Our Veterans Deserve Better - Part Two

Everyday we welcome home our warriors and thank them for their service. But the public life of our military is often much different than the private day to day struggle so many face.

Men and women of our armed forces and their families are using more food stamps than in the past - redeeming them at nearly twice the civilian rate, according to Defense Commissary Agency.

From 2007 to 2008 the use of food stamps by military personnel and their dependents increased 25 percent, while Americans overall rose 13 percent.

Oops! I'm not being politically correct here. The government in an effort to remove the stigma of being poor renamed the food stamp program. It is now called by the acronym SNAP which stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

In addition to on base Family Assistance offices, many U.S. military installations now have a WIC office to assist dependents, The WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program is described by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, who administers it, as: "WIC provides Federal grants to States for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum mothers, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk."

The thought that such an acknowledgement of our military's' dependents being "at risk" while their fathers and mothers are risking their lives in our nation's service is inexcusable.

The United States currently has the largest deployment of National Guard since World War II. Some 45 percent of U.S. troops currently in Iraq and Afghanistan are reservists or Guardsman. More troops have been deployed to those locations than in all the wars since WWII.

Many of the lower pay grades of the active military as well as members of the reserve and National Guard are forced to supplement their military pay with the SNAP program.

I was unable to find definitive numbers from an objective source for the actual pay cuts many of our reservists and Guardsman have taken when they are called to active duty. Some organizations claim it to be as much as 70 percent.

While I am not advocating paying our citizen soldiers the equivalent of their private sector employers perhaps other measures could be put in place such as suspending interest payments on a mortgage they might have or, maybe placing a moratorium on credit card payments if the card is not being used.

Although it is just One Person's View, how can we as a nation allow men and women who are willing to pay the ultimate price be asked to have their families sacrifice more than the uncertainty of the lives of their loved ones?

Our Veterans Deserve Better - Part One

As promised last Friday this is the first of a three part series about our veterans and the crises they face every day. Today's blog targets the unemployment problems they confront when returning home. On Wednesday I'll examine the growing number of active military forced to utilize food stamps. Finally, Friday's views will address those who find themselves living on the streets - homeless.

Last year, 1.9 million veterans had deployed for the wars since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Some have struggled with mental health problems, addictions and homelessness as they return home. Difficulty finding work often makes this adjustment that much harder.

There have been numerous reports of our men and women coming home expecting to return to their old employers only to be told they no longer have a job. These are the very people we welcome back as heroes; these are the people who have taken an oath to protect our nation from "enemies foreign and domestic" in order to preserve our way of life.

Many of the unemployed are members of the Guard and Reserves who have been deployed multiple times. For these citizen soldiers, being deployed two or three times in a five-year period they are discovering the job market views their skills as less competitive. Many companies already hurt by the economy are reluctant to hire them. Other companies are wary of hiring someone who could deploy again or will have medical appointments because of war-related health problems.

Perhaps a possible solution to helping them be more competitive would be to make it easier to transfer certifications they have for jobs they performed in the military into the civilian workforce. Or be given credit for the additional job related skills they acquired.

The unemployment rate last year for young Iraq and Afghanistan veterans hit 21.1 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The national unemployment rate for last year was 9.3 percent.

There is a Federal law designed to protect our returning warriors. Yet, the question lingers, why is the unemployment rate so much higher for our young veterans compared to non-veterans. 

The following is the Federal law taken verbatim from the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations (20 CFR, 1002):

The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) protects service members' reemployment rights when returning from a period of service in the uniformed services, including those called up from the reserves or National Guard, and prohibits employer discrimination based on military service or obligation.

USERRA provides that returning service members are to be reemployed in the job they would have attained had they not been absent for military service, (the "escalator" principle), with the same seniority, status and pay, as well as other rights and benefits determined by seniority. USERRA also requires that reasonable efforts (such as training or retraining) be made to enable returning service members to qualify for reemployment, if the service member cannot qualify for the "escalator" position, he or she must be reemployed, if qualified, in any other position that is nearest to the escalator position and then to the pre-service position.  

The time limits for returning to work are as follows:

• Less than 31 days service: By the beginning of the first regularly scheduled work period after the end of the calendar day of duty, plus time required to return home safely and an eight hour rest period, if this is impossible or unreasonable, then as soon as possible.
• 31 to 180 days: The employee must apply for reemployment no later than 14 days after completion of military service. If this is impossible or unreasonable through no fault of the employee, then as soon as possible.
• 181 days or more: The employee must apply for reemployment no later than 90 days after completion of military service.

• Service-connected injury or illness: Reporting or application deadlines are extended for up to two years for persons who are hospitalized or convalescing. 

