Fixing America: The Healthcare Crisis

Healthcare - now there's a hot topic! What is up with all of that anyway (besides the costs)?

And why do the costs increase at a much higher rate than inflation? There is no rhyme or reason. Except for greed. Greed on the part of the insurance companies. Greed on the part of the pharmaceutical companies. Greed on the part of the doctors. Greed on the patients who sue them (whether it is justified or not). Greed on the part of the lawyers who get in the middle. Even greed on the part of corporate America which seems to feel obligated to provide for their employees but are willing to skimp on what they can provide to those who really need it.

Considering that I am diabetic and that my wife has a plethora of medical problems (one of the least of which is her diabetes), we are pretty dependent on what happens with the healthcare industry. Because of the choices my employer offers, we've had insurance through three different providers in the last five years. Once again we have new insurance, and we are on pins and needles in regards to the ongoing treatment of my wife's pancreatitis. And our prescription drug service frankly sucks.

I have a friend who is going on 68 years of age. He is still working because he otherwise doesn't know how he can afford health benefits for himself and his wife.

My friend and I are certainly not poverty-stricken. But these healthcare costs are killing us financially, and many others. It is as if the industry is hemmoraging. And if we don't stop the bleeding soon, the whole system will melt down.

The pharmaceutical companies charge us consumers billions upon billions of dollars when they pimp their designer drugs on TV and in our magazines. Their pharmaceutical reps take my valuable time at the doctors while they pimp their wares and kickbacks on our doctors. And I swear they make up new diseases so they can treat them with new drugs they just created. They claim a lot of money goes to research. Well, if you spend billions on research, then I expect you to get it right. Look at Vioxx, one of numerous examples.

If I were in charge, I would see to it that the CEOs of these pharmaceutical companies get their butts hauled in front of a nationally televised Senate hearing and testify - under oath - to the American people as to why their drug prices are so ridiculously high, and explain why so many safety issues were not addressed. The FDA is probably in on approving unsafe drugs as well. While we're at it, we need to haul in folks from the FDA to explain that. Those responsible for rubber-stamping unsafe drugs into the market should be dealt with severely as if they commited a capital crime.

Then there's the emergency rooms. While many go there because they need to, there are too many others that go there when they have the sniffles or a scratchy throat or a hangnail. Sometimes they're there because their family doctor is simply too busy to see them. Fortunately my doctor doesn't do that.

Hospital care is another serious issue. We're simply not training enough nurses, and they're the ones who really make people better, not the doctors. Hospital doctors seem more concerned about, well, I'm not sure. And some of them are just egomaniacs. Many times when my wife was in the hospital, there would be considerable differences in opinion over her treatment amongst several doctors who would see her. Several times, a particular doctor who was passing through that day would try (sometimes successfully) to override the orders of the treating physician who actually knew the most about her! It's like a pissing contest between doctors to see who can out-diagnose the other! No wonder I get as grumpy as House!

Barack Obama thinks he can fix the healthcare system. I wish him luck - first on actually getting elected, then on actually fixing the system. With all the other ambitious projects he has planned (and I admire him for his ambition), I don't see where the money will come from. Maybe if he calls those special hearings like I mentioned, we might have a fighting chance.

Otherwise, I really do think we will see a complete meltdown of healthcare in this country, and it will happen fairly soon.

Fixing America: The Subprime Mortgage Crisis

It's amazing how the housing marketing was booming so much and now it looks as if it will end up being the catalyst of the worst economic crisis this country has seen in many, many years. It's amazing because real estate is supposed to be a sure bet in one's investment portfolio. Real estate tends to appreciate in value because "we're not making any more land." But now we're seeing it actually depreciate in value. Some people are stuck with a high mortgage payment on a property that's now worth less than what they owe on their adjustable-rate mortgage. To make matters worse, they can't qualify for fixed-rate mortgage; they have no choice except to face foreclosure.

And thanks to all the greedy speculators, everybody's property taxes are higher because our homes were worth a lot more a couple of years age. We've lived in the same modest house for almost fifteen years, have done a few very minor improvements, and yet its value more than doubled by the time the boom peaked. Now I have to pay considerably higher property taxes because of the greed of others. Thanks.

To top it off, our government - which likes to stick its fingers into everything - has surprisingly little legislation in regards to what happened during the housing boom.

It seemed like at one time, the mortgage business was a reputable one. Then the real estate market boomed. It seemed like anyone who wanted to could hang up a shingle and call themselves a mortgage company. I can't begin to tell you how many pounds of paper from mortgage companies and real estate agents I shredded. I didn't need to look up the comps - they were printed on the mailings and flyers.

They even got into the telemarketing business. One company, Acacia Mortgage in Phoenix, blatantly disregarded the Do Not Call registry. I even had a heated argument with one of their agents who claimed they weren't subject to the DNC list. I asked him if he wanted my business, why was he arguing with me? What an idiot! Subsequently they were slapped with a $770,000 fine from the Federal Trade Commission. They said they would appeal. It's been a couple of years, and I haven't heard much about them. Can't even find their website anymore. Bastards deserved it.

