I have been an RN since 1984 and I have only 3 words to say NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE. If you don't think we need it then ask yourself how much would you be willing to pay to save your right arm? or your child/s vision/life/limbs? WHat are they really worth in dollars? I am not being facetious. Would you be willing to sell your home to save your child? Go into bankrupcy for a bypass operation? These things cannot have a dollar value attached but that is our current system. NO preventative care because people wait until things get so bad something has to be done. Meanwhile the myths about National Helath Insurance live on. Everyone says "Do you want a system like France has?" YES YES YES we do. Their system is better than ours. Their numbers bear out-lower infant and naternal death rates, easier access to care, shorter wait times for care less cost for care. Don't let big insurance/pharma companies fool you-the system is great for them--not for sick injured people. Get well or die, just don't ask them to pay for any care.

Posted at May 9, 2008 1:12 PM in response to Battered by Health Insurance

Sorry my stats were off bur if you want to ponder some of these...basically you get the picture..
From: "Violence by Intimates: Analysis of Data on Crimes by Current or Former Spouses, Boyfriends, and Girlfriends, U.S. Department of Justice, March, 1998"
Estimates range from 960,000 incidents of violence against a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend each year to 4 million women who are physically abused by their husbands or live-in partners each year.

While women are less likely than men to be victims of violent crimes overall, women are 5 to 8 times more likely than men to be victimized by an intimate partner.

Violence by an intimate partner accounts for about 21% of violent crime experienced by women and about 2 % of the violence experienced by men.

31,260 women were murdered by an intimate from 1976-1996.

Females accounted for 39% of the hospital emergency department visits for violence-related injuries in 1994 but 84% of the persons treated for injuries inflicted by intimates.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline has received more than 700,000 calls for assistance since February 1996. Source: National Domestic Violence Hotline, December 2001

It is estimated that 503,485 women are stalked by an intimate partner each year in the United States. Source: National Institute of Justice, July 2000

Studies show that child abuse occurs in 30-60% of family violence cases that involve families with children. Source: "The overlap between child maltreatment and woman battering." J.L. Edleson, Violence Against Women, February, 1999

Nearly one-third of American women (31 percent) report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives. Source: Commonwealth Fund survey, 1998

About 75% of the calls to law enforcement for intervention and assistance in domestic violence occur after separation from batterers. One study revealed that half of the homicides of female spouses and partners were committed by men after separation from batterers (Barbara Hart, Remarks to the Task Force on Child Abuse and Neglect, April 1992)

Each year, medical expenses from domestic violence total at least $3 to $5 billion. Businesses forfeit another $100 million in lost wages, sick leave, absenteeism and non-productivity. Source: Domestic Violence for Health Care Providers, 3rd Edition, Colorado Domestic Violence Coalition, 1991.

From 1983 to 1991, the number of domestic violence reports received increased by almost 117%. Source: New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, 1983 and 1991.

Violence is the reason stated for divorce in 22% of middle-class marriages. Source: EAP Digest November/December 1991.

Every year, domestic violence results in almost 100,000 days of hospitalizations, almost 30,000 emergency department visits, and almost 40,000 visits to a physician. Source: American Medical Association. 5 issues American Health. Chicago 1991.

Studies by the Surgeon General's office reveal that domestic violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44, more common than automobile accidents, muggings, and cancer deaths combined. Other research has found that half of all women will experience some form of violence from their partners during marriage, and that more than one-third are battered repeatedly every year. Source: Journal of American Medical Association, 1990.

Battered women seek medical attention for injuries sustained as a consequence of domestic violence significantly more often after separation than during cohabitation; about 75% of the visits to emergency rooms by battered women occur after separation (Stark and Flitcraft, 1988).

Women who leave their batterers are at 75% greater risk of severe injury or death than those who stay. Source: Barbara Hart, National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1988.

It is estimated that 25% of workplace problems such as absenteeism, lower productivity, turnover and excessive use of medical benefits are due to family violence. (Employee Assistance Providers/MN)

In 92% of all domestic violence incidents, crimes are committed by men against women. Source: "Violence Against Women", Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, January, 1994.

