gdp's Comments

Change.gov : Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team | Join the Discussion: Service

Sat, 13 Dec 2008 02:23:48 +0000

No matter how scary things seem right now economically, it is amazing how well America works and what a strong work ethic we have. We do have an educated work force. Also having been in Pakistan where the infrastructure was weak, we tend not to realize how well we do take care of our disabled, how well our roads, and services work. In places like Afghanistan, is most cases they don't allow women to get an education, so they lose in a sense the work, the input and the intelligence of one half of their population. I don't mean that working in the home and raising children is not an important contribution in society, it probably is the most important, yet, there are so many people whose human potential is wasted because of greed, corruption and poverty.

Change.gov : Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team | Join the Discussion: Service

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:01:58 +0000

Dear D. The proper term is "chiropractic" even though it sounds like and adjective, not a noun...there is no "chiropracty." I am grateful you want us included, and from what I see and hear, since so many of all of the different providers are already reimbursed by the current insurance companies, I am confident we'll be included in this one. I think the worst part of the medical monopoly that keeps things in place, is ideological. It's a model based on disease, and surgery, not prevention. That is changing slowly. We need all providers, their talents and their voices in order to help forward wellness and prevention.

Change.gov : Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team | Join the Discussion: Service

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:59:08 +0000

what does this have to do with the thread we're supposed to be discussing?

Change.gov : Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team | Join the Discussion: Service

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:50:37 +0000

Oregon is so great when it comes to being "green". I went running in Portland with my son recently in the Hawthorne district, and it was so wonderful to see all the "victory" gardens around the neighborhood.

Change.gov : Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team | Join the Discussion: Service

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:49:04 +0000

I agree that some of those GMO foods, after causing obesity and are a part of diabetes worldwide. It's back to government deals with big agriculture..what to grow, and what will be stockpiled and subsidied while others around the globe are starving.

Change.gov : Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team | Join the Discussion: Service

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:47:02 +0000

Hi, that sounds great, I'll take a look. Have you checked out www.bioneers.org? they are about ethical and morally grounded capitalism. I heard some MP3's on NPR and you can google and listen to a few of them.

Change.gov : Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team | Join the Discussion: Service

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:33:35 +0000

I have never belonged to Rotary and Jaycees, etc, but do stay involved in special events that do things like raise funds for Alzheimer's, Breast Cancer research etc.

Change.gov : Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team | Join the Discussion: Service

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:32:18 +0000

There's plenty of money with which to pay for healthcare. We have to kick out insurance lobbyists, reduce the profits of those companies that are monopolizing this ponzi scheme. Athem Blue Cross alone, one co. in CA, makes $10,000,000.00 pure profit every day. I think that's a bit much. Sure, let them make profit, but they are doing it standing on the backs of doctors and patients alike. You take all the deductibles, the co-pays, and a chunk of their profits and we'll have plenty to insure everyone.

Change.gov : Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team | Join the Discussion: Service

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 20:29:21 +0000

Hi, I'm with you Denise...looks like everyone still wants to weigh in on healthcare, but Daschle wants us to hold community healthcare reform meetings. They closed the Join the Discussion on Healthcare reform and on the economy. In regard to how I'm involved in my community....I belong to the SLO Chamber of Commerce; which keeps me in touch with policy makers, what's happening politically locally, and is a great place to find out what's happening with the needy in our community. Every month there are fundraisers and presentations on how to help others. The last meeting featured a warm coat donation drive, toys for kids, often there are talks about making donations to service organizations. There is a new organization trying to use the momentum and continue it from the Obama-Biden campaign called Central Coast United for Change, they are having a community organizing event on Sunday...we represent a non partisan group, so we can unite on what needs to happen in America and especially our Central Coast, which is SLO county and Santa Barbara County. I am working on having a healthcare reform forum, shortly. kkdc

Change.gov : Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Transition Team | Join the Discussion: Economy

