Protestantism

» Migisi - Obama in 08

In response to Obama in 08 posted by BrianTubbs:
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Previously, we mentioned how the media distorts and viciously attacks candidates (specifically Dems like Obama).... Repuglycan mouth-piece FOX is the WORST!! No surprise there. But WOW!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjvNSpsPu...
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And not a peep from FOX et al about McPain:
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"Will MSNBC devote as much coverage to McCain's embrace of Hagee's support as it did to Obama's rejection of Farrakhan?" Media Matters, February 28, 2008
http://mediamatters.org/items/2008022800...
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"'Repulsive, insulting, and heartbreaking'" Jews have brought on their own anti-Semitism, says McCain supporter Pastor John Hagee," John Aravosis at AmericaBlog, March 2, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3524&id=12363-...
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"McCain 'Proud' of Endorsement From John Hagee Who Calls Catholics 'The Great Whore.' Where's Tim Russert Now?" Jane Hamsher at HuffingtonPost, February 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3525&id=12363-...
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"McCain's Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam," Mother Jones, March 12, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=3519&id=12363-...

-- posted by Migisi

» Migisi - Health Care

In response to Health Care posted by pink101:

.... the agency that is SUPPOSED to cover their bills doesn't pay either. Ask your doctor if he even accepts Medicaid patients...
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Yep. No cash, credit card, or insurance = nobody wants you as a patient. Medicaid won't pay the horrendous medical overcharges - which can be as high as 350% mark up on drugs and services. And I'm sure you've heard of the many cases of Medicaid/Medicare fraud committed by docs/hospitals - where they bill multiple times for the same test and services not performed. Why should taxpayers pay for their greed? For the reputable professional, the main problem with taking Medicaid is that it pays too slowly -- 6 months+ to pay.
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The hospitals don't turn people away.
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They're only required to treat emergency patients. And it took an act of Congress to make them do that. Congress passed the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act ("EMTALA") which requires medical facilities to give emergency treatment, screen and stabilize all patients, and penalizes them for releasing those who are medically unstable.
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And, doctors don't turn them away either.
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They can if it's not an emergency. They simply refer them to the emergency room, where they're turned away too if it's a nonemergency. And you've acknowledged that most doctors won't take Medicaid patients.
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So, if order to make up for their losses, the docs charge those who can pay more. Howzatgrabyuh?
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Most charge everybody too much - regardless of ability to pay. Now here's the thing... if they can afford to give discounts on drugs and services to the poor, why do they bill out the same drugs and services at much higher rates to insurance companies? There are various charity orgs which help pay medical bills for those who can't. Just call hospital administration for a list. They have them lined up. And most hospitals are federally funded - even nonprofit private ones. Believe me, the docs/hospitals don't lose out. Have you ever investigated the huge PROFITS that alleged NONprofit tax exempt hospitals make? And how much hospital execs make? Some states are doing just that.
January 23, 2008
Ohio Takes New Look at Nonprofit Hospitals
http://philanthropy.com/news/philanthrop...
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Our grand children will see universal health care in their time.
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IL initiated a children's universal health care system for middle to low income families. My son qualifies. But, just try and find a doctor who is signed up for the program? NOT A ONE!! Yet another SCAM.

-- posted by Migisi

» pink101 - Health Care

In response to Health Care posted by Migisi:

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Medicaid doesn't pay any of its bills--period. So, the docs don't even bill them.
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-- posted by pink101

