By Mary MacElveen
January 22, 2010
As I sat staring at this image of corpses from Haiti which have horrified and have captivated us so, many thoughts came to mind seeing how any healthcare reform has died in our country. While I do not wish to politicize the deaths in Haiti, it will not hold me back from politicizing deaths that occur here in the United States due to a person’s lack of health insurance.
Let’s face it, health care for ONE and ALL is dead in this country. We will never-ever have universal healthcare. The politicians failed we the people. Not that that phrase “we the people” means anything anymore given the fact that the Supreme Court gave unbridled powers to the corporations of this country in their most recent decision.
We are no longer “we the people” but merely customers of this new country if one can call it that with corporations calling the shots from now on. They with their deep-deep pockets will decide for you and me who will represent us in any seat clear across this country. Oops, did I say represent us? No, I mean represent them. We are from now on are drones of the state.
Will these corporations care who dies from a lack of healthcare? No, they will not. They will only care of their bottom line. The all-might dollar: And that is if it survives into the future given the fact that other economies around the globe have surpassed ours. They have a lot of catching up to do.
The latest estimates have been that 40,000 or so have been buried in mass graves in Haiti due to this earthquake and I find that figure interesting given the fact that it is estimated that the same number dies each year due a lack of health insurance in this country.
Do politicians and celebrities have to see the pictures of the uninsured to finally get it? Do these uninsured people have to die in the open for anyone to give a damn?!
Given the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court gave these unbridled powers to the corporations without any protest coming from the American people, those without health insurance should make it a point to die on the Capitol Steps right at the politician’s feet. That to me would be the ultimate protest. Make sure you can die when both houses are in session.
You may be thinking, she has finally lost it meaning me, but I am serious in my suggestion that ALL who know they are going to die and cannot be cured due to a lack of insurance stipulate in their wills (if they can afford them) their remains be placed on the steps of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. It may be illegal, but think of all the illegality that has gone on within that city throughout the decades.
Maybe, just maybe several mass graves have to be dug right here in the United States of America to drive home the point to the American people and especially our newly bought politicians. Hmm, who is the Senator for Aetna? Ah, yes, Senator Joe Lieberman. As for Lieberman: You are no longer a person held in great regard where your vote is of any importance. Senator-elect Scott Brown is. Take that.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Showing posts with label death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label death. Show all posts
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Hecklers at town-halls are a selfish bunch as people die without healthcare
By Mary MacElveen
August 12, 2009
As I view these servile town-hall protests where the topic de-jur is healthcare, some have become bellicose in their actions and words. They will disrupt the proceedings and I find it unconscionable to say the least. First of all, they who are doing the disrupting are a selfish lot and I would love to ask them this question: Do you have health insurance? As you bloviate citing that the President wants to kill off seniors which is patently false, I want to bring to your attention that people are dying without healthcare. Oh yes and that includes seniors.
According to SeniorJournal.com, only half were being screened for colorectal cancer which has taken the lives of many and the reason for the other half not being screened is due to lack of insurance.
Pay close attention to this passage within the article: "Colorectal cancer is one of the leading cancer killers in the United States, behind only lung cancer. Screening has been shown to significantly reduce mortality from colorectal cancer, but a lot of people are still not getting screened," said Jean A. Shapiro, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).” Shapiro also stated: a major problem appears to be insurance coverage.”
I would have to opine those who died because they could not be screened is the reason they are dead in the first place and they will continue to die unless they are covered. President Obama did not kill them: Our country’s lack of affordable health care did.
I would love to know the opinions of those who have died due to lack of medical insurance are thinking right at this very moment as these hecklers shut down these town-halls. Oh wait, I cannot due to the fact they are DEAD!
As I read this KTAR.com article which was published on April 8th, 2008, they cited where one quarter of Arizona residents DO NOT have health insurance. That is a staggering number.
As one reads this passage: "In the period 2000 to 2006, we estimate that more than 3,500 people died because of a lack of health insurance coverage," said Ron Pollack with the advocacy group." Um, who was in charge during those years? Oh yes, the Republicans. So, 3,500 of our fellow citizens died on their watch. That is roughly the same number that died on September 11th, 2001. Yet, their cries from the grave still go unheard because hecklers at town-halls refuse to be their advocates.
I would love to know where Senator John McCain's voice was when this article cited: "In Arizona, in 2006, approximately 720 people died due to a lack of health insurance." He is after all still their senator. Also that was the last year that the Republicans controlled this country's agenda. 720 call out from the grave asking, why they had to die in the land of plenty.
