Unfortunately this is not a surprise that the idea that those with life-threatening or chronic conditions are now the reason to blame to force those with these conditions to fund healthcare. Yes, many who are uninsured are putting stresses on the healthcare system, but it is not their own indi idual fault in many cases. Many cannot afford it, many can not get it, and many have conditions where the state is the system of last resort. While we continue to debate “ObamaCare”, good or bad, the fact of the matter is that healthcare is a basic human need. The Hypocratic Oath that doctors take should remain the ingrained motto; everyone needs to be healed. Governor Brewer though in her “wisdom” is looking beyond those with conditions that a re protected under “ObamaCare” and thinks of us with these conditions are bottomless pockets of funding. Even with jobs and insurance, we can’t be the back that is broken.
Manny, you hit the nail on the head with the medical system not being knowledgeable enough about the causes! I have gastroparesis and no one was able to help me. Even though they knew I had it, they still treated me like I was causing the problems. I was in the hospital for a week and the doctor said my BS baffled him – he didn’t help but he was the first one that believed me. I knew someone that went to the Mayo Clinic & was told she would never get her A1c below 7 with gastroparesis. I know that isn’t true! The DOC saved me!
Honestly, I think this stinks. I save the government thousands of dollars a year by smoking ( I know, I need to quit and honestly have been trying). The medications for my nervous and mental disorders equals up to over $700 a month. That is $8400 a yr. Which is cheaper for the government? Then I do have issues with my weight but I also have Fibromyalgia, arthritis, carpal tunnel, and nerve damage. Exercise is not an easy task, heck even cleaning my house is not an easy task on bad days. I do exercise and clean when I am able.
Then take my mother who has hyperglycemia but weighs 280 on a 5’5" frame. The dr’s have all told her to lose weight but she is not allowed to exercise. Heck, she can barely walk. She has COPD, nerve damage, arthritis, a bulging disc sitting on 5 nerves in her back, fibromyalgia, hypothyroidism, and high blood pressure. She eats practically nothing and cannot lose any weight. Should she be fined also?
Let me get this straight: In 1963, the top marginal tax rate on couples filing jointly was 91% on income over 400,000. Now the top marginal tax rate on couples filing jointly is 35% on income over 311, 950. We want to make up the budget short-falls that are a direct result of decades of cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans, by fining diabetics who are so poor, disabled or both that they qualify for Medicare? Really?
I can’t say that I’m surprised. Disgusted, but not surprised.
But think about who makes up the government? Certainly not the poor people. No, it’s the rich people, who LOVE their money, and who feel such PAIN when asked to give up a little more of it. So they only get the equivalent of 26 jetliners a year instead of 27?
The only problem with throwing the bums out is there is nothing but other bums to replace them.
I see this as a portent of things to come. We are careening toward fiscal ruin. But instead of confronting the problem we just kick the can down the road. It seems to me the solution will require both sides to give up something, taxes will have to be raised and spending will have to be cut. But instead the big money (rich folks, corporations etc.) which controls our legislators chooses to prey on the powerless, and preserve their own privilege.
The catch is that the longer we wait to confront our problems the worse they will become and the smaller the pie becomes. Many of the haves will become have nots I wonder how they will feel when the tables are turned.
The solution is to take outside money out of campaigns. As I understand it this is a characteristic of the British system. Under this system congress would resemble what the founding fathers envisioned, a debating society where differences could be aired out and compromises reached. Instead our legislators spend most to their time raising money for the next election and then paying back their patrons with legislative favors. Since the Supreme Court thinks that any restrictions on campaign giving is a breach of the First Amendment, I don’t see how the present system can do anything but get worse.
I have found that for myself the only way to gain acceptable control of my blood sugar is low carb eating. When I look at the contents of my shopping cart I see lots of fresh veggies and meat, not cheap. In economic hard times in my past I ate a lot of beans and cornbread with whatever cheap veggies I could find. Such a diet would be a disaster now that I am T2. I fear what would happen is that my doc would label me non complaint and I’d get fined. As has been said in previous posts I’d like to see some of these self righteous individuals have to feed themselves and their families on with what many of these Medicaid recipients have to work with, let alone deal with diabetes.
If Arizona implements this proposal the next shoe to drop will be for insurance companies to adopt similar tactics. The exploding cost of health care will cause the healthy to turn on the those needing more care, especially if they can justify it as punishing people who made themselves ill. It’s no secret that the reason cost control was not addressed in the recent health care legislation is that Congress is beholded to the folks making a killing on the present system.
I pray that we can somehow do better than all this.
What you said is not accurate. The police CANNOT just stop as you put it “all people of color” and ask to see their documentation. Police can only ask those who have been stopped for other reasons and have reason to believe they might be in this country illegally.