» Migisi - Health Care

In response to Health Care posted by pink101:
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Medicaid doesn't pay any of its bills--period. So, the docs don't even bill them.
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Well, if they don't bill Medicaid or the patient, then they can't complain about not getting paid, can they.
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Medicaid depends almost entirely on general federal and state revenues. The feds decide how much to pay doctors re Medicare - normally close to market rates. But states have a lot of discretion in deciding how much to pay docs under Medicaid. State Medicaid agencies set the fees and most fail to adjust them for inflation.
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So, let's track the trickle down. Because we've been funding a war (spending BILLIONS every month) for the last five years, there's been funding cutbacks in just about every gov. agency except military and foreign aid. This means less funds go to the states towards programs. Some states simply don't have enough funding -- especially since Medicaid coverage is available, regardless of citizenship status, per the EMTALA (Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act).
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Here's how the docs are getting what they think they're owed by the government:
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Senators Want Back Taxes Collected
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires...
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"The report, by the Government Accountability Office, Congress' investigative arm, said that some of the worst offenders live in luxury, residing in million-dollar homes and driving high-dollar vehicles.
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"The subcommittee was taking up a report which found that more than 30,000 Medicaid providers - doctors and others in the health care field - owe at least $1 billion in federal taxes, yet still receive payments for their services."
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They'll get what they think they're due - one way or another, ay?

-- posted by Migisi

» pink101 - Health Care

In response to Health Care posted by Migisi:
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Well, if they don't bill Medicaid or the patient, then they can't complain about not getting paid, can they..
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"I swear by Apollo, Asclepius, Hygieia, and Panacea, and I take to witness all the gods, all the goddesses, to keep according to my ability and my judgment, the following Oath.
To consider dear to me, as my parents, him who taught me this art; to live in common with him and, if necessary, to share my goods with him; To look upon his children as my own brothers, to teach them this art.
I will prescribe regimens for the good of my patients according to my ability and my judgment and never do harm to anyone.
To please no one will I prescribe a deadly drug nor give advice which may cause his death.
Nor will I give a woman a pessary to procure abortion.
But I will preserve the purity of my life and my arts.
I will not cut for stone, even for patients in whom the disease is manifest; I will leave this operation to be performed by practitioners, specialists in this art.
In every house where I come I will enter only for the good of my patients, keeping myself far from all intentional ill-doing and all seduction and especially from the pleasures of love with women or with men, be they free or slaves.
All that may come to my knowledge in the exercise of my profession or in daily commerce with men, which ought not to be spread abroad, I will keep secret and will never reveal.
If I keep this oath faithfully, may I enjoy my life and practice my art, respected by all men and in all times; but if I swerve from it or violate it, may the reverse be my lot."
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or
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translation of the Oath runs as follows:
" I swear by Apollo Physician and Asclepios and Hygeia and Panaceia and all the gods and goddesses, making them my witnesses, that I will fulfill according to my ability and judgment this oath and this covenant:
To hold him who has taught me this art as equal to my parents and to live my life in partnership with him, and if he is in need of money to give him a share of mine, and to regard his offspring as equal to my brothers in male lineage and to teach them this art - if they desire to learn it - without fee and covenant; to give a share of precepts and oral instruction and all the other learning to my sons and to the sons of him who has instructed me and to pupils who have signed the covenant and have taken an oath according to the medical law, but no one else.
I will apply dietetic measures for the benefit of the sick according to my ability and judgment; I will keep them from harm and injustice.
I will neither give a deadly drug to anybody who asked for it, nor will I make a suggestion to this effect. Similarly I will not give to a woman an abortive remedy. In purity and holiness I will guard my life and my art.
I will not use the knife, not even on sufferers from stone, but will withdraw in favor of such men as are engaged in this work.
Whatever houses I may visit, I will come for the benefit of the sick, remaining free of all intentional injustice, of all mischief and in particular of sexual relations with both female and male persons, be they free or slaves.
What I may see or hear in the course of the treatment or even outside of the treatment in regard to the life of men, which on no account one must spread abroad, I will keep to myself, holding such things shameful to be spoken about.
If I fulfill this oath and do not violate it, may it be granted to me to enjoy life and art, being honored with fame among all men for all time to come; if I transgress it and swear falsely, may the opposite of all this be my lot."
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==============================
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Doctors are a strange breed.
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To say the least.
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They pay dearly for their profession.
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God bless 'em, every one.

