KEEPING YOU INFORMED

I've added the pages feature to Fat Jack's Erratic Rants. I did this so you can continue to follow the articles, reports and analysis of how the health care reform pages will impact you, your employer,  your family and your friends. 

The links are under the header. Keep coming back. And I would appreciate any Fat Jack operatives to send me any links.

GOD'S WILL BE DONE

I do have a real, legitimate religious question related to health care. 

Many of my friends believe that God has his hand everywhere. That God controls who is elected and what is done. God's will be done. Many people were praying about this health care issue – for and against. So if this many people prayed for God's intervention and we believe God answers prayers (inot always in the way we want, but in what he thinks is in the best interests of his plans) can we then extrapolate that the passage of health care reform was God's will? That he determined it was the best path for America? He does not ignore prayer and there was tons of it. Or do we only do that when we like the outcome of a thing. Then it's God's will. If we disagree, then it is the Devil's work? How do serious followers of Christ answer these questions?

HEALTH CARE REFORM AND YOU: THE INS AND OUTS

It passed. Now what? No gloating. No songs. No disrespect. It's time to move on. We need to be informed about how the health care reform bill that will affect all of us. The Kaiser Foundation put out a fantastic Q&A guide on how this sweeping legislation will affect us. 

A Consumer's Guide to Health Care Reform

It is a wonderful breakdown to help you understand the basic ins and outs. The Kaiser Foundation went on to offer information on those items that will take effect immediately. 

The Immediate Effects of Health Care Reform

I am going to print both articles out and give to my elderly grandmother. So watches the news so much and has been very frightened about all of this. Lots of people have been fearful. In fact, I would go so far as to say that people were more afraid than angry, but that's just my opinion. I'm hoping that these articles will help her be informed and less scared. She can hold the documents, make notes, underline, read and re-read. 

Information is power. Power means less fear.

The New York Times also put out a great story that details how you be affected. There are different ways to search the information (by individual, by employer, by Medicare, by Medicaid. So you can find your individual circumstances and get information pertinent to you. 

How the Health Care Overhaul Could Affect You

(Update: Be sure to check back often. I will continue to post these kinds of informational articles as they become available to me. Attention Fat Jack operatives: Send links my way.)

WHAT THE BILL (THE BILL) WILL DO

CBS News offers a nice article on the bill. You know the one that everyone's talking about: Health Care Reform. 

Click here to find out what the bill will do.

There are some great things in this bill. Great things. For instance:

I started to list them, then figured that if you want to know, you can just click on the link above and read the story yourself. No need to reprint it here. How are these things bad? They are not, in my opinion. But I tend to see Jesus as an advocate and supporter of the poor and downtrodden, not one who trods upon them.

KEEPING GAYS OUT OF RESEARCH STUDIES?

This story from Yahoo is just another example of how homosexual persons are excluded from society. What is the rationale for excluding homosexual persons from health-related research studies? Who knows, but what we do know is that it is going on at a rate that was higher than expected.

I'M FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM

Many congressional bills are not perfect when they first hit. Civil rights protections have continued to evolve (or devolve in the case of one Governor). The health care bill is not perfect and there are things I do not like (favors insurance companies too much) and things I wish were included (single payer system). 

For years the Democrats have been trying to get some form of health care reform. The Republicans took great pleasure and pride in the fact that they shut down Hillary Clinton's attempt to make a go of it in the 90s. The talking points of that same party have continued to be, not on passing some form of health care reform, but on stopping it. The rhetoric is slowing changing to repealing it if passed. 

I understand people's reservations. I have them, too. Will it cost more money than they expect? That is a possibility and it's scary. We need something. What we have does not work any longer. Pundits keep saying that this plan mirrors what Gov. Romney's health care reform did in his state. That makes me wonder if this really isn't about fear and keeping a liberal president from succeeding. 

We need health care reform and despite what the Republicans on television keep saying (America does not want the bill) many, many Americans do want and need health care reform. I know that Glenn Beck says that social justice is evil, but Jesus was for it and so am I.

HOW'S YOUR GARDEN, MARY?

We've made attempts to grow gardens before, with disappointing results. I'd almost given up hope for my thumb. Then the wife found the Earthbox. Our onions did terrible, all but one dead, but all is not lost. The peppers are doing fine as are the cucumbers, squash and cantaloupe. I don't think we've recouped the money we spent, like many claim, but we have had fresh, organic produce.

The summer isn't over yet, either. I'm hoping it really gets going soon, exploding with fruit. The squash, cucumbers and cantaloupe have blossoms a plenty so I anticipate some good eating very soon. I did notice our first cantalope today. It's a cute little guy, about the size of a Nerf baseball.

