I just read in the New York Times that Obama is taking a break from campaigning or speaking on Health Care........ Im not sure this is a good idea....... It might be if we want health care reform without a public option....... er..... You know pretend reform with no change...... but I don't want that..... I want a bit of 'change we can believe in'.
According to the NY-Times its just a strategy to allow some of the partisan conflict to die down and allow debate with some Democrats in Congress who are basically hostile to change......
But Im pretty sure this all needs Obama to campaign strongly on...... he has the moral authority and a proper mandate for this change...... if its left to Congress these changes seem much less imperative or indeed less morally correct.......
I don't want to see Obama silent on this...... and I suspect nor do most of the parents of kids like Dane ....... Dane here is dependent on blood transfusions provided by the Red Cross....... Tragically he has had many operations in his young life.....
Sadly his is is the kind of illness that can bankrupt a family even families with 'health insurance'............
If that photo doesn't capture the case for healthcare reform nothing will - really poignant shot; so bright and optimistic despite the obvious problems he faces...[reply]Steve M @ October 22, 2009, 4:10 am
He was such a fab little boy facing such drastic procedures he had a totally heart warming optimistic joy of life and such a sense of fun while putting up with such encumbrance and physical trials....... it was just humbling to be with him... I feel quite emotional even now just thinking back to being with him ..... all children deserve decent health care.... even with the special measures for kids in place in some States ..... one in 8 children in the US still has no health insurance at all.... and many other 'health insurance' plans run out very rapidly when kids are faced with serious illness.... I really feel....... a civilized society needs to make proper provision for all the most vulnerable of its people...... perhaps especially its children.
Gandhi said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated."
Since becoming familiar with the way children in our USA foster care system are treated (it's horrific) ... and now the suffering of children without health care, I'd add to Gandhi's statement:
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals and children are treated."
(nice joy capture, Jez :-))[reply]Lynda @ October 22, 2009, 11:34 am
hear hear....... :-) Cheers Jez XXXXXXX[reply]Jezblog London @ October 22, 2009, 4:52 pm
Its a situation that all parents dont want to be in, but life aint like that is it? Bit of a bitch at times.....I hope he comes through it all, and look at the face, bloody wonderful........Stay safe bro[reply]Paul S @ October 22, 2009, 1:08 pm
Being in the uk with the nhs, I can't imagine how awful it must be to have an ill child and not have the 'insurance' to get the proper treatment, it sounds horrific. The nhs may be slow on some non urgent procedures, but it's free for everyone and it's treatment of childrens illnesses is first class, as are the treatments for major killers like cancer and heart disease, I wouldn't want i any other way. [reply]Lucy Chivers @ October 22, 2009, 4:29 pm
I love being in the US it is mega.... with some things so much more mega than the UK....... but I have to say health care for all without exclusion fear and doubt is certainly not one of them...... :-/
I need...the NHS right now..that plane and train journey was ridiculous..back in hicksville dreaming of Manhattan!..sad sad story behind this one though.[reply]The Ex Gorrila of Gotham xx @ October 23, 2009, 12:18 pm
Dane is not much of a concern for the extremist on the far right, so it seems. Nor for big business pouring millions into lobbying against significant change in the system. With all due respect to President Obama, beyond a black and intelligent man like himself, America needs to change it's mentality towards fellow Americans and the whole political structure needs to be revamped to shift power back to the people. Sad fact is this is a complete pipe dream.
Like the zoom effect and bokeh; it gives a positive atmosphere to an apparently difficult quality of life for Dane. My heart goes out to this fella.[reply]Luis @ October 23, 2009, 4:42 pm
More+
I just read in the New York Times that Obama is taking a break from campaigning or speaking on Health Care........ Im not sure this is a good idea....... It might be if we want health care reform without a public option....... er..... You know pretend reform with no change...... but I don't want that..... I want a bit of 'change we can believe in'.
According to the NY-Times its just a strategy to allow some of the partisan conflict to die down and allow debate with some Democrats in Congress who are basically hostile to change......
But Im pretty sure this all needs Obama to campaign strongly on...... he has the moral authority and a proper mandate for this change...... if its left to Congress these changes seem much less imperative or indeed less morally correct.......
I don't want to see Obama silent on this...... and I suspect nor do most of the parents of kids like Dane ....... Dane here is dependent on blood transfusions provided by the Red Cross....... Tragically he has had many operations in his young life.....
Sadly his is is the kind of illness that can bankrupt a family even families with 'health insurance'............
Cheers Jez XXXXXXX
www.jezblog.com
[reply]Steve M @ October 22, 2009, 4:10 am
Cheers Jez XXXX
[reply]Jezblog London @ October 22, 2009, 7:05 am
[reply]crash @ October 22, 2009, 7:53 am
[reply]Jezblog London @ October 22, 2009, 8:11 am
Since becoming familiar with the way children in our USA foster care system are treated (it's horrific) ... and now the suffering of children without health care, I'd add to Gandhi's statement:
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals and children are treated."
(nice joy capture, Jez :-))
[reply]Lynda @ October 22, 2009, 11:34 am
[reply]Jezblog London @ October 22, 2009, 4:52 pm
[reply]Paul S @ October 22, 2009, 1:08 pm
[reply]Jezblog London @ October 22, 2009, 4:49 pm
[reply]Lucy Chivers @ October 22, 2009, 4:29 pm
Cheers Jez XXXXXXXX
[reply]Jezblog London @ October 22, 2009, 4:47 pm
[reply]The Ex Gorrila of Gotham xx @ October 23, 2009, 12:18 pm
Like the zoom effect and bokeh; it gives a positive atmosphere to an apparently difficult quality of life for Dane. My heart goes out to this fella.
[reply]Luis @ October 23, 2009, 4:42 pm
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