Posted at November 26, 2007 11:46 AM in response to Boobs, Losers and Loose Boobs

I think of incidents like this one when I hear American men decry the terrible treatment of women in strict Muslim countries, ...and when I ponder the leading cause of death for a pregnant American woman (homicide)...and a leading cause of injury to American women under 40 (domestic violence by male partner)...less horrendous but also consider there are about a dozen female US Senators out of 100 but women are 51% of the population...women still make only 82 cents for a man's dollar just cause they're women...One could go on and on with both the obvious inequities(ie Bill O'Reilly claiming a woman who was a single mother was irresponsible for that reason alone and blaming her only for a situation of child neglect, while never even mentioning the irresponsible father, who was doing nothing at all to care for his child), all the way down to the most subtle yet insulting objectifications of women(ie that beer commercial where the man has to choose between his dog,"Mans best friend", and his woman "Mans better half".
He everybody-Women aren't the better half-just the other half of equals.

Posted at November 22, 2007 7:55 AM in response to Boobs, Losers and Loose Boobs

Perhaps it's because you're not a woman that you think the Anita Hill accusation was not the most scandalous part of the Thomas senate hearings. But for myself and many thousands of women, Clarence Thomas is a sexual harasser. Just because our male dominated senate/culture didn't believe her doesn't mean it didn't happen. I believe it did. Why? Because at the time Ms Hill spoke out, none of the men seemed to understand what she was talking about, but every woman I know(including myself) knew-because we all had experienced this same type of treatment at one time or another in a job. A very common occurrance at that time. Very common. But thanks to Anita Hill, American women no longer have to put up with this kind of unwanted behavior while at work.

KAREN

Posted at September 27, 2007 11:22 AM in response to Everyone's Favorite: Justice Thomas

President Pelosi. IF ONLY!!!!

KAREN

Posted at August 9, 2007 5:38 PM in response to An Alternative to Impeachment: Transitional Justice for the Bush-ites

We're bad at foreign policy because we have no really really good diplomats. People who are patriotic and looking out for American interests while capable of great empathy for others. You get more and cause yourself less pain using diplomacy than dropping bombs and making war. But then of course, the weapons manufacturers won't make any $$$$$, and they wouldn't want that!!!.

Posted at February 5, 2007 7:36 PM in response to Why Are We So Lousy at Foreign Policy?

I remember Mr. Bush saying that he wouldn’t send our troops anywhere to die without good cause, yet that is exactly what he did. Everything he supposedly thought was true and lead us to believe was true wasn't true. There was no reason to send our troops to Iraq. The lives and talents of brave, courageous, dedicated, unselfish, devoted patriots are being wasted for no reason, many lost forever-the light of life and all the gifts and talents for that young life are gone. As some would ask about aborted fetuses or frozen embryos, "Who knows what diseases might have been cured or inventions born or novels written, paintings painted or lives saved by those who have been killed?" I ask this about our troops.
Based on his decisions it seems that Mr. Bush and company place more value on the lives of frozen embryos than those of living adults.

Posted at January 4, 2007 8:39 PM in response to Is This Simply a Case of a Mismanaged War?

BTW, it seems a little farfetched to believe that a guy who could orchestrate major terrorist operations all over the globe and has a best buddy who's a doctor can't get his hands on some cipro/ampicillin/amox, though he might have gotten a resistant strain, something we can call "A resistance fighter" brand of typhoid. (ah sweet irony)

Posted at September 24, 2006 9:20 AM in response to bin Laden Been Dead?

I have to say, it would be brilliantly ironic for America's Most Wanted Terrorist, who has been hunted for five years by the most powerful military force the world has ever seen, to be brought to his demise by one of "God's Microscopic Soldiers"!(typhoid)

Posted at September 24, 2006 9:12 AM in response to bin Laden Been Dead?

This is frightening indeed. But what can we expect from an administration that keeps redefining concepts with already clear definitions (ie human rights) in order to pretty much do as they please (ie basic human rights as defined by the Geneva Conventions don't apply to "enemy combatants"-apparently they aren't human)
Ah yes, more fun from the Administration that believes
A-torture is OK sometimes, like if we need to do it
B-the rules apply to everyone else but us

Posted at August 29, 2006 9:24 AM in response to Trashing the First Amendment & Human Rights