STRENGTH OR WEAKNESS?

The media or Obama, who is worse? I am forced to be critical about the upcoming battle lines being mustered for the historical battle that might result in health care bill fair to all Americans I see one clear and obvious flaw. Obama and his foes are wasting time since there is no clarity on either side about what a new "complete" bill would cover. The bipartisan approach that the president explains in his echo chamber is ridiculous to even consider. All three sides, Left , Right, Middle are so far apart that they are beginning to look like the auto industry who pulled the drain plug in their own boat and committed auto suicide way back when. The historical decline of the auto industry was hastened by their inability to act. There was no plan then and there is no clear health plan being presented now. Even the goals are unclear to most people and I see an endless process of bills and more bills to strike provisions of the last bill. The health plan is beginning to look like a job security plan for the Congress and the Senate on both sides of the aisle. Not to mention the lobbyists who crowd the chamber and the upscale resturaunts in the capital city. This would bring to question the idea of bipartisan agreement on the issue at hand.

Bipartisan agreement is an insidious way to water down Health care legislation that Americans are going to live with for a long time. We have conflict for a reason and that is to come up with a solution that considers the pros and cons in a matrix of sensible discussion. Disagreeing is part of the American political process. Who cares if the new health plan wears a "bipartisan" Tu. Tu. Only clarity and a fair shake for all Americans should be the goal. A complicated political mix of private and public interest will only drag out the process of not making a decision. Present your bill Obama and duke it out in the old fashioned way! Stop being a wimp and get something done. Use your bully pulpit to cut through the nonsense of tip toeing in through the posies.

ELECTIONS?

Futile elections in Iraq where the votes are brought in by

donkey carts dodging sniper fire continue. A lot of donkeys

are going to die. Unlike citizen voters they do not risk having

an ink stained finger cut off by an avenging Taliban enforcer.

The "Taliban" varies just as the past drafts in the U.S. consisted

of desparate young citizens. They are not all die hard idealist

on a Jihad but a diverse group. Estimations are that less

than10% of them are hard core idealistic Taliban. The rest

are basically a result of the economic and political chaos.

They are mostly paid mercenaries the unemployed, soldiers

of fortune and poorly paid reluctant recruits forced into service.

They are the young who are often hungry and immature.

Imagine a recruit from a black ghetto in Chicago or the back

woods of Arkansas and you can imagine the position of most

taliban soldiers. It is simple a matter of survival just as a it was

a trail out of the Ghetto and out of an economically depressed

areas in the U.S. Ask yourself what percentage of draftees

during the final phase Korean War were Patriots? The existence

of organizations such as the Taliban is due to irresponsible

political/economic policies by most nations. Legions of poor and

unemployed people invite discord, revolutions, and chaotic

social collapse. We are the enemy not the Taliban. We have

failed just as theTaliban will fail due to greed and misguided

religious and political beliefs.

The media has reported a large turnout for the elections in

Iraq.This is a fable told by the errant press. The people

of Iraq were kept away from the polls by the threat of violent

reprisals from both the Taliban and local officials. Holding

an election inIraq is comparable to the fear blacks experienced

when they thought of registering to vote. Before extensive civil

rights legislation it was simply dangerous for a black who

ventured to register. You did not loose a finger but the prospect

of death and destruction of personal property was a reality. Then

the fear of reprisals by whites was just as real as threats from

the Taliban now.

Enforcing or supporting an election in a cloud of chaos is futile.

The cost of American support for elections is a huge waste

of American taxpayers money. More importantly the loss of

American lives for a futile war or "election" is unforgivable.

There is much to learn form our own past history of violence

and suppression.

Who is Dr. Timothy Johnson

Dr. Johnson recently spoke of the dangers of the HPV virus fighter called Gardasil. Gardasil went through extensive testing in Nicaraugau where the Human Papalonia virus is epdemic in the general population. The risk involved in being injected with Gardisil was shown to outweigh by far the risk of living with the virus. This virus is almost as common as any flu strain in the U.S.A and yet we have a respected physician (from the ultra conservative lifestyle side) touting the dangers and not the reality."I think medicine and ministry at their best really do share a very similar motivation of service." This is a quote from an article published by the Copyright © 2009 The Evangelical Covenant Church.

If you want to cut health care cost in the U.S. then this vacanation should be part of the plan. The incredible cost of fighting off the resuting tumors, and cancer, caused by this HPV virus is incalcuble. Here is a section from the CDC site on HPV.

