Talk is gearing up on the possibility of passing parts of health care reform legislation using Reconciliation. This guy, Senate Parliamentarian Alan Frumin, could get pretty important.
Wonder of wonders, I've actually been able to make something good come out of this whole healthcare/death panel debacle. Whilst having a political discussion with my parents (admittedly it wasn't a deep policy discussion but more along the lines of agreeing that the appropriate 'death panel' for Sarah Palin would be a VERY HUNGRY polar bear--you know, the ones she says aren't endangered of starving to death due to global warming) I was able to broach the subject of a living will and hospital care in the latter stages of life.
Death is not something that gets talked about much in our family. Death, or sex. My parents are of 'that generation' and I try to respect their reserve without feeling stifled by it. And my grandmother's sudden death nearly destroyed my mother (things left unsaid, deeds undone) and plunged her into a lengthy depression during my teen years--not pretty. So it's a rather freighted subject. Add to that that both my parents have had great health (because they take great care of themselves) and everyone on both sides of the family have lived long lives and died quickly and relatively painlessly and we've all had the luxury of avoiding the subject.
But no more! So we actually had a surprisingly comfortable discussion. Being the thrifty woman that she is, my mom said she didn't want any 'expensive' treatment. When I pointed out that between Medicare and their supplemental insurance any expense wouldn't be coming out of their or their children's pockets my mom said she didn't want to be an expense to 'anyone' and that everything--money, resources, even life--is, and should be, finite.
And, even though I assumed they both wanted to be buried, my mother surprised me by saying she absolutely wanted to be cremated--with her ashes scattered in the garden at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (where she used to work), and...the lisptick counter at Bloomingdales! Not quite sure how I could arrange that one, lol.
Anyway, all in all it was a great conversation that I hope has opened the door to further conversations of this kind. I can't help but feel a bit relieved. So, chalk one up to taking lemons (courtesy of rightwingnuts) and turning them into lemonade.
between you and the British bombshell, but I just had a similar conversation with my mom. After the recent loss of my dad (step, but dad to me) she was eager to talk about it anyway. She already has a living will - has for years - legal will, etc. The other day she told me she actually went to the funeral home and priced a cremation - $2000. After the whopping price tag of the most recent (not her idea) she wanted to reiterate to me that she wanted to be cremated. We have not discussed where to spread the ashes however....I know where though. As to your mom's Bloomingdale's request - horrors be, but when the day comes, let me know - we'll get it done!
Hahaha--thanks for the offer Tex! Although I do think the Bloomies thing was somewhat in jest--perhaps we could just visit with ashes in tow, on the way to the Met? $2000 for a cremation? That seems like a lot of dough, though I have no idea what burial costs these days, and I'm sure just a simple casket probably goes for at least 2 grand.
Your mom sounds like she's really on the ball (like mother like daughter?). Hope you're both doing ok...
I FEEL you Steph. Ah...S4, perhaps the best of the best! Those kids just break your heart, don't they? Of course, my heart was already broken in Season One when they killed Wallace :(
Oh blimey, I'd forgotten about Wallace..... (Does it make me a terrible person that I was kind of gutted when they took Stringer out at the end of S3?)
I keep thinking that each season is not going to live up to the last but they just keep getting better and better. Outstanding. You guys sure know how to make good shows....
I was gutted too--and dumbfounded that they killed off a major character. I loved the complexity of his character, the drug dealer/legit businessman who's studying marketing. He and Avon were perfect foils for one another...
Okay, the pizza thingy is cute. But really, people are so fucking stupid that I'm sure they won't even get it. I mean really, Joe the plumber and Hannah the homemaker are easily manipulated robots....
This is NOT about "health care" reform. It's become about INSURANCE reform. And, if anyone thinks that the insurance industry is going to allow their power, profits, and control over the puppet politicians, to be taken away from them, think again.
The lobbying insurance consortium, will never agree to anything that increases their risk, and lowers their profits. Period. It's never going to happen until politicians get their fucking heads out of their smelly assholes and understand that people are suffering in this country.
Will that ever happen? No.
The American public has proven that they are... fat and lazy, and not interested in participating in this dialog. I'm disgusted with Americans..... not just politicians, but the constituents who are NOT climbing all over their representatives asses concerning this matter. The 'town hall' irrational outbursts have just proven to me how incredibly stupid American's can be....
Sorry, I have absolutely zero confidence in us, as a nation, to EVER have meaningful health care reform when the fuck-heads involved have bought the politicians, donated to their political futures, and have a significant place at the table when discussions are taking place.... yeah, I'm referring to the insurance lobby.
Submitted by LongBeachDogLover (not verified) on Wed, 2009-08-19 17:04.
Comments [16]
If you knew Alan like I know Alan
Talk is gearing up on the possibility of passing parts of health care reform legislation using Reconciliation. This guy, Senate Parliamentarian Alan Frumin, could get pretty important.
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/healthcare-reforms-fate-lies-in-the-...
Here's a refresher course on Reconciliation from Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconciliation_(U.S._Congress)
"When you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will." ~ Pollyanna
Wonder of wonders
Wonder of wonders, I've actually been able to make something good come out of this whole healthcare/death panel debacle. Whilst having a political discussion with my parents (admittedly it wasn't a deep policy discussion but more along the lines of agreeing that the appropriate 'death panel' for Sarah Palin would be a VERY HUNGRY polar bear--you know, the ones she says aren't endangered of starving to death due to global warming) I was able to broach the subject of a living will and hospital care in the latter stages of life.
