Universal Healthcare

I GUESS the key here is routine. It amazes me after having lived in Great Britain for so long, even with all the complaints off the National Health Service (NHS), how much better off the British are to the Americans in regards to healthcare. Ok, the British system is not exactly superb. For example, I would not recommend seeing a dentist (sorry guys). Although, I can honestly say all other treatments I have gone in for - including minor surgery, a broken rib cage and suspected swine flu - have been absolutely wonderful. The wait has never been too gruelling, the doctors have been efficient and attentive, and the costs.. well, let’s just say I suffer from a bit of guilt.

What some “Yanks” don’t get is that here in Britain you can choose between private healthcare and the NHS. Yes, that’s right, private insurers still exist for those who opt for the royal treatment. Now, that doesn’t mean the NHS abandons you – any citizen who has gone private (or even any foreigner visiting the country) can walk into an NHS centre and pay the same, minimal costs to the generous British government. The beauty of having universal healthcare means everyone is covered.

Now, let’s get one thing straight. I am not advocating replacing our American system, consisting mostly of private insurers, with a complete replica of that offered in Great Britain. But I think we need to recognise there is something wrong with a system that does not offer healthcare coverage for nearly 50 million people, more than the population of Spain and nearly that of Italy. Some steps need to be taken to drastically reduce that amount of uninsured individuals and control skyrocketing healthcare costs before the whole country is brought to its knees.

I find it absolutely astounding some Americans actually still think there is nothing wrong with their healthcare system. I was contacted by a blogger who seemed intent on berating my support for an overhaul of our current and ailing healthcare system. This Ed Buonadonna, of Florida, didn’t appear to like that I mentioned 47 million people in this country lack any sort of coverage, as he guestimated at least 22 million of those were “illegals”. I think I addressed his point in my comparison with the British system, which at a fraction of what the USA spends covers all people, citizens and visitors alike, for top-notch treatment.

Ed also praised the American system for managing to cover upwards of 250 million Americans, adding that he was a “responsible individual that puts the needs of my family ahead of my own wants”. He adds, “I personally know uninsured people who have boats, wave runners, multiple vehicles, spend money on vacations and luxuries like iPhones and blackberries…”

Then he adds he has no sympathy for people who make “poor choices”, including people who “waste money on frivolous things before necessities, people who bought houses they couldn’t afford, people who can’t get good jobs or insurance because they have little to no education before they quit school”. He adds people may say his views are a result of him being “advantaged”.. but, he adds, “I have noticed that my level of advantage is directly proportional to my level of responsibility, hard work and determination”.

And [that’s right, not finished], he adds, “I am tired of the European and Canadian comparisons… This is not Canada or France or Great Britain… [I might inject here he felt the need to use three full stops/periods every time he came to the end of a sentence perhaps to underscore his frustration] There is a reason our forefathers fled the oppressive governments of Western Europe and it wasn’t so we can emulate them 250 years later….”

Ok, I’ll start backwards, with the last item first. There is absolutely nothing wrong with learning off of your friends. Especially given the circumstances and considering upwards of 47 million people have no coverage. Most other Western countries have managed to pass the USA in their life expectancy rates and lower their infant mortality rates. And the USA spends more per capita on healthcare than anywhere else on the planet. What is sickening is that Ed is not willing to even take a glance at systems where more lives are being made better at a fraction of the cost. This would mean a lighter burden for the taxpayer, an actual reduction in what Ed pays now would go towards universal healthcare to help alleviate this flailing system.

And yes, 250 million Americans are covered. But let's just hope they don't get sick! Many of those now spend a ridiculous amount on healthcare as costs have been allowed to shoot up based on under-regulated free market principles. With a growing obesity problem, a greying population and a greedy oligarch of corporate conglomerates setting the table, this is bound to increase. With a growing number of uninsured, we are poised to see things get even worse. It is astounding some people could still say “Leave it the way it is”.

Are Summer Scarves for Men?

A definite yes on this one! Summer scarves for men are sexy and fashionable. There has recently been a backlash against men who wear summer scarves on blogs and I felt I had to respond.


SCARVES are not uncomfortable in the summer at all. They are different from winter scarves in that they are made of a light material and on a hot summer day they can keep your neck shaded from the sun. Why in the world would so many men and women in the Middle East and Northern Africa wear them, where the temperature is normally sizzling? Think about it people.

Men in the English-speaking world (mainly the UK, Canada and USA) are generally too insecure to take a stab and try something totally different in fashion. They often do this to avoid being seen as too fashion-conscious, which has traditionally been associated with "gay-ness" or metrosexuality, which can be seen as weakness in the eyes of other men and perhaps some women.

The truth is these men are generally more rigid and conformed, and consequently less creative and relaxed, with their dressing sense (and who knows, this may say something of their character as well – your dressing sense reflects your inner self).

Well, here is a message for them: take a lesson from the southern Europeans! Walk the streets of Paris, Milan, Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, Nice and Rome, where the summer heat is bound to fry your skin, and male summer scarves are ubiquitous.

