Why healthcare needs an infusion of capitalism

Why is it that we pay a ton for health care, both to our insurance companies and directly to the provider but don't treat it like it's a business?

We recently learned that my wife might have a blood disorder called Factor 5. We wanted to get her tested. When she went in, the doctor said they'd just do a "full panel." Never did it occur to us to ask how much this would cost, or even what it meant. Because we were acting like patients, and not like customers.

So, she does not have factor 5. We received a bill for $1200 for the lab work. They didn't have our current insurance info, so we got the bill and now our fingers are crossed as to if they will pay it at all, since we just chose to have it done.

Later we got a call. They "spun" Kelli's blood and then realized they could not then use it for one of the tests. So she had to go back in for another blood draw. Now, in business, usually if someone is offering you services and they completely botch the job, they offer to do the services free or compensate you to make up for the mistake in some way.

We got another bill. Now our total is $1400+. Because, of course, we got billed for the second round of testing. Must be nice to work at a job where you can screw something up and then still bill full price.

We're waiting on insurance and need to make some phone calls. This is just stupid. And to think that some people think that it would be better off with more government control. Take these problems x10 and you'd have socialized medicine. And you, all of my friends and neighbors, would be getting the bill for their mistake.

Isolation & Friendship

Isolation kills. Being alone, and feeling like there is no one that can help you is deadly. Women are good and not being isolated. Men are lousy at it. Especially once they get married. Thankfully, most of us marry our best friend, and our lover. The comfort and companionship that a man can find with his wife is unrivaled.

However, men needs friends. What happens when a guy needs to talk about his marriage? He probably does nothing. What happens when his wife is not suitable for the conversation, or to accomplish a task that she would not know how to do? Again, he probably does nothing, or calls his dad or his brother. We need friends. Just normal friends, like we had as kids and teenagers. Guys to hang out with, guys to talk to, and someone you can go to with anything, even if you never have, at least you know that person could handle it.

The often quoted, seldom practiced, standard verse on friendship:
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!
(Ecc 4:9-10)

Fax or deliver petitions to your county recorder.

Get a county recorder petition here

Check out a Senator who is actually standing up for separation of powers and the legislator's exclusive right to make law here.

County recorder is an elected office.

I am not a legal scholar, but I know that the only body that makes law in Iowa is the legislator and I know that the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction to enforce rulings. If you are unsure about that, ask yourself if they have they have the authority to arrest people, or dispatch the National Guard, or dispatch State Troopers. The Supreme Court makes the ruling, and then it is up to the legislator to make law that is Constitutional.

Crazy Louis

I saw crazy Louis today. One of my customers from 4 or 5 years ago. He's an old man who is literally dying of cancer. He bought a surveillance system from us. When he's not angry, he's actually really sweet, in a crazy way. I am not saying crazy lightly. He was showing me a picture of a waterfall and explaining how the Virgin Mary, Jesus, Mary Magdeline, and the dog Jesus gave to Mary Magdaline were in the picture. And he was showing me the demon that was watching us from across the street. And when I was reviewing the recording on his DVR, he pointed out Jesus sitting on his front step. He also was offering to give recipes to my wife, he gave me a hug, and he blessed me with the sign of the cross as I left. He was in tears.

How does paying your bills reflect on Christ?

Two Christian Home Builders...

Builder one is open and vocal about his faith. He goes to a Bible believing, gospel preaching church. He has built a home entirely for charity, for missions work. His wife is involved with a missions organization. As I am saying, they are extremely active in the Christian community and let you know about it.

Builder two is quiet about his faith. I only happened to learn about it, when he said, "well, actually that house is for my pastor..." I don't know much about builder two. He is honest, has never used profanity when working with me (of the many builders I work with who claim to be Christians, he is only one of two who does not swear), and he is on top of things.

The only thing is, builder one is slow to pay his bills. Very slow. Borderline delinquent on a regular basis.

Builder two pays his bills on time. Always.

Builder two has always had more credibility and a better testimony to me. And the number one factor in that is that he pays his bills.

Just being myself, I guess

So, I've thought about blogging for a long time. Perhaps blogging on social issues, or politics, or the church, or family life. Then I figured out that I don't have the energy, or intellect to keep a blog sustained with one profound topic for very long. So, I'm just going to do what many of you do, and post my thoughts and opinions, mostly as they come to me. By the grace of God, hopefully some of it will be profound, but most of it will probably be random.

And I may clutter it up with random pictures, hopefully most of which I have taken myself.