it seems the federal government can help you upgrade your tv from analog to digital but they can't ensure that you have access to affordable health care. apparently, access to worthless commercials and advertising is a more important issue for the american people.
blankety blank bleep bleep bleep!!!
folks, i'm angry. i'm angry that our ability to watch the TV is another "high priority" for those fat ass pigs ( who have excellent medical coverage, btw) in washington but our well-being isn't. i'm angry that i can get a government sponsored coupon for a little box but i can't get a government sponsored coupon for a yearly physical.
my husband waited three months to see a pulmonologist about his respiratory issues only to have the doctor prescribe him medicine that costs more than our combined monthly utility bills. fortunately, we can (i say this with the utmost respect for our current and hopefully not temporary financial situation) afford the medicine he needs to breathe.
but what happens when we cant?
is there anything we, the citizens, can do to change our health care system in the US? do we have any power or is this just another case of big oil/gas/tobacco/insurance/fill in the blank, directing the lives of us lowly plebs and we just have to make do with what we already have.
sigh.
Yeah, our government's priorities are WAY out of whack - and it is a bi-partisan wackiness. That's what's so frustrating to me - that my vote has almost no chance to make any difference whatsoever to change economic and health care stupidity in the country.
ReplyDeleteWe will have the power to change our healthcare system only once the citizen discontent reaches critical mass. Until then, both parties will continue to do nothing more than rearrange deck chairs.
ReplyDeleteSorry that hubby's health problems are a heavy strain.
holy moly guys. remind me to never whip up a post while working and angry.
ReplyDeletethere was more than 10 typos and the post makes no dang sense.
blech.
meh. at least i got the point across.
k. you guys don't offer me any hope. perhaps we should move to switzerland.
I wonder, is gov't involvement in digital TV classified as "socialism?" Forcing someone to go from analog to digital sounds like a violation of your constitutional rights. :)
ReplyDelete3 months to see a doctor and then drugs that you can barely afford? What's all that stuff we always hear about keeping medicine private so that there are no waiting lists?
mel... I love it when you get angry.
ReplyDeleteswizerland sounds wonderful. I'll met you there.
(so sorry to hear that DH needs medical attention, but glad that it is within your means, even if at ludicrous cost. what a mess)
Mel, this post was incredible. And I hadn't quite made the connection, but you're right. This is absolutely ridiculous. You guys realize I can't live without you, so if you emigrate to Switzerland, I'm totally coming with you ;)
ReplyDelete*applause*
ReplyDeleteI vote for Copenhagen or the Netherlands. The bicycling is better. :)
ReplyDeleteIt is ironic you can get help for your tv but not medical care.
hey-check this out
ReplyDeletehttp://www.politico.com/news/stories/0109/17231.html
Can I just vent, too? It's the beginning of the year, so my Medicare part D (prescription coverage) has been switched to another company to save costs (why the hell they privatized part D, I will never know), so when I went to the pharmacy yesterday to pick up my seizure meds, I found out that they aren't covered and I have to get them pre-approved if I want them (of course this would be at 4:30 on a Friday, too late to have meds for the weekend). Without coverage, the meds cost $200 for one bottle, which there is no way for me to afford. I also have three other medications that I have to get pre-approval for, and I have no idea if the Medicare part D company will approve them.
ReplyDeleteI am more than just a little pissed about the state of healthcare in America. /rant.
P.S. I was wrong about the cost of the meds. $200 was the copay when I had insurance. I just bought two days worth of meds to tide me over until Med D works this out, and two days worth cost $66.
ReplyDeleteI would do anything to be able to get medical care without endless, repetitive paperwork and waiting for meds to be approved by insurance.
Soon-to-be-senator Al Franken has the answer. Medicare for all! It's got a 3% overhead, better than any privatized system here in the US I am aware of by a long shot. Pow goes all the expenses (and profits-for them) caused by insurance companies, pow goes all the paperwork (and expenses and profits) caused by, uh, insurance companies; pow goes all the excess fees paid to drug companies. Maybe we'll be be able to be better than, uh, 33rd? in the world on health care. Behind Costa Rica!!!! Go US! We've got the worst healthcare in the developed world, and some of the developing world, to boot.
ReplyDeleteBut could we do anything so clever? Probably not.
I want a new post! How can I be your pretend random internet friend without semi-irregular random updates about awesome subjects! Ok, ok, I forgive you totally. 'Cause I suck like that.
ReplyDeleteOh, as to health care, we now seem to have slipped to 37th. Go US! PS. Dear MFranti, so pleased (beyond words, such a useful phrase when feeling tongue tied) that you don't hate/have given up on me.
ReplyDeleteAll my love
And some lynx, should you venture into Portland, I have a shirt for you (addy? djinngenie at gmail.com) You confessed to a love of vintage, I came across a trove, I blame you.
Djinn
"addy?"
ReplyDeletedo you mean atticus? if so, you've got me mixed up with crazywomancreek/sara.
silly girl.
but yes, i love the vintage.