From My Perspective - - -
Nancy Pelosi gave a statement of determination near the end of January regarding Health Care when she said: “We’ll go through the gate. If the gate’s closed, we’ll go over the fence. If the fence is too high, we’ll pole-vault in. If that doesn’t work, we’ll parachute in.” Determination can be a very good thing when it comes to promoting what is right and good, but it can become a means where the wrong and bad occur when it promotes a cause that could easily bankrupt the government, businesses and the citizenry. Determination is an interesting word. It means: “the act of making or arriving at a decision; firmness of purpose; resolve; a fixed intention or resolution; the decision or settlement arrived at or pronounced…” A critique, that is a bit caustic of this bold statement, was expressed by The American Voice: “Wow! - did not know she possessed athletic prowess. Talk about hyperbole!! Nancy, you mean like you did this last year? Will this event be televised on CSPAN? Or, is this a private event behind closed doors of the White House?”
It makes one think of Mary Poppins when Julie Andrews came floating in with her Parasol in hand. The Mary Poppins film focuses on children who need a Nanny to provide them with strict care. “The latest nanny, Katie Nanna, quits out of exasperation after the children, Jane and Michael run off in pursuit of a wayward kite. The children are reported missing. A policeman arrives with the children, who asks their father to help repair their damaged kite. The father dismisses them and advertises for an authoritarian nanny-replacement. The children draft their own advertisement asking for a fun, kind-hearted and caring person, but their father tears up the paper and throws it in the fireplace. Unnoticed, the note's remains float up the chimney. The next day there is a queue of old and disagreeable nanny candidates waiting at the door. However, a strong gust of wind literally blows the queue away, and Mary Poppins floats down with her umbrella in hand to apply. The father is stunned to see that this calmly defiant new nanny has responded to the children's ad despite the fact he destroyed it. As he puzzles, Mary Poppins employs herself and begins work. The children face surprises of their own: Mary possesses a bottomless carpetbag, and makes contents of the children's nursery come to life and tidy themselves by snapping her fingers…”
Perhaps Nanny Nancy considers herself to be calmly defiant - a reincarnation of Mary Poppins who can float over the wall of opposition with her umbrella in hand – along with her Health Care Proposal - snap her fingers and make inanimate things become animate. Nanny Nancy may prevail with her minions believing that the citizenry wants what they have repeatedly said they don’t want. The clue for Nanny Nancy is that the citizenry wants “Reform” – not – “Replacement”! They want “Cost Containment” – not – “Cost Escalation”! The People want “Tort Reform” – not – Tort Revisionism”! There are not enough “Parachutes, Poles for Vaulting or Parasols” to get the citizenry to float over the wall with Nanny Nancy.
People have often referred to the statement by Edmund Burke: “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for all good men to do nothing.” However, the acceptable Biblical concept is: When good men do nothing, they get nothing good done. Two places in particular state the Christian Principle and Profile for doing good in this world and culture - Galatians 6:9-10, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers..” And Titus 2:11-14 (selected), “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say – No! - to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives…while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” We don’t need Parachutes, Pole Vaults or Parasols – just consistency and faithfulness in doing what Jesus Christ modeled and taught. There is no discrimination when one loves his neighbor as himself; and loves his enemy and does good to those who misuse and abuse him. It’s a radical approach to life but it is also a Biblical lesson that must be learned and demonstrated. Consider these things with me!
Nancy Pelosi gave a statement of determination near the end of January regarding Health Care when she said: “We’ll go through the gate. If the gate’s closed, we’ll go over the fence. If the fence is too high, we’ll pole-vault in. If that doesn’t work, we’ll parachute in.” Determination can be a very good thing when it comes to promoting what is right and good, but it can become a means where the wrong and bad occur when it promotes a cause that could easily bankrupt the government, businesses and the citizenry. Determination is an interesting word. It means: “the act of making or arriving at a decision; firmness of purpose; resolve; a fixed intention or resolution; the decision or settlement arrived at or pronounced…” A critique, that is a bit caustic of this bold statement, was expressed by The American Voice: “Wow! - did not know she possessed athletic prowess. Talk about hyperbole!! Nancy, you mean like you did this last year? Will this event be televised on CSPAN? Or, is this a private event behind closed doors of the White House?”
It makes one think of Mary Poppins when Julie Andrews came floating in with her Parasol in hand. The Mary Poppins film focuses on children who need a Nanny to provide them with strict care. “The latest nanny, Katie Nanna, quits out of exasperation after the children, Jane and Michael run off in pursuit of a wayward kite. The children are reported missing. A policeman arrives with the children, who asks their father to help repair their damaged kite. The father dismisses them and advertises for an authoritarian nanny-replacement. The children draft their own advertisement asking for a fun, kind-hearted and caring person, but their father tears up the paper and throws it in the fireplace. Unnoticed, the note's remains float up the chimney. The next day there is a queue of old and disagreeable nanny candidates waiting at the door. However, a strong gust of wind literally blows the queue away, and Mary Poppins floats down with her umbrella in hand to apply. The father is stunned to see that this calmly defiant new nanny has responded to the children's ad despite the fact he destroyed it. As he puzzles, Mary Poppins employs herself and begins work. The children face surprises of their own: Mary possesses a bottomless carpetbag, and makes contents of the children's nursery come to life and tidy themselves by snapping her fingers…”
Perhaps Nanny Nancy considers herself to be calmly defiant - a reincarnation of Mary Poppins who can float over the wall of opposition with her umbrella in hand – along with her Health Care Proposal - snap her fingers and make inanimate things become animate. Nanny Nancy may prevail with her minions believing that the citizenry wants what they have repeatedly said they don’t want. The clue for Nanny Nancy is that the citizenry wants “Reform” – not – “Replacement”! They want “Cost Containment” – not – “Cost Escalation”! The People want “Tort Reform” – not – Tort Revisionism”! There are not enough “Parachutes, Poles for Vaulting or Parasols” to get the citizenry to float over the wall with Nanny Nancy.