Anyway, if I were in charge, here's what I would do:

1. For the immediate short-term, allow borrowers with an adjustable-rate mortgage to obtain a new mortgage fixed at a rate no greater than what they are currently paying provided they qualify at the current rate and are in good standing. Those who do not qualify at the current rate, but qualify for a lower rate within the range of the original adjustable rate, should be allowed a new mortgage fixed at the lower rate provided they are in good standing. Those who would not have qualified for the mortgage even at its lowest rate could be allowed to refinance at a fixed rate but only under strict guidelines and if they are in good standing. In other words, if a borrower has managed to keep up, by all means, reward them. Otherwise, if they've gotten themselves into a mess, too bad.
2. Require mortgage companies to adhere to laws and standards that are as stringent as those in the banking industry.
3. Require sufficient training and licensing for mortgage companies and real estate agents.
4. Require mortgage lenders to fully disclose all costs of the mortgage, including those that will be incurred if an adjustable rate increases.
5. Ensure that loan applicants actually qualify for a mortgage, even if the rate increases (gee, what a concept). Otherwise, the lender forfeits all protections afforded by mortgage insurance.

Personally, I would do away with adjustable rates. It caused a lot of havoc in the 70's, and it's causing even more havoc now. Get yourself a fixed rate. When you become eligible to refinance again, and the rates are lower, get off your butt and refinance. Otherwise quit whining and be glad you have a roof over your head that you can pay for.

Going Green: Latest Update

For the first time during the ownership of our Prius (over three weeks), the low fuel light finallly came on. So we filled the tank with just over eight gallons. We have just over 550 miles on it. We could easily have gone over 600. Not that I'm bragging. Well, yes I am.

Weighing In On The Economic Stimulus Package

Hey, who doesn't want free money? The economic stimulus package passed by Congress and signed by the President sounds too good to be true. And it is said, "If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

And such is the case with this stimulus package.

Those who would benefit the most - initially - would be poorer Americans. Of course, that's the noble intent of this action. As soon as they get these hot checks in their hands, they'll be headed down to the nearest Walmart Supercenter and loading their carts full of goods - made in China. I think Mike Huckabee said it the best in last week's Republican presidential debate in Florida: "We’ll probably end up borrowing this 150 billion from China and then people are going to go out and buy goods from China, so whose economy is going to be stimulated?” Uh, China (ya' think???).

People may also consider travel plans, and the folks who export their oil to us are already wringing their hands gleefully in anticipation of our rebate checks. If you don't believe me, just look at how much oil prices have increased since the stimulus package passed. This will help stimulate the economy further on the Arabian Peninsula. It will also help fund more terrorist activities.

I think Washington has sold us out. We could have used this money to repair our failing infrastructure (where latest disasters included levees in New Orleans and a bridge in Minnesota). We could have used this money toward our children's education (how many more will be left behind now?).

The United States is becoming - or has already become - a nation utterly consumed by greed. Whatever happened to American products sold and serviced by Americans? We consume products that are made in China and are serviced in India. What will happen if those lines are severed? God forbid!

Those who lived during the Great Depression and World War II (and their descendants who actually listened to their stories) know what it's like to live with just the necessities - and even those were scant. If subsequent generations were to lose their Ninetendos and iPods and Starbucks coffee, the sound of their whining could be so loud that the Earth would implode on itself. Maybe they'll just die. Hopefully they'll be able to reach deep inside and somehow survive. Perhaps with our economy going the way it is, we'll find out soon enough.

As for me and my wife, our rebate probably would not amount to much more that we normally receive as a tax refund anyway (those medical deductions actually add up for us). We probably wouldn't miss our rebate, and I doubt that our impact on the American economy would amount to much.

My employer has a really stupid rule where they charge me an additional surcharge for having my wife on my health insurance (on top of what I already pay to have her on my health insurance). This is so we can make an informed decision about our health insurance. Trust me, we do make an informed decision, and my insurance is better (at least for now). So why am I penalized for it?

Actually, I've turned the tables on my employer (at least I think so). Another thing my employer does (which is really cool) is that employees can have charitable donations deducted from their paycheck and given toward a very wide variety of organizations. We can choose one, a few, some, many, or all organizations. It's like United Way, but much wider in scope (and includes United Way as one of our choices). And my employer matches my donation, dollar for dollar. So my church conference's homeless shelter receives a donation from me which is at least the same amount as my health coverage surcharge. I'm doing something good for the community, and my company doesn't get to keep my surcharge.

So I will likely give our rebate to charity. We have an Ethiopian congregation in our church whose pastor is one of - if not the - dearest and sweetest man I have ever met. Pastor S opened an orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia several years ago, and he continues to work tirelessly on maintaining it. I think they should get my rebate - now that would be an economic stimulus.

New Addition to the Family: Going Green

Well, the '99 Saturns ain't like they used to be, and Mom wanted a new car. So she got what she wanted.

We are now the proud owners of a 2008 Toyota Prius - a hybrid.

I've been skeptical of the hybrids, but after checking out the Prius and Toyota's track record on what is now their third-generation hybrid, I was impressed.

The Hybrid Synergy Drive System is simply amazing. Our new car switches from gasoline to electric and back without us having to do anything. The traction battery is charged by the kinetic energy from the brakes that would otherwise be wasted. In fact, the Prius gets better mileage in city driving than it does on the highway (it's the perfect vehicle for urban driving). We never have to plug the car in. We just have to go to the gas station as usual - just longer between fill-ups. So far we're averaging about 45 miles per gallon. Cool.

The interior is amazing. It kind of reminds me of the interior of the starship Enterprise from the Star Trek: The Next Generation series.

The extended service plan we purchased will pay for itself just by the free oil changes and tire rotations over the next seven years.

And we're a bit greener now!