In reading this beautifully worded op-ed piece by Marianne Wright-Edelman titled: "Children Dying, Lacking Healthcare" tears came to my eyes as she wrote, "How did America get to the point where Deamonte Driver, a seventh grader in Prince George's County, Maryland, died because he didn't have health insurance to cover an $80 tooth extraction and his mother couldn't find a dentist to treat him?" I would love to shove this article in the faces of those bellicose hecklers.
Many children of course died when President Bush vetoed the SCHIP program. Thankfully coming to the rescue of these children left behind was, President Barack Obama as he signed it into law.
As these hecklers and their backers cite the cost of healthcare reform, the total cost of Deamonte’s was $250 thousand dollars as opposed to the original cost of an $80 tooth extraction. What should be frustrating to all is that he died.
I am sick of hearing folks like Limbaugh and Dobbs bloviate out of their pie-holes as children have died, seniors have died and over three thousand citizens of Arizona. I am most assured that there are stories equally maddening and saddening out there where people have died and could have been saved. They are the ones who we all should be listening to now, instead of hecklers.
To anyone distorting the facts, disrupting civil proceedings at these town-halls, give it a rest as your fellow citizens are dying from a lack of accessible healthcare.
We have always prided ourselves as a can-do-nation, but we seem utterly pathetic and weak in passing this healthcare reform. We are showing our soft-underbellies to those countries we have chided in the past and present who do provide healthcare which is a most basic human right for their citizens.
At least Deamonte Driver would not have died in Cuba as one reads: “where 9,877 dentists serve 11 million people (a ratio of approximately 1:1,100). The clinics care for an average of 700 to 900 local residents from cradle to grave. They provide annual dental examinations for all Cubans (twice annually for those under four years old or over 60), pre- and postnatal infant oral health instruction, and 16 annual fluoride mouth rinse treatments for all school-age children.” For a small island-nation who we have basically turned our backs on through the Cuban embargo, I would say they are doing an outstanding job in caring for their citizens especially the most innocent; their children and seniors.
Oops, did I forget to mention: At least Cuba did not illegally invade a country, namely Iraq which has cost us $1 trillion dollars. Imagine how many lives we could have saved in this country? Talk about sticker-shock brought to us all by a government controlled by the GOP.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author.
August 12, 2009
As I view these servile town-hall protests where the topic de-jur is healthcare, some have become bellicose in their actions and words. They will disrupt the proceedings and I find it unconscionable to say the least. First of all, they who are doing the disrupting are a selfish lot and I would love to ask them this question: Do you have health insurance? As you bloviate citing that the President wants to kill off seniors which is patently false, I want to bring to your attention that people are dying without healthcare. Oh yes and that includes seniors.
According to SeniorJournal.com, only half were being screened for colorectal cancer which has taken the lives of many and the reason for the other half not being screened is due to lack of insurance.
Pay close attention to this passage within the article: "Colorectal cancer is one of the leading cancer killers in the United States, behind only lung cancer. Screening has been shown to significantly reduce mortality from colorectal cancer, but a lot of people are still not getting screened," said Jean A. Shapiro, Ph.D., an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).” Shapiro also stated: a major problem appears to be insurance coverage.”
I would have to opine those who died because they could not be screened is the reason they are dead in the first place and they will continue to die unless they are covered. President Obama did not kill them: Our country’s lack of affordable health care did.
I would love to know the opinions of those who have died due to lack of medical insurance are thinking right at this very moment as these hecklers shut down these town-halls. Oh wait, I cannot due to the fact they are DEAD!
As I read this KTAR.com article which was published on April 8th, 2008, they cited where one quarter of Arizona residents DO NOT have health insurance. That is a staggering number.
As one reads this passage: "In the period 2000 to 2006, we estimate that more than 3,500 people died because of a lack of health insurance coverage," said Ron Pollack with the advocacy group." Um, who was in charge during those years? Oh yes, the Republicans. So, 3,500 of our fellow citizens died on their watch. That is roughly the same number that died on September 11th, 2001. Yet, their cries from the grave still go unheard because hecklers at town-halls refuse to be their advocates.
I would love to know where Senator John McCain's voice was when this article cited: "In Arizona, in 2006, approximately 720 people died due to a lack of health insurance." He is after all still their senator. Also that was the last year that the Republicans controlled this country's agenda. 720 call out from the grave asking, why they had to die in the land of plenty.
