Even though it was expected, although I’m sure many of us did hope for a miracle, Senator Edward Kennedy has died. I received an email from MoveOn about the death of Sen. Kennedy, and I don’t think that I could say it better:

Senator Teddy Kennedy passed away last night and our movement lost a hero. His leadership, his vision, and his passion will never be forgotten.

As we grieve, we must honor his memory and re-dedicate ourselves to his fight. Right now, let’s listen to his words. Below is a powerful video that lots of MoveOn members are passing around this morning:

Tonight, please light a candle in your window to memorialize him.

Tomorrow, as Senator Kennedy said, “…the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.”

Tomorrow, let’s re-commit ourselves to achieving the thing that mattered most to him: Quality, affordable health care for every single American.

Thank you for all you do.

I wish all politicians could be this cool and well, this frank (nice pun there). There is no reasoning with these people, and I do suspect many of them have been planted at the meetings to spout this nonsense and lies about healthcare reform–in order to disrupt the meeting and get off topic.

At this Barney Frank (Sen. from Mass) town hall meeting in Dartmouth, MA, a constituent asks, “Why are you supporting this Nazi policy?”

Frank responds: “On what planet do you spend most of your time?” He then calls her approach “vile, contemptible nonsense.” He closes by saying: “Trying to have a conversation with you would be like arguing with a dining room table.”

Now, I think he did the right thing by refusing to even engage her. Instead, he let her know right off the bat that he wasn’t going to waste time with this garbage, or fall into their ploy of trying to distract the meeting with these absurd accusations. Although, I would be curious to hear her response–her explanation of how trying to improve healthcare, and allowing more Americans to have health insurance and thus be able to pay for expensive medical bills, is akin to Nazi policy. You have to wonder, does she even know what a Nazi is?

The battle for healthcare reform is becoming thorny, to say the least. The sad thing is–we may emerge from the battle unchanged. That is, with no change or real progress made in our healthcare system.

And for those who blather on about the “downside” of having a public option, and the glories of private insurance, here’s some bedtime reading. I know, there are stories galore about people dying from lack of insurance, losing their homes due to medical bills, having their coverage canceled because they developed athlete’s foot (I actually did read that one), and so on.

But the following is a real story from a real person. She is a friend of mine, a person I’ve know for about 10 years. Without a public option, she doesn’t stand much of a chance of survival. This is an email she sent to friends and acquaintances, urging us to contact our reps and demand real change in the healthcare system–which means that the U.S. should join the rest of the industrialized world and provide some sort of universal coverage to its citizens.

“I am one of those 47 million people with no health insurance because I have pre-existing conditions. My health insurance was rescinded by my insurer when I was diagnosed with kidney cancer. And I’m not alone: private insurers have rescinded more than 20,000 other Americans with devastating diseases over the last few years, so don’t think this can’t happen to you too. In fact, the three largest companies testified before Congress recently that they target 1,500 expensive illness and and even pay their employees incentives to mine patient medical records for omissions or reasons to rescind their policies when they one of these conditions.

I may be crossing the dreaded line of political correctness, but who cares? These days, it seems to be the fashion to bash Whole Foods (you know, that big supermarket that doesn’t sell Pepsi or chickens spiked with antibiotics, hormones, heroin, cyanide, or whatever it is that commercial grower use these days).

The CEO of Whole Foods has now become the poster child for everything that is wrong with the world, and single handedly responsible for defeating the singer payer measure for healthcare reform. Really. But if you boycott Whole Foods, that will put immense pressure on Congress, the Senate, President Obama, his dog, his wife Michelle, the insurance industry and all of their lobbyists, the pharma industry, agri-business, Rush Limbaugh, and even Sarah Palin–to turn around and demand a single payer plan.

The demise of the single payer option, and the faltering of getting any kind of healthcare reform accomplished, is solely due to one man–John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods.

In a nutshell, Mackey wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, which he was asked to write, and now an unusually vocal number of people got their knickers in a twist over it. To the point where they are calling for a boycott for the store, as though that is going to solve the problem of healthcare reform.

