tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65963100805962196492024-03-13T22:36:41.693-07:00Rick Denzien - BlogRick's Every couple of days Blog.Rick Denzienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434887898536304632noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596310080596219649.post-77326593603484022712012-07-23T07:11:00.002-07:002012-07-23T07:35:35.038-07:00Evil So Perfectly Evil<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">2012-07-23 - </span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: 700;">Evil So
Perfectly Evil</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
<br />
By now you’ve had a little time to process the emotions surrounding latest round
of “senseless” shootings. The Aurora Colorado scenario seems too like so many
others in the news... Only the names & places have changed. But not the hurt –
not the pain. For the families left behind, there is nothing that can be said
to console or compensate for this type of personal injury. For them, numbness
and disbelief must pass into rage and anger before acceptance and healing can
begin. And this will be a life long process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">I feel compelled to bring about
a more peaceful and equitable world. One light in the darkness lights up the
whole place, so I take my music into those places too. It’s my job.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">RADIATE was written shortly
after one highly publicized public shooting, nearly identical to </span>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">Aurora</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">.
Makes me wonder: can this ever be stopped? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">What strikes me like a bullet to the brain is the paradoxical nature intrinsic
to an incident like this: in an instant everything changes and yet everything
remains the same.<br />
<br />
Certainly everything changes for the survivors of this trauma – the moms & dads,
sisters & brothers, girlfriends & boyfriends the friends & classmates - their
lives will never ever be the same. In many ways there lives are over. Even us
silent media voyeurs loose something in ourselves, just like they did.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">But nothing also happens. Dare
I say – there won’t be any new-n-improved gun control laws. The interests of
manufactures, share holders & owners rights to bear such devices would scream a
sick ironic bloody murder if “regulation” were to cut into their quarterly
profits or gun touting freedom. And all too often, the officials elected to
protect and serve the public interest were not really elected for that purpose
at all. That is part of the myth of our “democracy”. Many officials are
unofficially representing corporate brand names. After all, corporations are
people too. <br />
<br />
These are the “Bastards”, that writer Hunter S. Thompson tried to warn us
about. The “War Profiteers” will never decide to stop profiteering. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">I use the word war here because
there is a war going on – right here in this country – in your town - in your
living room – on your computer – smart phone and in your heart. Call it good
vs. evil if you want.<br />
<br />
Believe me when I say, I have no sympathy or tolerance for the shooters. For
me, it is a little more than difficult to love an enemy like this… <br />
<br />
War is waged on us using our own primal fear as the weapon of mass distraction.
Nearly every media moment is about killing, shooting, war, rape, fammon,
drought, too cold, too much heat. Freaking ice sheets twice the size of
Manhattan breaking off Greenland… <br />
I feel afraid – don’t you?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">Makes any normal “sane” person
reach for the emergency break – except - we all know deep down - there isn’t
one. We feel, the helplessness, the heart beat rises as the speed picks up –
like an out of control roller coaster ride - knowing that the whole thing can
de-rail any second. We don’t even have any seatbelts on here!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">Being completely overwhelmed
and distracted in mass is what keeps the evil so perfectly evil.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">Somehow, buy means of faith,
spiritual practice, or out and out numbness, most of us deal and go on with life
as it is.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">Unfortunately the weaker minded
among us are even more venerable and less able to cope than we are. The results
are clear.<br />
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One light in the darkness lights up the whole place….</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">But you can’t stop perfectly
perfect wickedness with a splash of water from tainted plastic bottle with a
fake picture of mountains on it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">Feeling the fear and letting it
go. This is the first step to re-claiming your power and over coming the fear.