We can all help our returning warriors in their difficult transition.  Get involved with local veterans groups. Volunteer with such organizations as Employer Support of the Guard and Reserves (www.esgr.org). And contact your senator or congressman or congresswoman asking them mandate the enforcement of USERRA. Finally, if you know a returning veteran, take them to lunch and offer to help them network for all their needs.

A Time of Resurrection

Earlier this month I briefly touched on the subject of our veterans who are homeless. Over the years I have been involved in efforts to help educate the public and, more importantly, to help those in need.

Since a blog provides a platform, I have decided from now until Easter the focus will be on the homeless, on our active duty military and our veterans who find themselves in situations, I believe, are inexcusable.

We are the wealthiest country in history. Our nation welcomes home its heroes everyday. Yet, there are men and women who wear the uniform that must utilize food stamps each month just to get by. Our returning warriors shed the uniform with the hope of resuming a normal life only to be told they don't have a job anymore.

Thousands of our veterans have no place to call home and many more of our citizens survive each day on the streets sleeping in doorways and under bridges.

Easter is a time when the resurrection of life is celebrated. Maybe its also time that every reader of One Person's Views could find a way, no matter how small it may be, to help resurrect the dignity and life of another.

There are many preconceived notions about who the homeless are. One thing I know for certain is they are as representative of our society as various neighborhoods in a city reflect our nation's demographics.

It is true there are men and women who are homeless due to substance or alcohol abuse. A number of the homeless are uneducated. Some indeed suffer from medical and/or mental problems. But there are also people homeless because they lost their job and life savings; many are well educated and even from affluent families. The greater majority would rather have a job and not depend on the kindness of strangers to provide the necessities of life.

If, over the next week or so, I have succeeded in raising your awareness and made you think is is possible for one person to make a difference in another person's life but you just don't know where or how to start, let me know by adding a comment and I will reply with suggestions where you can go or what you can personally do to help you make that difference.

Until Monday, have a great weekend and take some time to realize how truly fortunate you are to have such simple things we take for granted like shelter and food.

Thinking IS Fun

Since I have attempted to use Mondays as a fun way to start the week and this week was focused on - like it or not - a piece of history, Monday's humor falls on Wednesday this week.

As I state in my profile I am a big proponent of thinking and questioning what so many accept as the "norm." On the back of my vehicle I have a bumper sticker that reads: "Why Be Normal?" And, I put it on upside down. I do not have any desire to fall into the classification of "normal." Hence, the following thoughts.

According to a dictionary the word myth is defined as: "A fiction or half-truth, especially one that forms part of an ideology." Or, "A fictitious story, person, or thing."

There is a novel by Romain Gary titled The Ski Bum  where he expands on the meaning of the word myth. "A myth" he writes "is something no man has ever seen. That's how God got so far."

As a thinking individual, not prone to blind acceptance, one of the things I have to wonder about is the story of Moses. Oh yea, this will no doubt cause some folks to get upset but, it's my blog and I can do what I want.

Back in the time of the character Moses it is accepted that people were superstitious. Now I can't help but think here is this man surrounded by a culture of superstition and he goes walking on a hill when, for no apparent reason, a bush bursts into flame and he hears his name being called from the heavens.

I can picture the image of a man alone being somewhat surprised by a bush suddenly engulfed in fire, hearing his name booming from out of nowhere. What I find hard to imagine is anyone in that day and time stopping and answering. The more predominant mental picture is of robes flowing in the wind and sandals kicking up dust as he runs like hell to safety.

Another popular myth is that the phrase: "God helps those who helps themselves" is taken from the Bible. Actually, it is a quote from Benjamin Franklin.

While on the subject of the Bible I would like to clarify another popular belief. It is not a book. In reality it is an Anthology, a collection of 66 books written by at least 40 human authors over a period of time.

Continuing the theme of thinking, how about the term oxymoron. That word is derived from the Greek oxumoros meaning pointedly foolish.

Somewhat similar as when one person tells another they lost an item; more often than not the response is: "Where did you lose it?"

Here is a brief exercise in thinking. How did these common conjoined words become so popular? And, more to the point, did a thinking person conjure up the association?

All natural artificial flavor.
Bankrupt millionaire.
Civilized warfare.
Intimate strangers.
Jumbo shrimp.
Kosher ham.
Melted ice.
Non-stick glue.
Pretty ugly.

Perhaps, after the news of the day has been digested and you wonder what next? You can look back at this, smile and know life is fun ... if you think.

