I’m No Expert…

There are certainly many pluses to finally having the new health care reform bill. But a new one I recently overheard while visiting a college campus. It appears that many pre-med students are reconsidering a career in medicine because they fear the opportunity for wealth has gone down. In other words, students who were going into medicine for the money are changing their minds. What we will be left with are pre-med students who really want to be doctors for the sake of treating the sick and not just in for the money. Imagine going to a doctor who is more passionate about treating you  and your health than how much they make. What a refreshing change that could be!

Tags: Health, Medicine by Jay Stuart
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The health care debate has triggered some powerful emotions and stances…unfortunately many appear politically based and financially motivated than rationally sound.

The people I have personally spoken with who oppose “heath care reform” (I hate that name) surprisingly spew sound bytes rather than reason. I have actually heard someone who I once thought as intelligent compare Obama to Hitler. Yes a man who wants to ensure every American can see a doctor and get the care they and their family needs is just like one of the greatest mass murderers in history. They also argue that we will be paying for those who just don’t want to work, those who are just milking a system. While that is true, these people are unfortunately mixed in with a large population of people who truly want to stand on their own two feet and who for one reason or another cannot. People who truly need our help. But at the end, there was one consistent theme as the basis of their opposition. They all said, “Why should I pay for someone else’s health care.” And this seems to be a bottom line although largely unspoken.

Even more sorrowful is that the majority of these people, at least those who I have spoke with, probably spend more going out drinking and partying in six months than they would in any additional taxes. Yes these people are the ones, and probably the only ones who would need to pay additional taxes if healthcare reform is passed. Yes these are also the people who could probably pay for most of their healthcare without insurance although it is covered by their corporate employers. Yes these people have not felt the slightest tinge of the recession. And good for them, they work hard and have worked hard for years to earn what they have. These are not people who were born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Nevertheless, they don’t even blink at spending $250 for a single game seat to see the Yankees, but can’t see helping those who need help.

The problem may be one of priorities that have been steadily changing since the early 1980’s. It’s OK , even applauded, to earn $20 million a year to play baseball or basketball, or for a model to earn $40 million a year to stand in front of a camera or walk down a runway wearing someone else’s designs and creations; or a for financier to earn $100 million a year creating investments with no real foundation. But a policeman or fire fighter, who put their lives in harm’s way everyday to protect ours, struggle day-by-day.

Somehow America has lost its way and we need to get it back before it’s too late.

Tags: Economy, Health, Medicine, National Issues by Jay Stuart
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Mob politics has taken root and is growing. It’s interesting to note that opponents of healthcare reform have been promoting violent behavior as a means to shoot down the bill. “Become part of the mob!” was posted on the Web Site of Sean Hannity. Not “become part of the solution” or “Become part of the debate” but become a mob. I guess when you don’t have a valid or rationale argument the next best thing is to distort the truth and promote irrationality.

Tags: Health, Medicine, Politics by Jay Stuart
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For some reason a large minority of people across the country are unwilling to spend taxpayer money on programs that “promote the general welfare,” (remember that phrase from the constitution?) but will appropriate billions for war. For example the Korean war cost $454 billion*, Vietnam war cost $698 billion*, the first Gulf War $100 billion*, and the War on Terror (includes Iraq, Afghanistan and counter terrorism)  has cost nearly 1 trillion dollars since 9/11.

Just calling something a “War” gets it significant appropriations. More than 30 years ago President Nixon declared a “War on Drugs.” Today we are still fighting it at an “official” cost of approximately $13 billion a year in this decade alone (unofficial estimates are significantly higher). The majority of this money goes towards law enforcement.

But try to get money for health care  or education and the right wing throws a hissy fit. So let’s scrap “health reform” and declare War on Disease; forget education and “no child left behind” and declare War on Stupidity. maybe then they will get the funding they deserve!

* Adjusted for inflation

Tags: Health, Humor, Medicine, National Issues, Politics by Jay Stuart
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Senate Minority leader Mitch McConnel is leading the GOP opposition against a government-run health insurance option that will guarantee coverage to all Americans. He cites to key reasons for GOP opposition:

1. “Private insurers can’t compete with a government plan”
2. The GOP doesn’t want the government to come between you and your doctor

Let’s think about this a minute.