In reading this beautifully worded op-ed piece by Marianne Wright-Edelman titled: "Children Dying, Lacking Healthcare" tears came to my eyes as she wrote, "How did America get to the point where Deamonte Driver, a seventh grader in Prince George's County, Maryland, died because he didn't have health insurance to cover an $80 tooth extraction and his mother couldn't find a dentist to treat him?" I would love to shove this article in the faces of those bellicose hecklers.
Many children of course died when President Bush vetoed the SCHIP program. Thankfully coming to the rescue of these children left behind was, President Barack Obama as he signed it into law.
As these hecklers and their backers cite the cost of healthcare reform, the total cost of Deamonte’s was $250 thousand dollars as opposed to the original cost of an $80 tooth extraction. What should be frustrating to all is that he died.
I am sick of hearing folks like Limbaugh and Dobbs bloviate out of their pie-holes as children have died, seniors have died and over three thousand citizens of Arizona. I am most assured that there are stories equally maddening and saddening out there where people have died and could have been saved. They are the ones who we all should be listening to now, instead of hecklers.
To anyone distorting the facts, disrupting civil proceedings at these town-halls, give it a rest as your fellow citizens are dying from a lack of accessible healthcare.
We have always prided ourselves as a can-do-nation, but we seem utterly pathetic and weak in passing this healthcare reform. We are showing our soft-underbellies to those countries we have chided in the past and present who do provide healthcare which is a most basic human right for their citizens.
At least Deamonte Driver would not have died in Cuba as one reads: “where 9,877 dentists serve 11 million people (a ratio of approximately 1:1,100). The clinics care for an average of 700 to 900 local residents from cradle to grave. They provide annual dental examinations for all Cubans (twice annually for those under four years old or over 60), pre- and postnatal infant oral health instruction, and 16 annual fluoride mouth rinse treatments for all school-age children.” For a small island-nation who we have basically turned our backs on through the Cuban embargo, I would say they are doing an outstanding job in caring for their citizens especially the most innocent; their children and seniors.
Oops, did I forget to mention: At least Cuba did not illegally invade a country, namely Iraq which has cost us $1 trillion dollars. Imagine how many lives we could have saved in this country? Talk about sticker-shock brought to us all by a government controlled by the GOP.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Walter Cronkite taught me what was news instead of noise
By Mary MacElveen
July 18, 2009
When Berry Gordy of Motown records had this to say of Michael Jackson: “Michael was and will remain one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived," I would opine of Walter Cronkite that he was THE BEST journalist that has ever lived in my lifetime and the lives of millions more. He touched not only my life but the lives of millions of Americans and citizens around the world. If you are not old enough to remember his broadcasts on CBS, his reporting to this nation was similar to a State of the Union Address given by every single President of our country. He captivated all of us with his straight reporting, never interjecting any bias coming from him.
While he died at the age of 92, his death hit me harder than Jacksons. As a boomer, I grew up with Mr. Cronkite as he visited my home each and every night and was the voice of calm and most of all reason. In the age of cable and the Internet where thoughts are transmitted second-by-second, he allowed you to think of what was happening in our world. He reported the news and never became the news. That will forever be Mr. Cronkite’s legacy.
In the days of Cronkite, we lived our lives instead of being addicted to information and news broadcasts either on television or the Internet. He reported what was relevant and we simply heard him report it, and moved on. I so miss those days. There was no need to hear from pundit upon pundit or others that we think important in today’s broadcasts and simply moved onto the next story.
As a young child each and every lift-off into space became a magical moment when Mr. Cronkite was reporting on it, especially the Apollo 11 mission where we as a nation landed on the moon’s surface. In that very moment we rose to an immense challenge whose challenger was the late President John F. Kennedy. The elation he showed while reporting on that one single event was ours as a nation. To sit in front of one’s TV sets to hear the countdown of any mission captivated us all. As we all heard the voice of mission control cite, “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 blast off” our hearts lifted up with those brave souls. Our emotions enjoined with Mr. Cronkite’s in that very moment in time.
Tonight while listening to many showing their respect for this premier journalist; I heard the term icon and he was more than an icon. Walter Cronkite was an informer, a teacher and any other term one can use to fully educate us all. As I listened to many premier journalists speak in deference to this great man, I pulled my 19 year-old daughter into the living room to help her understand the significance of his passing.
Mr. Cronkite was with many of us during many historic moments such as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the assassination of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the assassination of the late Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. He was also with us during the entirety of the Viet Nam War and long after it and covered Watergate which led to the resignation of a president. Mr. Cronkite was an historic figure, and he will be sorely missed by millions who sat night after night to be informed of their world and ours.