Healthcare Reform - Bravos or Boos

The Office of the Clerk of the United States House of Representatives recorded a Roll Call vote of that body last night; passing one of the most controversial and most publicized bills in the 111th Congress - Healthcare Reform.

There were 219 Ayes and 212 Noes (sic) entered into the record. Crossing the aisle were 34 Democrats to join with the 178 Republicans to cast a No vote.

Whether one agrees or disagrees with what happened last night the Healthcare Reform legislation becomes a milestone marking nearly 50 years of attempts to change our nation's way of addressing healthcare.

The United States now joins all the other industrialized nations to offer such care to its citizens. Will it work? If I employed a crystal ball I could answer that but all I can do is offer One Person's Views of what I hope will change.

In three years the United States has slipped from 33rd, in 2006, to 46th, in 2009, in the world in infant mortality rates. We are behind such nations as France, Malta, South Korea and Cuba. We are the most advanced and wealthiest country on the planet but the rate our infants are dying is appalling.

Many studies show the U.S. spending more on healthcare than other countries that are healthier and spend less. Perhaps, now more people will be better able to seek preventive care and not wait until the cost of treating their illness becomes a major expense. They might be able to afford to see a doctor in the early stages of an ailment instead of waiting then having to go to the emergency room where costs are greater and more often leads to hospitalization.

Access to preventive care is one part of the Bill that will help reduce cost. Another thing that must be done is to address and aggressively investigate and prosecute Medicare fraud. The figure for such fraud is reported to be some $60 billion a year.

There is good and bad contained in the legislation. It will allow about 32 million more Americans to be insured. The cap is to be removed from insurance coverage for illness and treatment. And, it will not permit exclusion of coverage for pre-existing conditions. Although, this provision only guarantees that immediately for children then adults will be included in four years.

For seniors facing massive drug costs the Bill gradually closes the "doughnut hole" coverage gap in the Medicare prescription drug benefit that seniors fall into once they have spent $2,830. Seniors who hit the gap this year will receive a $250 rebate. Beginning in 2011, seniors in the gap receive a discount on name brand drugs, initially 50 percent off. When the gap is completely eliminated in 2020, they will still be responsible for 25 percent off the cost of their medications until Medicare's catastrophic coverage kicks in.

Already there are states waiting in the wings with plans to sue the Federal government. The wrangling is not yet over as the Bill again must pass Senate hurdles.

It is my opinion we would have had a better Bill, perhaps a more comprehensive and more effective one if those who walk the halls of the Capitol, on both sides of the aisle, blocked out special interest groups with their spin and their deep pockets and actually walked among those they represent and talked with ... not to ... their constituents and really listened to their concerns not just heard the voices.

A wonderful analogy was given to me last Saturday as the arguements were playing out. "They remind me," this person said, "of bullies on a school playground."

27 Days and Counting

In two days it will officially be spring. In 16 days the Easter bunny magically hides eggs. But in 27 days the American public magically tries to keep its money from the Infernal ... oops ... Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as the deadline for filing 2009 taxes descends upon us.

According to one popular internet source, an IRS publication states: "If you steal property, you must report its fair market value in your income in the year you steal it unless in the same year, you return it to its rightful owner."

While this is comical, it is true; theves must pay income tax on stolen property they keep or face tax evasion charges. But since the Constitution protects individuals from self incrimination, you can tuck it into the 'Other Income' line (this is Line 21 on the 2009 IRS Form 1040).

Way back in 1927 a liquor bootlegger was charged with tax evasion for not reporting his illicit income, and he argued in doing so he would have incriminated himself in violation of the Fifth Amendment guarantee. Justice Holmes, writing for the U.S. Supreme Court majority first dismisses the idea that illegally acquired income is exempt from income tax.

That decision can't help but bring the question to mind: "How many politicians take advantage of the 'Other Income' line?

A creative pursuit this time of year is finding deductions that allow us to keep as much of our money as possible. Some have even attempted to write-off money spent for a wedding gift for the boss's daughter, claiming it as an employee business expense. This wasn't successful.

The United States Tax Code consists of some 20,000 plus pages and loopholes do exist.

Here is a sampling of just a few from free beer to free pet food and  free boob jobs (breast augmentation actually).

In a novel promotion, a gas station owner gave his customers free beer in lieu of trading stamps. Proving that sometimes beer and gasoline do mix. The Tax Court allowed the write-off as a business expense.

Here kitty ... kitty ... kitty.

A couple who owned a junkyard was allowed to write off the cost of cat food they set out to attract wild cats. The feral felines did more than just eat; they also took care of rats and snakes on the property, making the place safer for customers.

When the case reached the Tax Court, IRS lawyers conceded that the cost was deductible.

