Gerry

Funding model is the fight in the public square. What it should be about also, perhaps of first concern, is how to allocate resources [$$$] so as to more efficiently and equitably distribute HC to all of our citizens. I am horrified by "let the corporations run the system and control our lives". That is what it was prior to the ACA, and in reality even under the ACA. Added note: Not just life expectancy, but perhaps a score of other HC indicators where America's high expenditures produce lagging, or plain embarrassing, HC results. If it were just life expectancy, there are days when I think we should lower it.

Is there anyone here tainted by western thoughts in the manner I am? That is looking at awareness and the Tao juxtaposed to the notions of being and being in the world. I mean this in the sense of the German Sein and DaSien from Heidegger. I am not a Heidegger "person", nor a Husserl person, but what I have read of Phenomenology and both of their works adds to what I see in the reading of the TTC, CH#6. What is known? How does the knower know the known? Is the capacity to know related to "valley spirit" and the creative female in ch#6?

It sounded like you were saying, " Say hi Lei Erh Xian Shi, I am Flowing Hands. What do you say we sit and have some tea and you can tell me what I want to know." Sort of as if the two of you shook hands then drank some tea, face to face. Is that how you mean "So my version comes from the 'horses mouth'." ?

So true. Government DOES NOT administer the UHC systems in any direct sense. They are administered, for the most part, by private non-profit health insurance companies. Do you live in one of these nations?

The cliff notes version of the book is a PBS show/video on E.O.Wilson. It covers the essence of the book, and you have the pleasure of being introduced to this man. As a child he was blinded in one eye, and in many ways this limited his ability to advance in some areas of Science. As a result he became and etymologist where one eye plus a hand held microscope gave him perfect insight into the natural world. If he had only explored his ants and their eusocial societies, he would be a giant in the Natural world. But he is so much more than that. I bought this video for my 13 year old grandson with the hopes that he will be inspired by a natural genius and by the nature of Nature. added note: If you see the video, Wilson is reading from the publisher draft of the book.

Brian is no sociopath. He is frustratingly a strict constitutional guy. He may believe that even in this era of zero personal privacy, he can cling to a notion that one can have personal freedom from the whims of others. I think I said I have a romantics hope that he has a point. In the movie 1776, and I do not know if it is a factual quote, when Franklin is informed he is an Englishman. He responds with [and this is a paraphrase] "Much like the Ox I am honored by the claim, but I would much rather have restored to me what is rightfully mine." To me this is Brian, wishing for that which is rightfully his. Now as to my desire to see UHC, and Brian's dismay at the same, I see these exchanges as sport where the shadows tell me more than the words.

Nothing wrong with putting your self first if that is what you believe is the correct course. The notion that the individual should be in control of their action is not sociopathy. The desire to not be compelled to act as you want but as I want is a legitimate goal. I have read E. O. Wilson and endorse the claim that we are eusocial beings. But Wilson makes it clear that does not equate to one mind that all shall follow. Within our social, eusocial, interests there are competitive sub-grouping that do show self interest and competitive interests that one might say was anti-eusocial, but that would be a misunderstanding of our specie's drives. You should read Wilson's recent book, The Meaning of Human Existence, before you make such a pejorative argument.

The supporters of what ever the "f" the current land lords want, do not realize they are the sheep herded into their pens by the deconstructionists sheep-dogs.

This is the second rewrite, and the second attempt to post it. On the level of philosophical discourse, I get (mostly) what Brian means by "individual sovereignty". As to what it exactly means to him, I am not as clear. In this world, our modern market place, I do not believe "individual sovereignty" can exist. The main reason for this forum, the daobums, is to talk about "individual sovereignty" along terms different from the cesspool that is modern politics. Place that umbrella over not just America and its Constitutional foundations, but international political chaos as well. As a species, when we still sat around our tribal fire, and global politics implied going over the mountain pass to trade stone tools for deer and bear pelts, "individual sovereignty" had a meaning I might understand and embrace. For me, I take from the same fire pit a sense of community where loss and gain is to be shared equitably. [Do not read equal, read fairly.] I have a romantic's affection for Brian's "individual sovereignty" in whatever format he intends it. I may be pissing on his boots, not in his beer, but at some level, I accept his counsel on this. So turning to my review of our PM. I have said the following... I will post some quotes and comments after I finally post this!