If it all works out well, I may purchase more Earthboxes next year and plant me some maters. I have decided to forget the poblano peppers from now on. It's easier to buy them in the store. I'll replace them with more red, yellow or orange bell peppers.

MORE ON HEALTH CARE

Thanks to an alert Jack operative, I was pointed to some places that rationally support Obama's health care reform bill. I trust the American Medical Association over radio and television entertainment personalities.

Wall Street Journal Letter to the Editor from the AMA
I’d like to share the American Medical Association’s rationale for supporting the House health-care bill (“What’s Up Docs?,” Review & Outlook, July 20). Without a bill that can pass the House, there will be no health reform this year. The House bill is an important starting point. The AMA will stay engaged to improve the final bill for patients and physicians.

Reform of the broken Medicare physician payment formula is necessary to assure long-term access to care for seniors, and its inclusion in the House bill is a huge victory for Medicare patients and their physicians. Its inclusion is one of many reasons the AMA supports the bill. It also establishes a health insurance exchange that would provide a choice of plans to the uninsured, self-insured and small business employees, with voluntary physician participation.

The AMA is committed to achieving health reform this year that will provide all Americans with affordable, high-quality health care. The House bill helps achieve this by extending health-insurance coverage to nearly all Americans and eliminates coverage denials based on pre-existing conditions.

Our position at the center of the health-reform debate is an honor and a serious responsibility. Maintaining the status quo is not an option. The AMA will stay engaged to get meaningful health reform that benefits patients and physicians signed into law this year.

J. James Rohack, MD
American Medical Association President, Chicago

Unfortunately, this letter does not really address the more detailed questions that the opponents have brought up. However, this AMA FAQ for H.R. 3200 is much more detailed and quite helpful. Here are some goodies from it:

Question 1: I have heard that as many at 120 million people will be enrolled in the new public option health plan. Is that true?
AMA Answer 1: No. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated that the bill will ensure that 97% of the legal, non-elderly population will have health insurance. At most, 12 million people would be enrolled in the public plan, representing only about 4% of the entire population. Overall, 37 million uninsured Americans will have health insurance coverage who do not have it now.

Question 2: Won't employers simply drop coverage?
AMA Answer 2: Again, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that from 2010 until 2019, the number of Americans with employer provided coverage will increase from 150 million to 162 million people. Additionally, for those Americans who purchase coverage through the Health Insurance Exchange, two-thirds (or 20 million people) will choose private plans. This means a significant increase in the number of American's insured by private insurance plans.

The pdf also addresses rumors such as this health care reform makes insurance illegal, which is erroneous. I need more, especially from those who are opposed and not just because it is Obama's plan. Perhaps an unbiased reader will send us some reputable information from a reputable source regarding the oppositions' side of the issue.

I have heard that public funds will be spent on abortion and that is bound to really cause serious stumbling blocks for some people who would otherwise support national health care. I am sympathetic to that plight. I think that argument is legitimate if it, indeed, proves to be true.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Although I find some of his remarks rather interesting, I wish Charles Hedrick and all those who respond to him, would just leave the opinions page alone. I'm tired of the private little feud they are having about religion. Let's talk about authentic issues (not theological ones).

I would like to see more thoughtful, reflective letters. I would like to hear from someone with concrete reasons and documented examples of why Obama's plan won't work or how it will really affect us so badly. I'd like to see the same from someone who can explain exactly how his bill will really work.

Enough condescending letters or rehashed talking points from political nobodies. I want to hear more from the Congressional Budget Office and from the American Medical Association. I haven't heard anything substantial beyond some blogger's rants and restating of Coulter, Mancow or Rush. Thanks, but I'd rather hear more reporting on the health care bill than just getting it from Obama. It's his plan so he's going to put the best foot forward.

Did I miss this great reporting? If so, tell me about it. I would like to know more from serious and unbiased sources. Is this really too much to ask?

DOG FOOD: MAKING CHORES A REASON TO WORK OUT

The dog was almost out of food. I could have taken the van or better yet I could have taken the motorcycle. It was a nice day, I hadn't exercised yet so the daughter and I (and one of her neighborhood friends) followed in the footsteps of Carbon Trace and rode our bicycles. Andy, we even tried to follow the rules of the road, stopping at stop signs, not riding on sidewalks (much) and everything.

Took us 15 minutes to get to the pet store – just enough time for this fat guy to catch his breath. We bought our food, dawdled for just a second, then headed back. A 30-minute bike ride worked out quite nicely. The fat doctor will be pleased.