Notice I didn’t say ignore the fear. <u>Feeling it</u> is a moment by moment
process – learning to be focused instead of being distracted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">RADIATE LOVE instead and change
your world. The world as it could be.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">Realize that you are powerful
and your dollars are powerful. Small spending choices will change the way
companies & organizations behave. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">Your money does not care where
you spend it, but you should. If a company or organization is lying to you, stop
giving them your money.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">Have a look at your investment
portfolio sometime. Are your mutual funds investing in war, processed food,
chemicals, oil & gas? The super evil banking industry? (I love my teller
though) <br />
<br />
If so, consider researching and changing your funds to companies that are “B”
rated. (Corporations that have by charter promised to up hold their moral
obligation to protect the planet, the workers and still make a profit for the
shareholders). What Kind of food do you buy? Check out natural organic food
growers & distributors. Look into companies that are building the sustainable
future in solar, electric cars, LED lights etc. And definitely eliminate the
war & banking sectors. We can take away the power of evil by how we spend
and invest our money.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">I’m asking you to help me with
this project because it is making a difference and with your help will continue…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18pt;">Above all – RADIATE Love. It
will change everything.</span></div>
<div style="color: #f3f3f3;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>Project In Progress
Listening Spot:</b><br />
<a _cke_saved_href="http://www.nimbitmusic.com/rickdenzien" href="http://www.nimbitmusic.com/rickdenzien" target="_blank">
http://www.nimbitmusic.com/rickdenzien</a> <b>
Listen and I'm adding lyrics too...</b><br />
<a href="http://www.rockethub.com/projects/8875-radiate-a-new-rick-denzien-cd">
http://www.rockethub.com/projects/8875-radiate-a-new-rick-denzien-cd</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;">Rick Denzien</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© MMXII todate Rick Denzien -
Slot One Entertainment, Inc. - All Rights Reserved - Used By Permission</span></div>
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</div>
</div>Rick Denzienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434887898536304632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596310080596219649.post-82147973797101832162012-07-23T07:09:00.002-07:002012-07-23T07:26:05.634-07:00On one of the Europe Tours<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<title>2012-07-06</title>
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<a href="http://www.rickdenzien.com/blog/2012-07-06-blog/EuropeTour81_0029_small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="http://www.rickdenzien.com/blog/2012-07-06-blog/EuropeTour81_0029_small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>During one of my European tours, we rolled into town as usual, and went
directly to the venue – this time under a huge outdoor circus-looking tent.
There we found a crew busy at work tweaking the sound and light systems. We
were introduced to everyone on the crew and then, after coffee break, went on
stage for a quick sound check. The promoter in charge was a stocky, burly,
fisherman-type looking man named Victor.<br />
<br />
People in the last town had warned me about Victor. But, I thought to myself,
how bad can this guy be?<br />
<br />
It was nearly show time, sound checked OK, but I noticed, and made the mistake
of, mentioning that the lights were all magenta on the right side.<br />
<br />
Victor went off like a Forthof July rocket. "Typical prima-donna rock star
American," he ranted loudly, as he flicked his hand-rolled cigarette to the
ground and stomped out of the tent. The lights did not get adjusted.<br />
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Later on, my sound man Joe & I sat down to a group meal - some sort of stew -
cooked right there stage side. Everyone got a plate and a spoon and dug in. It
was really good. Victor came over to me and said, "Not good enough for you, uh,
American?" But I was already on my second helping.<br />
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I was scheduled to do 116 concerts on this tour, and we were at the halfway
point. The daily routine now actually seemed normal.<br />
<br />
A typical day was: Get up by 7AM - do the morning critique meeting regarding
the show the night before, sing a little - hit the noon hour street concert
location, usually at a crowed café in the town center - set up the sound, sing
for an hour and a half, pack up, grab lunch - go to the guest house to shower
and have dinner (we were always a guest somewhere). Then - head to the concert
location spot for a full 2 set show - pack up and head to the next venue and do
a club set – and then, back to the guest house to crash for the night. We were
playing 3 to 4 gigs a day. Sundays were easy, with only 2 or 3 church services
to do.<br />
<br />
But, while in Victor’s domain, I got the added joy of hearing him take pot shots
at me at every opportunity, “Hey, American” this and that, "you Americans are so
full of yourselves.” He might have been right, but all I did to piss this guy
off was observe that all the lights were magenta during sound check - I didn't
really even care!<br />
<br />
After a few days, he gave us an afternoon off. He said we were going on a boat
ride. “Cool, maybe he is making-up,” I thought. We got to the docks where it
was a boater’s dream come true -- sweet rides, like jet skis, 40-foot speed
boats, all the top “names” were well represented.<br />
<br />
I'm thinking, “Wow, this is going to be great - do some water skiing, maybe some
jetting...” as Victor walks past all these boats, all the way to the end of the
dock, to a fleet of little blue, 8-foot dingy row boats. "Here we are," he
said.<br />
<br />
OK, then (WTF!!). So crew, the other band members, well-wishers, fans, and
Victor (about 40 of us, filling 8 boats) get in these small dingys, and “row,
row, row your boat!”<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/EuropeTour81_0029.jpg">
</a><br />
For two hours, I’d hear Victor smear, "How do you like our boat ride, American?
