Seniors Beware: Medicare is in Danger

A recent article in the AARP Bulletin  asks the question, "Is Your Medicare Safe?"  In her article, Marsha Mercer, points to a section of the law which reads, "nothing in this act shall result in a reduction of guaranteed benefits."  This obviously was put in the act to mollify seniors with their great fear that Medicare may be gutted and taken away from them as a benefit. The mere fact that $716 billion are going to be cut from Medicare over 10 years does not seem to bother Ms. Mercer.

I agree that $716 billion  over 10 years will probably not place a significant dent in the benefits supplied through Medicare, as there is room for many readjustments in efficiency and provider reimbursement to probably satisfy this debt, but Medicare is not safe, and it would be best that future seniors understand how government functions.

When Medicare was passed by the Congress in 1965 there was a energetic debate about this new law. Various representatives claimed that "the government will control American Medicine, and tell people when they can go into the hospital and when they can't. It will tell physicians how much they can be paid for their services." The proponents of this law basically "solved" these objections by placing a first paragraph at the beginning of the new Medicare law that can be found by looking it up on various websites. This first paragraph was so important that  this law would not have passed without it, and the title of that first paragraph exposes both the methods and the direction of government control.

The title of the first paragraph was  "POHIBITION AGAINST ANY FEDERAL INTERFERENCE."  This particular paragraph was placed there to assuage the fears of conservatives that the government would control medical care in our country, but as we all know, the paragraph had nothing to do with future laws that were passed, or promises that were made about federal interference. The federal government currently controls at least 65 to 70% of medical care, and it does control how much physicians are paid, and who can go into a hospital and when they go home. The details of what else  it controls are too numerous to enumerate in this brief article,  but let's just say it controls just about everything.

Having a statement in the Medicare law of "nothing in this act shall result in a reduction of guaranteed benefits" is no different than saying, "Prohibition against Any Federal Interference,"  And this is been said before I are government specifically in 1965 with the passage of the Medicare law. In case you haven't read that paragraph I'm going to include it in this essay: "

PROHIBITION AGAINST ANY FEDERAL INTERFERENCE

Sec. 1801. [42 U.S.C. 1395]  Nothing in this title shall be construed to authorize any Federal officer

or employee to exercise any supervision or control over the practice of medicine or the manner in which medical services are provided, or over the selection, tenure, or compensation of any officer or employee of any institution, agency, or person providing health services; or to exercise any supervision or control over the administration or operation of any such institution, agency, or person."

I hope you noticed that the paragraph begins with the statement "nothing in this title" and that is just what is included in the Affordable Care Act.

The basic idea is that governments say what they like and then do what they have to further down the line. They can always come up with excuses such as, "it's too expensive or it's causing too many unforeseen consequences, yada yada yada." The point is there is always an excuse and many times the people who passed the law are not present in government when they come up with a reason to change it.

Concluding that a brief statement in the Medicare law will protect us from further consequences is not only naïve but dangerous. It's giving elderly a false sense of security which is definitely not present the way the demographics are moving in this country.

The elderly are increasing and the number of workers to support our "benefits" is gradually decreasing. The promises that were made are not necessarily sustainable.

In a different sense it's not really fair for the elderly to base their retirement on the backs of younger people. Younger people have a right to the same opportunities that their parents and grandparents had when they were young. I worry that the tax situation in this country will only get worse for young adults if we continue down this same road to entitlements and Medicare is a big one.

There are serious questions anyway about the AARP's support of the affordable care act. It is my understanding that various executives in the AARP received government jobs after the passage of this law. Did this have anything to do with their support of the ACA? Those who believe that "nothing in this act show result in a reduction in guaranteed benefits" probably believe that there was no relationship between the nice cushy government jobs received by various AARP executives and  their support of the ACA.

I think changes are coming, and AARP would be wise to let seniors understand it. 

ODE TO A HARLEY DAVIDSON

ODE TO A HARLEY  DAVIDSON

I have ridden these things for over 25 years now
and I still do not understand the emotion behind this pleasure.
I have just finished a 1000 mile Blue Ridge mountain ride with you:
another time of solace, pleasure, beauty and adventure.

Those who have not done this motorcycle thing
do not understand the experience, and
even those who have,
are not always able to understand your allure
or articulate your many attractions.