Have a breathing problem? Put in a pool, you might be able to deduct it.

A taxpayer with emphysema put in a pool after his doctor told him to develop an exercise regimen. He swam in it twice a day and improved his breathing capacity. Turns out he swam in the pool more than his family did.

The Tax Court allowed him to deduct the cost of the pool (to the extent the cost exceeded its added value to the property) as a medical expense because it's primary use was for medical care. The court also allow the cost of heating the pool, pool chemicals and a proportionate amount of insuring the pool area as medical expenses.

Among some of the more practical deductions permitted include allowing parents to deduct children's music lessons and the cost of buying a clarinet. The IRS ruled it is a legitimate write-off on the grounds that orthodontists said clarinet playing can help with kids' overbites.

Also permitted is the cost of transportation to and from an Alcoholics Anonymous Center.

But examine write-offs closely.

In an effort get more tips, a stripper with the stage name "Chesty Love" decided to get breast implants to make her a size 56FF. A female Tax Court judge allowed Chesty to write off the cost of her operation, equating her new assets to a stage prop. Alas, the surgery proved to a problem for poor Chesty. She later tripped and ruptured one of her implants.

I am reminded of a statement once made by former President Jimmy Carter who said: "the U.S. tax code is a crime against humanity."

Ignorance is Bliss or the Texas Textbook Proposals

If "Ignorance is Bliss," then the proposed changes for grades K through 12 in Texas school textbooks will prove our upcoming generations some of the happiest people on the planet.

As a native Texan I am ashamed so few people, 10 to be exact, might in essence rewrite history to fall in line with their myopic thinking.

Gone from the pages of American history would be such iconic figures as Thomas Jefferson, Edward Kennedy and Cesar Chavez. Joe McCarthy, the Wisconsin senator who was censured by the Senate years ago, would be viewed in a more positive portrayal.

Thomas Jefferson would no longer be included among the writers influencing the nation's intellectual origins. But in the view of the "good conservative Christian" members of the Texas State Board of Education the fact he helped pioneer the legal theory of the separation of church and state, does not make Mr. Jefferson a model founding father in the board's judgement.

Among the intellectual forerunners to be highlighted in Jefferson's place are: medieval Catholic philosopher St. Thomas Aquinas, Puritan theologian John Calvin and conservative British law scholar William Blackstone.

Other shifts in the reporting of history would be an emphasis on such organizations as the Moral Majority and the National Rifle Association. Programs such as Title IX - which provides for equal gender access to educational resources - and affirmative action, intended to remedy historic workplace discrimination against African-Americans, would be said to have created adverse "unintended consequences" in the cirriculums preferred language.

There would be no mention of recent third-party presidential candidates such as Ralph Nader and Ross Perot. Meanwhile, the recommendations include an entry listing Confederate General Stonewall Jackson as a role model for effective leadership and a statement from Confederate President Jefferson Davis accompanying a speech by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln.

One other addition to the texts would include country and western music among on of the nation's important cultural movements. The popular black genre of hip-hop is being dropped from the same list.

The following paragraph is taken from the New York Times Magazine and tends to put a few things into perspective:

This is how history is made - or rather, how the hue and cry of the present and near past gets lodged into the long-term cultural memory or else is allowed to quietly fade into an inaudible whisper. Public education has always been a battleground between cultural forces; one reason that Texas' school-board members find themselves at the very center of the battlefield is, not surprisingly, money. The state's $22 billion education fund is among the largest educational endowments in the country. Texas uses some of that money to buy or distribute a staggering 48 million textbooks annually - which rather inclines educational publishers to tailor their products to fit the standards dictated by the Lone Star State. California is the largest textbook market, but besides being bankrupt, it tends to be so specific about what kinds of information its students should learn that few other states follow its lead. Texas, on the other hand, was one of the first states to adopt statewide cirriculum guidelines, back in 1998, and the guidelines it came up with (which are referred to as TEKS - pronounced "teaks" - for Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills) were clear, broad and inclusive enough that many other states used them as a model in devising their own. And while technology is changing things, textbooks - printed or online - are still the backbone of education.


According to The College Board the 2009 SAT Scores by State place Texas 45th out of the 50 states. And, perhaps, more appalling, Texas is in 47th place in per capita student spending.


For a state ranking at the bottom of the list perhaps the entire Texas Board of Education should be replaced with members who value a competitive, quality education for our children as opposed to one filled with political content.

Monday Pentagruelism

Monday what??? The word for the day. To save you the effort of looking up what pentagruelism means the definition is the habit of dealing with serious matters in a spirit of good and sometimes cynical good humor.
The word is an allusion to Rabelais' satirical novels Gargantua in 1584 and Pentagruel in 1532.

