Puppet_Sock <puppet_s
...@hotmail.com> wrote in news:bd801623-f3f6-4391-
a1ae-ad8c4ea95
...@p32g2000vbi.googlegroups.com:
> On Oct 30, 5:04 pm, Sergeant Malenoid
> <malenoidathotmail.
...@giganews.com> wrote:
> [snip]
>> The Hippocratic Oath: Modern Version
> [snap]
> I didn't read it too carefully. It seemed to be a lot of apple-pie-
> motherhood
> kind of statements. At least it didn't have that part about not
> cutting the
> guys who work under the stone.
> But I didn't see anything that will be "The Answer" to health care.
> Neither to the general issue, nor to "Our" crisis, however we came
> to have a crisis.
> Could you make it leap a bit higher so I can see it?
Google searching the phrase "America health care crisis" brings up 41
million hits. Of course it is really a health insurance crisis, since
after all the pundits always cite the number of those in America lacking
health insurance. I agree, however, with some of those on this forum who
believe the problem is caused by governmental regulations. But what they
don't recognize or admit is that insurance company greed plays a major
role also, and that insurance companies take financial advantage of the
present "immoral" mixed-economy health-care system. Capitalists do not
always think in terms of the long-range, as Rand supposed, they also look
in the short-range to short-term profiteering.
I certainly believe in Capitalism to the extent that it has an important
role to play, but that role is not a moral one, it is merely functional,
theoretical: it is a theory governing the way economies should work,
nothing more. I don't believe capitalism is the most "moral" system or
theory any more than I believe relativity is the most moral theory
governing physics. It is simply the theory that, so far, works the best.
And, like relativity, it may someday be replaced by a better theory.
Morality should however play an important role in all this, and it is
morality which is being replaced by materialism and greed in the economic
sector. The housing crisis showed us the powerful effect that short-term
greed can have on an economy, although of course there is also a
governmental cause behind the collapse of the housing market. Short-range
government planning made it possible for greed to rule over market
conditions for a few years, stretching the laws of economics like a
rubber band until something finally had to give. To own your own home is
not a right, neither is there a right to medical care. But we do have a
right to be treated as persons and not as things carrying pocketbooks and
wallets full of wads of cash. From the economic standpoint that's all
people are, and that's why there needs to be more than economics, more
than libertarianism, and not this idea that capitalism is a moral
economic system since that will only lend more energy to the notion that
people are things to be exploited for whatever funds they possess. A
moral system of thinking will also see a patient in a hospital as a
person in need of treatment. An immoral system of thinking, as in Britain
(and other countries such as Holland where euthanasia is extensively
practiced) will see an elderly patient in a hospital, not as a person,
but as a financial burden on the medical system and the State. An immoral
system of thinking, as in the US, will see a long-term hospital stay, not
as a person in need of extra care, but as a burden on the insurance
company's bottom-line, and demand that the person be sent home or else
the insurance company will stop paying for his stay.
A moral system of thinking is that kind of thinking which "makes a
difference" in someone's life --
http://www.ktvb.com/news/local/64234052.html
Family grateful for the support
August 15, 2009
BOISE -- People in the Treasure Valley are digging deep to help a family
in need.
Ryan Stockdale suffers from severe cluster headaches.
The family needs to raise $80,000 to pay for an experimental surgery.
One of the options is to sell their "Extreme Home Makeover" dream house.
On Monday, the family learned the insurance plan through Ryan's former
employer could not cover the surgery.
The company said there is no legal way under federal law that the plan
could cover it.
So now, three days later a lot of generous people are coming through in a
big way to help cover the cost.
They're coming through by bringing checks, cash, change, any amount of
money they can -- and they're making a huge difference.
"It all about making a difference, making a difference for Ryan Stockdale
and his family," said Chris Kennedy, morning radio personality on 101.1
FM.
They came from across the Treasure Valley to help a family that many of
them didn't even know.
"Eric, where do you work?" asked Chris Kennedy.
"Landscaping!" said Eric.
"Landscaping, I know it's tough for you right now. As well for and
everybody else. Thank you for the donation from for Ryan Stockdale and
his family. Thank you, have a great day," said Chris Kennedy.
"It's not the insurance fault and if we can raise money and get him
through that, that would be great," said Teresa Foster who made a
donation. "The kids are sick, You'd hate to see them lose their house
after it was built just for the kids."
Susan Hamel just finished getting chemotherapy to treat her breast
cancer. She stopped by to drop off a few dollars.
"Health issues are a big problem, especially if the insurance isn't going
to cover it. If I got a few bucks to spare, help the family," said Hamel.
Tami Edens granddaughters raised $50 for the Stockdales with a lemonade
and cookie stand. She drove in from Caldwell.
"They've been wanting to do a lemonade stand any ways this was just a
reason to do it," said Edens.
"Helping out a neighbor if that's not what Idaho's all about then I don't
know what is," said Bryan Gregory, morning radio personality on 99.1 FM.
Disc jockey Chris Kennedy was on the phone with Karia Stockdale when she
told her they had reached $36,000.
"You see there's people from all over Idaho, from Payette, from
Middleton, from Kuna, you name it, they're making a donation. Twin Falls,
they're making a donation," said Kenndey.
"I'm just completely overwhelmed. This is unbelievable. In one day what
happened here. I am so grateful," said Karia Stockdale.
Late Thursday afternoon, we received word from organizers of the
fundraising campaign that they have surpassed their $80,000 goal.
The Stockdales are going to California Friday to meet with doctors. The
surgery hasn't yet been scheduled but they are hoping to have it done
soon.
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