I have known you now for 13 years.
I have traveled the length and breadth of this country on you, and you
have given me many, many hours of pleasure and excitement.
As I shined and cared for your metals, and your leather places
and I could feel  the connection we have with each other.
25,000 miles together is, hopefully, just a beginning.

Others who see your gleaming structure comment,
"That's a beautiful bike," but
they do not feel or understand OUR connection.

I have named you "Liberty" because you have given me
a freedom from the labors of this life.
James Madison named his horse "Liberty"
and I understand his feeling towards his friend.

If we are able to feel emotion towards a collection of metal and plastic
and leather, that emotion brings you, my friend, in a real sense, to life.
You have captured my respect and admiration as you have carried me through this nation as no one else has done or cared to do.

We have become partners in this experience I call "living."
I have used my knowledge of the dangers  and obstacles to weave our adventures on the roads of this nation,
and we have done this together, as a team.

This is a bargain, a partnership, isn't it?
I will watch over over you with care and attention to all the intimate details you can't conceive of or take care of,
and you will give me the power and mechanical beauty to
carry me to new and different  avenues of joy.

Can one thank something that is inanimate?
I think not, but I can praise our connection
and your many gifts to me as I travel, with you,
the roads of this brief life we have both been given.

James P. Weaver, 2013

AARP MedicareRx, Prescription Solutions Ripping Us Off

I  signed up for the AARP  prescription drug plan offered by United  Healthcare approximately one year ago.  I thought, as a member of AARP,  that I would be treated fairly and that the health plan would be reasonable and honest with its dealings with me.  I believe I have discovered  otherwise.

I must admit I was sent a pamphlet that contained all of the “annual notice of changes” but I should have reviewed it very carefully. It turns out that they have raised my fees in 3 different areas. Two of these areas are acceptable, but the 3rd I  view as completely unjustified, exorbitant, and an indication of an uncertain future with my dealing with this company.

They raised my usual monthly charge for a standard prescription from $7-$8. They also raised by monthly premium from $33.40 to $38.90. Although this seems a bit steep, it doesn't particularly seem unreasonable.

The problem that I have is with the 3rd item. They have raised the cost of a three-month prescription of metoprolol succinate 25 mg ER from $7 to over $66. That is a raise of over 900%. The explanation I get from the company is that it is an  extended release tablet, and therefore it is a tier 3 drug. Other companies, namely Blue Cross Blue Shield, make it a tier 1 drug. Frankly, I'm certain other companies make it a tier 1 drug also. I believe that last year it was a tier 1 drug with this United Healthcare Plan.

I can see no reason for raising this drug to a tier 3 drug unless they wish to make an unfair profit. This drug is a generic drug and has been around for quite some time. It is not as if it's a new drug or whether it was just changed to an extended release drug. I have gotten no satisfaction from the company over this issue.

I am writing this so that other members of this drug  plan can become aware of this problem and submit protests to the company just as I have. I find this action by United Healthcare Insurance Company to be arbitrary and capricious. It is simply another way of abusing the public by gaining exorbitant profit.

If for some reason I get an explanation that is reasonable I will retract this article. But if I don't I hope others will read this and submit their own complaints.  My basic point  is beware of this drug plan. Once they get away with this sort of unreasonable price gouging it will  become evident in other ways.

A Special Day for a Patriot and Tears in My Eyes Along the Way

Marine Corporal JB Kerns was injured in Afghanistan on April 7, 2011. He was on his third tour there, when  his vehicle was struck by a road side bomb. He was

lucky to survive, but lost both legs, and the lower half of his right arm in the explosion. He had been at Camp Lejeune waiting for the return of his unit, but was set to come home, to Ararat, Virginia today.

Arrangements had been made for the Patriot Guard to meet him in Pinnacle, North Carolina, and to escort him from there to Ararat. It was certain that a good percentage of the town would be there to greet him. He is a home town Hero.

Over two hundred bikes showed up in Pinnacle to meet him, and a thoughtful Highway Patrol officer had arranged for a police escort and road blocks for our caravan of bikers as we escorted JB through Mt. Airy, North Carolina, to his home coming.  What a sad and happy day. Sad because of JB's injuries, but happy because he made it through alive, and has gained all the respect, honor, and love of his town, his country, and of those who know his story.