One person on twitter, who I sparred back and forth with, said that she is now boycotting Whole Foods and feels so good that she is helping the economy and healthcare. I don’t know, does trying to put a store out of business helpful to the economy? Especially one like Whole Foods, which pays their employees well and provides them with excellent benefit, like HEALTH INSURANCE? And how her boycott will help healthcare is out there in the Twilight Zone.

But the comments coming from people who otherwise seem to normal and rational are truly insane. Because Mackey gave his views, and they disagree, they are boycotting a store that they may enjoy shopping in. But let’s get a few facts, straight, shall we?

Whole Foods is a huge organization, employing 50,000 people, and many undoubtedly disagree with Mackey. And that’s okay, I don’t see Mackey sending around a hit squad to get rid of the infidels.

Second important point is that Mackey does not own the company. He is an employee. Shocking fact, isn’t it. Whole Foods is a public company. Mackey is not Whole Foods and he clearly said on his blog (which is on the Whole Foods website), that this was HIS opinion. And that Whole Foods, as a company, does not have a position on healthcare reform.

So in other words, people are boycotting a company which does not have a position on the subject.

I have even seen nonsense spreading that Mackey is the one spearheading a movement to defeat the single payer proposition. You know, the reason that it hasn’t moved in Congress is all due to Mackey. His article is being seen as an organized campaign to defeat a single payer health insurance system.

While I don’t agree with everything that he wrote in his op-ed and blog, I do agree with some of it. Especially his appraisal of the heart of the problem–we’re not going to cut healthcare costs until we improve our own health. One person at a time.

Unfortunately many of our health-care problems are self-inflicted: two-thirds of Americans are now overweight and one-third are obese. Most of the diseases that kill us and account for about 70% of all health-care spending—heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and obesity—are mostly preventable through proper diet, exercise, not smoking, minimal alcohol consumption and other healthy lifestyle choices.

Recent scientific and medical evidence shows that a diet consisting of foods that are plant-based, nutrient dense and low-fat will help prevent and often reverse most degenerative diseases that kill us and are expensive to treat. We should be able to live largely disease-free lives until we are well into our 90s and even past 100 years of age.

Of course, those comments provoked screeching from the sidelines–especially from those who didn’t really read it. Or those who don’t want to change their habits, and prefer to blame it on someone else.

Personally, I love Whole Foods and have shopped there for 20 years. Since I live about 90 miles from one right now, I do most of my shopping at the Farmer’s Market, local co-op, and trader Joe’s, but go to WF every time I am in Seattle. And no, I do not plan on boycotting the company. While it is a big corporation, WF has done a tremendous service for the organic/natural foods industry. Their popularity was a big impetus for the “regular” supermarkets to start offering healthier food.

So you know, if you want to do something constructive for healthcare reform, get off your butt and email/call/visit your representative. Get involved at the local or state level. Write your own op-ed letters or letters to the editor. Join HCAN, join Move-on, call your neighbors, canvass your neighborhood, call your local radio/TV stations–but just do something. Boycotting a good company is not going to accomplish anything at all.

Mackey’s article is generally consistent with the views many others who have weighed in on the healthcare reform bill. So why is Mackey drawing so much ire? Should people not be allowed to offer opinions? Should he have to apologize for his own views? Do you apologize for your views, even if they are in conflict with the status quo?

How about contributing your own ideas.

Finally, this is part of an excellent post made by someone on the Whole Foods forum. It pretty much sums up the boycott nicely, and how ridiculous it is:

Most people who are boycotting are not doing so because of concerns over actions of the company. I am not aware of the company making contributions to a PAC or a lobbyist on these issues. And while some will say they want better health insurance for the employees, it is unusual that most of these same people were not concerned with this issue a week ago, and the health insurance I have seen described seems quite reasonable.

The folks who are boycotting seem to be boycotting because they do not agree with the political views of the CEO, and the temerity he has shown by expressing those views publicly. Not for his actions as CEO, or the actions of the company.

If I were to use the terminology of some on the left, I would say that those who boycott are punishing a thought-crime.