During the many years that we as a country watched him and heard what he had to relay to us, it was broadcasted in black-and-white. No streaming feeds, no YouTube.com, no Twitter.com, no Facebook.com, and other forms of communication available to us all today. He became the fabric of Americana and for that we must thank him.
Mr. Cronkite was the standard-bearer of the news itself. No bells, no whistles but the straight news itself and in the days of confusion that surround us, we could surely use journalists of his caliber, his talent and his desire to get at the heart of the news itself. For those who never viewed his broadcasts, you missed out. Because there are very few journalists left today who are able to report the news with such an understanding of our history as a nation.
Thank you, Mr. Cronkite for helping me understand my world while growing up. As you were invited into my living room each night, you never disappointed me. In fact, I learned from you. You taught me what was news and what was noise.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author.
July 18, 2009
When Berry Gordy of Motown records had this to say of Michael Jackson: “Michael was and will remain one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived," I would opine of Walter Cronkite that he was THE BEST journalist that has ever lived in my lifetime and the lives of millions more. He touched not only my life but the lives of millions of Americans and citizens around the world. If you are not old enough to remember his broadcasts on CBS, his reporting to this nation was similar to a State of the Union Address given by every single President of our country. He captivated all of us with his straight reporting, never interjecting any bias coming from him.
While he died at the age of 92, his death hit me harder than Jacksons. As a boomer, I grew up with Mr. Cronkite as he visited my home each and every night and was the voice of calm and most of all reason. In the age of cable and the Internet where thoughts are transmitted second-by-second, he allowed you to think of what was happening in our world. He reported the news and never became the news. That will forever be Mr. Cronkite’s legacy.
In the days of Cronkite, we lived our lives instead of being addicted to information and news broadcasts either on television or the Internet. He reported what was relevant and we simply heard him report it, and moved on. I so miss those days. There was no need to hear from pundit upon pundit or others that we think important in today’s broadcasts and simply moved onto the next story.
As a young child each and every lift-off into space became a magical moment when Mr. Cronkite was reporting on it, especially the Apollo 11 mission where we as a nation landed on the moon’s surface. In that very moment we rose to an immense challenge whose challenger was the late President John F. Kennedy. The elation he showed while reporting on that one single event was ours as a nation. To sit in front of one’s TV sets to hear the countdown of any mission captivated us all. As we all heard the voice of mission control cite, “10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 blast off” our hearts lifted up with those brave souls. Our emotions enjoined with Mr. Cronkite’s in that very moment in time.
Tonight while listening to many showing their respect for this premier journalist; I heard the term icon and he was more than an icon. Walter Cronkite was an informer, a teacher and any other term one can use to fully educate us all. As I listened to many premier journalists speak in deference to this great man, I pulled my 19 year-old daughter into the living room to help her understand the significance of his passing.
Mr. Cronkite was with many of us during many historic moments such as the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, the assassination of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy and the assassination of the late Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. He was also with us during the entirety of the Viet Nam War and long after it and covered Watergate which led to the resignation of a president. Mr. Cronkite was an historic figure, and he will be sorely missed by millions who sat night after night to be informed of their world and ours.
During the many years that we as a country watched him and heard what he had to relay to us, it was broadcasted in black-and-white. No streaming feeds, no YouTube.com, no Twitter.com, no Facebook.com, and other forms of communication available to us all today. He became the fabric of Americana and for that we must thank him.
Mr. Cronkite was the standard-bearer of the news itself. No bells, no whistles but the straight news itself and in the days of confusion that surround us, we could surely use journalists of his caliber, his talent and his desire to get at the heart of the news itself. For those who never viewed his broadcasts, you missed out. Because there are very few journalists left today who are able to report the news with such an understanding of our history as a nation.
Thank you, Mr. Cronkite for helping me understand my world while growing up. As you were invited into my living room each night, you never disappointed me. In fact, I learned from you. You taught me what was news and what was noise.
Author’s email address is, xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Farrah Fawcett was the Queen of Girl-Power
By Mary MacElveen
July 3, 2009
When “Charlie’s Angels” aired, it became the start of a movement called, ‘girl-power’ within this country. No more would a girl see herself boxed in a submissive role within the American culture. When the show first aired, I was a teenager, and yes it made me think of what my future could become. Shows like this and the “Mary Tyler-Moore Show” were a far cry from the roles women normally took on television such as “Leave it to Beaver” where June Cleaver stayed at home tending to it, her husband and children, and we have powerful women like Farrah Fawcett to thank for that.