When he arrived in Pinnacle in a van, he got out and greeted the waiting crowd. All of the two hundred plus of us wanted to shake his hand, hug him, and thank him

for his service, and most of us did. As his van finally pulled out, the bikers revved up their engines, and formed a staggered formation for the 25 mile trip through Mt. Airy and on to Ararat.

Along the route, people were clapping, saluting, holding flages and waving for JB, and cheering us as we rode along. It was a rousing display of appreciation and honor for JB, and a remarkable show of patriotism. You see, JB is the real thing. He is a living testament to the sacrifice that our military makes for us every day to preserve our freedoms, and the people along the route demonstrated that there are people out there that really understand this, and care deeply about it. They took their Sunday afternoon to pay respect to a Marine hero; a soldier that we all owe something to for his service to our country.

It's was good to see this demonstration of patriotism, and it brought tears to my eyes, because I love our country too. JB went home today, but he brought home for all of us the meaning of military sacrifice.

It would be nice if the world were a friendly place, but it clearly is not. Unfortunately, we need young men and women to defend our freedoms, and carry the message of that freedom into the world. JB has done that with honor, and he has shown all of us his tennacity and courage in doing so.

Today, Marine Corporal JB Kerns had somewhere between 500 and 1000 supporters today there in Ararat, Virginia, and with the evening news reports that will air tonight hundreds more, in the comfort of their homes, will get the chance to share in the joy of an American hero who teaches all of us a most precious lesson in Patriotism. Thank you and God bless you JB, and God bless America.

A Santa Clause Government: Seeds of Destruction?

A recent Associated Press article in my local newspaper, "Labor unions adjust to new reality under Obama," generated numerous thoughts which I feel are worthy of comment. The article opines  that labor forces face continued fights for
survival in high profile battles notably in Wisconsin and Ohio. In addition, it mentions that union leaders are disappointed that Obama has not produced jobs promised, and quotes Larry Hanley, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union as saying, "Obama campaigned big, but he's governing small."

So what is the problem? As an outsider to this conflict (I'm retired), I'm aware that the National Labor Relations Board is preventing Boeing from opening a new plant in South Carolina because it claims Boeing is going into a "free to work" state to halt union power.  Unions have also gotten exemptions with the Health Care Afford ability Act, and Obama has spoken out against Wisconsin Governor's efforts to control union power in his state. What more do they want? They want it all! It's human nature, and once one becomes dependent on benefits, it is difficult to relinquish them.

This problem, of complaints of inadequate government benefits, will only get worse in the future because of the delicate role our Federal Government has assumed over the past 80 years. Beginning with the New Deal, our government entered into new areas of social regulation by "providing" benefits for various social misfortunes.  Beginning with Social Security, these efforts have ballooned into a panoply of benefits ranging from medial care to home care, to special "exemptions" from numerous government oppressive requirements, farm benefits, and on and on and on. Our government has essentially positioned itself in the middle of distribution of property between different factions of public life. Unfortunately, this activity will only generate anger from both groups: the receivers will want more, and the "givers"--by force of government taxation-- will feel abused.

It is apparent why, over time, this would happen. People always have problems and
trouble. I am not denying that government may need to help under certain defined circumstances, but their needs to be some restraint on this spending because our system encourages it. Life is riddled with difficulty. Our "representatives" get elected to positions of power by promising help and benefits  to constituents, and over time, with continued growth, this "temptation" in our system has begun to show its flaws. Government always pays for "benefits" with other people's money, and the lack of personal responsibility with this vicarious spending leads to financial debt.  Benefits are only increasing and that will continue unless the system is challenged.

Particularly vulnerable to these "defects" in our type of government are the public service unions. The chart above shows the growth of public service unions. Better benefits, pensions, salaries, and other perks are the earmark of this type of employee-government relationship. It is one of the reasons that California is sliding into a financial sewer. Wisconsin is trying stop this trend, and the Governor's efforts have generated predictable union responses.

It is pathetic that the forces of maintaining this status quo in government have persisted in labeling the Tea Party with disparaging and vulgar terminology. It is the main force working to stop this spending trend. Liberals can't see their ideas--or don't want to-- and will persist in continuing to spend other peoples money at unsustainable levels. The Greecification of the United States is not far ahead unless we change our ways. Spending must be curtailed if our form of government is to survive.

