I was quite ill last week. Please forgive my absence as I play catch up.
-- Henry David Thoreau
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Monday, April 16, 2012
Quote Of The Day
April 16th, 2012
I was quite ill last week. Please forgive my absence as I play catch up.
" 'Tis healthy to be sick sometimes."
-- Henry David Thoreau
I was quite ill last week. Please forgive my absence as I play catch up.
-- Henry David Thoreau
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Monday, July 11, 2011
Quote Of The Day
July 11th, 2010
"A wise man should consider that health is the greatest of human blessings, and learn how by his own thought to derive benefit from his illnesses."
--Hippocrates
Friday, June 10, 2011
It Costs Us MORE To Pollute
Jun 10th, 2011
Imagine being able to prevent 300,000 American sick days annually. That is nearly 2 1/2 million hours of American labor. Think how much this costs in terms of productivity, strength and stability for everyone from the standalone shops to the large corporations. Now, imagine fighting not to do so.
As Republicans continue their campaign to gut the major EPA accomplishments and proposals of the Obama Administration, Isaac Shapiro has published a detailed cost-benefit analysis of these regulations. It is increasingly clear that the conservative position is not merely anti-science or even anti-health... it's bad for business.
From Shapiro's Economic Policy Institute paper:
"Two broad conclusions emerge from this analysis. First, the dollar value of the benefits of the major rules finalized or proposed by the EPA so far during the Obama administration exceeds the rules’ costs by an exceptionally wide margin. Health benefits in terms of lives saved and illnesses avoided will be enormous. Expressed in 2010 dollars:
The combined annual benefits from all final rules exceed their costs by $32 billion to $142 billion a year. The benefit/cost ratio ranges from 4-to-1 to 22-to-1.
The combined annual benefits from four proposed rules examined here exceed their costs by $160 billion to $440 billion a year. The benefit/cost ratio ranges from 12-to-1 to 32-to-1."
In light of Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK) bringing the "TRAIN Act" to the floor of the house, the EPI numbers deserve some attention.
Imagine being able to prevent 300,000 American sick days annually. That is nearly 2 1/2 million hours of American labor. Think how much this costs in terms of productivity, strength and stability for everyone from the standalone shops to the large corporations. Now, imagine fighting not to do so.
As Republicans continue their campaign to gut the major EPA accomplishments and proposals of the Obama Administration, Isaac Shapiro has published a detailed cost-benefit analysis of these regulations. It is increasingly clear that the conservative position is not merely anti-science or even anti-health... it's bad for business.
From Shapiro's Economic Policy Institute paper:
"Two broad conclusions emerge from this analysis. First, the dollar value of the benefits of the major rules finalized or proposed by the EPA so far during the Obama administration exceeds the rules’ costs by an exceptionally wide margin. Health benefits in terms of lives saved and illnesses avoided will be enormous. Expressed in 2010 dollars:
The combined annual benefits from all final rules exceed their costs by $32 billion to $142 billion a year. The benefit/cost ratio ranges from 4-to-1 to 22-to-1.
The combined annual benefits from four proposed rules examined here exceed their costs by $160 billion to $440 billion a year. The benefit/cost ratio ranges from 12-to-1 to 32-to-1."
One dramatic section deals explicitly with the regulations proposed but not yet in place.
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| Click Image To Enlarge |
In light of Rep. John Sullivan (R-OK) bringing the "TRAIN Act" to the floor of the house, the EPI numbers deserve some attention.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Meet Rep. Cliff Stearns
April 22nd, 2011 UPDATE This article was modified from its original version to include information on Rep. Stearns' NRA rating and 111con H.R.2159
Meet Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL). On the Fourth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks he made this statement:
"Four years ago, the forces of terror launched an unprecedented attack on the United States. Although our nation had long been the target of terrorists, these events shocked us out of lethargy and into action...
My prayers are also with the victims of terrorism, and with our brave men and women waging and winning the War on Terror. We must never forget the horrible events of that September day."
What a guy. What a "patriot."
As the mess spiraled and everyone from Shepard Smith to Jon Stewart heaped much deserved scorn on their machinations, the Republicans played games with the lives of our most selfless citizens. They held them hostage to the extension of the W Tax Cuts. After the back door deals were done, the legislation finally passed. As it turns out, there was an interesting caveat in the law and it came from the office of Rep. Cliff Stearns.
From HuffPo today:
"The provision was added in an amendment by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) during the heated debate over the bill in the House Energy and Commerce Committee last May.
Sept. 11 responders in the committee room at the time mostly shook their heads at the move, which Democrats accepted on a voice vote after battling to bar other amendments on abortion and immigration that might have killed the bill.
But suddenly the point is no longer just a strategic concession to get a law passed.
As doctors and administrators begin acting on the federal instructions, participants in the 9/11 treatment and monitoring programs will soon be told that their names, places of birth, addresses, government ID numbers and other personal data will be provided to the FBI to ensure they are not terrorists." EMPHASIS OURS
Either way, Rep. Stearns is not really responsible for this. When the Zagroda bill finally came to a vote, he didn't vote yea and he didn't vote nay. He abstained from voting at all.
As I said. He just not responsible.
