"Halftime In America - Clint Backlash

thefw.com

After watching the Super Bowl on Sunday and the many commercials, the one that stood out for me was Chrysler’s message of hope.  Employing the iconic figure of Clint Eastwood drove home a powerful and inspiring message for the American people.  After seeing the commercial, the first thing that came to mind for me was that the Republican Party would be upset.  As expected, it didn’t take long for Karl Rove to denounce Chrysler’s message and Eastwood for delivering it.  There is no question that the message mirrored much of what President Obama has delivered across the nation.  It’s a message of hope, determination and confidence.  Just what I think we need as a nation.    

Chrysler’s message was a powerful one.  It was heartfelt and I think appropriate.  It spoke of us coming together, working together, overcoming the odds and turning America around. It was far and away the best commercial of Super Bowl Sunday.   Both Chrysler and Eastwood indicated that there was no connection to any political party or political message.  It was intended to be non-political.  It was a commercial that celebrated Detroit’s rebirth with the reemergence of the automobile industry. 

Eastwood’s script included, “They almost lost everything.   But we all pulled together, now Motor City is fighting again.  Yeah, it’s halftime, America.  And our second half’s about to begin.”  It was a powerful, inspiring message for all Americans wanting our nation to succeed.  The message delivered by someone who is truly an American icon.  Eastwood said, “If Obama or any other politician want to run with the spirit of that ad, go for it.”  Sounds like something he would say in one of his films.  I must admit that I loved it. 

Many years ago, Hollywood stars took to the screen frequently during World War II to support war efforts, workers making products here at home and  families sacrificing.  The message of hope and determination delivered then is similar to what Chrysler and Eastwood was doing with this year’s Super Bowl ad.   The reemergence of Detroit’s car industry is a huge win for America.  It needs to be celebrated no matter whether you supported the President for choosing to bailout the car industry or not.  It was a great win for America.   The jobs saved and created was a big deal.  One of America’s great recession stories. 

I would like to see more of the same.  These stories are inspiring for the American people and when times are tough, it’s great to see one of our heroes, stars, sports figures or other legendary figure speak out and say we can persevere, we can turn it around, we are America.     

Three Doctors - Same Opinion & Prescription

biggovernment.com

Like most folks reaching my age, health concerns begin to take a more prominent role in one’s daily living.  As part of my renaissance year, I am trying to make changes in my lifestyle that will make a difference in the quality of my life.  Some of these changes are fairly easy and straight-forward.  I am visiting the gym with regularity working on cardiovascular exercise as well as strength and flexibility.  I am slowly but surely making the nutritional changes I need to make to compliment my exercise routine.  I am trying to avoid all the “white stuff” as they call it, the sugars which have predominantly been my favorites over these 59 years.

Between the exercise and nutrition I have managed to even lose a few more pounds which have had a pronounced change in how I feel.  Some habits long-lived are more difficult to change but efforts are being made to overcome them as well.  In addition to these efforts, I have reluctantly visited the doctor’s office to make sure that everything is working well and tend to those things that aren’t working nearly as well as I age.  I have had some of the traditional tests and some that are more specific to ailments that I have incurred over the years.  So far, everything has come back showing lots of wear and tear, some damage and even some fragility but overall a fairly good report from the three doctors I have visited.

As part of my visits, each doctor sat and spoke with me regarding my health.  That was helpful but I took the liberty to speak with each doctor about their practice and health care in general.  Ordinarily, not one of three doctors would have time to discuss such matters with me but I was fortunate in each instance that they almost welcomed the opportunity to share with me what they are experiencing in their practice.  I would point out that the three doctors included a General Practitioner, Orthopedic Surgeon and an Internist.      

It wasn’t a pretty picture being described to me by any one of three doctors.  They all spoke of having difficulty making it as a business.  To a doctor, each indicated that they have little control over what they are paid for many of the services they provide to their patients.  Insurance companies control all of that.  They suffer from the same issue most businesses suffer from with rising health care premiums for their workers.  All three have serious debt loads and each have been in business for 15 or more years.  They painted a pretty bleak picture for me. 

Given how they responded, I had to ask what the solution is for our nation regarding the health care of our citizens.  Each doctor responded that there will have to be at some point a Medicare-type system across the board for everybody.  They see no way for the current system to be able to sustain the rising costs of services, technology and the growing aging of the population.  Each said that the Affordable Health Care Act (Obamacare) doesn’t go far enough.  It’s a beginning but that’s all it is.

None were overly enthusiastic about it but clearly recognize that we are facing a health care crisis that has no easy answers.  Two of the three are Republicans.  Both noted that political affiliation in the end isn’t going to make a difference with health care.  The third doctor is a proponent of a single payer system eliminating insurance companies and taking them out of the equation all together. 

Given the upcoming Supreme Court challenge for a ruling on the Affordable Health Care Act, I found these small insights into my doctor’s businesses and attitudes regarding health care in America to be fascinating.  It was interesting to note as well that out of the three doctors, the General Practitioner was the one who was most pessimistic about being able to stay in business. 

Having had this experience with my doctors, I find it interesting that nearly 40% the nation wants the Affordable Health Care Act to be repealed.  They speak of how it is handicapping American businesses but it seems the trend toward fewer and fewer health care benefits has been going on for a very long time now.  Not just a reaction to this new law.  The health care issue will dominate the landscape for years to come until some type of affordable and fair system is created.  Affordable health care could be the next to go the way of the 1%.