This slice of life is an interesting example of the problems in the health care debate. It is a wonder why the average American continues to advocate against their own interests.
How does Texas health care measure up nationally and internationally? How are their senators, congressmen, state legislators working to improve the health of the average Texan? Protecting malpractice? Killing Texans? Prosecuting nurses?

Check this out: Nurse trial

The rescue effort has ended.  The recovered bodies are being disposed at the dump.  And yet, the supplies that pile up at the airport still continue to barely trickle to those in need.  People continue to die.  Why?

During World War Two, the troops and supplies that needed to be moved were exponentially larger than today.  We managed large operations in Europe and the Pacific with speed and efficiency.  Operations in Africa,  Sicily, Italy, Normandy, and southern France were accomplished in short order.  In the Pacific, the Marines island hopped their way to Japan.  In one operation,  they traveled over 3000 miles from San Diego to take a small Pacific island, the longest invasion in history to that point.  During World War One, when we were ill prepared for combat, over a half-million men were deployed in France in only two months.

After the world wars, our nation was able to accomplish logistical marvels such as the Marshall Plan and the Berlin Airlift.  During the sixties, we could go to the moon.  But what has happened since?  How quickly and efficiently can we react?  For the most part, the answer is poorly.

In Iraq and in Afghanistan, we can barely move a brigade a month.  Instead of millions of men, it is thousands.  During Katrina in New Orleans, and now in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, our rescue and recovery efforts drag on and on. We no longer can go to the moon.   For a nation that was able to recover quickly from the San Francisco earthquake, build massive dams, railway networks and interstate highways, we have become of unable to do anything.  Our “can do” has become “can’t do”.

For the last thirty to forty years, we have allowed our country to be outsourced.  The mercenaries and contractors have taken us over, and we don’t even know it.  Our fears from the Vietnam Conflict compelled us to maintain an all volunteer army at the great expense of outsourcing its logistics.  Our capitalistic “free-market?” system has allowed the rich and powerful to cash out our manufacturing and services.  We no longer make anything or do anything.  We just shuffle funny money around, until someone notices it is worthless.

As the cause du jour of Haiti is fading from our short attention spans, we can be sure of one thing:  another disaster is right around the corner.  Will we be ready?  Will we wake up?

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Inaugurating “Never let a good (or bad) blog die” we have an entry from September 19th, 2007 from my former blog “Gloom and Doom”.  Some things never change!

http://gloomanddoom-cassandra.blogspot.com/

There was once a mayor in NYC. One day he decided to run for President of the United States. When it came time to campaign and debate, it was discovered that he spoke no words. Every utterance from his mouth was numbers. To be exact, three numbers….and two of them were the same. During this period, in a sophisticated twist….a slash was inserted ‘twixt one number and the pair of twins. To every issue he answered the same…..9/11, 9/11, 9/11….and so it went. His every speech, it was the same….9/11, 9/11, 9/11…and so on. The implication of the succinct soundbite was, of course, to let all know that he would protect us from the evils of the world.

But where was this saviour on that beautiful, clear, blue sky, pleasant morning on 9/11/01??????????????????????

It seems that some years earlier, some car bombs were detonated in the garages of the WTC. Fortunately, that day, no catastrophic damage was done. But it was enough of a warning to all that steps be taken to ensure that security issues be addressed, and most especially, that first responders can communicate and coordinate their activities. Two main recommendations were, as was known and yet ignored, vital. One was to move central control operations from the World Trade Center to Brooklyn. The other was to make sure that proper radio equipment was available to all critical personnel. Neither was done by Hizzoner Giuliani nor his predecessors.

Hizzoner Mayor Giuliani was nowhere to be found for hours and hours and hours after this beautiful day changed for the worse. Central Command was gone. Communications were a jumble. When finally he was found, all he could utter was…911…….

This is not the words (er…numbers) of a saviour!! This is nothing more the the mewling of an unprepared pretender who let his city down.