Meet Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL). On the Fourth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks he made this statement:
My prayers are also with the victims of terrorism, and with our brave men and women waging and winning the War on Terror. We must never forget the horrible events of that September day."
What a guy. What a "patriot."
 |
| Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL) |
Fast forward to last fall. Many of the "brave men and women" who had fought for their fellow Americans on that very day and into the following weeks were in trouble. They were now also "victims." These heroes that politicians, especially men like Rep. Stearns, had used as props and backdrops for an uncountable number of money-raising schemes were in peril and agony.
Some were suffering from cancer. Some were experiencing the slow disintegration of their lungs. Others had developed neurological disorders. Almost none of them possessed the kind of wealth required to supplement their existing health care. These miseries were the result of having answered the call of duty.
Some were suffering from cancer. Some were experiencing the slow disintegration of their lungs. Others had developed neurological disorders. Almost none of them possessed the kind of wealth required to supplement their existing health care. These miseries were the result of having answered the call of duty.
Indeed, they may have sacrificed all but their last measure by rushing into the carnage on that September morning. So a bill was proposed to serve them as they had served us. It was to be called the James Zadroga 9/11 Health And Compensation Law, named for a NY City detective who died from a respiratory illness he contracted at ground zero.
How did the Republicans respond? Did they rush to the floor of the House and the Senate ensuring swift passage?
Absolutely not. First, they framed the bill as an "entitlement". The firefighters and law enforcement officers who we had been told represented everything that was noble in our culture were portrayed as looking for a handout.
As the mess spiraled and everyone from Shepard Smith to Jon Stewart heaped much deserved scorn on their machinations, the Republicans played games with the lives of our most selfless citizens. They held them hostage to the extension of the W Tax Cuts. After the back door deals were done, the legislation finally passed. As it turns out, there was an interesting caveat in the law and it came from the office of Rep. Cliff Stearns.
From HuffPo today:
"The provision was added in an amendment by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) during the heated debate over the bill in the House Energy and Commerce Committee last May.
Sept. 11 responders in the committee room at the time mostly shook their heads at the move, which Democrats accepted on a voice vote after battling to bar other amendments on abortion and immigration that might have killed the bill.
But suddenly the point is no longer just a strategic concession to get a law passed.
As doctors and administrators begin acting on the federal instructions, participants in the 9/11 treatment and monitoring programs will soon be told that their names, places of birth, addresses, government ID numbers and other personal data will be provided to the FBI to ensure they are not terrorists." EMPHASIS OURS
I guess that was just Rep. Stearns way of looking out for us. You never know how many of those "brave men and women," crippled by their own heroism, may actually be Al Qaeda. Or something.
I am sure Rep. Stearns was just protecting us by adding an extra layer of bureaucratic red tape to keep potential evil-doers from conning us out of our money. I mean, we can't possibly provide medical care to anyone on the terrorist watchlist even if they are proven to have behaved heroically on 9/11 or in its aftermath. If care is delayed for some during an as yet undetermined appeals process or is outright denied, shouldn't these union cops and union firefighters still feel lucky?
We don't keep these watchlists for nothing. Right? They are very serious business.
We don't keep these watchlists for nothing. Right? They are very serious business.
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| Screencap from Stearn's Amendment |
There's just one small problem. Stearns' position on the 111th congress' H.R.2159. Perhaps you have forgotten that bill. It's full title was the "Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act of 2009." That proposed legislation was pretty simple. It attempted to prevent anyone on the terrorist watchlist from buying a gun. The NRA went nuts. The far-right cried that it was "anti-American."
Let's just say Rep. Cliff Stearns didn't get his A+ rating from the NRA for nothing.
So here we are. If you are on the terrorist watchlist and are provably a hero who saved fellow Americans or one of the thousands of souls who combed through the wreckage looking for remains or maybe even just one of those who helped amidst the chaos and maintained order, no medicine for you!
But if you are on the terrorist watchlist because you are a mouth-breathing, Stormfront member and a whack job with a history of anti-government threats? GUNS,GUNS, GUNS! All the guns you want!
Let's just say Rep. Cliff Stearns didn't get his A+ rating from the NRA for nothing.
So here we are. If you are on the terrorist watchlist and are provably a hero who saved fellow Americans or one of the thousands of souls who combed through the wreckage looking for remains or maybe even just one of those who helped amidst the chaos and maintained order, no medicine for you!
But if you are on the terrorist watchlist because you are a mouth-breathing, Stormfront member and a whack job with a history of anti-government threats? GUNS,GUNS, GUNS! All the guns you want!
Either way, Rep. Stearns is not really responsible for this. When the Zagroda bill finally came to a vote, he didn't vote yea and he didn't vote nay. He abstained from voting at all.
As I said. He just not responsible.
2370 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-0906
Phone: 202-225-5744
Fax: 202-225-3973
Email: fl06wyr@housemail.house.gov
Washington, DC 20515-0906
Phone: 202-225-5744
Fax: 202-225-3973
Email: fl06wyr@housemail.house.gov
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Quote Of The Day 2
March 29th, 2011
"It is the inability to see the effects of chronic,
low level toxicities on human health that has been,
and remains, our greatest failing as intelligent beings." -- Dr. Boyd Haley
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