As a grown woman, I am concerned that the death of Farrah Fawcett has been overshadowed by the death of Michael Jackson. His death from what some have reported was due to an addiction to pain-killers and other drugs; whereas Farrah’s death was due to anal cancer which metastasized. Farrah, fought a long, hard battle against this disease and let others into her life to see how she was battling it while Jackson remained secluded.
While Jackson was labeled as the King of Pop, I would label Fawcett as the Queen of Girl-Power. While “Charlie’s Angels” was just a show, it showed girls that at some point, they could bring down the bad-guys. One must wonder after that show premiered: Just how many girls signed up to their local police academies or service to this country. While not as glamorous, still the message was there that women could do anything they wanted in life.
In today’s society, there are many women who are victims of domestic abuse and on October 8, 1984, Farrah Fawcett starred in a movie titled: “The Burning Bed” where she took the law into her own hands by killing her abuser. I do remember watching this earth-shattering film and it spoke for the many women at that time who were victims of domestic abuse which still occurs today.
While she never married her soul-mate, Ryan O’Neill they remained together as a loving couple and in today’s society, it must be heralded. They did not need a marriage certificate to consummate their love for one another. They just loved one another. Now think of how many celebrities, politicians and other famous people have cheated on their loved ones. I cannot even imagine being in Ryan O’Neill’s shoes the day after he buried his soul-mate. It is life imitating art as he starred in the movie “Love Story” where he lost his love to leukemia played by actress, Ali McGraw who incidentally lost her love, her soul-mate, Steve McQueen to cancer. Freaky, I know!
As the character, Jill Munroe, Fawcett would listen as one of ‘Charlie’s Angels’ to hear her next mission. Upon her death from cancer, she listened to a far greater power calling her home. Those like Ryan O’Neill and their son can take comfort that she is now within the loving arms of our God. Rest in peace, Farrah.
Author’s email address is xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author for permission.
July 3, 2009
When “Charlie’s Angels” aired, it became the start of a movement called, ‘girl-power’ within this country. No more would a girl see herself boxed in a submissive role within the American culture. When the show first aired, I was a teenager, and yes it made me think of what my future could become. Shows like this and the “Mary Tyler-Moore Show” were a far cry from the roles women normally took on television such as “Leave it to Beaver” where June Cleaver stayed at home tending to it, her husband and children, and we have powerful women like Farrah Fawcett to thank for that.
As a grown woman, I am concerned that the death of Farrah Fawcett has been overshadowed by the death of Michael Jackson. His death from what some have reported was due to an addiction to pain-killers and other drugs; whereas Farrah’s death was due to anal cancer which metastasized. Farrah, fought a long, hard battle against this disease and let others into her life to see how she was battling it while Jackson remained secluded.
While Jackson was labeled as the King of Pop, I would label Fawcett as the Queen of Girl-Power. While “Charlie’s Angels” was just a show, it showed girls that at some point, they could bring down the bad-guys. One must wonder after that show premiered: Just how many girls signed up to their local police academies or service to this country. While not as glamorous, still the message was there that women could do anything they wanted in life.
In today’s society, there are many women who are victims of domestic abuse and on October 8, 1984, Farrah Fawcett starred in a movie titled: “The Burning Bed” where she took the law into her own hands by killing her abuser. I do remember watching this earth-shattering film and it spoke for the many women at that time who were victims of domestic abuse which still occurs today.
While she never married her soul-mate, Ryan O’Neill they remained together as a loving couple and in today’s society, it must be heralded. They did not need a marriage certificate to consummate their love for one another. They just loved one another. Now think of how many celebrities, politicians and other famous people have cheated on their loved ones. I cannot even imagine being in Ryan O’Neill’s shoes the day after he buried his soul-mate. It is life imitating art as he starred in the movie “Love Story” where he lost his love to leukemia played by actress, Ali McGraw who incidentally lost her love, her soul-mate, Steve McQueen to cancer. Freaky, I know!
As the character, Jill Munroe, Fawcett would listen as one of ‘Charlie’s Angels’ to hear her next mission. Upon her death from cancer, she listened to a far greater power calling her home. Those like Ryan O’Neill and their son can take comfort that she is now within the loving arms of our God. Rest in peace, Farrah.
Author’s email address is xmjmac@optonline.net
Copyrighted material: Should you wish to use any portion of this column, please email the author for permission.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)