Obviously, all of us are free to do as we choose. But do you really want to be a person who makes a significant decision such as this based solely on the views of a person? How would you feel about someone who would not purchase products from a store because the CEO was openly homosexual? How would you feel about those on the right that do not purchase from co-ops or stores like Whole Foods because they view them as leftist bastions (then again, these organizations do engage in left-leaning activities all the time, so perhaps they have a basis for their feelings, no?). I know I think of them as being unreasonable.

So I ask you one favor. Briefly step back and observe what you are saying and doing.

Is this who you want to be? Are you ok with being that type of person? Or do you want to be someone different?

Its up to you.

Here’s a comforting note from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health :

Occupational disease research and prevention activities represent a significant portion of the NORA Sectors’ program portfolios. The rate of nonfatal occupational illness across all U.S. private industry decreased from 30.7 per 10,000 in 2003 to 21.8 in 2007. The average rate of nonfatal occupational illnesses in the Manufacturing (NAICS 31–33) sector were 2.4-fold greater than U.S. Private industry averages (65.5/10,000 vs. 26.3/10,000). Two other industry sectors reported rates that exceeded the Private industry 2003–2007 average by 50%; Utilities (NAICS 22) and Health Care and Social Assistance (NAICS 62).

They’ve got a cute little graph that shows you where healthcare falls on the scale of non-fatal occupational illnesses (hint–it’s number #3).

I have been purposely not writing anything about this topic because it is too depressing. All the fear mongering and the lies. Like the system we have now is so perfect, and so wonderful, so its hard to imagine why anyone would want to “fix it.” Never mind if you’re one of those poor slobs with the dreaded pre-existing condition, who can’t get insurance and will be left to die of your pathetic disease.

Anyway, here is a very clear and concise outline of what healthcare reform is about. It is not the ideal system, but certainly a lot better than what we have one now. For starters, it dares to regulate the insurance agency. Imagine that. So Un-American.

8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage

1. Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.
2. Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays: Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
3. Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.
4. Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.
5. Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.
6. Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.
7. Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.
8. Guarantees Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won’t be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.

Learn more and get details: http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/health-insurance-consumer-protections/

8 common myths about health insurance reform

1. Reform will stop “rationing” – not increase it: It’s a myth that reform will mean a “government takeover” of health care or lead to “rationing.” To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently being used by insurance companies.
2. We can’t afford reform: It’s the status quo we can’t afford. It’s a myth that reform will bust the budget. To the contrary, the President has identified ways to pay for the vast majority of the up-front costs by cutting waste, fraud, and abuse within existing government health programs; ending big subsidies to insurance companies; and increasing efficiency with such steps as coordinating care and streamlining paperwork. In the long term, reform can help bring down costs that will otherwise lead to a fiscal crisis.
3. Reform would encourage “euthanasia”: It does not. It’s a malicious myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for seniors. For seniors who want to consult with their family and physicians about end-of life decisions, reform will help to cover these voluntary, private consultations for those who want help with these personal and difficult family decisions.
4. Vets’ health care is safe and sound: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will affect veterans’ access to the care they get now. To the contrary, the President’s budget significantly expands coverage under the VA, extending care to 500,000 more veterans who were previously excluded. The VA Healthcare system will continue to be available for all eligible veterans.
5. Reform will benefit small business – not burden it: It’s a myth that health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the contrary, reform will ease the burdens on small businesses, provide tax credits to help them pay for employee coverage and help level the playing field with big firms who pay much less to cover their employees on average.
6. Your Medicare is safe, and stronger with reform: It’s myth that Health Insurance Reform would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits. To the contrary, reform will improve the long-term financial health of Medicare, ensure better coordination, eliminate waste and unnecessary subsidies to insurance companies, and help to close the Medicare “doughnut” hole to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors.
7. You can keep your own insurance: It’s myth that reform will force you out of your current insurance plan or force you to change doctors. To the contrary, reform will expand your choices, not eliminate them.
8. No, government will not do anything with your bank account: It is an absurd myth that government will be in charge of your bank accounts. Health insurance reform will simplify administration, making it easier and more convenient for you to pay bills in a method that you choose. Just like paying a phone bill or a utility bill, you can pay by traditional check, or by a direct electronic payment. And forms will be standardized so they will be easier to understand. The choice is up to you – and the same rules of privacy will apply as they do for all other electronic payments that people make.