Is this too much work for you, American? How do you like the view American?”
All he wanted to do was race row boats! Mind you, we were on a Dutch canal.
Narrow and straight and way below any land. All you could see to the front and
rear was an endless column of water, and to the sides, one meter (about 3 feet)
of grass rising up. It became clear to me in that moment that Victor was going
to torture everyone because he hated me, hated me as an American, or maybe (I
wondered) he just hated me because I was a tall American. At 6’6”, I have a
better view and hit my head more than most. Victor might have been four foot
eleven, and it was all MY fault.<br />
<br />
It was hot; we were tired and thirsty, so to ease the insanity about 10 of us (2
boats) pulled our “racing” row boats to the “shore”.<br />
<br />
We climbed out and up the grass to see what was on top there. It was a grazing
pasture with 50 sheep on it, surrounded by water canals that were interconnected
with little wooden bridges and a windmill way off in the distance.<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.blogger.com/EuropeTour81_0006.jpg">
<img border="0" height="304" src="EuropeTour81_0006_small.jpg" width="200" xthumbnail-orig-image="images/EuropeTour81_0006.jpg" /></a><br />
It was about the size of a football field, so we did the only thing we could do
-- played a game of “chase and tackle” the sheep.<br />
<br />
And the sheep won – OK, so you had to be there – but, turns out that sheep are
hard to tackle.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/EuropeTour81_0008.jpg"><img border="0" height="275" src="EuropeTour81_0008_small.jpg" width="400" xthumbnail-orig-image="images/EuropeTour81_0008.jpg" /></a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>We covered five miles, give or take, and
came finally intersected with a huge river with lots of shipping traffic on it.
The other boats from our group were already on the other side, about a quarter
mile away at some sort of dock.<br />
<br />
So, out we rowed into the rough waters of the river channel. I had not heard an
insult from Victor for almost an hour, but as we tied-up to the dock, he looked
down on me and yelled, "Hey American, this water is too dirty for you to swim."<br />
<br />
That was it. I'd had it with this pipsqueak Victor guy. So, as soon as we got
up on the dock, I did a one-and-a-half gainer (forward flip) into the water -
about a 10 foot jump. (I was a competitive swimmer in high school, so was in my
element here!) <br />
<br />
Victor cannon-balled in after me. There we were, face to face, bobbing up and
down on this river. We both looked toward mid-channel, and about 200 yards out
was a marker pylon. We looked back at each other, and instantaneously, we both
start racing towards the marker. As I got closer, I could see this thing was
really some sort of pipe, about 5-feet in diameter, painted alternate black and
white rings every 3-feet. It had rungs welded to the side, but, up too high to
reach. I waited for a ship wave to lift me up and caught the first rung. Once
up, I reached back to give Victor a hand and caught his arm and pulled him to
the first rung. After that it was a race climbing to the top of this tower.<br />
<br />
On the climb up, I looked out over toward my group of rowing friends. They
looked so small, waving at us – and they weren’t waving hello! I guess they
knew what I could not know in that moment - that we were about to do a dangerous
trick – jumping 50 plus feet back down into that cold, dark water. Victor and
I locked glances, and without saying a word, jumped and smashed into the water.<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/EuropeTour81_0036.jpg"><img border="0" height="262" src="EuropeTour81_0036_small.jpg" width="400" xthumbnail-orig-image="images/EuropeTour81_0036.jpg" /></a><br />
We got back to the boats and no one could believe that we had done that jump.