I'm working hard at this weight loss thing. Some days it kicks my butt and other days I teach that fat a thing or two.

GO AHEAD AND DRINK KOOL-AID; IT'S PROBABLY THE ONLY THING IT'S NOT IN

I've been meaning to blog about the new commercials from the corn industry, which asserts that high fructose corn syrup is natural and good for you. The claim is that the stuff is the same as sugar and that it is not unhealthy at all, (stated as they whisper that it needs to be consumed in moderation.)

I found this dandy article from Time that puts facts and figures to the assertions. One thing that I found interesting was that the stuff is almost impossible to eat in moderation because it is in absolutely everything.

Because high-fructose corn syrup extends the shelf life of foods, and farm subsidies make it cheaper than sugar, it's added to a staggering range of items, including fruity yogurts, cereals, crackers, ketchup and bread — and in most foods marketed to children. So, unless you're making a concerted effort to avoid it, it's pretty difficult to consume high-fructose corn syrup in moderation.

I'm not one to preach about moderation in food. Seems I'm not too good at that. But it does seem that whole foods are probably much better for us than those made in a laboratory. I say that as I drink the diet version of that delicious green tea from Lipton. Diet usually means there is some kind of laboratory-created artificial sweetener. Still, I'm not buying into the "hey, it's really good for you" argument from the corn industry. Seems the corn growers have it pretty good what with all the ethanol subsidies and mandates now.

It does seem strange that as rates of childhood diabetes and obesity are raising at alarming rates, we have commercials promoting people eating more syrup.

The Real Fraud with Medicaid and Medicare

It’s the disabled and the elderly who are burdening the costs of health care in the state. You betcha. It’s not the health care industry itself, engaging in fraudulent business practices who rape the sick, the poor, the elderly, the disabled. It’s always the most vulnerable of society who is the problem, not the big, power bosses of industry. They are squeaky clean.

And good old Matt Blunt, the young and inexperienced, the job-hopper, ripped these vulnerable citizens a new one just to save the state money, when he could have just as easily taken the greedy bosses to task and stopped the real fraud.

Seems someone didn’t turn a blind eye to the fraud committed by hospitals.

Am I in that Bad of Shape?

I have joined the AARP fitness center of Springfield. In order for me to qualify for bariatric (lap band) surgery, I have had to undergo a special, physical-monitored diet. This is the same program that the elderly heart patients undergo. Yesterday was my first appointment and the place was full of seniors walking treadmills and pulling laps. I had to be there at the crack of God. I’m used to getting up early, but I’m not used to being somewhere at 6:30 a.m. It was rough.

I met with an exercise specialist and a dietician – a skinny little thing with a cutesy voice and bubbly personality. After an hour she managed to teach me all I needed to know about nutrition, which basically works out to starving.

I started the “lifestyle change” today with two cups of healthy cereal, ½ cup of milk and a light yogurt. I don’t know that the cereal is healthy exactly, but it is better than Frutty Pebbles. I figure any movement in the right direction is good progress, even if it is not perfect.

My wife made a meatloaf for lunch and I had a larger portion that I was supposed to. I am only allowed 6 -8 ounces of meat a day. For the love of Pete, I do not see how any human can live on only 6 ounces of meat per day, but I’ll give it a whirl. I also had carrot sticks and some celery (with peanut butter, of course). It has been an hour and I’m hungry again, but I suppose I should just get used to that. They tell me that I should not be hungry, but I’m not sure how they expect me not to be.

I think I prefer to exercise on the treadmill at home than to go to the blue hair health club. I mean crap. Am I seriously in as poor as health as the 85-year-old dude who just had a heart attack? I can’t bear it. I popped out my 30 minutes at home today and feel better. Somehow going up there feels to close to a nursing home to me.

Fat Jack and Bariatric Surgery

I am a big fella, but you already knew that. My blog name should have given that away. I’ve been considering bariatric (weight loss) surgery for some time and I’ve been writing about my weight on another blog, FAT JACK – skinny whinny.

Saturday I am attending an informational seminar on bariatric surgery headed by St. Johns. This is the first step in the bariatric surgery application process. Apparently, there is quite a bit to the whole ordeal besides just scheduling a surgery, some of the steps being required by the surgeon and others by the insurance company.

I’ve made up my mind about this, and unless the informational meeting brings down some kind of horrific statistics or stories about the mortality rate of undergoing bariatric surgery, then I am going for it. Which type of surgery, gastric bypass or lap band, is still up for grabs; however, I am leaning toward the lap band. As I continue through the process, I will provide information on skinny whinny. You are welcome to come along for the ride if you want. Should prove interesting if nothing else.