And why not? They look attractive, as they can quickly transform a plain Jane outfit (or plain Bob) into something snazzy, and on most men they give off a cool sense of security with one's sexuality. Perhaps a taste of femininity never hurt anyone?

I personally own about six summer scarves as well as four winter scarves. I wear them to late summer evening dos, or I might thrown one over my T-shirt on a hot summery day. I’ve had a few looks but only from people I would never take a fashion tip off of anyway. Besides, what do I care – no shame in the fashion game. Risks are what fashion is all about.

Economic conspiracy?

Quote of the day: “‘What Goldman Sachs does is bad for America’, and yet America (the federal government and the Federal Reserve) has helped, is helping and will continue to help Goldman Sachs by its money policies,” writes Marcoloreno in Italy.
(exert from the New York Times online edition, July 17)

What has become of the great US of A? Our great corporate banks are at the heart of this economic crisis, and yet already many of them are pocketing large gains in recent weeks and months. They are emerging as profiteers from one of the worst economic meltdowns since the 1930s.

Many of us "normal folk" will continue to suffer, possibly for years, after more than 15 states reported reaching an unemployment mark higher than 10 per cent today (July 17). Michigan is one of the biggest losers, with an unemployment rate exceeding 15 per cent and the highest of any state since 1984. It will be a very long time before this catastrophe can be fixed.

We must remember this all came about as a result of large corporate banks' irresponsible policies. And yet it is the corporate elite who will emerge first from the financial horrors of the Great Recession, unscathed and possibly even stronger... not us. At first I rejoiced at news that Goldman Sachs had reported such hefty gains so unexpectedly. This was followed quickly by news that JP Morgan had also experienced a major financial profit, and then Citigroup and BofA.

But on reflection, I wondered is it joy I should be experiencing - or anger. It was these banks that got us into this very mess. Now, the banks fortunate enough to have gobbled up [other] failing banks have, as a result, consolidated an already concentrated market, even further and in their favour. They are already raking in record profits even while about one in seven stand on a bread line in Michigan. Do you really think we should be pitying the top one per cent earners, who are poised to take on a huge chunk of costs for a Healthcare bill and other reform bills currently being pushed through Congress with the backing of Pres Obama?

I sure as hell do not.

Why has the American media stopped reporting on swine flu?

Open a British newspaper and you are bound to see swine flu everywhere. The front page of nearly every tabloid and respectable national alike has been awash over the past several weeks in stories ranging from "epidemic" to "tens of thousands of deaths expected". For example, today's lead in the Independent warns of "up to 750,000" deaths related to swine flu expected. BBC, the Daily Mail, the Guardian, the Sun, and nearly every other national publication of all media streams for that matter, are competing to be the first to report the latest and the highest number of swine flu deaths (29 in the UK at last count). Warnings about the flu are also omnipresent; work colleagues are passing the disinfectant bottle between sneezes; kids are being sternly instructed to wash their hands at every chance..

So where are our American counterparts? The over-compensating and exaggerated stench we so often associate with our neighbours across the pond seems to have looked past this one. It is absolutely nowhere in today's (July 16) New York Times, for instance. USA Today.. try again. Boston Globe, though owned by the Times.. still no. Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle.. no, no no, (though in the Chron it is reported Giants owner Sue Burns is deathly ill - but with cancer) I've been through them all! I mean, where is the panic people?

Not that I am endorsing panic in any sense. And don't get me wrong, I'm sure give it a few days and it'll be all over the American news again..

..only I think people should be allowed to monitor and stay aware of a situation as dire and unpredictable as this one. Could it be because the American media has realised just how big of a panic this could cause, thus adopting a cautious, toned-down approach as not to overwhelm an already disoriented healthcare system. But could this also mean it is a lot worse than most Americans realise?

Ah-choo!

Long-term career contemplations

HISTORY is something that has always fascinated me. Just thinking about my career path today and thinking, an eventual shift towards history would be a sure-fire way to advance my career long-term while continuing to incorporate all of my learning into something active.

As a journalist, this is an easy task. Stories can range from any topic and more often than not my diverse educational background makes it much easier to access research behind a subject.

A magazine with a niche focus on history seems like a natural goal in light of this. It would be an easy succession to an experienced, investigative news journalist and would also utilise a knowledge base profoundly nurtured in academia.
Furthermore, my love of language and ability to easily adapt in new cultures could prove a vital asset to this direction. My second language is Spanish, I have a general grasp of French and now have vowed to learn at least basic Arabic over the next couple of years. I have also lived and travelled on four continents.. at age 25.

Now a little personal history. At age 10 I wanted to be an archaeologist and then at age 13 I reassessed my values and determined instead I wanted to be a palaeontologist. History was also my first selection as a major in college until that changed to sociology and then journalism. At this stage, I have done a complete 180 degree turn and now realise my path almost undoubtedly digress into that direction.

So you see, history is smelted in my blood and is part of my existence. Fortunately, I was reading through several blogs today and saw it is not vital to have a PhD or even a seemingly crucial degree in history to become a writer historian. In fact, journalism may accidentally prove to be one of the best access routes into the field of "investigative researcher and travel writer historian".