Watch out-I'm Ranting...

I'm getting frustrated with the Facebook updates that say something like,

"am saddened by what happened in Haiti, but shame on you America: In our country we have homeless without shelter, children going to bed without eating, elderly going without needed meds, and mentally ill without treatment - yet we have a benefit for the people of Haiti on 12 TV stations. 99% of people won't have the guts to copy and repost this."

I would like to ask these people and those that click the "like" button a few questions.

1. Name one person you have known to die and not have a funeral or burial.

2. Name one person you have known to wait for over 2 days with a broken bone.

3. Name one person you have known to have flies lay eggs in their open wound.

4. Name one person you have known that went without food or water for more than a day.

Or perhaps, I should ask: Are you just mad you are missing your favorite show tonight??

Sorry, but our problems here DO NOT compare with those of the Haitian People. If you are without food, it is because you are either able to work and choosing not to, or you are not going through the process of receiving food stamps, or you are selling your food stamps for cash for drugs. (In which case, sadly some children suffer because of their parents in this country.)

I have been "poor" I've spent 30 dollars a week on groceries for weeks during our medical school years. I've also had to ask for government assistance. Imagine my surprise when our budget went from 30-50 a week for groceries to 120 a week-for our small family!! No, our country takes great care of its poor. (plus I got free milk, eggs, and cheese and formula!)

Certainly things are not perfect here. More should be done to help the mentally ill. But isn't that a big part of the challenge-they are ill to the point that they don't always make good decisions for their health. Having help and people using it and accepting it are two different things. Non-compliance to medication and doctor's orders will continue to be a challenge with this group.

I happen to love hard working Americans. Who deliver pizzas with degrees and wait tables at night to go to school.

Heaven help us if we become so self-centered that we cannot give to a country that just lost 60% of its already poor economy.

and courtesy of CNN

THE TOLL

150,000: Latest estimate of the death toll, from the Haitian Health Ministry. The European Union and the Pan American Health Organization, which are coordinating the health-sector response, have estimated the quake killed 200,000 people.
194,000: Number of injured
134: Estimated number of people rescued by international search teams since the quake

THE EFFECT

9 million: Population of Haiti
3 million: Estimated number of people affected by the quake
1 million: Estimated number of displaced people
800,000 to 1 million: People who need temporary shelter
235,000: People who have left Port-au-Prince using free transportation provided by the government. The number who left by private means is undetermined.
At least 50: Aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or higher that have hit Haiti since the January 12 quake

Oh, and by the way-they can all NAME-by NAME someone in my above questions.

WWJD?

I found this a bit interesting. If you don't want to read it, it talks of how President Obama will be talking with religious leaders about how Jesus would handle health care.

I don't use this as a place for political opinion, but I guess I am tonight.

1. Jesus could do things we cannot do. We can as individuals, as a people, or a government try to be like Jesus, but we will fall short. He healed with dirt and sending others to wash in rivers. This won't work for us, and we shouldn't expect it to. We are not Jesus. Nor is our government.

2. Therefore, this is such a stupid conversation!

3. The point should be. Here we are

a. imperfect people

b. imperfect world

c. imperfect health care

4. what can imperfect people do?

a. be honest (health care insurance companies-be transparent)

b. give service (many Dr's do a great deal of community service and pro-bono work). Almost every hospital will also take charitable donations and volunteers (with and without health field educations) are welcome.

c. pay honest taxes for what we do enjoy

d. as a government have a fair tax

e. take care of our own aging parents and expect to

f. respect peoples right to agency. If they don't work or take care of themselves or plan for their future, there are consequences and NOTHING we do will make health care perfect. Unless we all start exercising, quit smoking, avoid all car accidents, heart attacks, childhood disease, etc.

Sorry, but life isn't fair. Even if you have access to quality health care diagnosis are missed, mistakes are made. Death comes premature. Or people still might not go because they just don't want to for a variety of reasons beyond money.

Come on people!! Please. This is an imperfect world. There isn't going to be a Celestial WWJD answer. Again, a stupid conversation. The question should be what can we do--yes us: the imperfects. Can we improve? Yes? No? Maybe so? I do believe we can improve. Will we? Probably not. Both sides are way too prideful to come together.

Good luck America.