Can someone tell me what is wrong with "socialized" healthcare?

I was thinking today about the BENEFITS of having every single American covered under the same health care plan. Here are some bullet points of my conversation with myself:

1. Working Americans make MORE money! How is this so? No more health care deductions from your paycheck and your employer has a lot more money to distribute in the form of salary. Will your taxes go up? Probably. But certainly not as much as $150-300 per month, which is what most people pay for "family coverage." How do I figure you'll get a raise? Well, years ago I worked for a company that had probably around 100 people insured. Each MONTH, their check to the insurance company (which I mailed out, so I saw it) was for about $26,000. Take that $26,000, divide it by 100. That's an extra $260 per MONTH that could be given to you as wages, which adds up to over $3000 a year. More income=more spending=healthier economy.

2. Not to mention that we'd eliminate around 50-60% of all bankruptcy filings, which lowers overall costs of goods and services for everyone.

3. Healthy people are able to be more productive workers and work longer. Again, this boosts our economy by lowering the cost of things like sick leave, disability leave and having to hire when someone becomes too sick to work anymore.

4. If we provide health care to every citizen, we say that every citizen matters and that we care. When someone feels cared for, they feel empowered, and as a result, I predict that we would see a reduction in crime and other anti-social behavior. Certainly we'd be able to treat the mental illness and addiction that often lead people to commit crime in the first place.

5. You would receive consistent care. If we're all covered by the same insurance, no matter where we live, no matter what job we have, there's a continuity in care. No more switching doctors every time you switch jobs OR every time your employer switches benefits. Patients will have better relationships with their providers, which definitely means better health care. When you move, you won't have to jump through hoops to get your health history to a new provider because it's all in one system.

6. People will no longer be forced to stay at jobs that make them unhappy just for the health benefits. People will be free to pursue their dreams or attain higher education without worry. I believe this will greatly improve our country. Imagine what that could mean for innovation in America. Not to mention that happy people are healthier people and healthier people are cheaper to insure.

7. If everyone has health insurance, it will lower costs overall. More people=bigger risk pool. Plus, anyone can access preventative care services, instead of being forced to wait until that lump gets bigger or until that cough becomes pneumonia. Mammograms, pap smears, prostate checks, blood work, yearly exams...all these things catch disease early, and the earlier a disease is caught, the easier and less drastic the treatment. This adds up to cost savings. Even some insurance companies understand this: some of them give you reduced copays or premiums if you visit a doctor and/or dentist for the recommended amount of basic checkups, because they know that they'll save money in the long run to do a filling vs. a root canal or a mammogram vs. a mastectomy. Heck, maybe even the government will give you a tax credit for consistently following through with preventative care.

8. You won't have to keep track of all the little intricacies of your insurance that, for some people, change every single year. Providers will have it easier by only dealing with one insurance company instead of hundreds. In fact, it's highly likely that providers will save money by reducing the administrative costs associated with battling insurance companies who randomly decide to deny a procedure or battling with patients when they are suddenly stuck with a large bill that insurance won't pay, lowering the cost of care overall. These savings will be passed down to the government, who will pass the savings on to us.

Am I wrong?

Scott Walker: STFU

You are not the governor yet. STFU. When you are governor, maybe still STFU. But definately now. You look like a disrespectful asshole right now.

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_dd7e8186-edc2-11df-8449-001cc4c03286.html

If I could give you only one piece of breastfeeding advice...

My one piece of breastfeeding advice would be this: don't give up!

My son is, as of today, one year and 2 weeks old. And we still share a good breastfeeding relationship. I am very proud of this accomplishment, I really am. At one point, six weeks was my goal. Made it that far, and then six months was my goal. At one year, I've exceeded my goal.

Here are some "booby-traps" we fell into, and how we got out of them.

When Max was born, he was born tongue-tied. I got a breast pump and he got his tongue clipped.

I was so sore and miserable for 2-3 weeks from all the latch issues Max had as a result of his being born tongue-tied. I set a goal...if my breasts are still sore after 6 weeks, I can quit. By 4 weeks, I was fine.

Sometime around 4 months, my supply dropped for about a week. Max was miserable. I was miserable. I tried everything under the sun: teas, potions, oatmeal. Nothing really helped. In a moment of desperation, we prepared a bottle of formula, which we had only because we'd received all sorts of free samples...and I'm sure this is their sneaky, slimy sales tactic. Max wouldn't take formula and I'm glad he refused it, because with no other option we kept at it and we got over the hump. He didn't lose weight or have any real significant problems other than a few nights of being hungry.

Max did start a combination of breast milk and formula at 5 months, because I wasn't producing enough during the day to keep up with his demand at daycare. He drank about one bottle of formula a day. At 8 months, I quit pumping because he was eating enough food and I got tired of pumping because by this point I was hardly producing one full bottle. He got formula and solids at daycare and I breastfed him in the morning and when I got home from work. At one year old, this is the pattern we still follow...except he's off of formula and on to whole milk. When will I stop? Whenever we are both ready. I've found that setting a date is kind of meaningless, because babies don't understand the concept of a calendar.

And at one year of age, it's so different than it is at 1 month. It's a relaxed, casual thing, and mostly I nurse him for his comfort and for the immunities he gets from the breastmilk (which is great, since we're getting into cold and flu season...and my son has hardly ever been sick, despite my husband and I and his daycare companions having all sorts of nasty bugs). Each month gets easier when it comes to breastfeeding: the baby gets a little less demanding, you get a little more used to the routine.

I know how fortunate I am, and I know that we're not all this fortunate. But looking back, there were so many instances where either I told myself or others told me to give up. And I didn't. I remember that I felt a little ashamed when Max's daycare provider suggested she add a little formula in because I wasn't pumping enough. I had a healthy, happy baby boy...what did I have to feel bad about? There's too much shame and judgement around breastfeeding in our society. And there's also not very much good breastfeeding support and information either. I only write this to encourage other moms to keep going if they can!

I Love You, Russ Feingold

Just wanted to publicly (to all 3 people who read this) state that I personally am very grateful and appreciative of all Russ Feingold has done for the State of Wisconsin and the United States of America.

It is a damn, damn shame that one of the most respected, independent politicians out there was ousted by a millionaire who got bored and wanted to go play in DC. With the help of a shitload of outside corporate money, he was able to buy himself a big ol' seat in the senate. It's senseless and disturbing.

Anyway, I look forward to what Senator Feingold will do in the future...vice president? President? Secretary of State? Who knows. I'm sad to see you go, Russ. Really, really sad. But I hope that this closing door is only the beginning.

And, to close...here's some interesting facts, courtesy of Mother Jones.