-- posted by pink101

» Brian Tubbs - Health Care

The whole health care situation is a serious problem - and it's only going to get worse. I don't know what the answers are. I would say that the candidates who come up with the most crowd-pleasing ways to address the issue will do the best at the ballot box. It's definitely a top priority (and understandably so) for voters.

But...you are faced with some real, legitimate, give-and-take issues with respect to health care. Those issues start with...

You have an aging baby boomer population that is much too big to be supported by the tax dollars of the next generation behind it - mine.

Many (not all - but many) of the health care crises we have are due to poor lifestyle choices on the part of people. I'm preaching to myself here. But if you eat junk food a lot, it will catch up with you. And we, as a consumer society, are addicted to bad eating habits.

Not only that...but destructive sexual habits too and drug abuse problems and heavy drinking and smoking and on and on and on. Think about it...we have people binge drinking and chain smoking - taking their FREEDOM to wash their lives down the drain! And who pays to take care of them????

If people lived more responsibly and (yes) more morally, it would help our health care situation a GREAT deal!

In addition to that...you have a shortage of health care providers. This will become even more significant as more baby boomers retire. We don't have enough nurses, doctors, and other health care service providers.

How do you solve that problem? Do you FORCE people into health care careers? Start up a DRAFT system? Or do you incentivize them? If the latter, how do you pay for that? There's a ripple effect in the economy.

Getting back to paying the health care bills themselves...

One of the biggest problems (frankly) is litigation. We have to do something about tort reform. Doctors have to pay enormous fees just to cover their legal insurance. That cost flows to the customer!

All of the above, of course, is just scratching the surface. The health care crisis is a huge problem. It's not going to be an easy one to tackle.

» pink101 - We Need Dialog

In response to Health Care posted by BrianTubbs:
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The health care crisis is a huge problem. It's not going to be an easy one to tackle.
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And, of course, it's not the only problem facing us.
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The problems are pandemic--all over the place. As long as we allow the wealthy and the corporate interests to keep convincing Joe Six Pack and his family that government can't handle our problems, we're going to be kept back.
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We need dialog and we need it big time in our society. We need to put an end to the lobby groups that are financing the political campaigns of McCain and Clinton. It won't be easy because of the First Amendment. But, we need spokespersons that will stand up for the middle and lower classes.
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Cigarettes are a terrible curse on our health care system and contribute to cardio vascular problems even more so than poor eating habits. The problems are exacerbated by private interests that throw the keebosh into programs aimed at making things better.
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One of the main lies that we are being fed is that government cannot figure out how to do things better. Another of the bigger lies has to do with the one that claims reduced taxes are good for the economy. These lies are so pervasive on the media that we don't even question them.
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When is the last time you ever heard of Joe Six Pack picking up some of the writtings from men like Robspeirre? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maximilien_...
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-- posted by pink101

» Migisi - Health Care

In response to Health Care posted by BrianTubbs:

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There are several western countries that have universal health care. Maybe we should be taking a hard look at them to see if one or a combo could work for us? Clearly, our present private health system is broken. We can pay outrageous insurance premiums, co-pays, and deductibles, or we can pay increased taxes for universal health care. Either way, we pay. No such thing as a free lunch.
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After my bad-lifestyle generation dies off, your generation will have health issues all its own to deal with. You will get sick, despite a spartan purist lifestyle.

-- posted by Migisi

» Brian Tubbs - Spartan Purist Lifestyle

In response to Health Care posted by Migisi:

Migisi,

First, I agree that aging and death is part of the human condition. I was simply pointing out that SOME of our health challenges are self-inflicted.

Second, who said I was an example? I definitely am not practicing a "spartan purist lifestyle." I love my high-calorie sodas and food choices. I admit to being part of the problem. The only consolation I can offer myself is that I at least don't drink alcohol, smoke, chew tobacco, or do drugs.

