

Hopefully my meandering will motivate my muse and sharpen my views. Don’t let that stop you from exploring the archives listed on the left of this page.

Feel free to leave comments about things you like or dislike, or things you’d like to see. I’ll make answering you my duty.

Peace be with you. May the wind be behind you - and the truth always before you!

Dave

Op-Ed: Numbers, not shouting, overwhelm health care debate

 Here’s an interesting read about the health care debate. Dingell (I should say his researchers and staff) has made some good points regarding a public option in this Op-Ed piece today.

I do believe our current health care system is in shambles and something has to be done about it. The research in this article is accurate (I did take the time to check quoted stats).

I’m not suggesting you read this Op-Ed piece because a Democrat wrote it. If a Republican would have brought up the same stats and logic I would have run it. I’m not interested in promoting either party. I am interested in trying to get out as much accurate information on this subject as possible.

What do you think about this Op-Ed piece? For or against?  

By Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.)

“We have the best medical professionals in the world, but fewer and fewer Americans can afford to pay for the care they can provide. The trends indicate that problem will get much worse.

About 17 percent of our $14 trillion dollar economy is dedicated to health care. We pay more for health care than we do for food. Too much of what we spend on our care does nothing to improve our health. We pay for our highly bureaucratic and unwieldy health care system not just with dollars, but with the lives and well-being of millions of Americans. The Affordable Health Care for America Act will reform our health insurance industry so companies prioritize policyholders’ health instead of investors’ profits.

The insurance industry has done everything possible to make you think otherwise. This summer’s massive disinformation campaign – exposed by Tim Dickinson in Rolling Stone magazine last month – has distracted millions of honest, engaged citizens during this debate. During two town halls in my District this summer, I witnessed first hand how fear hijacked a much-needed serious conversation.

 
But the facts scream louder than even the angriest protester – and the data tells us the current system could literally destroy our way of life.

Consider these statistics:
•   The top ten health insurance companies made $8.2755 billion last year and they stand to make more when medical costs go up.  
•    The average annual premium for employer-sponsored health insurance is $13,375 for family coverage.
•    Approximately 45,000 people die each year because they lack health insurance.” 

Go to News.Yahoo.com to read the rest of this Op-Ed piece.

AP Photo of Rep. John Dingell (Mich.) 

Technorati Tags: health care,town hall meetings,insurance companies

Unused Tenn. bestiality law put to test in new cases

“Two years ago, the Tennessee legislature put into statute what most people assumed should go without saying — it is illegal to have sex with an animal in this state.

But prosecutors across Middle Tennessee have cause to be glad that someone spelled that felony out. No less than three bestiality cases have come up in separate counties in recent months.

Three people stand accused of engaging in sex acts with farm animals in Maury County. In Humphreys County, a youth football coach was already under investigation for child rape when police reportedly found images of bestiality on his cell phone.” Read the rest at USA Today

 

Technorati Tags: bestiality law,Tennessee,maury county

Brazil's Pirahã Tribe: Living without Numbers or Time

The Pirahã people have no history, no descriptive words and no subordinate clauses.

That makes their language one of the strangest in the world -- and also one of the most hotly debated by linguists.

 Go to Spiegel Online International to read the whole story.

Technorati Tags: brazil,piraha tribe