Requiem for Reality

The other day a friend of mine posted an email purported to be sent to the Presidents office in response to recent Health-care changes. After reading the article I posted a response in order to, perhaps, have people look at things from a different perspective. Here is the exchange in it's entirety.

Wall Photos
Pictured is a young physician by the name of Dr. Roger Starner Jones. His short two-paragraph lett...er to the White House accurately puts the blame on a "Culture Crisis" instead of a "Health Care Crisis"..

It's worth a quick read:


Dear Mr. President:
During my shift in the Emergency Room last night, I had the pleasure of evaluating a patient whose smile revealed an expensive shiny gold tooth, whose body was adorned with a wide assortment of elaborate and costly tattoos, who wore a very expensive brand of tennis shoes and who chatted on a new cellular telephone equipped with a popular R&B ringtone.


While glancing over her patient chart, I happened to notice that her payer status was listed as "Medicaid"! During my examination of her, the patient informed me that she smokes more than one pack of cigarettes every day, eats only at fast-food take-outs, and somehow still has money to buy pretzels and beer. And, you and our Congress expect me to pay for this woman's health care? I contend that our nation's "health care crisis" is not the result of a shortage of quality hospitals, doctors or nurses. Rather, it is the result of a "crisis of culture" a culture in which it is perfectly acceptable to spend money on luxuries and vices while refusing to take care of one's self or, heaven forbid, purchase health insurance. It is a culture based in the irresponsible credo that "I can do whatever I want to because someone else will always take care of me". Once you fix this "culture crisis" that rewards irresponsibility and dependency, you'll be amazed at how quickly our nation's health care difficulties will disappear.

Respectfully,
ROGER STARNER JONES, MD
If you agree...pass it on.

My response:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/starner.asp

Excellent point. I think the Clarion ledger also make an interesting counter argument.

Their Response:

I read that article DeMarcus and I think that an interesting counter argument was presented but in my opinion (this is aimed at the article, not you) when it comes to it, I think it has come down to the point where we do have to look at ind...ividual choices of people. I think that that goes across the board, priorities have to be made by everyone. If you go shopping for clothes and just "wants" you better have the money to pay your rent and other bills. If you choose to go to get fast food rather than taking the extra ten minutes to go to the store and shop from the produce section which happens to be the cheapest section in the store and make your own meals that provide an excellent nutritional benefit there shouldn't be a surprise when you start feeling unhealthy and your organs start to fail because you have supplied them with inadequate nutrients. If you have the money for cigarettes, fast food and all the WANTS before the needs and before you hand in your application to a fast food restaurant (which there is ALWAYS a "looking for help" sign) you shouldn't reap the benefits of what hard working citizens provide you with. Medicaid is a state and federally funded system that is to aid the low income part of our population but it is instead abused by more than half of its recipients. They may be low-income but when people chose to not help themselves AT ALL there is a problem. When an emergency call is placed and the location happens to be run down and visibly not properly maintained but there is a new Tahoe parked outside and a new TV inside there is a problem. When I go to the grocery store and I see an individual that is paying with an EBT card/food stamps but has their order divided because they are going to pay for their pop, candy and everything else that isn't covered by their stamps separately there is a problem there too. The majority of our low-income assistant programs are abused in our country and there needs to be a resolve.
Do we provide everyone with health care regardless of their background? What if they are the regular life-time drunk LFD brings in 3+ times a week or the person that CHOOSES to continue to procreate even though they don't have enough money to feed themselves alone? While I don't believe in abstinence only education programs, if you cannot afford contraception items, DON'T HAVE SEX. I believe there should be a system that makes health care accessible for people who DO NOT abuse their help being provided. If you are having a hard time providing for yourself and actively try to better your situation in anyway you can you deserve health care. If you are the unfortunate victim of this terrible economy or if you have sustained an injury that is prohibiting you to do the job you once did you deserve care. Educating oneself is not cheap but in regards to financial aid and community colleges, education is accessible and do able and tuition is generally easier to pay for when you are granted federal aid. No one should have to go without but not trying, not doing and abusing shouldn't get you health care that myself along with everyone else that works is paying for. There needs to be a reform for our current system.

My SUUUUPER LONG RESPONSE:

Phew! Ok that was a lot to read, but I'll try to respond to each point the best that I can. Let me just say off the bat that I am in no way right or left. I am simply calling it like it is, by the numbers, while attempting to look at the la...rger picture.