HPV infection. Approximately 20 million Americans are currently infected with HPV, and another 6.2 million people become newly infected each year. At least 50% of sexually active men and women acquire genital HPV infection at some point in their lives.

Genital warts. About 1% of sexually active adults in the U.S. have genital warts at any one time.

Cervical cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008, 11,070 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in the U.S.

Other HPV-related cancers are much less common than cervical cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008, there will be:

• 3,460 women diagnosed with vulvar cancer;

• 2,210 women diagnosed with vaginal and other female genital cancers;

• 1,250 men diagnosed with penile and other male genital cancers; and

• 3,050 women and 2,020 men diagnosed with anal cancer.

Certain populations may be at higher risk for HPV-related cancers, such as gay and bisexual men, and individuals with weak immune systems (including those who have HIV/AIDS).

RRP is very rare. It is estimated that less than 2,000 children get RRP every year.

A vaccine can now protect females from the four types of HPV that cause most cervical cancers and genital warts. The vaccine is recommended for 11 and 12 year-old girls. It is also recommended for girls and women age 13 through 26 who have not yet been vaccinated or completed the vaccine series. For those who choose to be sexually active, condoms may lower the risk of HPV, if used all the time and the right way. Condoms may also lower the risk of developing HPV-related diseases, such as genital warts and cervical cancer. But HPV can infect areas that are not covered by a condom—so condoms may not fully protect against HPV. So the only sure way to prevent HPV is to avoid all sexual activity.

Why does Dr. Johnson give advice from a pulpit of national stature that one should not receive the HPV vacanation in direct contradiction of the CDC advice to LIving Americans. Go to the CDC for the facts not to a right wing Doctor who has been endowed with a coveted pulpit. Go to http://www.cdc.gov/STD/HPV/ and get the real story.

THE WALKING DEAD

Anyone over 65 will soon join an emerging sociological niche I call the "walking dead". legions of Americans are there now. Over 72 ? then you might as well turn in your blackberry fold your arms and roll over dead or at least pretend to be dead. The rush to cut health care cost in this most profitable of area proves that the politicians might consider the elderly expendable. The first place President Obama focused immediately to save on was the the so called "end of life care" and care for those over 65.. A drastic cut in health care for the elderly would pay for the reform. An immoral solution to a long standing problem. Insurance companies have for years exploited the sentiment and guilt of Families in America with sky high premiums for saving your life when you are least productive and have the value of used Ford Focus with high millage.

You have already been jettisoned into space by the banking sector. You will find it almost impossible to apply for a new low interest credit card or even a normal run of the mill card. Even your 825 FICA score that you thought would open the door to mortgages, car loans and credit does not matter. Even if you do have that super private medical coverage they will probably not pay for any life saving options to save your poor old soul in a timely manner.

This move towards institutionalizing the niche of the "walking dead" is fast approaching when healthcare Lobbyists and politicians on both sides of the aisle are allowed to "reform" health care. There was no doubt in my mind that once someone suggested cutting health care for the elderly everyone would jump on the bandwagon. The next shoe to fall will be denying care to illegal immigrants,

There is a good argument to look for savings in this area. However one must realize that it is the health providers who have focused on this area due to high profits and greed. Not replacing a knee or hip after the age of 65 and then keeping someone in intensive care for months after a massive heart attack at 85 does not balance out. Perhaps a great deal could be saved with end of life counseling. Most seniors would not want their families to spend time with an unresponsive vegetable. They probably would not want extreme measures to prolong their life when death would be a better choice.

This is a positive argument for enacting end of life counseling provisions in the new health care plan. But alas a media circus orchestrated by a brain dead politician has killed this as even a thought. Dropped like a hot potato.

Now that the focus is on the high cost of elderly care I would hope that Uncle Joe will not be denied a knee replacement or Auntie Florence will not get her heart pacer. After all Uncle Joe likes to kick a soccer ball around with his six nephews and Auntie Florence will continue to bake those delicious brownies that everyone in the family enjoys so much.

COST NOT DELIVERY

There are some touchy issues affecting the out come of the new "McDonald's" style health plans. One of those being "end of life care". Most alarming is the fact that the citizens of the United States have a blurred vision. When end of life care open discussion becomes a tabu subject through cheap media rumors then the public might even need a seeing eye dog. When petty alarmist can put so much fear into the mix with the help of the media then it is obvious that some clear, concise explanations should be spoon fed to the public. So called town meetings with selective audiences is not very democratic. Will wealthy citizens be able to privately "super size" their coverage with private plans? Will there be a budget "state run economy menu" for the rest?