Death is not something that gets talked about much in our family. Death, or sex. My parents are of 'that generation' and I try to respect their reserve without feeling stifled by it. And my grandmother's sudden death nearly destroyed my mother (things left unsaid, deeds undone) and plunged her into a lengthy depression during my teen years--not pretty. So it's a rather freighted subject. Add to that that both my parents have had great health (because they take great care of themselves) and everyone on both sides of the family have lived long lives and died quickly and relatively painlessly and we've all had the luxury of avoiding the subject.
But no more! So we actually had a surprisingly comfortable discussion. Being the thrifty woman that she is, my mom said she didn't want any 'expensive' treatment. When I pointed out that between Medicare and their supplemental insurance any expense wouldn't be coming out of their or their children's pockets my mom said she didn't want to be an expense to 'anyone' and that everything--money, resources, even life--is, and should be, finite.
And, even though I assumed they both wanted to be buried, my mother surprised me by saying she absolutely wanted to be cremated--with her ashes scattered in the garden at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (where she used to work), and...the lisptick counter at Bloomingdales! Not quite sure how I could arrange that one, lol.
Anyway, all in all it was a great conversation that I hope has opened the door to further conversations of this kind. I can't help but feel a bit relieved. So, chalk one up to taking lemons (courtesy of rightwingnuts) and turning them into lemonade.
Sorry for the jump in
between you and the British bombshell, but I just had a similar conversation with my mom. After the recent loss of my dad (step, but dad to me) she was eager to talk about it anyway. She already has a living will - has for years - legal will, etc. The other day she told me she actually went to the funeral home and priced a cremation - $2000. After the whopping price tag of the most recent (not her idea) she wanted to reiterate to me that she wanted to be cremated. We have not discussed where to spread the ashes however....I know where though. As to your mom's Bloomingdale's request - horrors be, but when the day comes, let me know - we'll get it done!
Twitter Time @kdhales
You just totally made my day!!
"British bombshell"!! I love it!
(But please don't be disappointed when you discover that I am not really bombshell material.....!!)
But I am in a hotel room again!!!
Big hug xxxx
Oh, my dear....
bombshell is in the eye of the beholder! Thanks for remembering that I 'affectionately' love hotels! Have a great time....
Twitter Time @kdhales
Hahaha--thanks for the offer
Hahaha--thanks for the offer Tex! Although I do think the Bloomies thing was somewhat in jest--perhaps we could just visit with ashes in tow, on the way to the Met? $2000 for a cremation? That seems like a lot of dough, though I have no idea what burial costs these days, and I'm sure just a simple casket probably goes for at least 2 grand.
Your mom sounds like she's really on the ball (like mother like daughter?). Hope you're both doing ok...
Mystic - totally off topic
But, just wanted to let you know I am now well into S4 of The Wire...... this show has taken over my life - you feel me?
I FEEL you Steph. Ah...S4,
I FEEL you Steph. Ah...S4, perhaps the best of the best! Those kids just break your heart, don't they? Of course, my heart was already broken in Season One when they killed Wallace :(
True dat
Oh blimey, I'd forgotten about Wallace..... (Does it make me a terrible person that I was kind of gutted when they took Stringer out at the end of S3?)
I keep thinking that each season is not going to live up to the last but they just keep getting better and better. Outstanding. You guys sure know how to make good shows....
Not terrible at all Steph
I was gutted too--and dumbfounded that they killed off a major character. I loved the complexity of his character, the drug dealer/legit businessman who's studying marketing. He and Avon were perfect foils for one another...
Enjoy!
What happen
I thought the Dems where going to stand by there man?
Really? Are people actually this stupid? Yeah, I guess so.
Okay, the pizza thingy is cute. But really, people are so fucking stupid that I'm sure they won't even get it. I mean really, Joe the plumber and Hannah the homemaker are easily manipulated robots....
This is NOT about "health care" reform. It's become about INSURANCE reform. And, if anyone thinks that the insurance industry is going to allow their power, profits, and control over the puppet politicians, to be taken away from them, think again.
The lobbying insurance consortium, will never agree to anything that increases their risk, and lowers their profits. Period. It's never going to happen until politicians get their fucking heads out of their smelly assholes and understand that people are suffering in this country.
Will that ever happen? No.
The American public has proven that they are... fat and lazy, and not interested in participating in this dialog. I'm disgusted with Americans..... not just politicians, but the constituents who are NOT climbing all over their representatives asses concerning this matter. The 'town hall' irrational outbursts have just proven to me how incredibly stupid American's can be....
Sorry, I have absolutely zero confidence in us, as a nation, to EVER have meaningful health care reform when the fuck-heads involved have bought the politicians, donated to their political futures, and have a significant place at the table when discussions are taking place.... yeah, I'm referring to the insurance lobby.
Maddow nails it again!
All the GOP and Blue Dogs want out of health care reform is the dough, in their pockets of course!
Barney fights back
Watch how Barney Frank completely verbally dismantled a woman who called healthcare reform a Nazi policy at a townhall meeting last night:
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/08/commen...
OMFG!
He's gotta originally be from Southie!
This is how Dem's need to deal with the neocons, harshly, and with a strong dose of reality checks!
BTW, media rumor has it Obama is about to dump the whole concept of bipartisanship, and may also call Blue Dogs to account as well.
Maybe now the GOP will learn what that damned bus feels like? One can only hope!
Thanks, Grace
You rock.
. . .
May I have a pony?
"When you look for the bad in mankind expecting to find it, you surely will." ~ Pollyanna