Steroids, Health Care and Spitting

"Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health is the most shocking and the most inhumane." - - Dr. Martin Luther King


Today I switched on ESPN and saw George Mitchell talking to Congress about his report. The Congressmen and women were echoing each other other in their praise of former Senator Mitchell and his work on this Independent Investigation that he began 5 years ago at the request of Major League Baseball.

Many also said that while "This " (Steroid use by professional baseball players) was not the biggest issue that faced the country, it is important. If you are not a baseball fan you may ask yourself why is this so important???

That's easy people...It gives the Congress the ability to gather, tell someone (Mitchell) what a good job he did, and for a real Bipartisan Party where everyone agrees on something.

It's important because it shows a government working as a group, many on the same page. Come on now, this isn't about the individual players, this is about CHEATING, ILLEGAL DRUG USE and BAD EXAMPLES.

This gives Congressman the ability to stand or sit upon their soapboxes and say "It's about the Kids !!" and "We're here to save lives!!"

It almost made me sick to see these Republicans and Democrats suck up to each other over this issue. It's good I didn't, get sick that is, because I don't have Health Insurance!!

THAT is a big issue for me!!

I didn't need the Mitchell report to tell me athletes use drugs to get a competitive advantage... DUH

I don't need Congress to waste Tax Money...

Look at all the time these congressman took to research their questions for Mitchell!!

Look at all the damn aides around those Congressman!!

Look at all the friggin' lawyers in that room !!

Wouldn't it be better for the Children, the Country if all those blowhards were doing something like taking the profit incentives out of delivering Health Care to Americans.

The Media, The Congress, The Senate all try to say our system is better than the French, The English or Canadian Health Care Services....sorry..

Better How? Better for those with money, maybe.

My dad has his Medicare and Secondary Health Insurance. He's 79 and fell down yesterday and hurt himself. His doctor told us to bring him to the Emergency room at the local hospital.

He's still there, in the Emergency room !!

He's resting comfortably but in the Emergency room ??

They want to put him in a bed in the hospital, but there isn't one available..

That's true for another 5 patients staying in the ER with him.

No where to put them..Not enough staff to cover the beds. Believe me, there is plenty of room but STAFF costs too much and the HMO's won't cover the costs to care for the sick and injured...

Nope..Staff costs too much!!...Bottom Line, Health Care in America is FOR PROFIT..not for the sick.

Let's head back to Congress....BASEBALL Reform or HEALTH CARE Reform...

I think Baseball reform will precede any kind of Health care reform...WHY???

In 2003, Representative Conyers first introduced HR 676, the United States National Health Insurance Act (USNHI). This bill would establish a unique American universal health insurance program with single payer financing. As a publicly financed, privately delivered health care system that improves and expands the already existing Medicare program, it would be available to all U.S. residents, and all residents living in U.S. territories.

Every year since, the bill is re introduced...It first had 25 co-sponsors but the list has grown and now stands at 85 other congressmen and women.

It probably helps those Congressmen and Women look good to say they back this bill...the bill that gets introduced and then....what..Burned???

You would think this Bill wouldn't need to be introduced every year but it does, that seems like a needless amount of money spent, just changing all the dates and stuff?

All the TREES that went into that paper!!!

This is what happened to the bill in 2007 ...

1/24/2007:

Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

(In English please!!!)

1/24/2007:

Referred to House Energy and Commerce

2/2/2007:

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

1/24/2007:

Referred to House Ways and Means

1/30/2007:

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

1/24/2007:

Referred to House Natural Resources

I wonder when it will get introduced in 2008??

Somewhere around Martin Luther Kings Birthday I suspect...makes good copy!!

Why not do something about it this year guys and Gals??

Personally I'd rather pay more taxes and have health care without all the Co-Pay and Deductibles.

I'd like to see Doctors working to make their patients healthy and be compensated for doing that.

I don't like seeing Doctors working for HMO's with fancy Titles like "Medical Directors" and getting bonuses for being "Good" at saving money for the HMO by denying CARE for the Insured.

Maybe we could solve the Steroid Problem at the same time..If we are all agreed that it is BAD for sports...and for KIDS.

Let's give them all health insurance and test them for steroids!!


Oh, and talk about Professional Baseball players being bad Role Models...What's up with all the damn spitting, never mind chewing tobacco??

Disgusting!!