In keeping with the premise of Oscar Wilde's quote at the top of this Blog, I thought it would be amusing to take a look at some of the warnings on a few of today's products.

One hair dryer carries the label: "Do not use while sleeping." Would that be considered multi-tasking?

A contest on a bag of chips advertises: "You could be a winner. No purchase necessary. Details inside." Should we simply open the bag in the store aisle or does this mean I don't have to pay for it?

One popular bar of soap displays this instruction: "Directions. Use like regular soap."

A Tiramisu dessert package finds this disclaimer printed on the bottom: "Do not turn upside down."

Marks & Spencer Bread Pudding displays this warning: "Product will be hot after heating."

The packaging for one iron found in the big box stores warns: "Do not iron clothes on body."

Found on a children's cough medicine: "Do not drive a car or operate machinery after taking this medication."

Another popular sleep aid medication, Nytol , displays this brilliant sentence: "Warning: May cause drowsiness."

A container of nuts found in the snack aisle of a supermarket helps to educate consumers. Its labeling reads: "Warning: Contains nuts."

But an all time favorite was spotted last Halloween on a child's Superman costume: It succinctly read: "Wearing of this garment does not enable you to fly."

We can only speculate since the warnings were put there it might be an indication some people actually inspired them by doing what we are being warned about? Maybe its a good thing to think.

A Few Thoughts About The Ancient Ones and Prophecies

About 1,400 years ago, long before Europeans explored North America, a group of people lived in the Four Corners region of the United States. Today they are called the Ancient Ones. Once referred to as the Anasazi, they are the Ancestral Pueblo people who designed and built spectacular cliff dwellings.

One summer season I was fortunate enough to be an interpretive guide and lead tourists around Mesa Verde National Park. The only National Park that was established due to the wealth of archeological sites. It now protects more than 4,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings of these imaginative people.

While many folks dismiss the lore and stories of these Native Americans, I was struck by the similarities of their beliefs and how they seem to parallel so many of today's cultures or religions.

One of the most revered places in the Ancient Ones' communities was the kiva. Kiva is Hopi word meaning "ceremonial room." They were important gathering places in the life of the Ancient Puebloans - comparable to the churches, synagogues, temples and mosques of today. It appears that every clan had its own kiva for use during ceremonies and other social events. Every kiva built contains a small hole. This is the Sipapu, a Hopi word for "place of emergence." According to the Hopi oral tradition, this hole represents the place where the good Ancenstral Puebloan people emerged from the previous world to the next one.

A cute piece of legend? Since I am a proponent of thinking and wondering, let's examine this with some thought. The Sipapu is essentially a symbol, much like the cross for Christians or the Star of David for Jews.

I can imagine some of the more evangelical believers teetering on the verge of shouting blasphemy. But, let's go a step farther.

According to the Ancient Puebloans we are currently in the third world. Yes, that means two other worlds have been destroyed and the Sipapu was the portal for these people to enter the next world.

The first world, this civilzation believes, was destroyed by water. Could this have been around the time of the Christian belief in the story of Noah and the flood? The second world was destroyed by fire, according to their convictions. How about the story of Passover? The Jewish belief an angel of death spared only those whose dwellings were marked allowing the good to survive. That destruction, according to legend, was by fire.

For those who cherish a religious belief, could the Ancient People have been smiled upon by a god some say can only be accessed through some ritual of prayer?

While all the predictions of this centuries old culture do not go beyond the year 2000, they do have a prophecy for the end of the third world. They believed the third world would be destroyed by "bad air." Although, no one knows when or even if that may happen, our civilization seems well on the way to fueling this end. Be it through climate change, greed and disregard for nature or perhaps, even a nuclear event.

I am not advocating the somewhat popular conversation of wht may or may not occur in the year 2012, as has become vogue in many circles. I am simply stating One Person's Views that might ... just might get you to think and wonder beyond your comfort zone.

Perception vs. Reality

As an American I am sometimes in awe regarding what people believe or perceive and the actual reality of what the reality actually is.

Billions of dollars are spent every year for marketing research, public relations and advertising in an attempt to project an image. Among the definitions of the word image are: A mental picture of something not real or present and the opinion or concept of something that is held by the public. 

Two examples might be political promises made during a presidential race and the way legislation is passed in Washington, D.C.

Every presidential candidate makes promises. They state how they will change the way things are done or they declare how they will make a difference.

We go to the polls and vote based on much of the rhetoric and the belief our presidential choice will do what they claim. Yet, the reality is that it is impossible for one member of the Executive Branch of our government to do that. In order for the promises to be fulfilled the Legislative Branch must pass the laws.