» Migisi - Spartan Purist Lifestyle

In response to Spartan Purist Lifestyle posted by BrianTubbs:
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..SOME of our health challenges are self-inflicted..
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I'd say MOST, even when we as individuals don't actively participate in unhealthy lifestyles i.e. chemical additives in foods, polluted air and water, etc.
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I love my high-calorie sodas and food choices.
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God gave us a tongue so we could taste and enjoy sweet things, right? So enjoy! Calories are units of energy that fuel the body and brain. We NEED them. We just need to burn off the extra units through physical activity.
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Ecclesiastes 9:7 "Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for it is now that God favors what you do."
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The only consolation I can offer myself is that I at least don't drink alcohol, smoke, chew tobacco, or do drugs.
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Well, God did create the tobacco, grape and barley, and marijuana and coca plants for a purpose. There's good and bad in everything...
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Nicotine
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http://www.junkscience.com/news2/nicotin...
[Studies of nicotine's impact on:]
Pain relief
Anxiety and depression
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorders
Schizophrenia
Tourette's syndrome
Parkinson's disease
Alzheimer's disease
"The wide spectrum of nicotine's therapeutic potential is only now being discovered and there may be other effects not yet found; for example, data are now accumulating that nicotine may have beneficial effects in ulcerative colitis."
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Alcohol
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http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/199...
"Moderate consumption of red wine has been widely reported to reduce risk for cardiovascular disease. Some researchers have attributed this cardioprotective quality to the significant amounts of resveratrol naturally present in grape skin.... Resveratrol protects grapes and some other plants against fungal infections. It has been shown previously to have a number of potentially beneficial properties, including antioxidant, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects."
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http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles...
"....New England Journal of Medicine study examining the roles of drinking patterns and heart disease that found, after 12 year of follow-up, that men who consumed alcohol between three and seven days a week had fewer heart attacks than men who drank once a week..... A lower risk of diabetes has been seen in women and men...... studies have fairly consistently suggested that older adults who were drinking moderately may have a lower risk of dementia."
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Marijuana and Cocaine
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http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/medical...
"One of THC's medical uses best supported by research is the treatment of nausea. It can improve mild to moderate nausea caused by cancer chemotherapy and help reduce nausea and weight loss in people with AIDS...... Glaucoma - the third-leading cause of blindness in the United States - is marked by increased pressure in the eyeball, which can lead to vision loss. In the early 1970s, scientists discovered that smoking marijuana reduced pressure in the eyes...... People widely used marijuana for pain relief in the 1800s, and several studies have found that cannabinoids have analgesic effects. In fact, THC may work as well in treating cancer pain as codeine, a mild pain reliever. Cannabinoids also appear to enhance the effects of opiate pain medications to provide pain relief at lower dosages..... A 2003 study found that cannabinoids significantly reduced pain in people with multiple sclerosis. Some scientists feel that more research may show cannabinoids useful in treating MS. Marijuana may protect nerves from the kind of damage that occurs during the disease. They also suggest that animal study results, knowledge of CB1 receptors in the brain and users' reports of decreased symptoms after using marijuana support this possibility...."
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca
The pharmacologically active ingredient of coca is the alkaloid cocaine which is found in the amount of about 0.2% in fresh leaves... When chewed, coca acts as a mild stimulant and suppresses hunger, thirst, pain, and fatigue.... Traditional medical uses of coca are foremost as a stimulant to overcome fatigue, hunger, and thirst. It is considered particularly effective against altitude sickness. It also is used as an anaesthetic to alleviate the pain of headache, rheumatism, wounds and sores, etc. Before stronger anaesthetics were available, it also was used for broken bones, childbirth, and during trephining operations on the skull. Because cocaine constricts blood vessels, the action of coca also serves to oppose bleeding, and coca seeds were used for nosebleeds. Indigenous use of coca has also been reported as a treatment for malaria, ulcers, asthma, to improve digestion, to guard against bowel laxity, as an aphrodisiac, and credited with improving longevity."
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Who'd a thunk that which is bad for us is also good when used wisely.

-- posted by Migisi