“Man, you guys are crazy,” I kept hearing. After that, Victor was my best
friend for the rest of the tour. No more insults, no more smears. All he could
do was bask and brag about how we jumped off that friggen tower thing - heard it
over and over on the 5-mile row back. That night at the gig - like magic - the
magenta gels on the right side had been replaced and the lights were perfectly
balanced.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><b>Project In Progress Listening Spot:</b><br />
<a _cke_saved_href="http://www.nimbitmusic.com/rickdenzien" href="http://www.nimbitmusic.com/rickdenzien" target="_blank">
http://www.nimbitmusic.com/rickdenzien</a> <b>Listen and I'm adding lyrics
too...</b><br />
<br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;">Rick Denzien</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 18px;"><br />
</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">© MMXII todate Rick Denzien -
Slot One Entertainment, Inc. - All Rights Reserved - Used By Permission</span></div>
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</div>Rick Denzienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434887898536304632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596310080596219649.post-26189877180907391472011-04-26T16:48:00.001-07:002011-04-26T17:33:51.175-07:00Why Be a Light?Hey Just checking in. Actually the way the world is has nothing to do with how it can or will be in the future. In other words, just because the world was messed up in the past or present does not mean that this will continue in the future. <br />
For example, the past two thousand years was marked by centuries of mass violence which lead to the deaths of millions / billions of people. Looking at this world from a human history point of view clearly is a horror. <br />
Toward the end of the last century however, there were three non-violent revolutions. Gandhi’s India became free by means of a non violent movement. In the 60's Martian Luther King lead a non-violent movement to reach greater legal & human equality in the civil rights movement. And Nelson Mandela led a 20 year non-violent revolution which ended apatite in South Africa. Though these men were not perfect, and though there where those who attached the non-violent nature of their causes, never the less the overall effect was non-violent and lead to an evolution of the human race.<br />
Phil Collins did make a difference in millions of fans lives, and to that extent he pushed the good forward. When enough people join together toward the same positive goals, reality as we know it changes. The great truth of quantum mechanics is that the future is ours to create. And though there are those who for their own greed and fear try to keep the rest of us down and oppressed, it is a fact that the good and higher best for all will win out.<br />
Best,<br />
RickRick Denzienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434887898536304632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596310080596219649.post-31229419512764865062010-10-29T11:48:00.000-07:002010-10-29T12:30:30.216-07:00AmazingIt always amazes me - to see you and me - us poor and middle class people - buying in to the great lie. <br />
<br />
It is a lie that big business and free enterprise will solve all our problems if only they are left without any government regulation. The facts? Big business only cares about one thing: the $$ profit that can be made this quarter. Most big businesses do not care for the poor or the middle class, this is a fantasy. The rich & powerful love to twist the truth in their favor.<br />
<br />
Nixon (R) opened the doors for free trade to China. The gold rush was switched on. At the time, there was the promise of new jobs here in America because geez – look at all those un-taped 6 billion Chinese ready to buy American products. Well no one thought for a moment to realize that most people in China were very poor peasants, living under a dominating murdering killing machine – namely the Chinese government. Look where that has gotten the USA. Our manufacturing base has moved to China, leaving the US with very few MFG jobs – jobs that used to be held by a proud and strong middle class – gone over seas to the Maoists. Not only are our workers un employed, but the Chinese workers labor in deplorable sweat shop conditions. Slavery is alive and well. Our balance of trade is way out of wack and our national debt continues to climb. China lies about how much fish it takes from our world’s dying oceans with impunity and is still the chief human rights oppressor in the world (Tibet). Yet we middle class send them all our money via China Mart stores - great idea. Is “Free Enterprise” really free? <br />
<br />
In the name of "Free" enterprise and deregulation Regan (R) killed the unions. Collective bargaining for the good of the union members is the only reason for the creation of the American middle class in the first place. We still live rich off gains made by the unions, from the 1930’s through the 1970’s, the poor and middle class enjoy a very enhanced life style, though it has eroded badly since the 70’s. It is time the middle class woke up to the reality that large corporate interests such as, big oil, big MFG over seas, Big nsurance industry and big fast food are not going to give a fair shake to the little guy.<br />
<br />
It is up to us, the people, to make our government watch out for "we the people" and not for the interests of the power hungry rich. Consumers have the right to safe products; workers have the right to produce products in a safe environment. We all have the right to live in a world that is in balance, non-polluted, with a green economy that is sustainable. <br />
