In a nation where 77% of it's citizens claim to be christian, we don't do a very good job of being Christ like. I had always wondered why so many churches sent people out of the country to build houses for the poor and when I asked this one little girl (about 20) years ago why she didn't stay here and build houses for the poor she looked at me like I was stupid and said, "Jan, everybody knows that if you are poor in America you are just lazy".  OMG I wanted to shake some sense into her, and when I asked her how she came to that conclusion she said her minister told her that!!!!!!!  I think people use that excuse to justify not taking care of those who are suffering.

My husband and I have always worked hard and supported ourselves and our children.  We could hardly be classified as lazy, but he has lost his job through no fault of his own, and I lost mine by email. Yep that's right the email said, "We are very sorry for your unfortunate circumstances and we do wish you well, but we hired you for your brain and since we no longer have access to it we can no longer carry you on the payroll."  We are going through everything we have saved just to pay outrageous ins premiums and I don't know how long we can keep that up.  We were paying 450 a month for family coverage when he was working, and now we are paying over 1800.  I don't know how people who work at McDonalds and such pay for ins even with a company plan.  The amt we were paying would be two weeks salary for someone working a minimum wage job.  What are they supposed to live on?  I saw an interview where they were talking about forcing people to buy ins, and this guy said that he should not have to pay for people who CHOOSE not to have ins.  HELLO!!!!!!!!  CHOOSE, is he crazy?  It isn't much of a choice.  Um lets see, Rock or Hard place for 200 Alex.  

I saw some people in Canada being interviewed about their health care system (and these were people with money), and they could not understand how americans could be so cold and callous.  They ALL said it could just as easily be them that fell on hard times and then they would need the help so they are happy to help support a system that they might actually need some day.  

The prevailing attitude here is, I got mine, you get yours.  It really kills me when politicians invoke the name of God in one breath and in another allocate trillions of dollars to kill people, while slashing the budget for health care, education etc.  Everybody thought that Medicare part d or whatever for prescription drugs was going to help old people, but the only people it helped were the ins companies.  Our country doesn't care about us.  We are all expendable.  Until we start placing a higher value on human life than the corporate bottom line, things will never change.  

Here are some lovely bushisms.

"You work three jobs?  … Uniquely American, isn't it? I mean, that is fantastic that you're doing that." —President George W. Bush, to a divorced mother of three, Omaha, Nebraska, Feb. 4, 2005  Why didn't he just slap her in the face while he was at it. No one should have to work 3 jobs to support their family.  That woman was hardly lazy and she was still having trouble making ends meet.  All of her employers made sure she was part time so they didn't have to pay for ins coverage.

"First, let me make it very clear, poor people aren't necessarily killers. Just because you happen to be not rich doesn't mean you're willing to kill." —President George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., May 19, 2003  On recruitment in the military.

"You're working hard to put food on your family." —Presidential candidate George W. Bush, Nashua, N.H.,  Jan. 27, 2000

"Families is where our nation finds hope, where wings take dream." —Presidential candidate George W. Bush, LaCrosse, Wis., Oct. 18, 2000

"Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country." —President George W. Bush, Poplar Bluff, Mo., Sept. 6, 2004

"See, in my line of work you got to keep repeating things over and over and over again for the truth to sink in, to kind of catapult the propaganda." —President George W. Bush, Greece, N.Y., May 24, 2005  

"Then you wake up at the high school level and find out that the illiteracy level of our children are appalling." —President George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2004   Okay it doesn't have anything to do with poor people but ya gotta love it.

When aides finally briefed the President on the existence of the poor, the President was reportedly quite surprised to discover that some people do not own cars and are often forced to take public transportation, or even to walk or ride bicycles to get places.
"These poor people must be very fit," the President said.

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we." —President George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Aug. 5, 2004   It is about the only thing he has ever said that I believe.