That is to say a majority of 535 men and women who hold the office of senator and congressman or congresswoman are the ones responsible for fulfilling the promises of the president. Perception ... the president has the power to accomplish the things he or she touts. Reality ... without the approval of Congress the president's powers are greatly limited regarding the ability to provide the sweeping changes thay all claim to bring to the White House.

The second example is the way Congress actually passes majority of the bills or laws.

During the 111th Congress, in 2009, there were more than 9,000 Bills or Resolutions introduced. Of these 119 became Public Laws. Or, 1.3% of those introduced. That is the reality according to The Capital.Net,, formerly known as the COngressional Quarterly Executive Conferences,  a respected non-partisan firm for 30 years.

When we are in school we're taught how a bill is introduced and the process it goes through to become law. However, we are not taught the reality. A Bill that is introduced must be read on the floor of the respective body and it is published in the Congressional Record. Sometimes it is debated then votes cast. The next step is for the president to sign that bill into law.

BUT, and certainly a capital B U T, the reality is there are often riders attached to the bill. They do not have to be read or debated. The riders simply do as their name suggests, go along for the ride. Many times these riders are earmark pieces of legislation that inflate the proverbial pork barrel.

Some of the 2009 entries were:
$1.9 milllion for the Pleasure Beach water taxi service in Connecticut.
$1.8 million for swine odor and manure management research in Ames, Iowa.
$380,000 for a recreation center and fairgrounds area in Kotzebue, Alaska, population 3,237.

Several credible sources put this type of spending at some $19.6 billion in 2009.

It would be safe to presume more public laws are passed as riders than are ever read on the floor of the Congress.

As responsible citizens we must remember the difference between perception and reality which is defined as: The quality or state of being actual or true.

In this one person's view it is not un-American to question authority it is patriotic to demand reality.

Random Thoughts

Well its Monday and Mondays have always seem to carry some kind of dread, the weekend is over and so to is the fun for another week. That is a myth ... let the fun begin.

How many times have you heard someone say: "He's got to be crazy!" Perhaps you've even made that observation regarding someone on occasion. I am.

Once upon a time my wife and I lived the somewhat normal life. Then, we decided to get rid of the house, put everything in storage, buy an R.V. (recreational vehicle) and travel. Yeah, I one of those guys you cuss on a two lane road cause you can't pass me going up a hill. Now, I'm thinking of writing a book based on our experiences. I'm going to title it: "The Land of the Intellectually Challenged."

According the National Park Service nearly 2.3 million people visited that national treasure last year. They came to see the bison, elk, moose, bears, eagles and, of course, Old Faithful. The geyser that is somewhat predictable.

One summer season I worked in Yellowstone and it was great. But I was asked some strange questions though, like: "when do the Elk turn into moose?" Or, What time do they turn off Old Faithful?"

Of course questions like this demand to be answered right? So, I'd make up answers for these geniuses. "Oh, I'm not sure about this year but last year they turned into moose the first month after the full moon of the rutting season." What's really scary is they believed it.

At the visitors center near Old Faithful, the Ranger Station has all types of information about geysers. From stuff written for children to scientific papers explaining the phenomenon.

Now you simply have to picture this. Around the geyser basin are boardwalks. A favorite place to watch Old Faithful.

One afternoon two Rangers were working in the area. One ranger was in an area off limits to the general public but still within hearing distance. Now just before Old Faithful erupts there are usually a few spurts of steam and water. Those familiar with the geyser's patterns can usually judge when its going to go.

These guys had a great sense of timing. One ranger shouted to the other: "Ya ready?"
And the other bent over with is back to the crowd. "Okay, open it up." the one ranger yells and about that time Old Faithful erupts, water and steam rise nearly 100 feet in the air.

Then as it starts to fall off, the ranger yells again: "Shut it down." And the other ranger turns his imaginary valve. Its amazing, as the tourists are walking away to explore other park wonders I actually heard one telling his wife: "I told you Mildred, they had valves for that thing."

True story! But, would you believe the two rangers were reported and suspended. The government has no sense of humor. That is except for Congress and sometimes I believe reading the headlines about happenings in our nation's capital are better than the comic section of the newspaper.

Here's a quick thought ... the prefix pro means for and the prefix con means against. Like PROgress which means moving forward, doing something positive. Does that give you any clue for the definition of the word CONgress?

Another fun job was with a major airline. Now you'd think people who fly all the time are somewhat sophisticated. Not true!