Ralis, Humans are nothing but xenophobic anal retentive monkeys. The xenophobic thing is at a genetic level, and served us well over the eons. What is the value of humanity? Pick up a hand full of sand and explain the sand's meaning, value, and goals. That is all that humans are, 7 Billion plus meaningless, valueless, purposeless individual grains. The difference is humans tell themselves lies about their meaning, they project values where there are none, and any semblance of decency is just the mythology of humanity as told by the creator, humanity.

Oh...Lao Tzu not "the" Lao-Tzu. If you mean the historical figure, that was not clear. I wish you well in your chosen path.

I've lost two post from a browser brain freeze. both would have been better in the original.. Yeah <sigh> you got me here. My usual ends with "... and die!" I get real touchy when I believe words I have not said are used to oppugn my actual words. So.... Sorry for that. edited update: I can see my earlier version of this message now. I wish the second, and longer posthad made it past the bridge freeze.

I usually add ".. and die!" This was my sweeter kinder self speaking. ok. call me a turd for that, I deserve it.

Are you a vet in the VA system? Do you receive medicaid services? Oh BTW, my brother does and the dystopian conclusions you would like a reader to take away is not his experience. Are there more issues in the American HC system than payment and cost considerations. Yes. There are lots of issues that need to be addressed. Rural access is deplorable. Rural hospital is almost an oxymoron. We do not use trained non-doctor resources to improve access to services. Nurse practitioners is one example. We need tort reform so as to eliminate the need for malpractice coverage. With this we might see less of digital technologies as a prophylactic and as defensive medicine. Doctors need to be paid less. We need fewer high paid specialist and more pediatric and family care physicians. We need to drive more medical decision with meag-data. OK. I'm ready! Slap me with your "individual sovereignty" stick.

No I did not. Really Brian just eat shit on this. Say it again, and again, and again,... Yup. The way things are being done today, yesterday, and tomorrow. It is all about using the system to gain your ends. Tell me that is not the political world we both live in.

This does not exist. It will not exist in our age, or under this government. It is in the same basket as "individual privacy". Perhaps you yearn to be the Jeremiah Johnson of the 21st century. Yeah, I think that is a self -deluded principle to hang your hat. If it floats your boat, them wave that flag ... Wave that flag, pop the bag, skin the goat, learn to cope Bell the rat, trap the cat, ball the jack, chew the fat Read the signs, connect the lines, pay your fines, save your dimes Pick up time, light the fuse, making time, pass the juice Wave that flag wide and high.

Actually these days you do not see many flat cats. Outdoor cats are now Coyote treats.

Ah "desired outcome by any means necessary" yes contextually what I would say. Get the law passed using the tools of a Democratic Republic. Your personal feelings aside, I was almost happy with the ACA. If a bunch of Democratic Senators could have been "persuaded" to be team players we might be that much closer to UHC.

May we please kill the deviant beast of the for profit health care system!

I did not say I rejected it for any issue. Some times you win and sometimes you do not.

15% in Medicare and going up every day my people are alive. 16% in Medicaid, and still not enough. Just over 2% in the VA. There may be some over lap in service provider. So the number you are looking for is just about one-third.

IMNHO, bottom line here is we see many of the same problems in large central government. You can call it a constitutional republic, but can you say that it meets the needs of the citizens it claims to serve. This HC spat is not the worst of our problems.

"individual sovereignty" ? What the hell is that? Where do find some of it? "belief system you have embraced" What belief system Brian? This rant is a bit unhinged, perhaps. USPS? Navy? How about you toss in an AMTRAK and a PBS too.

Constitutionalist is a "He said.... She said..." kind of term. What one person says the constitution means and what is allowed by it is not the same as what another might say. "by any means necessary" Again I have not reviewed the context, and I will, but let's pretend I had George Soros or Bill Gates kind of "fuck you" money and I wanted to get this done ..... Well...... Do it the normal way, buy it. Use the media, pay off elected officials with campaign contributions, do opposition research on the foibles and moral imperfections of Senators and Congressmen, see what their kids were into, what their wives did in their spare time, what escort services they employed, etc..... You know everything that goes on in politics every day of the week. This would be a place to start. Basically, spend billions to get the job done on my terms. Please do not whine that this is not the way of the world in DC today. You get what you pay for. You get your 50% + 1 votes "by any means necessary".

Actually no, I had forgot time limes and was out the door. Did not reflect on this. Let me revise that to before he stepped off into his economic prescriptions, there was a book from 50 years ago that had philosophical essays of the young Marx. So, do you feel better now that ya got me? Just got back... I am going to review some stuff. TTFN. Oh, and this may inform you as to level of interest in Communism.