" If you choose to go to get fast food rather than taking the extra ten minutes to go to the store and shop from the produce section which happens to be the cheapest section in the store and make your own meals that provide an excellent nutritional benefit there shouldn't be a surprise when you start feeling unhealthy and your organs start to fail because you have supplied them with inadequate nutrients."

I agree with this for the most part, however, plainly stated, eating healthier costs substantially more money than eating unhealthy. It is sad but true. There are remedies to this problem in the near future, but at the current junction, this is where we stand. Individuals who receive assistance in food purchasing (food stamps etc..) have a limited amount allotted based on their means determination. Consider if you will you have 2 children that live with you. You have been allotted $300 per month for food. Would you rather spend the $300 at the whole foods store (better living etc..) where you can eat healthily for a week. Or spend your money on the Dollar menu or cheap, preservative filled foods from a less than reputable grocery store, where your family can eat for 3 or 4 weeks? Not that I condone eating these things, but when money is tight, food is food.

" If you have the money for cigarettes, fast food and all the WANTS before the needs and before you hand in your application to a fast food restaurant (which there is ALWAYS a "looking for help" sign) you shouldn't reap the benefits of what hard working citizens provide you with."

This statement is my current biggest gripe with the citizens today. A job is a job yes! But under employment is as bad if not worse than unemployment. You no doubt know the difficulties of making ends meet on your current wages, and I surmise that those are at least $5.00 an hour over those working at fast food restaurants. Realistically these menial jobs are fine to get on your feet, or for teenagers, but a person with a family would find it difficult to survive on this paycheck alone. However I do agree with the cigarettes portion. Priorities need to be re-established in that case.

"Medicaid is a state and federally funded system that is to aid the low income part of our population but it is instead abused by more than half of its recipients. "

I'd like to take this statement as fact, but I am having a difficult time finding corresponding stats. That is not to say this is not true, but I would like to see numbers. To dovetail on that, the media would have us believe such statements to be true. Often times the news outlets sensationalize stats or take them out of context in order to procure ratings. There are outliers to every federally and state funded system out there, but to say this is the norm, I think (at least until I see numbers) is a gross misrepresentation.

‎"They may be low-income but when people chose to not help themselves AT ALL there is a problem. When an emergency call is placed and the location happens to be run down and visibly not properly maintained but there is a new Tahoe parked ou...tside and a new TV inside there is a problem."

Could not agree more. Again though are we saying that this is the norm, or that these are the outliers (albeit they have a large number)? Remember what you and I see at the hospital may reflect these trends more often than not, but the United States has a large population. Even if everyone in the city of Lansing behaved in this manner it would still only represent a small potion of the entire beneficiaries.

"When I go to the grocery store and I see an individual that is paying with an EBT card/food stamps but has their order divided because they are going to pay for their pop, candy and everything else that isn't covered by their stamps separately there is a problem there too."

Agreed, and this is why I believe it should be mandatory to have classes and education on how one chooses to purchase food items. Soda and kool-aide are not viable solutions to problems nor are they healthy alternatives. I suppose the counter argument would be, but are we going to say that the impoverished don't deserve the same creature comforts that you and I have?

" The majority of our low-income assistant programs are abused in our country and there needs to be a resolve."

Every system is abused. There is no perfect system. The extent to how it is abused is different depending on what media outlet you subscribe to. There are millions of hard working individuals who struggle every day but are not equipped with the proper tools or access to the resources to succeed. Coupled with that is the unfortunate reality that is our society, in that, not every one can be successful. Everyone is entitled to pursue happiness, but only those who are in the right place at the right time with the right amount of education and connections are usually those who do. This is coming from a person who WAS homeless. I had an opportunity at my age, to join the USAF and from there I had the proper tools. But what about those who are much older? Who despite their efforts fell on hard times? Do we say they don't work hard enough? Or that they should know better?

"Do we provide everyone with health care regardless of their background? What if they are the regular life-time drunk LFD brings in 3+ times a week "

For me this is a humanistic thing. I believe that every human, regardless of race, color, creed, national country of origin, or lifestyle choice should be allowed, at the very least, to live healthily. Many people do decide to cast their lives aside for alcohol or drug addiction, but are we supposed to be the ones to judge? Imagine if this person was your loved one. Do you cut them off and pretend they don't exist or do you do everything in your power to help your fellow American? As much as I disliked certain individuals who partook in the health system freely, I believe that where the constitution states "Life, Liberty, & the pursuit of happiness" were entitled to life...even at the most basic level.

