NEW WEEK, SAME OLD CRAP!, (Frazer Chronicles)
Sometimes we need to read about stuff that's depression, some things that we can't seem to get right, no matter how hard we try.....or don't. In our busy work-days, or in my case, "between naps and computer time" we fail to make an inch of progress in some really knotty issues of the day. I don't subscribe to that rosy, politically correct "globally community thinking," in fact I think that that type of approach to the world is what has landed America in the position it is in.
The conservative radio and television personality, Sean Hannity on his radio broadcast last week remarked that "politicians usually don't lie," and that they "genuinely care about American and what happens to it." What a load of crap, politicians, during the course of their drive to be elected lie, stretch the truth, or ignore facts and attempt to crush their opponent.
Once in office, these traits serve these politicians well in the daily work of "serving their constituents." Of course there are a few "good guys" out there, but it's like saying that Frank Nitty wasn't as bad a criminal as Al Capone. Both were ruthless thugs and killers, and politicians "collectively" are a rather sorry lot and I won't waste my time sorting through them to find the good ones.
There are 2 things in our society that I would like to talk about today, both are problems, both are not being addressed either by the people of the country, or the legislature and both are potential lethal to the progress of the country.
The first is a really depressing story of homelessness in the United States on a scale that many Americans chose to ignore, while others remain unaware of, and want to keep it that way. There is yet another segment of America that lump all homeless people as ignorant, lazy minorities that could care less about their plight, and are willing to live in poverty.
Homelessness has always been a problem in bigger cities, called "skid row" it was where alcoholics, drug addicts and low life scum resided. During the warmer months, in doorways, park benches, in allys, or on the ground. During the winter months, inside doorways or "soup, soap and salvation missions run by religious groups or Churches.
Then came the city, county or state run poor houses were the Supervisor of the Poor and his staff, with city, county, state or federal funds took care of the indigent. In some cases, concerned people would band their resources together, seek additional financial support and offer what they could to the homeless.
In the 1960s and 1970's much de-institutionalized patients from state run psychiatric hospitals was a participating factor, actually "seeding" the homeless population, especially urban areas. Many of these people had sever mental problems, which did not endanger the general population, rather rendered many of these people incapable of caring for themselves.
In the 1980's there was an unprecedented jump in homelessness throughout the nation, but unlike previous homeless people, the 1980's saw entire families join the ranks of the wondering, motel living and homeless shelter residence. There were several reasons for the jump in homelessness, at the beginning of the 1980's, economic distress and unemployment were the driving force behind the chronic problem of homelessness.
In 1980, federal funds made up 22% of big city budgets, but by 1989, the aid composed just 6% of urban revenue. Federal low income housing assistance and the Section 8 "a voucher subsidization program" were slashed from $74 billion to just $19 billion. During this decade the average soup kitchen was enlarged by a factor of 50% as the number of citizens taking advantage of these services doubled and then tripled.
In the 1990's soup kitchens and homeless shelters sprang up across the nation in cities and villages that never before had the need for the service. To say that each and every person going through the soup lines wanted to be there is ludicrous, 90% just wanted a job where they could make a living wage. Most were even willing to work a second job to keep their families together and out of the Foster Care system.
Now in 2011, it almost seems like the country has come full circle, as hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs, their savings and their houses. These people are not "skid row bums," they are honest, hard working, stand up type people that make up the vast majority of our country. Through absolutely no fault of their own, they have lost everything.
Diluting the picture is those volunteers that help the homeless and donate food stuffs, money and even a place for some families to live. I say "diluting the picture" because taxpayer money should be taking care of these people, not volunteers and donations, which.....can dry up at almost any moment. When I read that Afghan and Iraqi families get free health insurance provided by the United States and that our government is spending billions so that Afghan's and Iraqi's can have air conditioning, I get PISSED OFF.
We have our priorities mixed up and our leaders are driving the boat in the wrong direction. As a nation, we need to first be concerned with our own, no matter how disgusting they might be.....they are still ours. "Lets get out of the shade, and into the heat, off our collective asses, and on our feet, and let our legislature know we need a change in course."
OBAMACARE,
Do any of you remember the Bush doctrine with regards to government purchase of drugs for Medicare and Medicaid in bulk quantities at whatever the "sticker" rate is, as opposed to taking bids and choosing the best economical price.
The drug industry also gets a pass from the Food & Drug Administration when it comes to some dubious clinical tests that show dangerous or ineffective drugs need to be removed from the market, but the FDA is slow to take action. In other instances, the FDA moves far to quickly to approve new wonder drugs with way to little research with regards to long term effects.
Some of the newer drugs can change the way some body functions might react to a drug, or completely change how the body assimilates or creates certain natural secretions that are necessary for your health.
Without doubt pharmaceutical companies in not only the United States, but the world are running out of control, using all manner of inducements to alter political oversight on ineffective drugs, dangerous drugs to repetitive drugs.