People have often referred to the statement by Edmund Burke: “All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for all good men to do nothing.” However, the acceptable Biblical concept is: When good men do nothing, they get nothing good done. Two places in particular state the Christian Principle and Profile for doing good in this world and culture - Galatians 6:9-10, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers..” And Titus 2:11-14 (selected), “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say – No! - to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives…while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” We don’t need Parachutes, Pole Vaults or Parasols – just consistency and faithfulness in doing what Jesus Christ modeled and taught. There is no discrimination when one loves his neighbor as himself; and loves his enemy and does good to those who misuse and abuse him. It’s a radical approach to life but it is also a Biblical lesson that must be learned and demonstrated. Consider these things with me!
colinstmichael I'm not convinced at all that healthcare would bankrupt the country. Just about every nation in the world (except for us and some third world countries) has some form of universal coverage. Hawaii's had statewide coverage for four decades and hasn't sunk into the ocean. Furthermore, not only does a majority of the country want an overhaul of healthcare, but current numbers show that people think not enough is being done by Congress. The vocal minority isn't right. They're just loud. I think too many Chicken Littles have convinced you the sky is falling.
peripheral Hey - my friend! good seeing you once again! Bankruptcy is a simple observation: (1) providing health-care for 47% who pay no taxes; (2) extend coverage for those who are illegally in the country; (3) the vain promise (actually balderdash) that costs will decrease over the next 10 years (there is no free lunch - there are costs and someone will have to pay); (4) to create a shortage of medical providers (you can just bet there will be a government stimulus to get more people into and through medical school); etc., etc.
No "chicken little" here! May be guilty of trying to look at this entire fantasy with an Eagle's Eye! The "chickens" are the ones laying a gigantic egg in Washington, DC...
BTW - BEFORE this Health Care Reform passes, some of us already lost some of our coverage in the Advantage Program initiated by the Federal Government; Premiums increased (doubled); and copay for Office Visits ($15.00 per visit), Emergency Room Care ($50.00 per visit), and Hospital stay ($250.00 per day for the first 6 days)- have all increased dramatically. I was just in the Hospital and experienced all of this "saving" first-hand. I'm telling you, my friend, there is no free lunch! Many people with fixed income are already being penalized and financially burdened. This new Health Care proposal will cut Medicare provision even more (something like $500 Billion). Explain to me HOW to cover more people, cut benefits for those already covered, without increasing taxes - and not increase deficits that could possibly lead to Bankruptcy.
The way things are going - we may not be able to afford our Happy Meal. We may have to go to Burger King or Sonic and order off of the Value Menu (@ $1.00 per item).
colinstmichael Within the last year or so, insurance companies spent $380 million on lobbyists, political campaign donations, and advertising to push back against the reform movement. That's nearly 400 million wasted dollars that were given to them by their customers. Instead of providing better care, they're using it to protect their own profits. They're obviously doing well if they can blow through that much money in such a short amount of time. The US has the third highest public healthcare expenditure per capita in the world despite the millions who are uninsured and underinsured. We're already a bankrupt nation. We've been steadily building debt since the close of the Clinton administration. Now, thanks to healthcare costs, the general public is being bled dry. 62% of bankruptcies are caused by medical bills, and an overwhelming majority of those people had insurance. Nearly 100,000 people die every year unnecessarily because of a lack of medical care whether they're insured or not.
Here's my idea: people's health should not be profitable. I'm not saying providers of medical care shouldn't make any money. I'm saying they shouldn't be allowed to make billions of dollars off the suffering of others. No one should ever get into the business of helping people because they think they can rake in cash hand over fist. Everyone involved should be paid well, but none of them should be able to pay for a private jet, multiple mansions, and a fleet of cars. It's absurd. Imagine if the millions in bonuses and millions spent on lobbyists went toward health coverage. Furthermore, we'd been told by Congress for decades that it'd be impossible to afford universal coverage, but we've spent billions on a neverending war in Iraq that we shouldn't have gotten into in the first place. On top of that, millions - if not billions - have been shoveled into that country that're unaccounted for. A fraction of that could've paid for healthcare. How many fighter jets have been manufactured and left to rust in airfields? I don't even think a handful of dogfights have occurred since World War II, yet they just recently started putting an end to the fighter jet program. The insurance companies can afford to cover people better, and the government can afford to cover everyone. They simply choose not to. There's no such thing as a free lunch, but plenty of well-to-do people gladly let others starve for their own gain. There are Congressmen who religiously push for pork project spending for their districts, but voted against the stimulus plan that would supply spending on projects for their districts. It's all two-faced game-playing. The insurance company will take your money until you get sick, and take away your coverage when you need it the most. The government will tell you they can't afford universal coverage, but turn around and blow millions on advertising. Imagine if every multi-million dollar fundraising dinner funded healthcare instead of campaigning. Those dinners happen all the time on a weekly basis. Even those could 100% of the costs. It's not impossible by any means. It's just that no one wants to do it.