What possible difference will it make if the actual delivery of health care cost continue to increase to the point of no return? A bill to halt the mounting cost of health care will quickly bring one to the reality that a plan to lower cost and eliminate the fluff in the private and public sector is more important. Useless philosophical, ethical arguments about who should get what. Why should the public ignore out of control rising health care cost. Do we really need an expensive bug a boo beauracracy to administer such a program if rising health care costs will make it obsolete in a few years

MOVING AHEAD WITH A CANADIAN FREE TRADE DEAL

You wake up one day and Panama again has passed legislation to make more inroads to a rock solid economy. This agreement on bilateral free trade is expected to go into effect as early as 2010. Mr. Harper and President Marinelli announced this during a visit by the Prime Minister of Canada. Hopefully it will increase the exchange of export products and of goods and services. The economy in Panama grew by 9.2 percent in 2008 and experienced only a slight dip due to the worldwide economic crisis. The U.S. has delayed a pending agreement due to concerns about possible job loses and Panama acting as a tax haven for U.S. Citizens. Both agreements benefits the banking, shipping and services related to the transport sector. A future increase in trade with Canada is expected once the pact is ratified by both the respective legislators in both countries. The United States again lags behind with treaties delayed in Latin America by human rites issues and potential tax cheats. This seems to be a fairly hypocritical reason to hold up trade which is important to the U.S. economy. When the U.S. practices what they preach on human rights internationally and domestically I will understand delays due to issues over "human rights". Perhaps the U.S. should also use existing laws in the U.S. to collect their taxes. The U.S. has been less than perfect in both areas.

Simple Truth once again.

CULTURAL SUICIDE

THE UNITED STATES SENATE AND HOUSE IS NOW LOOKING TO SAVE MONEY BY THE OUTRIGHT DENIAL OF HEALTH CARE TO THE AGING. RUMORS ABOUND BUT THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT THIS IS A MOVE TO DENY AS MUCH HEALTH CARE AS POSSIBLE TO SENIORS IN ORDER TO OFFER A "YOUTH ORIENTED SOCIETY" BETTER HEALTH CARE. THERE ARE RUMORS ABOUT ENFORCED EUTHANASIA COUNSELING FOR THE ELDERLY, AND LIFE SAVING PROCEDURES CUT FROM COVERAGE OF THOSE OVER 50. THESE MAY NOT BE TRUE. BUT THERE IS ONE REALITY THE POLITICIANS ARE DESPERATE BECAUSE THEY HAVE FAILED AT DELIVERING HEALTH CARE. THERE IS AN ALARMING INCREASE IN THE OPINION THAT THE ELDERLY ARE EXPENDABLE AND SHOULD BE SACRIFICED FOR THE YOUNG. THIS IS A GENERAL CULTURAL ATTITUDE AND SUPPORTED BY A LARGELY "YOUTH ORIENTED" SOCIETY. THIS IS A MOVE TO DISCARD WHAT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE GREATEST POOLS OF KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS CULTURAL SUICIDE.

THE SIMPLE TRUTH, THIS IS DECADENT AT BEST AND A FROM OF INHUMAN GENOCIDE AT ITS WORST.

THE DRUG FACTOR

THE WIDE SPREAD USE OF DRUGS BY PERSONALITIES SEEMS TO BE ROUTINE. THERE IS A LONG LIST OF ROLE MODELS WHO HAVE BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE HABITUAL USE OF DRUGS. RECREATIONAL DRUGS AND PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUG USE IS EPIDEMIC. RECENT ROLE MODELS LIKE BILLY MAYS, MICHAEL JACKSON AND OTHERS WERE LINKED TO DRUG USE BY AUTOPSIES SHOWING DRUGS MIGHT HAVE BEEN A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THEIR DEATHS. OF COURSE THERE ARE DENIALS AND DELAYED AUTOPSY REPORTS TO DIVERT THE PUBLICS FOCUS ON THIS REALITY. WHEN A SOCIETY IGNORES THE WIDE USE OF DRUGS BY POTENTIAL AND ESTABLISHED ROLL MODELS YOU MIGHT WANT TO QUESTION IF THERE IS A SPIN DOWN TO RAPID SOCIAL DECAY AND THE EVENTUAL DECLINE OF THE U.S. BY DEFAULT WE ARE ENCOURAGING THE USE OF DRUGS.