<br />
Leaving the power elate rich alone making super bucks will only send the poor and middle class to economic hell. This is not the better way. First let’s all get a clue. Next let’s not be tricked by the rich; of course they don't want any regulation. <br />
<br />
They would rather see you get your hands chopped off because a safety feature on a machine or product would cost money which costs them profit. <br />
<br />
Of course the insurance industry does not want universal health care, they would make a little less profit. <br />
<br />
Of course the chemical industry promotes the “Human Element”, instead of the 50,000 people they killed via Union Carbide in Bhopal India. Pay for all that death? Why make it right. It is cheaper to make up some slick bull shit averts for TV, convince us that they are really good human folks like us.<br />
<br />
Of course the fast food industry does not want you to know that you're eating rotten bacteria infested meat. So what if a few hundred children die from ecoli, the industry profits. Less government - fewer government meat inspectors makes it easy to avoid doing the right thing. Once again, big business gets its way at our expense. <br />
<br />
Big business will never be able to solve our problems because Big Business creates more problems in the process of doing business than it solves. <br />
<br />
That is not to say I’m against business. Only the kind that does not have balance, which as it happens, is most business. There are many excellent exceptions where the business enters into a partnership with the workers; the business prospers by not polluting, attempts sincerely and successfully to have a zero impact on the environment. Replaces what it takes. Balance, sustainability true profitability taking all costs into account.<br />
<br />
Most of us believe in God; the forgiveness of sins etc. The Rabi Jesus taught "whatever you to the least of these my brothers, you do to me". The "Golden Rule" is a value that most of us believe in, yet when it comes to corporate responsibility, somehow we give them a big fat pass. <br />
<br />
If you believe in God, and this is a value that you believe in, you must also get your head around these facts. Vote for democratic people who support us and you the person.Rick Denzienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434887898536304632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596310080596219649.post-22655053256230536232010-09-26T20:08:00.000-07:002010-09-26T20:08:47.817-07:00Chairman Mao<b>What the the ghost of Chairman Mao say to the billionaire Chinese Industrialist?<br />
"I think these Americans are stupid, they want more jobs at home, but they continue to import and buy from China Store". - rick<br />
www.YouTube.com/RckDenzien</b>Rick Denzienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434887898536304632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596310080596219649.post-2359045439483367902010-06-27T05:15:00.000-07:002010-06-27T05:15:00.337-07:00Main Line Media News<a href="http://mainlinemedianews.com/articles/2010/06/25/entertainment/doc4c211cb993a4b388200014.txt">Main Line Media News</a>Rick Denzienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434887898536304632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596310080596219649.post-23379815223045313352010-03-23T13:36:00.001-07:002010-03-23T13:36:48.710-07:0010 THINGS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM<!--- blog subject --> <br />
<div class="blogSubject"> <label id="pBlogSubject_531471118">10 THINGS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM</label> <br />
<b>Category:</b> Life </div><!--- blog body --> ......10 THINGS EVERY AMERICAN SHOULD KNOW ABOUT HEALTH CARE REFORM<br />
<br />
1. Once reform is fully implemented, over 95% of Americans will have<br />
health insurance coverage, including 32 million who are currently<br />
uninsured.2<br />
<br />
2. Health insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people<br />
coverage because of preexisting conditions--or to drop coverage when<br />
people become sick.3<br />
<br />
3. Just like members of Congress, individuals and small businesses who<br />
can't afford to purchase insurance on their own will be able to pool<br />
together and choose from a variety of competing plans with lower<br />
premiums.4<br />
<br />
4. Reform will cut the federal budget deficit by $138 billion over the<br />
next five years, and a whopping $1.2 trillion in the following ten years.5<br />
<br />
5. Health care will be more affordable for families and small businesses<br />
thanks to new tax credits, subsidies, and other assistance--paid for<br />
largely by taxing insurance companies, drug companies, and the very<br />
wealthiest Americans.6<br />
<br />
6. Seniors on Medicare will pay less for their prescription drugs because<br />
the legislation closes the "donut hole" gap in existing coverage.7<br />
<br />
7. By reducing health care costs for employers, reform will create or save<br />
more than 2.5 million jobs over the next decade.8<br />
<br />
8. Medicaid will be expanded to offer health insurance coverage to an<br />
additional 16 million low-income people.9<br />
<br />
9. Instead of losing coverage after they leave home or graduate from<br />
college, young adults will be able to remain on their families' insurance<br />
plans until age 26.10<br />
<br />
10. Community health centers would receive an additional $11 billion,<br />