One night I was making a reservation for a lady who knew exactly what she wanted including the flight times and flight numbers. After I made the seat assignment for her and informing her of the seat number she told me she could not sit there because it was next to a window. Of course, with the intensive training I received from the airline I began to question if she had a fear of heights or of flying. After several questions she finally told me: "I'm having my hair done the morning of my flight and I certainly don't want to sit next to a window."

Hmmmm ... lets see ... will the pilot open that window for fresh air at 35,000 feet while traveling at 300 miles an hour?

And let's not forget the wizards at home with their computers. Another stint I undertook was doing technical support for a major communications company.

A customer called in having internet problems. After trouble shooting for some time I had the individual change a few settings and it was necessary to lock in the changes. "Okay, now just hit any key and let me know what happens." I told them.
A few minutes went past and I inquired: "What is it doing?" I was not ready for the response. "I'm having a problem," they said. "I can't find the anykey."

And with that I will bid you a great week and leave with one final thought.

If you have 100 odds and ends on a shelf and remove 99 of them ... what is left? An odd or an end?

A Nation's Disgrace

As a vet I am constantly appalled at the number of our former warriors living on the streets and, at times, eating out of dumpsters.

It is estimated that one-third of the homeless adults in the United States are our country's own veterans. It is difficult to fully account for the actual number of homeless (including veterans) in the U.S. Many sleeping their cars, in the woods or other hard to locate places.

What is known is America's homeless veterans have served in World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, in Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Operation Iraqi Freedom, and the military's anti-cultivation efforts in South America. Those without any place to call home include both male and female veterans.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) estimates that 131,000 vets are homeless on any given night. And approximately twice that many experience homelessness over the course of a year. Nearly a quarter of a million men and women who took an oath to defend this nation and were willing to give their lives sometime this year will be homeless. Some figures of more than a half a million have even been reported.

The base budgets for the Defense and Veterans Departments was a combine total of more than $609 billion in 2009. These figures are taken from the Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Yet, we still have men and women who served our country living without a roof over their heads or basic necessities such as food and clothing.

Who are our homeless veterans?

According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, here are the numbers:
23% of the homeless population are veterans
33% of the male homeless population are veterans
47% are Vietnam Era veterans
17% post-Vietnam
15% pre-Vietnam
67% served three or more years
33% stationed in a war zone
25% have used VA Homeless Services
85% completed high school/GED, compared to 56% of non-veterans
89% received an Honorable Discharge
79% reside in central cities
16% reside in suburban areas
5% reside in rural areas
76% experience alcohol, drug or mental health problems
46% white males compared to 34% non-veterans
46% age 45 or older compared to 20% non-veterans

It is estimated 96% of our homeless veterans are male while 4% are female. And the numbers may be rising in today's economy.It is safe to presume with the increased number of foreclosures and unemployment more veterans will find themselves homeless.

A common sight across our great country is men and women standing by the roadside with crude, hand lettered signs reading: "Homeless Veteran ... Need Help" or, "Homeless Veteran ... Will Work For Food."

Our veterans deserve more than handouts. Our veterans deserve a hand up.

Majority of the help and inroads in providing services come from organizations either founded by or supported by veterans. And the budgets they have are based on contributions ... not from a part of the staggering billions the government allots to the Defense Department or VA.

You can help veterans in your community by volunteering at a shelter, being a mentor or legal aid, organizing or participating in a Stand Down program or veteran burial program. Check out the community based veterans organizations that need volunteers in your area.

You can also advocate for homeless veterans in your local government and community. Or, you can donate directly to organizations that provide assistance to our homeless warriors.

GET INVOLVED!!! Let's end the disgrace of having those who have served our nation be invisible to the very people they served ... the American people.

There are many groups and organizations whose goal it is to help our homeless veterans. I have included a few of them and their links so you can get involved. Don't just sit and read about their plight ... YOU can make a difference.

The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans can be reached at: http://www.nchv.org

Stand Down. Founded by a group of Vietnam Vets. They can be reached at: http://www.standdown.org/homeless.html

Disabled American Veterans at http://www.dav.org

Little Known Facts About The Health Insurance Industry

When I had the initial idea for delving the Health Insurance Industry my thoughts were not totally objective. I, like many, assumed their profits and profit margins were truly obscene. But hours of research using reputable and non-biased sources dispelled many erroneous beliefs.

Although the monetary figures are staggering, the health insurance industry does not even make it into the top 50 for the amount of profit they make. In fact, they are listed as number 86 out of the top 100 with an overall profit margin of 3.3%. This information was taken directly from Dr. Mark J. Perry, a professor of economics and finance in the School of Management at the Flint campus of the University of Michigan.