I tend to view our 200+ year old government as a social experiment. Oh, we have some good features: Rights of the individual, the Bill of Rights, and the Declaration of Independence. But we have yet to discover, or openly admit  our "Achilles heel": the government doling out  of benefits to factions that realize they have the keys to the treasury because they obtain a majority status. The baby

boomers have not yet reached full voting power--it takes time for people to wake up-- but when they do, it will test our nation down to its very foundations. Will we all continue to vote for "our share" of the national giveaways, or submit to a reduction of these incipient self destructive schemes. I believe the 2012 may be a bellwether for our future.

Attending Seal's Memorial in Virginia Beach: An Honor

August 25, 2011 was the date of the Seal's Memorial  held in Virginia Beach. I wanted to attend, even though I had other responsibilities at home in Durham, North

Carolina. My meeting didn't end that night at the hospital until after 8pm, so I hurried home to northern Durham, and mounted my already prepared motorcycle for the first leg of the journey.

Riding at night is something I don't like to do. Vision is not always the best, and if you go fast enough (I'm not exactly certain how fast that is) you  can "over-ride" your light, and not have adequate distance to stop before a collision. Anyway, as usual with these "missions," this was an important one for me, and I was determined to make it there to pay my respect to these brave soldiers. 

As I made it to Interstate 85, and gunned it up to about 70mph, I took a good look around--it was dark (and fortunately  not a stormy night)! I worried about that, but compensated with some EXTRA vigilance. The one advantage was that there weren't many cars on the road at that time, so I didn't have to watch out for the careless driver. I always follow the rule that "they don't see me" and I think that's a good rule. But at night, it's not the drivers I worry about. It's the animals!

I only saw a couple of deer on the side of the road on my way up--I spent the night

in Emporia, Va.--and they seemed to stay there because of the noise my bike made. Found a Sleep Inn, and hit the sack about 11pm.

I knew the next morning was going to be an early one, as the "briefing" for the mission to the Memorial was going to be at 7am, so I got up at 5, and prepaired to leave at 5:30. The ride should take about 1 and 1/2 hours according to my GPS, and if I pushed it a bit, I might even get there a bit early.

On the road that morning it was still dark, but I was riding east, and I could see the dawn beginning to develop as I rode along US 58. There are numerous police along this road, so I had to be careful. Heading into the populated area of Va. Beach, heightened my awareness because of all the drivers on their way to work: in a hurry, talking on the phone, listening to the radio, and dreaming of their day's work ahead. Again, "they just don't see me."

They had changed the place of the staging the night before to a Big K parking lot on 1st Colonial Drive, and when I approached that location, I was pleased to see  a mass of motorcycles. I pulled in and listened as the mission was described.

There is always an emphasis on safety with these missions because no one wants any accidents and riding with a line of 100+ motorcycles through an urban environment has its hazards. I later found out that the final location for the Memorial was kept "secret" until just prior to the event. I'm not certain why, except the possible risk of a demonstration-- by the Kansas wackos or someone else that does not understand  the sacrifices of our military and the sensitivities of family members caught in such tragedies.

Once the briefing was completed, we mounted up and left for the convention center in Virginia Beach.  Pulling onto the main drag in front of this massive building, the 1000 sailors from the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt presented a magnificent spectacle: standing at attention about three feet apart along the curb with their smart navy blue dress uniforms. We parked our bikes, and dismounted, forming a like line on the opposite side of the street with each of us holding a 3x5 American flag. 

As I stood there, pondering the enormity of this event, I couldn't but help to think about the many aspects of this experience. Studying the uniforms of the sailors, I became aware of the many decorations (red stripes, green stripes--not certain what they are actually called-- different hats, different stripes on different locations on their uniforms and insignias on their sleeves). I have never been in the military, but it was clear that each person in the military knew the rank of everyone they ran into simply by what they were wearing. Everyone had their "place" in this system, and that, I believe, gives it a special sense of social order; something needed when you are in combat. 