I have had several lower back procedures over the past 4 months, my wife has had problems with her hearing, eyesight and has balance issues. of the 10 procedures that we have had between us, insurance companies have had to be consulted on 7 of them. Thankfully none of the procedures were life threatening, or one of us, or both could have died waiting to an approval.
Obamacare and the Obama administration is only marginally doing better then the Bush administration did. There is yet no breakthrough with regards to labeling dangerous drugs, or limitations that the drugs have. Is Obamacare better then what it ostensibly replaced, with few exceptions, probably not. The drug companies are still running the show, until that changes, we are all in danger.
There are 2 things in our society that I would like to talk about today, both are problems, both are not being addressed either by the people of the country, or the legislature and both are potential lethal to the progress of the country.
The first is a really depressing story of homelessness in the United States on a scale that many Americans chose to ignore, while others remain unaware of, and want to keep it that way. There is yet another segment of America that lump all homeless people as ignorant, lazy minorities that could care less about their plight, and are willing to live in poverty.
Homelessness has always been a problem in bigger cities, called "skid row" it was where alcoholics, drug addicts and low life scum resided. During the warmer months, in doorways, park benches, in allys, or on the ground. During the winter months, inside doorways or "soup, soap and salvation missions run by religious groups or Churches.
Then came the city, county or state run poor houses were the Supervisor of the Poor and his staff, with city, county, state or federal funds took care of the indigent. In some cases, concerned people would band their resources together, seek additional financial support and offer what they could to the homeless.
In the 1960s and 1970's much de-institutionalized patients from state run psychiatric hospitals was a participating factor, actually "seeding" the homeless population, especially urban areas. Many of these people had sever mental problems, which did not endanger the general population, rather rendered many of these people incapable of caring for themselves.
In the 1980's there was an unprecedented jump in homelessness throughout the nation, but unlike previous homeless people, the 1980's saw entire families join the ranks of the wondering, motel living and homeless shelter residence. There were several reasons for the jump in homelessness, at the beginning of the 1980's, economic distress and unemployment were the driving force behind the chronic problem of homelessness.
In 1980, federal funds made up 22% of big city budgets, but by 1989, the aid composed just 6% of urban revenue. Federal low income housing assistance and the Section 8 "a voucher subsidization program" were slashed from $74 billion to just $19 billion. During this decade the average soup kitchen was enlarged by a factor of 50% as the number of citizens taking advantage of these services doubled and then tripled.
In the 1990's soup kitchens and homeless shelters sprang up across the nation in cities and villages that never before had the need for the service. To say that each and every person going through the soup lines wanted to be there is ludicrous, 90% just wanted a job where they could make a living wage. Most were even willing to work a second job to keep their families together and out of the Foster Care system.
Now in 2011, it almost seems like the country has come full circle, as hundreds of thousands have lost their jobs, their savings and their houses. These people are not "skid row bums," they are honest, hard working, stand up type people that make up the vast majority of our country. Through absolutely no fault of their own, they have lost everything.
Diluting the picture is those volunteers that help the homeless and donate food stuffs, money and even a place for some families to live. I say "diluting the picture" because taxpayer money should be taking care of these people, not volunteers and donations, which.....can dry up at almost any moment. When I read that Afghan and Iraqi families get free health insurance provided by the United States and that our government is spending billions so that Afghan's and Iraqi's can have air conditioning, I get PISSED OFF.
We have our priorities mixed up and our leaders are driving the boat in the wrong direction. As a nation, we need to first be concerned with our own, no matter how disgusting they might be.....they are still ours. "Lets get out of the shade, and into the heat, off our collective asses, and on our feet, and let our legislature know we need a change in course."
OBAMACARE,
Do any of you remember the Bush doctrine with regards to government purchase of drugs for Medicare and Medicaid in bulk quantities at whatever the "sticker" rate is, as opposed to taking bids and choosing the best economical price.
The drug industry also gets a pass from the Food & Drug Administration when it comes to some dubious clinical tests that show dangerous or ineffective drugs need to be removed from the market, but the FDA is slow to take action. In other instances, the FDA moves far to quickly to approve new wonder drugs with way to little research with regards to long term effects.
Some of the newer drugs can change the way some body functions might react to a drug, or completely change how the body assimilates or creates certain natural secretions that are necessary for your health.
Without doubt pharmaceutical companies in not only the United States, but the world are running out of control, using all manner of inducements to alter political oversight on ineffective drugs, dangerous drugs to repetitive drugs.
I have had several lower back procedures over the past 4 months, my wife has had problems with her hearing, eyesight and has balance issues. of the 10 procedures that we have had between us, insurance companies have had to be consulted on 7 of them. Thankfully none of the procedures were life threatening, or one of us, or both could have died waiting to an approval.
Obamacare and the Obama administration is only marginally doing better then the Bush administration did. There is yet no breakthrough with regards to labeling dangerous drugs, or limitations that the drugs have. Is Obamacare better then what it ostensibly replaced, with few exceptions, probably not. The drug companies are still running the show, until that changes, we are all in danger.
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