I know that what I am about to say is going to really tick alot of people off, but frankly, I don’t give a d##n! I am tired of trying to be “politically correct.!” On the surface I don’t think I totally agree with the Gov. about the proposed fines, but living in So. Calif. in an area where illegals make their way into this country I agree with Gov. Brewer that the cost of illegals in this country is seriously hurting the financial viability of our states. I worked in a county hospital for many years and I have seen how illegals have taxed the resources of our state governments. Do you honestly think it is right for an illegal to come into our country and receive free health care, while those of us who have a right to be here have to fight for every thing we get? I have done many mission trips to Mexico and I have seen first hand and somewhat experienced the living conditions there. Quite honestly, if I lived in Mexico I would do everything and anything I could to make my way into the U.S.
Like I said, I know I have riled up everyone’s dander, but if we really want things to change for the better, we really need to look at what is driving some of the things that are being offered by our State governors and ask why? and what can I do to change it or make it better.
Our Gov., Jerry Brown, wants to increase our sales tax and vehicle registration tax. How do you think this is going to affect us “poor folk?” And yes, I am poor and I live below the poverty level!
I am a Reagan Conservative, so I am not going to get into the political issues that have been brought up, but ask yourself if you really want our country to become a Nanny State, and why do you think it is fair to expect that those who make a good deal more money than we do, to turn it over to the government? Yes, there are inequaties, like GE who paid absolutely no income taxes (makes me want to throw up!!!). So, close tax loop holes like the ones GE took advantage of, but don’t assume that someone making $200,000/yr. rich, because they are not! Definitely richer than me, but not rich by any stretch of the imagination.
I’m sure she thinks that by doing this it will change the way people view Diabetics or any other group with Chronic Diseases. The problem is that most Diabetics have other chronic disorders and are on so much medication that a chance for them to lose weight is difficult. If the people who stand by this women agree, they have no idea what can of worms this will open up. I also heard she wanted to charge people that are on Medicare. Why do people believe we aren’t trying to lose weight and stay on a focused medical program. I think its much easier to stand on the outside of the picture and judge those that they believe aren’t sticking to their physicians orders. I have 20 Dr.'s, so which one am I supposed to listen to? The fact is this she believes that most people on Medicaid are misusing their money to buy what? You can’t buy Cigarettes, Booze, Tolit paper and anything that is already prepared. All you can buy is food, if its such a problem why doesn’t the government stipulated which foods you can buy?! I just don’t think they have any time on their hands to do just that!! Try being on steriods for 10 years or more and then try and lose weight! Why isn’t she standing in someone elses shoes. I mean if you want to change the program, then you need to at least try the program and see if you can’t lose weight! Why are people always thinking that its an easy task?
Who gets to decide who’s compliant and who’s not? Or is this going to be a strict liability crime? If you eat 1500 cals a day and remain fat, should you be fined bc you could be eating 1200?
I read a story not too long ago about a young girl, I think she was maybe high school aged, who weighed something outrageous like 800 pounds and I think they realized through the autopsy that she had some rare condition that was causing the weight gain and that even though she was eating her brain chemistry was similar to a starving person’s (sound familiar? pretty sure this is the chemistry in my brain when I’m low). The thing I read was so, so sad bc the mother said that everybody expected her to starve her child, that people were acting horrified by the fact that the mother fed her daughter at all. So, there she’d be with her daughter saying that she was hungry and the rest of the world telling her not to give her food, feeling like she was killing her daughter either way. I cannot imagine what a horrible situation that must have been for both mother and daughter. I’m thinking that fining them would have been outrageously cruel.
I don’t think we know the ins and outs of anybody’s obesity, blood sugar control, blood pressure control, addiction, whatever… There is so much that we don’t understand. It’s awfully easy for the skinny folks to assume that the fat ones are slovenly pigs, or for the non-smokers think that smoking is nothing more than a disgusting choice, or for the non-diabetics to just say take your meds and eat your veggies. But we’ll never really know what’s going on with anyone else’s body. I think it’s really reprehensible that anyone would propose such a cruel and horrible punishment, and I’m horrified that others are supporting it.
There but for the grace of god go I…
I have type 1 diabetes and I live in California. I got laid off because the economy was bad (not my doing). I have always worked and never been on any government assistance plan. I was forced to move back home because diabetes cost me $500 a month. Finding a job is a job not def not easy these days. I do not qualify for any government help because I am not disable, blind, have kids or over 65. If a pregnant woman does not get health services she will live, if a old man doesnt he will live, if a person in a wheel chair doesnt they will live. If I as a diabetic do not have medicine it will be a matter of days before I may die. I do not support taking care of people who can clearly take care of themselves but refuse to because the system is structured for them not to. I know many healthy people that drain the free health system or collect food stamps when they do not need them. But should they turned down a free offer?