That is why at least one of the firefighters’ organizations endorsed……Christopher Dodd?!?!?!?!?

End of Gloom and Doom blog.

Flashing forward to the present…Hizzoner, the self-proclaimed expert on terrorism, has totally forgotten when his precious 9/11 occurred.  It was not only during HIS watch, but also BUSH’s.  For his sake, and the country’s, he should not be allowed to utter any more 9/11’s in public.  He should be sent to where his terrorist expertise would be most useful…Guantanamo!  Either that, or a rubber room.

Chesley Burnett “Sully” Sullenberger III, pilot of the ill-fated US Airways Flight 1549 on January 15, 2009, has had an interesting year.  On January 1st, 2009, what could have been going through his mind?  There he was, with a successful, though unassuming career, minding his own business.  Was he thinking, “Is that all there is?”  I doubt that his plans for next New Year’s Day included being Grand Marshal in the Tournament of Roses Parade.  Or was it?

Some people are born to greatness.  Some people achieve greatness.  But, some people have Canadian Geese thrust upon them.

Two weeks later, Captain Sullenberger was getting ready to take-off from La Guardia Airport.  Ground crews were busy clearing snow from the runways.  Little did he know that he was about to encounter Canadian avian eco-terrorism.

Since 9/11, our Homeland Security has been focused on Al Qaeda.  But it should have been focused on the enemy just north of our borders…Canada.  Every year, their avian flu came south into our lands.  Not swine, but avian.  In many areas, it has established itself, just waiting for the right time to strike.  It should have been no surprise that New York City would again be the target.  This time, terrorism would lose.  Sully would save us.  Our hero.

But even heroes are not perfect.  Comedian Jeffrey Ross noticed that although Sullenberger may love our country, he’s not so fond of New Jersey.  Following are actual, though redacted, transcripts from the last moments of Flight 1549.  You decide if they are out of context.

Sully:  …”hit birds, we lost thrust in both engines…”

Air Traffic Control:  …which runway would you like at Teterboro?”

Sully:  “We’re gonna be in the Hudson.”

Now, maybe he may have an excuse for avoiding New Jersey.  Perhaps he wanted to land on the USS Intrepid.  His plane did come to rest abeam of this historic carrier in the Hudson.  Perhaps if Homeland Security had kept the flight deck clear he might have had that choice.  But, instead, he chose the Hudson…over New Jersey.

Now, that the Rose Parade is finished, and the anniversary of his fateful trip approaches, what now for Chesley Sullenberger.  In this shortsighted country, it is always, “What have you done for us lately?”  World peace?  Cure cancer, or the common cold?

We’re waiting.

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No, this is not some childhood joke about the forecast of Mexico.  This is serious!  This is grownup stuff!

The Arctic is currently going through some of the coldest conditions in over half a century.   Some scientists say the readings are practically off their charts.  Perhaps they need a bigger chart.

God, and/or Mother Nature, and/or basic global meteorological behaviors have conspired, consciously or not, to drop this weather down into the eastern two-thirds of the United States.  People are gonna freeze their asses off.  Perhaps their troubles are behind them.

In Europe, unpleasant winter weather has wreaked havoc to transportation, including disrupting the Chunnel service between France and England under the English Channel.  In Korea, snowfall, the likes they haven’t seen in seventy years, is causing problems.  Even Russia has been complaining, and they should be used to this stuff.  Perhaps scientists have missed some steppes.

This winter weather phenomena obviously can only mean one thing…Global Warming is over. Hooray!  No longer do we need do conserve energy.  Gone are carbon footprints.  Jobs are saved.  Cows can now fart again.  All is well with the world.  Or maybe not.

The other third of the United States continues to burn each year.  The Sahara keeps creeping towards South America.  Oh, and Australia burns.

But, human nature being what it is, we can be sure that this current chill will allow our global leadership to further weaken the anemic, toothless promises of Copenhagen.  We are, if nothing else, shortsighted.