Currently private insurers do come between you and your doctor, but that’s OK with Senator McConnel. These private insurers tell doctors what drugs they may prescribe, what diagnostic tests they may order, and what treatments are medically necessary; all while showing a profit for their stockholders. But the GOP is right about one thing, private insurers will not be able to compete with a government plan—unless of course private insurers start putting people before profits.

I guess Senator McConnel and the Republicans still don’t think much of Medicare either. You know that government run health insurance that has successfully provided medical coverage for millions of older Americans. I hear it has been working pretty well  for over 40 years.

The bottom line is that the GOP wants to protect the health of the insurance companies more than they want to protect the health of American people.

Tags: Health, Medicine by Jay Stuart
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Every year approximately 4 billion prescriptions are written in the United States with more than 8 million patients experiencing adverse reactions to these drugs. Fortunately most of these side effects are mild and transient. But for a small percentage of patients they can be harmful, even life-threatening.  If you’re like most people you probably take your doctor’s prescription without asking any questions, go to the pharmacy, get it filled and then take the medicine (hopefully following directions on the label). But do you know all that you need to know about your prescription medication?

For instance, did your doctor tell you what to expect, when you may begin to feel better and why he/she felt you needed the medication. Did you hear about what side effects you may experience and what you should do if you have any? Did you discuss alternatives to this medication, either another medication or another approach, such as a change of diet or exercise you can try?

Here are a few things you can ask your physician and/or pharmacist about your medicine. [Read more →]

Tags: Health, Medicine by Jay Stuart
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In today’s NY Times Economist Paul Krugman offers Congress two important pieces of advice as they try to reform our national health care: “Don’t trust the insurance industry” and “Don’t trust the insurance industry.” Truer words could not have been written, especially when appealing an insurance claim. [Read more →]

Tags: Health, Medicine by Jay Stuart
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“Watch that first step, it’s a doozy,” and if you ever experienced heel pain, you know exactly what that means. That first step out of bed in the morning can be excruciating. The pain may ease after that but usually returns later in the day or evening following increased activity.

For the majority of heel pain sufferers, heel pain is short-lived, commonly lasting a few weeks. But for others, such as me, it can become a frustrating problem lasting years. Many people can experience severe heel pain. Fortunately, while my heel pain lasted for two years, the pain was only mild to moderate.

I’m not going to rehash the causes and symptoms of heel pain here; there are hundreds of web sites providing objective, medically accepted definitions written by orthopedists and podiatrists. I’m no expert, but I am a fellow sufferer. I will share my perspective, experiences and learnings from two years of doctor’s visits, treatments, and research. [Read more →]

Tags: Health, Medicine by Jay Stuart
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The current financial disaster is a perfect example of what happens when we wait for a crisis to hit before moving to act. Many Congressional and corporate financial leaders saw the dangers years ago. Some even attempted to head off the crisis with regulatory legislation, but their bills couldn’t even make it to the House or Senate floor.  Now, the crisis is upon us and is Congress scrambling and spending trillions to keep the economy from falling off the cliff. The Calvary may have arrived in the nick of time, we shall see. Regardless, millions of people will be hurt by this financial crisis. But let’s keep in mind that this crisis was created by  a partnership of Main Street and Wall Street. Millions of people choosing to live life on credit and banks giving it to them, although both know they will never be able to repay. The bailout really just keeps this system going–for a while.

Once we get through this Congress will need to shore up Social Security and Medicare or face a new financial crisis in the future. They will need to make tough decisions about how to keep the promise to millions of hard working Americans who paid into this system and count on it for their declining years. My fear is that this economic disaster was another conservative plan to bankrupt the Treasury, thereby creating a future argument for making drastic cuts in Medicare and Social Security

Other crises such as climate change and energy are on the horizon. The warning bells have been sounding for years. And they grow louder. Their consequences will be devastating and long lasting. Once they are upon us they may be irreversible.