Learn more and get details:
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck/faq

8 Reasons We Need Health Insurance Reform Now

1. Coverage Denied to Millions: A recent national survey estimated that 12.6 million non-elderly adults – 36 percent of those who tried to purchase health insurance directly from an insurance company in the individual insurance market – were in fact discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition in the previous three years or dropped from coverage when they became seriously ill. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/denied_coverage/index.html
2. Less Care for More Costs: With each passing year, Americans are paying more for health care coverage. Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled since 2000, a rate three times faster than wages. In 2008, the average premium for a family plan purchased through an employer was $12,680, nearly the annual earnings of a full-time minimum wage job. Americans pay more than ever for health insurance, but get less coverage. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hiddencosts/index.html
3. Roadblocks to Care for Women: Women’s reproductive health requires more regular contact with health care providers, including yearly pap smears, mammograms, and obstetric care. Women are also more likely to report fair or poor health than men (9.5% versus 9.0%). While rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are similar to men, women are twice as likely to suffer from headaches and are more likely to experience joint, back or neck pain. These chronic conditions often require regular and frequent treatment and follow-up care. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/women/index.html
4. Hard Times in the Heartland: Throughout rural America, there are nearly 50 million people who face challenges in accessing health care. The past several decades have consistently shown higher rates of poverty, mortality, uninsurance, and limited access to a primary health care provider in rural areas. With the recent economic downturn, there is potential for an increase in many of the health disparities and access concerns that are already elevated in rural communities. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hardtimes
5. Small Businesses Struggle to Provide Health Coverage: Nearly one-third of the uninsured – 13 million people – are employees of firms with less than 100 workers. From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. Much of this decline stems from small business. The percentage of small businesses offering coverage dropped from 68% to 59%, while large firms held stable at 99%. About a third of such workers in firms with fewer than 50 employees obtain insurance through a spouse. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/helpbottomline
6. The Tragedies are Personal: Half of all personal bankruptcies are at least partly the result of medical expenses. The typical elderly couple may have to save nearly $300,000 to pay for health costs not covered by Medicare alone. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction
7. Diminishing Access to Care: From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. An estimated 87 million people – one in every three Americans under the age of 65 – were uninsured at some point in 2007 and 2008. More than 80% of the uninsured are in working families. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction/diminishing/index.html
8. The Trends are Troubling: Without reform, health care costs will continue to skyrocket unabated, putting unbearable strain on families, businesses, and state and federal government budgets. Perhaps the most visible sign of the need for health care reform is the 46 million Americans currently without health insurance – projections suggest that this number will rise to about 72 million in 2040 in the absence of reform. Learn more: http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/assets/documents/CEA_Health_Care_Report.pdf

I’m back, in town, that is. I thought I would have some time for blogging while I was in NY, but not a chance. It was a very hectic few days, with a lot of meetings, good food, a chance to see friends, and an opportunity to see my work colleagues who I only get to visit with virtually. Not that I really would want to be sitting in an office on a full time basis, but having the chance to sit down face to face and chat in real time.

New York City was hot and steamy, with a few thunderstorms thrown in. The smell of the city hit me in the face when I came out of Penn station, and not a pleasant aroma. August is not the optimal time to be visiting NY, when the city smells from heat, hot diesel, rotting garbage, and just about everything else thrown in. After you’re there a little while, you don’t notice the smell, but it sure makes an impact on arrival.

Now, when I left the Pacific Northwest, temps were in the high 80s/low 90s. We were having our heat wave. Less than a week later, It was 59 degrees at Seattle airport when my flight landed at 11:30am. That’s a full 30 degrees cooler for a daytime temp. It has remained cool, and right now looks fairly ominous outside. It is supposed to rain tonight, so I spent a good chunk of the day doing some gardening–like planting a Cone Flower and Fever Few that have been sitting in pots, waiting patiently to go into the ground. They are in full flowering now, so I wanted to get them into the garden. With several days of rain predicted, the yard is going to be muddy and not much fun to be digging in.

Well, now that you’ve heard the short version of my NY trip and today’s gardening episode, we will return to regularly scheduled programming.