The system as it is now is not designed to help it is designed to enable. We are not the fattest laziest country for no reason. It is time for people to start being accountable for their own well being. If you are obese and or smoke and you know that if you changed that it will dramatically improve your health then put down that twinkie or cig and get to walking!!! I am fed up with people who whine about their health problems but do little to nothing to fix it!!!
I do not think the answer to take away health care from those who really need it. I also believe that part of the problem why it drains the economy is because the cost of health care in America is crazy. People literally go to other countries to get surgeries performed because its a fraction of the price and you get way more for your money. So why does it cost so much here??? Why is it that I can go to the doctor with a problem and they most likely do not know what it is or really try run test to figure out BUT I know I will leave there a prescription. Apps have nothing on pills, there is a pill for everything. Why don’t doctors ever tell you about natural ways to deal with a health problem, herbs have been around forever. Why do I feel like I have learned more about diabetes from Google than a highly trained highly paid endo??? Why did it take me 3 doctors, 3 years and a DKA before any doctor believed me when I said I was doing everything they told me to do even though my numbers were out of control. Because of their arrogance, they just knew I was type 2, I almost died and there was a test that anyone them could have performed to check if they were in fact wrong. Who is going to question the doctor? Let’s start with that!!!
We pay vastly more than any other country and yet can’t seem to get it right. Your story of misdiagnosis of LADA seems to be repeated on this site over and over. It’s easier to blame the patient rather than figure out what is going on.
I wonder if there is more to this than reported on “ABC”…not known for it’s support of Governor Brewer in the past…
Rye, please don’t think that obesity is caused simply by eating Twinkies. While it’s true that some people get fat because they eat a lot of carbs, others try as hard as they can and are still fat. Obesity is not simple, and should not be a blame game. Too many obese people are trying as hard as they can, and are still fat.
And yes, the old man who doesn’t get health care WILL die. As will the person in the wheelchair. How do you know why they’re going to the doctor? Maybe the old man has pneumonia, which will surely kill him without antibiotics. Maybe the person in the wheelchair has a kidney infection, common in para- and quadriplegics, that will surely kill him without antibiotics.
Please don’t be so wrapped up in your own sorrows that you dismiss the equally or more difficult problems of others.
Natalie I am not taking my own personal issues and saying people should not get help. I clearly said people who NEED help should def get it. I come from a long line of obese people, it is a personal struggle myself. I have ALWAYS been overweight. In addition I have also always battled depression so believe me when I say I get it. No one can understand it better than I do.The problem I have is the whinning lazy people who do NOTHING to help themselves. I have a cousin who is in his early 30’s and has nevered worked. He has no health issues YET he collects disability. That is who I am talking about. The system allows people like him and BELIEVE me when I say he is a dime a dozen, to be this way. The system needs to change! I do not necessary agree with the govenor, I actually blame the health care system being over priced more. However I still feel strongly that people need to take more accountablity for their own health!!!
And no those people will not die if they do not have a health problem. If the old man is just simply of age and the person in the wheelchair is just in a wheelchair…then no they will not die…
Exactly!!
Gerri
Some people are not as responsible as you on how they used the food stamps. I used to be a store checker and i had several people back on the paper food stamp days who would go to 5 different cashiers with 1 dollar food stamps and buy .25 cent chips. They would in turn after going to 5 cashier have 3.75 in quarters and they would make one last trip with a cheap six pack of beer. Some would do the same thing and buy cigarettes. I talked to my manger and he said we could not do anything about it. So in all systems I think their is some level of missuse. But I think this lady is just down right mean. It would be cool if the state of Arizona could level an idiot tax on her. They would make quite a lot just from the hate that comes out of her mouth.
An idiot tax would solve our financial problems! No lack of idiots to tax.
Agree, Judith. Hugs to your daughter! People in poverty are marginalized, ignored & suffer the daily humiliation of living in need. Years ago, I managed a 24-hour crisis center. Though it was a mental health program, we frequently had people show up who were homeless, stranded or had just had devatating financial set backs. One woman handed me her baby because she had a job interview & no one to care for him. She couldn’t afford diapers & her baby hadn’t had his diaper changed in days. People donated used, nasty crap & patted themselves on the back. The attitude was that someone should be grateful to have their cast offs. We collected funds to buy new things for people, including nail polish & lipstick & toys.
I cannot understand it. Is it misanthropy? Arent politicians supposed to be helping people? Where is the humanity?
Politicians helping people–what a concept. Class misanthropy, yes. I think Americans are even more classist than they are racist.