It civilian life we "try" to do the same thing, don't we? We do it by the clothes we wear, or the jewelery we wear, or the car we drive, or where we live, or the big one is what we DO! But when you finally come down to it, it doesn't get to the most important part of each one of us, and that's what we ARE--What is our moral compass, our sensitivities, our emotions, our personality. That's all that is important in the end isn't it.

I was honored to go there and stand for these heroes. I was fortunate enough to

receive a copy of the program for the service. It is sad to read. Each one of these heroes was very highly trained, young, highly decorated, and from my perspective represented the best and the brightest that our military has to offer. They left many children without a father, and  wives without a husband, and they were young enough, that they left parents without a son. What a sad, sad loss. I was glad I took the time (glad I had the time) to go there and pay my respects in any way I could. I hope we all take the time to do that in our own way.

I have thought about these deaths now in some detail, and obviously, I don't know all the facts, but from my perspective, this catastrophe could be avoided by following one simple rule: "don't put all your eggs in one basket."

Now I'll admit that I don't know how urgent the need was for reinforcements, and what was available to accomplish this goal, but next time it might be wise to send them in in smaller helicopters, one at a time, to see what the situation is. My guess is that that's being considered.

My readers don't have the program for the Memorial as I do, and you can't read about these individuals that were taken in this accident. I can only tell you that they don't make 'em any better. God bless them and their families and all our thanks, gratitude and respect to them and their families for their  ultimate sacrifice for all of us.

Stuff

I retired this past January. Recently,  I realized that I needed to retire, not because I as tired of my job, or, fortunately, not because of illness, but because I needed time to manage all the STUFF --I haven't even mentioned my wife-- I have accumulated over my

68 years of living.

All of us accumulate stuff as we go down the road. Books are a big one. I think we have enough books in our house to make the foundation sink a couple of inches each year. I have imagined our second floor collapsing and crushing the contents of our first floor--might solve a few problems wouldn't it? It's hard to get rid of books. You just might need that one in the future even though you have not looked or thought about it for 10 years. It's just too difficult to throw them away.

There is something sacred about books, and anyone who has a modicum of respect for academics will understand that designation. Even if you are desperate for extra space you can never burn a book as that conjures up images of the Nazis, and no one with the tiniest bit of understanding of history would welcome that label. So you might try to sell them, and lug them to the library for donation, or place them in your garage--bad idea--or loan them to other people. "Would you like to borrow my copy of Wood Carving for the Amateur?" Thank God for ebooks.

But remember, books are just one type of stuff. There are many others. There's furniture (a difficult one to get rid of because styles change), and tools, and souvenirs, and ridiculous pictures you took on trips, and 50 pairs of shoes (wife's problem), and your old underwear (lets stop there).

Because we moved to the "country" about 6 years ago, I had to buy a truck. You can't live in the country and not own a truck. I had never owned a truck, and I discovered that when you drive one, you feel like you are accomplishing something. What, I don't know, but you just get that feeling, and it's good. Besides that satisfying feeling I got, I realized that a truck is part of the passage of life: you grow up, get married, move into a bigger house, possibly move again, and accumulate stuff. At that stage, it's time for a truck so you can move your stuff around. Forget moving it around in your house, you can now move your stuff around the country. That's living.


Over the past few years, as I have accepted my aging, and become aware of my accumulated stuff. I have begun to imagine that the pattern of life may be the gradual accumulation of stuff. At some point, as one gets old enough, one just doesn't have the strength to even get rid of all your stuff, and you just have to wait until you die; then someone else has to get rid of your stuff. It's going to be easier for them though, because they don't have all those "attachments" that you have. Oh, they will have some attachments maybe to your old high  school yearbook--if they can recognize you in any of the pictures--but as they climb over
your mountain of stuff, those "attachments" will rapidly evaporate. Anyway, the longest that "attachment" will last is one more generation anyway, then they will certainly get rid of your stuff. They might even burn some of it.

One rule to help me get rid of stuff has been if I haven't used something for at least 5 years, I should seriously consider getting rid of it. Oh, maybe that will be 10 years as it's a little easier on one's psyche.

There was someone who didn't have to consider any of these issues, and that was the Pharaohs of Egypt. When they died and were buried,  all there stuff was buried with them (I think sometimes including wives and pets). Some might think that was a mark of privilege, but I don't think so. I think the problem with that "privilege" is that they still didn't get rid of their STUFF!