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 18:03:35 +0000

As a healthcare provider I have seen a downturn in my patient census. My fixed costs of operating are still in place, but for now, I'm essentially working for free. I am waiting for things to return to "normal", but patients are delaying care. Some have exhausted their limited numbers of visits for the year, and though they are hurting, they are going to put it off until next year, or indefinitely. I don't want to lay off my staff, because they are good, and I have invested in training them. My husband and I had a lifetsyle predicated on a budget with two full time incomes. Our household and insurance and mortgage expenses, just continue to go up, while insurance reimbursements go down as far as what I am able to collect for the services I render in my career as a DC. People are not coming in for the care they need. He works for a utility, but because he is management, not union, when he works extra long hours, he gets regular time. The company cancelled any of his vacation between TG and NY, because the overtime "hogs" starting driving up company costs, so management above him, called their managers to work the extra time. We are selling things that we can do without, to try to make ends meet, and are trying to hold onto our home.

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Former Sen. Daschle responds on health care | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Trans

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 14:58:00 +0000

Good stuff.

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Former Sen. Daschle responds on health care | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Trans

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 14:56:25 +0000

There are many Americans who are paying for healthcare insurance that won't cover the kinds of care they really want and need. Many millions of visits are made to healthcare providers who are considered "alternative" and have to pay cash. These providers should be included in a single payor system, and let patients make the choice of what kinds of care they want. The treatments should be well researched and evidence-based. I agree.

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Former Sen. Daschle responds on health care | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Trans

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 14:51:44 +0000

How can we motivate people? Information is not enough. The surgeon general's warning on cigarettes doesn't make people quit. Motivation and inspiration, will have to be part of the education.

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Former Sen. Daschle responds on health care | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Trans

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 14:50:35 +0000

Excellent points. I love this forum.

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Former Sen. Daschle responds on health care | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Trans

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 14:49:44 +0000

Susan, there have been some interesting articles in the press lately about some cancers simply going away; resolving themselves. There's evidence in a post prostate cancer group they were able to lower recurrence rates, but losing a little weight, doing stress reduction, eating the right foods, and exercising. Fresh air, clean water, sunlight, exercise, ...there's just no money in it! :), seriously though, much of chronic disease is preventable, and we need to provide information that is motivating and helps people make good decisions. Big bags of green groceries are not as expensive as non-nutritious snack foods and sodas.

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Former Sen. Daschle responds on health care | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Trans

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 14:44:19 +0000

We're going to try to get one going in California.. a single payor system, with everyone insured and no one left out for pre-existing conditions...the savings will be huge. Maybe if one state can set an example our federal government will start listening. Do you think Obama's administration is strong enough to withstand the influence and special interests of the insurance industry, and pharmaceutical interests, and listen to what we,the American people are suggesting?

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Former Sen. Daschle responds on health care | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Trans

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 14:41:38 +0000

I don't agree that the providers are the middle-men-for-profit. They are the ones providing the actual services. The costs of meds is outrageous because of the outrageous profits those companies are making, and the cost of insurance is up, because they make more money that way. It's almost like "the emperor has no clothes". The jacked up prices in medical technology, medicines, and patient deductibles, and co-pays allow CEO's and higher ups in the boards of ins companies to make multiple millions each, while we're wondering why 20-30$ gets arbitrarily adjusted off a regular office visit, just because I agreed to be "in-network." With hospital bills, the amounts insurance companies refuse to pay is in the 10's of thousands in some cases.

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Former Sen. Daschle responds on health care | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Trans

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 14:36:53 +0000

It's going to take thinking outside of what is already known, currently being done, ie coming up with a new model, different subspecialities like you mentioned and the possibility of breaking up the medical monopoly on how we view health and disease. Changing the conversation. I like your ideas.

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Former Sen. Daschle responds on health care | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Trans

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 14:23:21 +0000

Amen.

Change.gov : Join the Discussion: Former Sen. Daschle responds on health care | Change.gov: The Obama-Biden Trans

Tue, 9 Dec 2008 14:02:10 +0000

Jody Thorpe, Read Paul Krugman's piece, op ed nytimes.com back in Sept or so, "Healthcare Destruction." He cites how much money insurance companies like the "blues" spent to exclude people's cases just like yours. A local attorney firm in my town, took on Blue Cross, because they were dropping people who had just gotten insured and used it. They would go back into the patient's medical records and accuse them of not disclosing something and drop them for "fraud." They were and are being successfully sued for "bad faith."