A Sorry Tale about "The Best Health Care System in the World"

Most of you are aware that Dave and I can't stand the American health care system. You're probably also aware that approximately 50 million Americans have no health care coverage at all and tens of millions more are underinsured. The USA is the only developed (or industrialized, take your pick of terminology) nation in the world that does not provide basic health insurance for all of its citizens. Nevertheless, our president assures us that Americans enjoy the best health care in the world. That's easy for him to say since he doesn't live in the same America that most Americans inhabit.

Pull up a chair, grab a coffee, and let me tell you a sad story.

Two friends of mine recently moved to the DC area. They are a married couple in their 50s, both of whom have been working for all of their adult lives. They both have jobs here and are living in temporary housing until they can find a place of their own in which to live. Less than two weeks ago, they found a great place to rent. Their application was denied, however, because they are still paying off medical bills acquired when he had a heart attack several years ago. The lending agency is not confident that they will be able to pay their rent as long as they are still paying the medical bills. So, they're back out looking at houses every night after work. Will the next lender give them a break? Your guess is as good as mine.

This is outrageous. These are hard-working, tax-paying folks who simply want a decent place to live. But they're having difficulty because the "best health care system in the world" left them so deeply in debt that they can't even find a place to rent, let alone buy! Sad to say, stories like this are all too common in this country. People who endure catastrophic illnesses frequently move from physical survival to financial ruin (which, I suspect, isn't very promising for their long-term health prospects).

Health care probably will be one of the major issues in the 2008 elections - and it should be. Americans are paying dearly for the demise of Hillary-Care in the 90s. We cannot afford to lose this round of the battle because the "best health care system in the world" desperately needs triage.

Lady Book Notes: Book Review: Fitness Kills

Hey everyone! I posted a new book review this afternoon. This is a murder mystery set in an exotic health spa. It is the author's first fiction work and it is a quick, easy, fun read. It's available for sale at Amazon.

Lady Book Notes: Book Review: Fitness Kills

Climbing to the Cross

photo by Dave Dugan, 2007
As Dave mentioned in one of his recent posts, one of the Orkney traditions is that the seniors climb up a mountain and gather at a huge wooden cross to share memories and dreams. Since this is a school-sponsored function, some of the chaperones have to climb the mountain with them. I was one of the chosen few this year.

We began our climb just before 10 p.m. The first order of business was to ensure that everyone had flashlights. Then we did a head count. I was one of two moms who gamely offered to be the rear-guard to ensure that no stragglers strayed off the path. This position also gave us the opportunity to climb very slowly (there was definitely method to our madness). Well, this climb was STEEP. And rocky. And slippery. Did I mention that it was STEEP?

The top of the mountain, where the cross was located atop a 40-foot tower, was about one mile from our starting point at the resort. It takes about 30 minutes for the out-of-shape to get there. By the time we arrived at the top (after pausing a couple of times to catch our breath), I was gasping for air, my heart was beating furiously, and sweat was pouring all over me from the top of my head through to my toes, which were encased in wool hiking socks and my brand new hiking shoes. The socks and shoes worked well - I did not get any blisters.

When we got to the cross, the students climbed the stairs of the 40-foot tower to the cross, took in the view and chatted a while. The parents recuperated at the foot of the tower and poured celebratory glasses of cider (the kids are too young for champagne). We drank ours and set some aside for the kids. After a few minutes in the tower, the kids came down, drank their cider, then sat at the base of the tower to chat some more. By this time the parents had caught our breath sufficiently so that we were able to climb the tower and give the kids some privacy.

The view from the tower was awesome. It was an amazing starlit night and, since we were at the top of the mountain and miles away from civilization, we had a completely unobstructed view of the sky. We chatted a bit, but we mostly just sat silently and enjoyed the beautiful scene around us and the pleasant mountain breeze. Two people saw shooting stars. Alas, I was looking in the wrong direction both times, so I missed them. That's typical of my luck.

After about 45 minutes at the cross, we did another head count (didn't lose or gain anybody), descended the mountain and arrived at the senior party at about 11:15 p.m. The party ended at 1:00 a.m. Believe me, everyone slept soundly that night.

I'm thinking of getting myself a T-shirt that says something like, "I survived the Walk to the Cross and all I got was this lousy shirt." What do you think? I'm open to your suggestions.

More Orkney Fun

It's an Orkney tradition that, just before supper every evening, the seniors dress up in goofy costumes and pose for photos. A friend of mine caught this one. Yes, that's Joshua at the end of the front row, wearing a skirt and blouse and aiming one of the guard rifles at someone. (Click on the pic to see a larger copy.) Fortunately, the rifles are just wooden replicas that don't hold bullets!

If you check the Oakton Band web site, you'll see lots of other photos of the band members engaged in all sorts of activities. Dave and I have been emailing photos to the web master every day, so there's lots of eye candy there.

Josh is Home and We're at Orkney Now

Joshua arrived home from Los Angeles last night. Jonathan and I met him at the airport and brought him home. Dave was already at Orkney Springs with the marching band, so he didn't see Joshua until today.

Joshua and I woke up this morning and drove to Orkney. His friends were all excited to see him and vice versa. Immediately after lunch he went to concert band rehearsal. They are on a short break now. Then they will have section rehearsals and full marching rehearsal after supper. He's looked at the drill and music, but tonight will be his first time playing and marching it. The rest of the band has been rehearsing for two weeks, so he has some catching up to do.

Jonathan is home alone this week. His plight is made worse by the fact that Maggie has several days of vacation this week, so she's in the Outer Banks with her parents while Jonathan is home alone eating cold pizza and watching movies. He will miss Family Day at Orkney this Saturday. He and Maggie have to go to Philadelphia for an engagement party for her best friend. By the way, Dave and I finally met Maggie, briefly, this past weekend. She and Jonathan came by the house for some refreshments before going out for the evening. There's no big news yet, but they are definitely an item.

Dave and I are at Orkney with Josh. We and about 18 other parents are chaperones for the week. We brought our camper, which is the only air-conditioned facility in the area! As I write, Dave is editing some photos that will be posted on the band web site. I'm going to sign off now and do some chaperone stuff.

Lady Book Notes: Quickie Comment: The Meaning of Jesus

Some of you may be interested in checking out a book I read recently. As I note in the comment, it may stretch you theologically. It will also give you some interesting new ways to look at the gospels.

Lady Book Notes: Quickie Comment: The Meaning of Jesus

Cost of Living

I came across a list of the twenty most expensive American counties/towns in which to live. Not surprisingly, Fairfax is high on the list.

1. Marin County, California
2. Fairfield, Connecticut
3. Fairfax County, Virginia
4. San Mateo, California
5. Morris, New Jersey
6. Somerset, New Jersey
7. Westchester, New York
8. Summit, Vermont
9. Santa Clara, California
10. Nassau, New York
11. Hunterdon, New York
12. Falls Church, Virginia (right next to Fairfax)
13. Montgomery County, Maryland (other side of the Potomac River, just outside of Washington, DC)
14. Lake County, Illinois
15. Bergen County, New Jersey
16. Los Alamos, New Mexico
17. Douglas, Colorado
18. Collin, Texas
19. Williamson, Tennessee
20. Howard County, Maryland (between Washington, DC and Baltimore)

Living in suburban Washington, DC obviously has its drawbacks. Nevertheless, if I have to live in a metropolitan area, this is better than many. It's a good thing that I'll get my annual cost-of-living pay increase in the fall - it appears that I will need every penny of it.