" Educating oneself is not cheap but in regards to financial aid and community colleges, education is accessible and do able and tuition is generally easier to pay for when you are granted federal aid."

I didn't respond to the portions in between this statement and the last because I agreed completely. Here however, I have to disagree. In fact I believe this is where our nation needs to begin to rebuild in order to fix the types of problems we've discussed. Education is not accessible, nor is federal aide a viable option or solution. For many (such as myself) federal aide offers little to no assistance. The government offers loans but at whatever interest rate they think is necessary. In the end you're left with a debt load that you hope your job will cover, if or when you get a job with your education. On top of all this people are dealing with their immediate problems of bill payments and food attainment. Bill collectors do not want to hear, "I promise I'll pay my lights when I'm done with school and get a good job."

The point of this whole thing is just as the Clarion Ledger stated. "We are all in this together". I feel as if American citizens have lost their sense of brotherhood and replaced it with a sense of entitlement. Instead of finding a solution to the problems we face Democrats & Republicans point the finger at each other and then we blame the victim for his current situation. In most other industrialized nations universal systems of health-care and education have worked and blossomed. I would like to write more but I'm not sure if FB will even be able to post all of this. None of this is meant to be taken personally. I just feel like the direction we as a young generation are going is going to lead us into a separatist nation where we have no middle class, and the poor are everywhere you turn.

This was more or less posted here so that others can comment and discuss this in a field where they would have less scrutiny and more characters.

Let's get a few things out of the way first.

1). I am a veteran who served in the United States Air Force from June 2001- September 2004). During my service the attacks on the world trade center occurred, and I served my country with honor.

2). I am an American. I was born here, I have lived here all of my life, and I will die here. I would still to this die for this country, as this is my home and these people here are my brothers and sisters. The people of this country are my family. I will defend to the death their rights and freedoms because I believe that it is just!

3). I am a christian. That is, I attempt to model my life after Christ. I'm not very good. I have my demons. Things I wrestle with, but as I enter into each situation with another person, I often find myself asking "would Jesus say these things".

Now that we have those things out of the way. I guess I could start with the reason behind this post.

I woke up this morning and did my normal morning routine. I took my vitamin, drank some water, and headed down stairs to put out my dog. I logged into facebook to see one of my old friends post something about the Mosque building near ground zero of the 9/11 attacks.

Originally I was going to post something back to my Facebook. In fact when I saw it on the news how people were protesting (sometimes violently) about not having this mosque, I made a comment on my twitter.

Listen, I fully understand how upset this kind of thing makes people. We are talking about the largest, most violent attack on American soil. Thousands died, even more in the following war(s). However, should we hold all Muslims responsible? Should every man woman and child who pray to Allah be held responsible for the atrocities that a few (extremists) committed?

Certainly we have no extremists in Christianity, right? I mean the KKK has been eradicated. They haven't burnt down any churches in what 2 years? So does that mean that all Christians should be held responsible for the atrocities that a few committed?

Let's go back a few years. December 7th, 1941. For those who don't know this is the infamous attack on Peal Harbor. Countless casualties, rage and anger ensued. What came next? Japanese internment camps. In February of 1942, President Roosevelt signed into order the call for the internment of all Japanese persons living on American soil.

The thing, I think, that the general majority of the population in America fails to understand is that Muslims are not here to destroy America. Certainly there are a few who are. But restricting one of their rights (freedom from religious persecution)is potentially hazardous. I am in no way saying that because they could do damage (more than has already been done) should we have any more reason to allow this mosque to be built, but a little cultural sensitivity wouldn't hurt. Especially when you consider that A). Islam is the FASTEST and LARGEST growing religion, and B). a vast majority of Muslims live here in Michigan.

Furthermore, how can we call ourselves Christians, and love our enemies when we dehumanize them to a point that fail to see how they should have any rights as Americans? Most Muslims here are here legally. I have worked with quite a few since I began working at the hospital. Now it surely is possible that they could be conspiring against America to do it harm and destroy it. But so then could any one else. Additionally how on earth could we violently protest in the name of GOD? Our bible isn't much different from their Qu'ran. In fact Muslims aren't much different from Christians.

Both are Abrhamic faiths. Both are proselytic. Muslims are doing nothing different than what we are doing.

