The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly - 9/19/24

The ongoing saga… 

The Great – The trees are beginning to change color here in Maine and will be a full color over the next two weeks as we approach October 1st. It’s beautiful…as always!! Besides, it takes our minds off healthcare and politics – simultaneously 😊

The Good – Real-time fact-checking and, correction responding, if applicable. 

The Bad – The degeneration of American politics into the gutter with name-calling, lying, and ignominious sharing of absolute untruths derived from social media rather than a sense of direction and guidance for the nation.

The Ugly – The hostile protests that have besieged Springfield. Ohio due to incorrect information and rhetoric related to the Haitian immigrants who now reside in the community.

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly - 8/29/24

The ongoing saga… 

The Great – Now, it’s on to policy – assuming we can get beyond the name-calling and other diversions that seem to be sweeping the political sweepstakes between the USA Republicans and Democrats.

The Good – As of this writing – the Israeli and HAMAS teams are still at the table having conversations on how to stop the war in Gaza!! Stay up all night!! Drink coffee!! Listen to one another!! 

The Bad – Recently released research notes the fact that there were significant gaps in healthcare worker knowledge on “mpox” during the 2022-2023 outbreaks AND, there’s a new outbreak of Eastern Equine Enchephalitis (EEE) that can have tragic central nervous system complications – both of which emphasize the need for enhanced global preparedness, better training, and equitable vaccine access.

The Ugly – The government projects that the uninsured rate will increase in the coming year from 7.7% to 8.9% due to the end of Medicaid's continuous eligibility provisions in 2023 and 2024 as well as the expiration of enhanced marketplace subsidies beginning in 2025. 

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly - 8/14/24

The ongoing saga… 

The Great – I finally figured out why Norway’s populace is ranked among the nations of the world as the “happiest” in the world. It also reminded me of the state where I grew up – North Dakota where many of the inhabitants have the same names as those in Norway. Imagine that…

The Good – The November USA elections are now less than 90 days away – Thank God!! 

The Interesting – I’m not sure about the accuracy of this notable nugget of information but a close friend informed me that my home state of North Dakota was recently ranked as the “second coldest” state in the Union after Alaska. I’ve experienced it but – more than that – why isn’t it ranked #1? Come on North Dakota… 

The Bad – The unilateral decline of civility in American politics is setting a bad example on the international level.

The Ugly – The lack of attention on the major issues facing our nation with a partial list including the environment and climate change, health care access and delivery, lack of attention to the social determinants of health, the evolving bankruptcy of Medicare and Social Security, support for child care and primary education programs, continuing ire in the Middle East, Ukraine, and other places throughout the world; and, a host of other “issues” that readers will no doubt identify as important concerns for us to be discussing…

The Sad – The first suicide by a robot was reported in Gumi City, South Korea recently when an “administrative officer robot” – which was evidently overworked – threw itself down a flight of stairs to a fatal demise after “circling in one spot as if something was there.” Oy vey!

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly - 4/15/24

The ongoing saga… 

The Good – Seeing America!! See my note above about our ongoing 4-month trip across the USA and back to Maine via Canada. At only one month into the trip – it’s been a fabulous experience. Everyone should do it! It helps to put life into perspective… 

The Really Good – The Chauncey Creek Lobster Pound has announced that despite the destruction of their kitchen during a recent Nor’easter storm that caused flooding throughout our small town of Kittery, Maine, they intend to re-emerge by the time that the summer season reaches lift-off. We (those of us local Kitteryites) consider them to be the best Lobster Pound in all of Maine!! 

The Bad – The sudden dependency one feels when following a Nor’easter (like this past week here in Maine) that created no availability on the Internet for a protracted period. One suddenly feels the depth of dependency – and, you wonder: Are we better off?

The Ugly – The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas…there is only an increase in the degree of anger and strife that will occur as this battle continues. The USA needs to use all its powers to stop the ongoing battle…for the health of everyone in the Middle East and, over the longer term – the entire world.

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly - 2/26/24

The ongoing saga…

 The Great – The efforts of Antony Blinken in his work to bring about a resolution of the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

The Good – Governor Ned Lamont (D-CT) for the State of Connecticut announced that the state will cancel roughly $650 million in medical debt for an estimated 250,000 residents in 2024 as an effort to provide fiscal relief those those without resources. PS – He holds the highest approval of any Governor in the nation.

 The Bad – The recalcitrant position of Benjamin Netanyahu – although it may be more bluster than real. We shall see in the coming weeks….

The Ugly – The legal and illegal drug problems that are permeating society (SEE above notices).

 

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