Many of us remember gas lines and gasoline rationing, when OPEC cut imports in the 1970s. We all  witnessed skyrocketing oil prices and inflationary consequences. Though they all have temporarily subsided, they will be an unavoidable part of our future unless we act now. But Congress sits on its hands with some singing, “Drill baby drill.” But the meager 1% increase in domestic production produced by this policy will do little for solve the growing energy crisis and nothing to free us from the grips of OPEC. Just as a side note I don’t understand how in one breath they talk about the need to break our addiction to oil and in the next breath say “Drill baby drill.”

Climate change is even more frightening. Unlike the economy and energy, climate change may reach a “tipping point” from where there is not return. The wait and see approach is unacceptable.

Those who opposed legislation to head off the current financial crises are the same people who sing “Drill, Baby, Drill” and oppose action to head off climate change. They are quick to create an imaginary economic burden that moving to renewable energy will create (for them). They forget the old adage, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Not to mention the millions of jobs created by a renewable energy industry.

This is why real and significant change in leadership is needed. And the choices we have are clear.

Tags: Economy, Energy, Etiquette, Humor, Medicine, National Issues, Renewable energy, uncategorized by Jay Stuart
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I’ve tried to read about the current financial crises in order to learn how this thing came about and where it may be going. The one thing I learned is that while I’m certainly no expert about financial matters, neither are the so-called financial experts. You know all those MBAs at the investment firms who worked 12 hours a day creating deals and new formulas for pushing more paper around.  So here’s a little bit of history that I learned:

In the late 1920′s people borrowed money from their brokers to buy stock; sometimes small investors were loaned more than 66% of the value of the stock being bought. This speculation pushed stock  prices higher creating a bubble. Brokers were happy to lend the money because the market was going up and they believed they would get their money back when people sold at higher share prices. More people, even those who could not really afford it or even had money were able to borrow, join in, and buy stock. People became millionaires and believed this could go on forever. Then in early September 1929, stock prices started to decline. People couldn’t repay their  brokers or get more money to buy stock. In the weeks that followed the market saw wild swings of up and down days. Well we all know what happened, at least some of us do.

It seems all the MBAs working in government and our financial institutions were out on the day they taught economic history in business school.  Now let’s edit that paragraph a little:

In the early 2000′s more and more people were able to borrow money from their brokers/banks to buy homes. This speculation pushed home prices higher creating a bubble. Brokers and banks were eager to lend more money because the housing market was going up and they believed they would get their money back when the homes were sold. More people, even those without good credit or even income , joined in and got mortgages to buy homes. Everyone was becoming a homeowner. When people couldn’t pay their mortgage they simply refinanced and used the money to pay for the new mortgage. They all believed this could go on forever. Then in 2006, home prices started to decline. People couldn’t pay their  mortgage or refinance to get money to pay the new mortgages. Well we’re all going to see what happens now.

I think Tome Wolfe recognized exactly what was going on on Wall Street in the late 1980s and described it best in Bonfire of the Vanities. Here Sherman’s wife Judy eloquently describes to their son what daddy does:
“Darling, Daddy doesn’t build roads or hospitals or anything, really. Daddy just handles the bonds for the people who raise the money…See, just imagine that a bond is a slice of cake. Now you didn’t bake that cake, but every time you hand somebody a slice of that cake, a little bit comes off, little crumbs fall off. And you’re allowed to keep those crumbs…And that’s what Daddy does. He passes somebody else’s cake around and picks up the crumbs. But you have to imagine a lot of crumbs. And a great golden cake. And a lot of golden crumbs. And you have to imagine Daddy running around picking up every little golden crumb he can get his hands on. That’s what Daddy does.”

So perhaps on a deeper level this is how America has gone astray. Sometime in the 1980′s instead of wanting to build and create things too many young men and women went to college studying how to pick up the crumbs. What’s even sadder they were convinced that crumbs from their crumbs would “trickle down” and build America! Now there are very few crumbs.

Tags: Economy, Medicine, National Issues by Jay Stuart
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