Fortunately, we can be.  The Mayan Calendar is coming to an end.  The End of Days is nigh.  Armageddon or the rapture or both will be our 2012 Christmas present.  The Messiah is coming, be it his/her first (Jewish), second (Christian), third (Mormon), or more.  Deus ex machina.  We will be saved.

On reflection, my original statement may have been incorrect.  We lack political will.  We lack maturity.  There will be no machina to save us, deus or otherwise.  We have become the childhood joke.

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As we start a new year, some say a new decade, we are still suffering through the throes of the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression. Other than Wall Street, who live in their own world of wealth and privilege, the rest of us are still suffering. So who not to save us but Al Qaeda?

Now, I’m not an economist. I couldn’t tell a micro even if it kicked me in the macro. And I’m not an investigative journalist. That takes work. So, I’m am going to used the tried and true methods of our foremost news organization, Fox News. I’m just going to make sh*t up.

That being said, here follows how Al Qaeda will save our economy, and, as a bonus, stick it to the insurance industry. It starts in Somalia. First, send out the pirates to hijack assorted vessels and hold them for exorbitant ransoms. Second, send that money to Yemen, either directly or laundered through the Kenyan real estate boom. Now, send assorted fools on fools errands to places like Detroit, Denmark, or even Saudi Arabia to do various dastardly deeds. Then wait for the fun part.

The United States arsenal tends to age over time. Every decade or so this arsenal gets to the point of use it or lose it. Old munitions tend to be a problem to dispose of unless you can find someone, somewhere, to dump them on. In the nineties it was dear Saddam Hussein. In the Naughty Oughties it was the Taliban, and again, Saddam Hussein.  Now it’s, perhaps, Al Qaeda Yemen, and Afghanistan, and Pakistan, and?  Disposing all of this ordinance upon the Al Qaeda folks, or even just blowing up their vast deserts, solves this problem. And, with the draw down of these old bombs, creates a demand…for more bombs.

Hence, the economy is saved. Our defense industry hires more and more people to build more and more bombs. Thank you, Al Qaeda.  Who needs peace?

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The new General Motors can’t give Saab away. They have tried three times, all without success. Now, along with the Saturn and Pontiac models, it appears headed to the market’s junkyard. Only the Hummer, that truly American car, developed from the original United States military design, has found a home.  Unfortunately, that home is China. WTF!!!

Over the last few years, the American automakers have been moaning and groaning about the state of their economy. Yet for decades they have been outsourcing jobs overseas, failing to provide competitive products, and undermining their workforce at home.  They have made sure, however, that the executives at the top were well taken care of. Even in the midst of the crisis, the CEO’s still enjoyed the luxury of corporate jets as they went to Washington with their hands out for bailouts. And bailouts they got!

Both General Motors and Chrysler received billions of taxpayer money to help prevent these companies from going bankrupt. And yet, they both went bankrupt!  Now GM’s GMAC is getting even more money, $3 billion more!  We give them money, they make empty promises.  Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, in his “The Predictioneer’s Game” discusses the futility of this type of policy of giving items of substance for promises.  It doesn’t work!  Certainly not for us, the taxpayer.

Even the stimulus package served as a conduit for the auto industry. The so-called “Cash for Clunkers” program was pitched as a way to reduce smog and stimulate the economy. It did little of either, but it did cost the taxpayer billions. It also helped an industry that has shown that it cannot compete in the marketplace linger on.

What’s good for General Motors IS NOT good for the USA.  General Motors should be demoted to PRIVATE!  As they continue trying to dump Saab, they toss more of our money at their dealers to unload their remaining Pontiac and Saturn junk.

As we enter a New Year, we see the the SAME OLD!  That is our true sob story!

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Once upon a time, on Northwest Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit, a Nigerian by the name of Umar Farouk Abdulmatallah did something bad.  This engineering student from London, the son of a prominent banker, tried to blow up the plane.  Although he failed, consequences ensued.