America was founded on principles of Christianity to be a Christian nation. However, because we have set up the constitution in the manner that we have, each person has the right under it, to religiously worship (or not to) any god that they choose. We are not a Christian nation. We are a selfish, fearful, godless nation, full of hate and anger. We no longer have sympathy for the poor and destitute. The ones that our God asked us to take care of.

Call me a sympathizer for muslims if you want, but I feel that I am more of a sympathizer for humans.

Remember, despite what the media outlets will tell you, Muslims aren't here to destroy America, nor are Christians here to destroy any Muslim nation. The sooner we realize these common truths, the sooner we can begin rebuilding a peaceful future.

So many days in the history of the world have existed and come and gone with out you and I being here. How many times have we read about the changes that lead to the formation of the United States? How much have those changes impacted the way the world moves, interacts, evolves?

Within every generation there is a turning point. A time where future generations look back and see where the wave broke and crashed ashore. Something remarkable that defines an era, a people, a time. A moment where the dry kindling receives its spark, and ignites a light buring bright enough for our children's children to examine the darkness they are in, and navigate the maze of their present time, which will be someone elses light.

Today we are witness to that day. This is the day that we have been waiting for. Today we rejoice for the change is at hand. That defining moment that represents what you lived for. We stand today upon ground that will be remembered in future generations stories.

And those that were not here with us today will regret that they were not able to be a part in this play...in this domino which fell and shook the earth and history to the core. This day that ruptured foundations and ideas that placed restrictions on freedoms and hope. And hope! We will hope! Our greatest strength and weakness. Those of us that stand here today crush the ground as we march on fallacies of ethical dreams, towards realizing true existance apart from constant suffering. Because today the many needs of the many will outweigh the desires of the few. And you will wish that you stood with us this day. That you clenched your hand into a fist and fought against the machine of stagnance. We have pushed back against history and told it...today we control these threads of fate. The seeds of destiny have been sewn...and you who were not here will regret that you didn't see the sun rise upon this day!

So I'm sitting here staring at these books for this exam I have next week. Certainly I'm going to continue studying, but why? Why should I put myself through all of this so that I can hopefully have an attempt at getting a job that may possibly provide for my family, allowing them to move up a class, so that their kids don't have to consider these conundrums?

We observe through the upper crust of society, time and time again, people who have worked so hard that they achieved their dream of obtaining upward mobility. From this we infer that if we also work hard, like them, we can achieve this as well. The problem with this dream we have been sold is that not everyone can get into grad school. Not everyone can get into a four year degree, and worse still, some cannot get into a 2 year degree.

Could it be the primary education system? The public schools? Certainly that's a possibility, but there are so many other causes to try to place the blame on just his one. Our education system needs an overhaul. We need to take what we are attempting to give to Wall street to help them in our time of crisis, to the schools, and the consumers themselves. Inner cities still are currently unable to maintain equal scores in standardized testing with suburban school districts. Taxes don't seem to be leveling the playing field either. We need to attempt to start funding the inner city schools so that they can get some sort of equipment and books that will allow them to achieve higher education standards.

More than that though, it's not just about the money there. It's also about the fact that upper education is so difficult to reach because the cost of higher education is raising every semester. So what ends up happening is people start to hear ideas that they might not be able to succeed further than a high school degree. They decide I'm not gonna try to even think about affording that. Besides I might not be able to get a job when I get out, so then I'll have debt up to my eyeballs, and no job, and nothing to show for anything. So what's even the point of trying to attempt it?

If we are going to require that people have at least a bachelors degree to get a decent job to help pay for their family, then we need to allow them to attend colleges and universities. I don't have all the solutions, but one idea I do have is that we allow students to go to a 4 year university, and the tax payers fit the bill (I know uggh higher taxes right, but hear me out) on the contigent that they sign a contract to stay employed in the state of their schooling for a specified amount of time. That way jobs are created, and the economy is stimualted.

I don't know, the counter argument is that if everyone has a degree then they don't mean as much, but so does that mean that there MUST be poor and sugffering for there to be those who have money? And does that mean that I'm suggesting a form of socialist republic? Communism? Not at all I'm just trying to question the reality of our society. Must they continue to make the upper class so unreachable so that I continue to struggle, and they get richer off of me?


There is no solution I suppose. Our society is based on these principles and in order to become one of those who get a piece of the American dream, it looks like I'll have put someone else below the poverty line.