[Rhodes22-list] Politician Seeking Office - Now Total Annihilation

[Leland]

Robert,

I would think that enough people would agree with you to get you elected to
office.  If not, I at least hope Chellie agrees with you.

Having spent over 30 years in healtcare management, I think you make a good
point in that there needs to be some limit to healthcare coverage.  The
medical community is capable of defining acceptable healthcare in most
cases, which is billions of dollars cheaper than top-of-the-line healthcare. 
The American public expects the best that money can buy and if they don't
get it they won't hesitate to file a lawsuit.  Hospitals in turn spend
billions of dollars for things that don't affect outcomes.  Hospital real
estate is the most expensive in the country (and free to the hospital), yet
you could provide better outcomes doing surgery in a tent if the focus were
placed on results.  If our mission were truly good health, we would be
spending more more on prevention than treatment.  Don't get me started on
the politics of healthcare--it's enough to make one sick.

Regarding global warming, Ed got me thinking that we humans may not have
that much of an effect on climate changes.  Last night the History Channel
aired a program called "End of Days" that prioritized the top seven most
likely scenarios that would end the world.  Global warming was number one
and there were some pretty compeling arguments that our actions are making
it much worse than anything Mother Nature is doing.  For those interested in
the end of our existence, it goes something like this:

1.  Global warming.
2.  Epidemic.
3.  Nuclear destruction.
4.  Asteroids.
5.  Computers (very similar to "The Terminator").
6.  Volcanos.
7.  Black holes.

My plan is to be out sailing when it happens.

Lee



Robert Skinner wrote:
> 
> This is a message that I sent to a person seeking to be a US
> congresswoman for/from the state of Maine.  As you can see,
> I do not regard a party platform as sacrosanct.
> 
> OK, Brad, Ed, Herb, etc.  Have a field day!
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> "Tell Chellie what you think Congress's top priority should be."
> 
> Chellie, 
> 
> I don't think we should allow ourselves to focus on any issue 
> to the exclusion of others, so I will reply by ranking  your
> suggested issues.
> 
> 1.  Iraq - stop the hemorrhage of blood and treasure, let the
>     religious zealots slug it out.  Concentrate on control of 
>     nukes, access to oil in the short term, and point actions 
>     against Al-Qaeda to keep their heads down.
> 
> 2.  Health care - Rationalize the chaotic patchwork of health 
>     care in the US.  While there must be limits of what can be 
>     provided as the basic floor under all US citizens, it is 
>     essential that there be some minimum of health care for 
>     all.
> 
> 3.  Economy - Set some controls on off-shoring of jobs.  Limit 
>     immigration - fences, passports, etc.  Stop providing 
>     welfare and other US citizen's basic support to illegal 
>     immigrants.  Eliminate tax loopholes for the rich and make 
>     tax laws understandable for all.  Reconsider the 
>     implementation and consequences of NAFTA.
> 
> 4.  Other (please write in the box below)
> 
>     Develop alternative energy sources - wind, hydro, solar, 
>     biodiesel, switchgrass ethanol, LNG - in that order.  Tax
>     petroleum products and and use the proceeds exclusively 
>     to subsidize development of alternatives.  We cheaped our 
>     way into this mess, and we will have to work ourselves 
>     out - painfully.
> 
> 5.  Global climate change
> 
>     I do not regard "Global climate change" as something that 
>     the US government can (or should) deal with unilaterally.
>     It may be irreversible, so the rate of change and dealing 
>     with consequences are the issues - sea level rise,
>     desertification, etc.
> 
>     On an international level, we need to plan the relocation 
>     of people living in delta and other lowland areas prone to 
>     flooding.  Bangladesh and New Orleans come to mind, as do
>     all the major seaports around the world.
> 
>     We must also (for the sake of our health and economy) work 
>     on limiting our dependence on non-renewable resources in 
>     the US.  Biodiesel, wind power, tidal pool generators, etc.
>     all need attention.
> 
>     But I also think that the developing countries will need to
>     use petroleum resources while they implement alternatives -
>     ones that (hopefully) result from our lead in such 
>     endeavors.  
> 
>     Perhaps we need an Energy Corps - like the Peace Corps of
>     the last century.
> 
> -- 
> Robert Skinner, 9 Gateway Commons, Gorham, Maine 04038-1331
> __________________________________________________
> Use Rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org, Help? www.rhodes22.org/list
> 
> 

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