my healthcare musings and then some…

Lester opened his lunch sack and exclaimed: “Not boloney sandwiches again! This is the third time this week I had boloney sandwiches – I hate boloney sandwiches”

- Barry C Black (link)

Like Lester, I hate boloney sandwiches and I have had three helpings of boloney sandwiches in one month! Consider this interview on the BBC Today program on the 3rd of November which asks whether president Obama has ‘lost the plot’? The charge according to Mr Ed Rogers is this “I think Obama is not a very effective leader. He is a thinker and a ditherer to a fault” You can think as much as you like Ed but that is boloney number one and you know it! When has being a thinker: relying on intellect not instinct become an handicap? As to the ditherer accusation, maybe you need to listen to Jared Berntein former economic adviser to the  Vice President Biden who worked closely with Obama (in the same interview): “He certainly doesn’t reach snap decision, he is a deliberative guy but when you put the facts in front of him he’ll come to an economic conclusion relatively quickly. I think what sometimes looks like an excessive deliberative process has more to do with the politics. The president might come to a decision…quickly, then you’ve got to navigate this congress…which is a tough road block”

And I’ll tell you…it’s three things about what Ed said that I have fundamental problems with: 1. That being a thinker makes you an ineffective leader  2. That Obama appears to be deliberative because he is ineffective rather than because of the road block that is orchestrated by factions of the Republican party and  finally 3. the eh eh what is the third one…..let see…1. thinker 2. deliberative and the eh eh em….the third item I have a problem with is em thinker, deliberative and lets see…I can’t the third one….I can’t sorry…Oops! (link). And that is my point exactly…I’ll explain:

With all the wills in the world you cannot expect your commander-in-chief to be passionate about every single item we are passionate about. He is human after all. What we are entitled to expect is that he takes the issue we care about seriously enough. When Rick Perry cannot remember the third agency of government he will do away with, it struck me that he is not as passionate about the subject as he is trying to portray. He couldn’t even master the brief. I don’t expect him to be passionate about everything – no one can and that is not my criticism. My criticism is that in the absence of passion for the subject, I expect my commander-in-chief to weigh up all the facts objectively and think. Have we not had enough of people that shoot first and ask questions later? Why are we in this mess? That was my second helpings of boloney sandwich this month.

Talking about Obama, I wonder what his position was on the bombing in Libya? “OK Libya…I do not agree with the way he handled it for the following reason…Uh, nope that’s, that’s a different one” (link). Different Libya? Different question? or are we playing Mastermind (by the Two Ronnies – link)? The point is I want a honest commander-in-chief who will be able to say look, I am tired, I cannot answer that question at the moment. Let me think about it. Or are politician supposed to answer even when they don’t know what they are talking about? And that is my third helping of boloney sandwiches in the space of a month!

I will have to return to my friend Lester:

Lester responded: “I am not married, I made these sandwiches myself”

My sisters and brothers; most of the boloney we find in our lives, we put there ourselves.

- Barry C Black (link)

I am currently reading the book below. I think you should too. I will explain why later. Get yourself a copy.

openlta Kazeem Olalekan
#news Obama’s millionaire tax is class war, say Republicans bit.ly/nGn4Ir
19 Sep

The fact that the US Republican leaders have accused president Obama of “class warfare” is rather rich. Who cares anyway about the futility of a class warfare? It is rhetoric like this that makes me want to jump and shout ‘roforofo fight’ (1, 2).

A lot of people, most of whom have nothing to do with causing this financial crises, are being asked to carry a disproportionate share of the burden. And all you can say is class war! Look, why don’t we (Democrats, Republicans and fully paid up citizens of this world) just work together to clear this mess and you can hold on to your class – see if I care.

The kind of class war I want to be fighting is that which can be found in comedy:

“…I have a ‘yamaha’ organ, a tv and a new video…although I don’t know how to work it…”

No use to me then! I bet you think the sun shines out of your trousers, Sir Ramsbottom or is it Sir Republican?!

openlta Kazeem Olalekan

#news Part of Health Reform Ruled Unconstitutional bit.ly/q1a0km

The toing and froing of the healthcare reform (hcr) debate which, for most of us anyway, appear settled reminds me of the famous ‘Dead Parrot’ sketch by Monty Python. In the immutable words of John Cleese: “I know a dead parrot when I see one and I am looking at one right now”. According to Carl Tobias, professor at the University of Richmond School of Law, "There needs to be a pronouncement that’s nationwide. It would be almost impossible to implement it if we have splintered decisions from different geographic circuits. The Supreme Court may feel now it has to take it."

Whilst the actors in the #hcr drama play the toing and froing game of ping-pong, I ask the reader to enjoy this classic sketch:

The concept of all action having consequences underpins my arguments against the polarised debate in American politics (1); It also underpins my arguments for a hefty financial penalty as a consequence of News Corp’s fiasco (2). The theme also holds for the arguments I made for the nature of relationship between patients and doctors (or other healthcare professionals) (3). This is a recurring theme that forms an important spine of our existence.

The question is: does inaction have consequences? I believe it does. I believe the current financial fiasco is a consequence of our inaction. When we elect our politicians, we had a tendency to suspend our thoughts and say: ‘we trust them to do the right thing’. That works when the politicians are working for us. What if they ain’t? What if they choose to work for themselves or for some influential lobby? The more you allow that to happen, the more difficult it is for government to respond to your wishes. The position of the tea-party today is a position of frustration and realisation at how bad things have got. If you look at the constituency of the tea-party, you will find that it is made up of some people who could have exercised action at the very early stages of this problem. If the values they now profess to are that deeply held, then it should have been made to bear on the previous administration. The fact is, they didn’t because of self-interest, self-preservation, suspension of reason or all of the above. In lashing out now, they are looking to demonise the very people who are trying to solve the problem. This is a moment of being dispassionate. This is the moment we need cool heads. This is the moment of fixing things. Because any wrong action now, will result in devastating consequences later (It is that action and reaction thing again).

As we move forward, we need a more profound understanding of what it means to have free will. You – we – live in a free society. God gives you and me a free will. We must not suspend our sense of reason as a result of it. In fact, I will contest that the price of having that ‘free will’ is that you exercise it judiciously and not suspend your rational thoughts (these are your moral compass). You must be selfless and be your brother’s keeper (…and I don’t mean that in a narrow sense).

Yes, actions have consequences; so also does inaction.

Action cures fear, inaction creates terror.
Douglas Horton

I never worry about action, but only inaction.
Winston Churchill

Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.
Dale Carnegie