doubling the number of patients who can be treated regardless of their<br />
insurance or ability to pay.<br />
Sources: <span style="font-size: smaller;"> <div style="margin: 1em 0px;"> 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 10. "Affordable Health Care for America: Summary," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 18, 2010 <br />
<a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3ZC5ob3VzZS5nb3YvYWthbWFpZG9jcy9lbmVyZ3ljb21tZXJjZS9TVU1NQVJZLnBkZg==">http://wwwd.house.gov/akamaidocs/energycommerce/SUMMARY.pdf</a> </div><div style="margin: 1em 0px;"> 3. "Insurance Companies Prosper, Families Suffer: Our Broken Health Insurance System," U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Accessed March 22, 2010 <br />
<a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vaGVhbHRocmVmb3JtLmdvdi9yZXBvcnRzL2luc3VyYW5jZXByb3NwZXJzL2luZGV4Lmh0bWw=">http://healthreform.gov/reports/insuranceprospers/index.html</a> </div><div style="margin: 1em 0px;"> 4. "Affordable Health Care for America: Health Insurance Reform at a Glance: Revenue Provisions," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 18, 2010 <br />
<a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3ZC5ob3VzZS5nb3YvYWthbWFpZG9jcy9lbmVyZ3ljb21tZXJjZS9SRVZFTlVFLnBkZg==">http://wwwd.house.gov/akamaidocs/energycommerce/REVENUE.pdf</a> </div><div style="margin: 1em 0px;"> 5. "New Jobs Through Better Health Care," Center for American Progress, January 8, 2010 <br />
<a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3LmFtZXJpY2FucHJvZ3Jlc3Mub3JnL2lzc3Vlcy8yMDEwLzAxL25ld19qb2JzX2hlYWx0aC5odG1s">http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2010/01/new_jobs_health.html</a> </div><div style="margin: 1em 0px;"> 8, 9. "Proposed Changes in the Final Health Care Bill," <i>The New York Times</i>, March 22, 2010 <br />
<a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vd3d3Lm55dGltZXMuY29tL2ludGVyYWN0aXZlLzIwMTAvMDMvMTkvdXMvcG9saXRpY3MvMjAxMDAzMTktaGVhbHRoLWNhcmUtcmVjb25jaWxpYXRpb24uaHRtbA==">http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/19/us/politics/20100319-health-care-reconciliation.html</a> </div><div style="margin: 1em 0px;"> 10. "Affordable Health Care for America: Health Insurance Reform at a Glance: Addressing Health and Health Care Disparities," House Energy and Commerce Committee, March 20, 2010 <br />
<a href="http://www.msplinks.com/MDFodHRwOi8vZG9jcy5ob3VzZS5nb3YvZW5lcmd5Y29tbWVyY2UvRElTUEFSSVRJRVMucGRm">http://docs.house.gov/energycommerce/DISPARITIES.pdf</a> </div></span>Rick Denzienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434887898536304632noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6596310080596219649.post-56561354179742339392009-12-15T10:34:00.000-08:002011-04-26T17:28:29.943-07:00My Health Care ExperienceOnce in this country, I spent less than 17 hours in the hosptial and the bill came to over $65,000. And they didn't even send me home with a jar of Vaseline®.<br />
<br />
Near the end of one of my music tours in The Netherlands, I became ill. Fever, dizzy, throat was on fire. So sick that I slept right up till a performance on a music festival and then went right back to sleep again. <br />
<br />
My friends finally woke me and said, "Dude you don't look so good, were taking you to the doctor". My protests did no good; they thought better for a poor musician from the states without any insurance coverage and what he had to say about his own sickness. Instead they took me to a non emergency hospital to seek treatment. My friend Tilly said, "don't worry this is on us".<br />
<br />
A short ride to the hospital filled out a one page form and right in to see a doctor. I kept telling him that I had no money - he didn't listen to that, he just took care of me. He wrote a prescription for me that cost $3.00 - and sent me to my guest home. On the way out we paid for the prescription and I asked how much did the doctor cost because I wanted to pay them back. They said - It is already paid. We have national health care. "But I'm a ....USA.... citizen; I don't have any health care". They explained that because I was creating commerce, business by singing and performing that I was part of The Netherlands economy and I was covered. "You are a legitimate worker with a work visa after all. You're paying taxes on everything you buy, and so are your fans", she said.<br />
<br />
Now I’m not suggesting that we cover non ....USA.... citizens with health care. But, the moral of the story is, not only do the Dutch take very good care of their own people, they take an actual Christian attitude towards a total stranger! The parable of the Good Samaritan comes to mind. <br />
<br />
What a stark contrast to how we treat our on citizens. P.S. No need to worry about the Dutch Insurance Industry - It is alive, well and profitable. The Dutch maintain one of the highest standards of living anywhere in the world.<br />
<br />
In my opinion, those haters - so called "Tea Party" who call themselves "Christians" are really more like the Romans who tossed the real Christians to the lions!! <br />
<br />
Holding insurance companies accountable is the correct thing to do. Making sure that no one can be denied or dropped from their insurance is the correct thing to do.<br />
<br />
How can we have "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness" if we are always worried about if we even have or the cost of having healthcare? Total coverage is a basic right of USA citizenship.Rick Denzienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13434887898536304632noreply@blogger.com1