Another research source, The Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania reported the following:
In 2007, national health care expenditures totaled $2.2 trillion. Health insurance profits of nearly $13 billion make up 0.6 percent of that. CEO compensation is a mere 0.005 percent of total spending.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that in 2008 half the improper payments made by the federal government came from Medicare and Medicaid. The Medicare fee-for-service program had an estimated $10.4 billion in improper payments, plus Medicare Advantage doled out $6.8 billion that it shouldn't have. Medicare's improper payments totaled $18.6 billion for the year. Those figures surpass the profits reaped by insurance companies and pay their CEOs took home.

While not a proponent of this industry, I do strive to be factual and attribute my findings. But, since this is a Blog I also have freedom to voice One Person's Views.

Aside from he financial aspects a few others come into play. Currently, the lawmakers in our nation's capital are tossing many possibilities around to reduce health care costs and bring about coverage for everyone in America.

Some say if health care insurance companies would able to cross state lines there would be greater competition thus forcing lower premiums and allowing more people to enroll in health care coverage. I have no doubt competition would indeed force changes. The one thought that keeps leaping into my mind is the not so simple fact of States Rights. Each state regulates the insurance industry in its state. The amount they charge, the fees associated and a myriad of other assorted things. Unless this system were universal it simply isn't feasible under the current way of doing business.

There are 535 members of Congress. It is difficult to have 50 of them agree on anything. Can we assume 50 governors with as many territorial interests would be any different?

One component critical to lowering the cost of health care is to provide comprehensive preventive care. To catch problems before they become major and costly. Most health care plans allow those covered to opt in for vision and dental care. Dental issues can lead to major systemic illnesses and poor vision is in a class by itself. Medicare does not address either of these.

Another factor I am compelled to raise is the interaction between doctors and patients and health insurance companies.

According to a survey from the National Library of Medicine, some individual physicians do practice different styles based on patient insurance, but the majority say they do not.

However, there seems to be one major barrier to patient care ... 58% of U.S. physicians report their patients often have difficulty paying for medications or other out-of-pocket costs. This is compared to between 5 and 37 percent in other countries. U.S. physicians are also four times as likely as their counterparts in Australia, the Netherlands, Sweden and the U.K. to report major problems with the time or their staff spend getting patients needed medication or treatment due to insurance coverage restrictions. About half (48%) of U.S. physicians say this is a major problem.

Given all the facts, it is a little easier to understand the complexity of the problem. Now, if somehow we can forge ahead and intelligently find ways to solve the problems our country will have indeed reached a historic milestone.

A View of the Health Care Mess

Once upon a time HMOs (Health Maintenance Organizations) were seen as the saviors of exploding medical costs. A little over twenty years ago the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allowed direct-to-consumer advertising of prescription drugs on television. Thirty years ago the American Medical Association decided it was not unethical for doctors to advertise, reversing its stance held for decades.

One of the ways HMOs were going to reduce medical costs was to eliminate duplication of services. Instead of two competing medical facilities offering the same high cost service, one would offer one type of service while the other would offer a different type. Thus, keeping the overall costs down yet still providing patients and medical staff with comprehensive options.

Currently, I am in a small city with great medical facilities. All are vying for the dollar offering the same things. In theory, if one offered a specific service and allowed its competitor to offer another, the overhead would be dramatically reduced. Subsequently, there would be less the patient would be forced to pay for but, then the income would be reduced. And everyone knows the bottom line must show a decent or sometimes obscene profit.

According the the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), it is reasonably well known that for some time the United States has spent more per capita on health care than other countries, including those whose system provides care to all its citizens. What may be less well known if that the United States has had one of the highest growth rates in per capita health care spending since 1980 among higher income countries. HMOs and direct pharmaceutical advertising just coincidentally all kicked in about that time.

In the U.S.A., the growth of the share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) devoted to health care has risen from 8.8% in 1980 to a rate that is projected to be nearly 20% in 2019 according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

So much for the saviors of reduced costs.

Since the advent of pharmaceutical companies being permitted direct-to-consumer TV campaigns, that industry has spent well in excess of $3 billion in the mass media. One result, outside of obscene profits, if the patient now tells their doctor what drug they want as opposed to the practitioner telling the patient what is best for them. Consequently, the average number of prescriptions written per patient has risen dramatically in the past few years. Care to investigate what their profits may be?

As for doctors advertising ... that's not a bad thing. It provides a choice for the public, they are better informed and it does help us be more proactive in our own own healthcare.

Healthcare reform??? Reduced costs??? These are only small examples of a broken system. Maybe tomorrow ... or Wednesday after giving my brain a rest ... the insurance industry can be the target of discussion.