Topical Juice

Although most of the people in my closest circle of family and friends support Hillary Clinton, I do know a few “Hillary Haters”, so it was with those few that I recently picked a fight opened a discussion regarding her recently announced plan to provide universal health care.

Whatever you think of Hillary, it’s difficult to argue against the fact that our health care system is desperately in need of reform - too many people are either uninsured or under-insured, health care providers are overworked and underpaid, a large number of folks can’t afford the medications that they need, and Medicare is just a quagmire of complexity, red tape, and fraud.

We are constantly being reminded that we live in the wealthiest nation on earth. That our country has the best medical care available. If this is true, why are so many Americans unable to afford adequate care? Why are some forced to risk their lives because they can’t afford health insurance? Or can’t afford the drugs they need? Or can’t afford the life-saving operation or cancer treatment?

Most of my Hillary-Hater-friends agreed something needs to be done, but they dislike anything that appears to be socialized medicine. Yet our “capitalistic” medicine isn’t working. It isn’t that health care costs have skyrocketed, but rather that insurance costs have skyrocketed. Many small businesses can no longer afford to offer free insurance to employees, and individuals can’t afford the high cost of insurance on their own. So with everyone who is struggling over this issue, who’s making money?

Insurance companies and Pharmaceutical companies, that’s who. Looked at a recent benefits statement from your insurance company lately? Your doctor or other health care provider is lucky to get reimbursed a small fraction of what they should be paid for the care they provide. Which means that they have to take on an overload of patients in order to stay afloat. Which is why it’s so hard to get an appointment, or be seen on time when you show up.

To be clear, I support Capitalism over Socialism, but if a small group of companies was controlling all of the water in our country, as well as any potential imported water, such that it was so expensive to take a drink that some of us could not afford to, wouldn’t we all be screaming for government intervention? Why then do we allow some companies to make billions of dollars while failing to adequately provide a product that is equally necessary?

Past attempts at reforming our health care system were met with massive attacks from lobbying groups representing the giant insurance and pharmaceutical companies (the primary reason Hillary’s previous efforts - during her tenure as First Lady - failed). Things were bad then (we needed that overhaul that didn’t happen) and they are worse now.

We - the people - need to let our elected representatives know that this is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. We need to tell them to NOT listen to the lobbyists, but to listed to US. And then we need to listen to the candidates explain their plans to reform the system (if they have a plan). And if a candidate doesn’t have a viable, logical plan, one that can actually be implemented, then they shouldn’t get our vote.

Serious health care reform will only come when we make it happen, at the voting booth.

I admit that it has been a few years since I last sat down to watch the Emmy Awards, given for outstanding television performances, so perhaps I’m a bit out of touch, but Saturday night’s show really surprised me. I was stunned at what constitutes an Outstanding Performance these days, and left wondering if the Award itself hasn’t lost some of its cachet.

Has there really been such a dearth of worthwhile musical contributions this past year that Justin Timberlake’s “Dick in a Box” is deserving of an award? Yes, I saw the original broadcast, and yes, it was funny. Not the funniest thing I’ve ever seen, but funny. I would have thought it belonged in a comedy category, not musical contributions. What’s even more surprising is that among its competitors in that category was a song from Scrubs, “Everything Comes Down to Poo”. You’re kidding, right? Who nominates this stuff anyway?

I also truly do not understand the category for Reality Programs. These shows are supposed to be about “real life” aren’t they? So someone can get an award for being themself? Or are Reality shows really “fake”, with a script and actors? If they are not fake, have no script, and use non-actors, how can someone deserve an award for simply doing whatever it is that they normally do? I don’t get it.

I wonder how a talented actor, who deservedly wins an award for a performance that both the nominating body and judges must have found impressive, feels when they speak to someone who can say “that’s great - I won an Emmy too, for singing a song about my genitalia!”….or the person who says “yeah, I won an Emmy too, for just being on television doing the same stuff I do everyday!”. Must feel real good.