I highly recommend this movie to anyone who wants to know more about our health care system.  I read a lot of news from around the world and I try to stay on top of what is happening in places like Zimbabwe, Dafur, and Pakistan, and we get a lot of propaganda from our govt about those countries and others,but sometimes I wonder if the propaganda our gov't feeds us is a way to control us with disinformation.  They are always telling us how much better we have it all the way around over here and I am not convinced that that is true anymore. They try to tell us we get the best medical care in the world because it isn't universal coverage, but that is just not true.  I like what one old guy in England said, "If you can find the money to kill people, you can find money to heal people". France, England, Canada and even Cuba have universal coverage and the garbage we have been told about those medical systems have been false. Cory pulled the movie out and I realized I had not watched it for a long time.  All of those countries with national coverage have longer life expectancy's than Americans.  A child born in San Salvador has a better chance of not dying in infancy than our own babies in America & 35 other countries can boast the same stats.  Incidences of most medical conditions is lower in those other countries, because prevention is really encouraged.  Also, in France, Drs get paid by how WELL their patients are.  If they can get most of their patients to control diabetes, lower cholesterol, quit smoking, lose weight, etc., they get bonuses.  The argument from the doctors standpoint is they won't get paid anything.  However one Dr they interviewed  lived in a million dollar home, drove a luxury car and had no debt. People over there in general have no debt.  They get free health care, dental care, college, a minimum of 5 weeks vacation and if you get hurt your  employer pays a percentage and the government pays a percentage but you receive 100% of your pay.  They have 24 hr Drs who make house calls at no charge to you. The preschools are about $1.00 an hour. The govt will send a baby sitter to your home when you have newborns and little ones to sit for the mom so she can have some time away. It was 2 days a week for 4 hours for one woman and while the Nanny is there, she will fix a meal or do some laundry because her job is to help out the family and teach them how to handle situations that might arise in child rearing.   In England there were no long waits in the ER and the cashier/business office is not a place to pay your bill, but a guy who gives those who qualify reimbursement for their traveling expenses to the hospital.  They showed a guy behind a window GIVING OUT CASH.  
A woman in the film said that in France and England the govt is afraid of the people uprising, but in America we are afraid of our govt and that is true.  We are constantly concerned about what our govt will or won't do that will hurt us even more in some way.  A man in England said that a healthy, educated and confident nation of people is harder to govern, but that keeping people feeling hopeless and pessimistic was easier for our govt because you have a terrified populace that is to afraid to act.  We are afraid to lose our jobs, because of ins, student loans, huge debt, etc so we toil away at jobs we hate in order to keep paying for all that stuff that other countries take for granted as a basic right.  Why is our defense budget 647 BILLION dollars? And that does not include the paltry 85 billion we will spend on verterans benefits and services. So, war related expenses are 732 billion dollars. Why do we tolerate that?  It is outrageous that we should spend that kind of money on killing people and so damn little on saving people and improving our educational system and everything else that doesn't get funded that should. In the movie one girl was denied benefits from her ins co, because they said she was to young to have some type of cancer she had.  I think it was cervical.  What does age matter if you have that disease?   By time she finished going round and round it was invasive and she was going to canada to get treatments.  I think that was the same girl.  I get so confused.  What I am not confused about is that our constitution tells us that not only is it our right but our obligation to overthrow our government when they are being abusive with their power and I think they have been going to far for far to long.

"Usta could" is a southern expression as in " I usta could ride my bike all day, now I can barely make it DOWN a hill".  Even with all my degrees, I still find that expression very descriptive.  I got my first job after college because I used the expression "fixing to" and the interviewer said I was not only way smart, I would be able to communicate and understand some of the people I would be interacting with on that job.  Ha Ha Ha  First time bad grammar got me a job.  We have a lot of sayings that aren't used elsewhere or sayings that are used differently here.  If you hear a southerner say, "well bless his heart" you know some insult is coming.  Also, "beating the snot out of someone" just means to bust their bubble NOT do physical injury.  It's kinda gross, but it refers to the bubble of snot on the nose you get when you get all worked up.  I could never bring myself to actually hurt someone.  Most of you won't know what the heck I am talking about or why I put this here but about 12 of you will and I don't have the time today to write all of those emails.  I am going to finish my garden today and think on some things. Please feel free to add your own colloquialisms (sayings) here.  I think it would be fun to hear what expressions are used in other parts of this country and the world.
I am SO grateful for y'all.
Love,
Jan