EMPIRES DECLINE AND FALL.

SLUM TOURS

The ugly American, the ugly English, the ugly German, the ugly French and other uglies have added another outrageous, silly activity to their insensitive arrogant habit of using the worlds poverty as a toy to amuse themselves. This would be the emerging and well organized "slum tours of the world" a group of on line companies who offer well organized tours to the worst slums in Africa, India, Brazil and even Ireland. These tours hide behing the mask of "education". How could you possible feel if you and your family were forced to live in a compound of cardboard and tin shacks that your government had ordered you into by diminishing choice? Demeaning is the only single word I can think of to describe this trend of nations forcing the poor to live in compounds that have no sewers, water, electricity, few schools and have no real physical, social or economic infrastructure. They are no better than the internment camps that were used in world war two and are alarmingly emerging again as a way of isolating undesirables in many nations. Now the slums have become "safe" tourist attractions were people are viewed by the enlightened tourist in a fishbowl habitat. This adds to the original demeaning actions of countries by allowing tourist to pay for tours to what are no more than internment camps for the poor and homeless. How much of the profits from the tours go towards helping alleviate the misery that permeates these slums is in question and should be.

info@favelatour.com.

http:www.nicheafricaholidays.com/

http:www.belfastcityblacktaxitours.com

http:www,realitytoursandtravel.com/

http:www.belfastcityblacktaxitours.com/

http:wwwrealitytoursandtravel.com/

All offer safe, "Educational" tours mostly in air conditioned mini vans, with tour guides and in some cases armed security. Some excerpts from tour sites follow,

"For the 2008/09 tourist season we introduced a market tour (2.5 hrs duration) through the busy areas of Crawford Market and surrounding bazaars of Kalbadevi and Bhuleshwar. Mumbai is all about the amount of people and the chaos and there's no better way to experience this than visiting this area. There are a few oasis of tranquility within the madness such as Jama Masjid Mosque and Mumbadevi temple where the guide will talk to you about the area and its people and their beliefs."

from sand travel.

"Welcome to Cape Town South Africa, the gateway to Africa.Cape Town, is the jewel of the Western Cape and home to the many customs and cultures of its rainbow nation. The Mother City hosts the majority of it's population in townships on the Cape Flats. Many of these vibrant and welcoming people originally hail from Madiba's (Nelson Mandela - former President) birthplace. It's a must for every visitor to Cape Town to experience a day in the life of the locals. Interact with the township dwellers as they go about their daily routine and find out more about their past, their future and what currently drives them."

from Nomvuyo's Tours

Recently I met a group of young eco. tourist wearing the Pura Vida t shirts that most tourist buy in Costa Rica. They were a well behaved group of obviously affluent young people in their teens and early 20s. (the price of such two to three week eco tours is well above $2000.00 USD without the air fare) They were form my native state of New York and none of them had accents that would indicate they were from Brooklyn or the Bronx. I would suspect most were from some of the more affluent suburbs not far from New York City but in reality worlds away from Brooklyn or the Bronx.

I put to them the same question that I would ask the slum tourist. Do you truly have a concern for the environment or poor people and just how much "good" are you doing?

The fact is most will return to their comfortable, affluent habitat and use the experience to write unusual, unique papers in college. The older ones will tell stories to the other members at the country club, or cocktail parties that will single them out and impress others. These activities, eco tourism and slum tours, just add to the bad taste activities that the "Haves" participate in. The tour companies reap profits by putting on a show that is less than humane and everybody goes home thinking that they have experienced the hunger and poverty of these unfortunate people. Actually the last time they experienced even a tinge of hunger is when they left a bicycle in the driveway and were sent to bed without supper. In reality the young ones are spoiled from the riches of an affluent environment and the older ones are one step away from becoming diabetic via glutony. My advice to all of them, donate the entire cost (including air fare) of your trip directly to the slum people through a viable agency. The average cost of a tour group of 20 from the US can exceed some $80,000.00 USDA. That would go a long way towards possibly wiping out a slum or at least improve it's infrastructure. Stay home and become an activist, wipe out poverty that is only a few miles away and enter the slums of America to help your own. I dare you to stop gawking at the rest of the world and clean up the mess you are responsible for first. Perhaps that might qualify you to try conquering the rest of Global poverty.