Flash forward a few days.  Another Nigerian, perhaps a businessman traveling alone, boards the same flight.  What could possibly happen?

Perhaps the flight crew, reviewing the manifest, notice a Nigerian flying aboard their plane.  The flight attendants begin to give him special attention, eying him suspiciously.  Other passengers begin to notice this very black man with a distinctly African accent flying alone.  They notice the flight attendance behaving a bit concerned.  The Nigerian also notices this extra attention and feels the negative vibes.  He knows about the prior incident.  He becomes nervous, or, perhaps, indignant.  What could possibly happen?

Or perhaps, a Nigerian businessman boards this flight in Schipol Airport.  He has planned this trip to Detroit for months.  He’s determined to make this trip in spite of the incident a few days ago.  It’s very important to him.  He notices the looks he gets from the flight attendants and other passengers as he is getting himself settled.  He smiles nervously.  He doesn’t want to attract attention.  But a few hours into the flight he begins to fidget.  He thinks to himself,  ”I really, REALLY wish that I didn’t have that SECOND cup of coffee before I boarded!”  He begins to fidget more.  This is a LONG flight!  The hours pass.  The plane enters United States airspace.  His discomfort grows.  He begins to realize that if he doesn’t relieve himself soon, he will explode.  He also remembers that the new security rules will keep him in his seat during the last hour of the flight.  He fidgets more.  Passengers notice.  Flight attendants notice.  The restroom is unoccupied.  He can’t bear it anymore.  He makes his move.  What could possibly happen?

Perhaps a Nigerian terrorist, a member of Al Qaeda,  boards the plane.  His bladder has been injected with as much nitroglycerin as it can hold.  He sits quietly in his seat for most of the trip.  Suddenly, he gets up and heads for the restroom.  What could possibly happen?

What started out as a report of someone setting off fireworks on a flight from Amsterdam has turned out to be an act of terrorism. Fortunately, poor execution by this terrorist and quick action by the passengers averted a disaster.

But what is going on here? This Nigerian, Umar Farouk Abdulmatallah, managed to get on the plane to the United States, even though his name was supposedly on the terrorist watch list. He also managed to get past security in spite of carrying both solid and liquid elements for his explosives. Millions of passengers have had to go through the indignities of the screening process since the 9/11 attacks, and yet those with intent can still beat the system. The end result of this incident is likely the further indignity of being groped. The terrorists win.

But there may be an even more nefarious aspect at play here. Now we are finding out that he was a student in London and son of the former chairman of the First Bank of Nigeria. The guy knows about money! It is only one short step to our favorite spam: The Nigerian Prince scam. While this may sound cliche, is it at least remotely possible that this scam is being used to finance terrorism? How many of us are inadvertently financing terrorism? Could our best defense against Al Qaeda be a better spam filter? Everything else seems futile.

From the days of King Josiah of Judah, the Bible has been a mechanism to manipulate the people. He used it to further his ambitions in a post-Assyrian world. Emperor Constantine used it to control the Roman Empire. King James. Mohammed, Joseph Smith and many, many, others have amended, rewritten, expanded, contracted, restructured, and totally reshaped this document and its derivatives for their own ends. And all in the name of God. The one, universal, all-knowing, all-powerful, but apparently ambivalent, God. At most, only one of them was right. At most!!

Now we have our latest divinely inspired wannabe, conservative activist’s Phyllis Schafly’s little boy Andy. His Conservative Bible Project needs to get all of that liberalism and socialism out of the Bible. This Bible, the King James version specifically, is not conservative enough? This was a bible that was fashioned to meet the Puritan’s seal of approval. The Puritans!!! Too conservative? One begins to wonder who Mr. Schafly is trying to please; God, or his mother!

To find the word of God in the bible these days may be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Worse, or perhaps better, it may be more like searching through manure trying to find the pony. At least there is the optimism that there might be a pony. Too many men have placed there imprint, or imprimatur, upon this book. If God had put it together, it has been long ago torn asunder.

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