Dear Mom,

I know we have different theology/perspective.  However, you SHOULD count yourself as one of the lucky ones in the
sense that you're still here.  For every second you waste thinking--"oh me, only weeks, years.." you are squandering a gift bestowed to you, for whatever reason you have more time. your friend doesn't.  She can't wonder about tomorrow or smell clean spring air coming in on the storm.  you can.  I know it's scary because you can see it coming.  It must feel like when you start to sink, knowing that the air you have is it--mere moments from now that air will be spent and all you'll have is that narrowing field of sight going dim as you pass out into your remembrance's and fade into darkness on wings of a dream.  Do you struggle? Quicken your use of air and bring the end quickly without
pain?  OR--do you calm yourself, your heartbeat, and make that one breath stretch long enough to see your loved ones and contemplate it all--funny that in this moment you notice the water is lucid--suspended like time this moment given you.  It feels like it last forever-until it's over.  Was it fair that some 18 year old kid got sniped from
behind--NEVER getting to live-only die because someone else controlled his destiny? He didn't have time to contemplate his place in the world, or say even one goodbye. He woke up thinking he'd do the same tomorrow. He never saw it coming-fearless he ran out to grab a friend off the road and BAM!! If he had known would he of hesitated?  Time (and hindsight!) make fools of us all, but if the puppet is willing--a bigger fool he will be.  I'd rather go for it and die than not--what a world if knowing the end of the race kept us from running it.          Now, your race is shorter now than it was, but no matter what you do-it does end.  The saddest part is the consciousness of it. If it weren't for this thing you know you'd be young, healthy enough to hike or see an opera--and that's why it's so hard to part with--the
'what should/could have beens haunt us. Hanging over our heads--trying to confuse and divert our attention from the important: While you have breath in your lungs let it breath in roses, and breath out this tiring, polluted,  congested, "lowest common denominator" noose of a world.  Elevate above and know that a lotus is born from the muck and mire--shining in all of it's glory - making the air better just from it's existence.          Sorry to babble--and I'm not trying to sound harsh by any means.  I do sincerely hope this is the horrid bottom of a tall hill for you.  I've always had a slightly more-black and white- view of things then most people-and it sometimes sounds callous.  Knowing
this, I hope it its not your perception.  I would hope that you, in this time you have, find peace and joy in your heart, and a little dignity to bridge this world and the next.  Chris was born sick, and knew he'd die before being old enough to drink.  I spoke with him once-a month before he died-and was on the phone in the emergency room as he did die.  Head held high I have no doubt in my mind that he met the other world with grace--I will join him one day and on that day will be complete.  My journey over, back where it all started.  And damned grateful for even a minute in this world or a breath in my lungs.  For once I kissed, and drank and danced. Laughed and smiled and thought.  My mind bigger than the cosmos expanding all at once in a singularity of an instance.  All is now, then is when and tomorrow is today for someone.
Love, your eldest birthed-kelly           (Hey, if you ever think of
having regrets-just think, I came about, couldn't have been all
bad!!!!!)

Chris was a friend she had from kindergarten and he died of cystic fibrosis.  His mom and I often wondered how it was possible that we each had one of the twins.  They believed the indian belief that we are both male and female and at birth we are separated into two halves one male one female and that we search our whole life to find our other half.  That is why she says when she goes she will be complete.  He was from Knoxville like us, but towards the end his parents brought him here to Vanderbilt to see what they could do. They couldn't do anything.  My friend she refers to is Camille.  My chemo buddy and good friend.  She died in Feb and only had stage1, but she also had MS so she never stood a chance and that is what my onc and the hematologist both told me.  They tried their best.  I guess what made me cry so much was that her mom told me that since Camille had passed maybe that was good news for me because of the odds some go some stay and as Camille went that rose the odds for all of us.  That was the most unselfish thing I have ever heard and it still makes me cry when I think of it, like now.  I am only reposting this because a few didn't see it than and there are new people I want to see this.  I am so proud of her and this is advice we all can use.