While I agree with some who believe that people have entirely given up responsibility for themselves, I do believed that everywhere around them, from family “shoulds” to society (advertising included), they were encouraged at every level to do so. Even those of us who wanted to be responsible had the wrong information. Why?

Realizing the problem is more complicated than this, I feel the largest problem we have with our so-called health care (more like disease management) is the formation of the AMA (and subsequently, the FDA and Big Pharma, all taking their respective current roles). While I believe doctors should have standards, this group of chemical/surgery doctors sought actively to eliminate their competition – particularly their competition with healing philosophies that work (and when you eliminate competition, you can raise your prices, this is where insurance gets involved, amongst other things). Herbal medicine and Homeopathy were wrongfully attacked, as it was proven for thousands of years what herbs can do. Using the law wrongly, but to their favor, they were successful over 100 years ago in making it illegal to practice herbal medicine and other vitalistic healing practices. It is illegal to diagnose, illegal to treat, illegal to label herbs with their proven healing properties, and about the only thing we can do is teach others how to be their own family herbalists. Until the government tries to take away our freedom of speech/press and freedom of assembly (yes, I bet they will try!), I believe everyone that is taught these skills will benefit more than they can ever imagine.

I also had another thought – what if our HealthCare Reform allowed the re-entry of these time-tested and proven methods of healing? What if competition was brought back? Insurance wouldn’t be needed, as prices would lower. I must admit that the one thing the Chinese were brilliant with was not only their herbal medicine and acupuncture, but also the fact that doctors only got paid when their patients were WELL! If a patient was sick, the doctor would work for free until they achieved wellness! What a concept! I bet it was also pretty easy to know which doctors were really skilled and which ones were not under this system Hey – I know! How about us herbalists write a counter-HealthCare Reform and submit THAT to Congress? Besides the fact they won’t read it, I am sure none of them or their friends will make any money from the deal, and therein lies the root of the issue!

In the meantime, anyone who can assess their risk of going without health insurance and use the monies saved for herbal training and to build up their herbal medicines as well as special needs (i.e. proper water treatment, etc.), will find their investment pays back much sooner than you think. Even if afterward you reinstate insurance for accidents and emergencies – you will feel so good knowing you can take care of many emergencies (yep, even broken bones) yourself, and anything that is a chronic condition always does better with herbs and natural treatments than with chemicals and surgery anyway – in fact, you might get the minimum policy at that point!

In any case – I got a chance to read over the 1,000-plus page proposal, and while we have no way of knowing what stays and goes due to their supposed discussions, the document is deliberately written vaguely for later manipulation – in fact the manipulation openings were blatant. References throughout said if there was any doubt on that issue, an appointed “commissioner” (not voted) would decide what it really means. Given the track record of this administration, it is clear that our health is not high on their priorities and I would never trust anyone they decide to appoint – you can bet that, like the rest, they are a complete statist. Every American regardless of side ought to vote NO (well, I guess the people who will make money off of this will vote yes, but they are not being truthful as to why they vote yes, and the rest haven’t read it – beware!)

In March I ended up in the hospital with what was left of a gangrenous appendix. The ER doc was stunned that I had had no other symptoms aside from pain which had gotten bad enough to finally go in. They kept saying I should be dead but credited my good health, my traditional diet and being non-smoking and non- drinking and of course my herbs. I should have been out in 3 days but alas my body shut down in reaction to the antibiotics – I hadn’t had any since I was 12 – first drugs at all since then. I left the hospital with no meds – again amazing the nurses since most people leave they said with at least 6 prescriptions. The ER doc was fascinated by the herbs and kept on asking questions until they finally wheeled me into the OR.

I am now in debt. Slowly whittling it away on my meager salary. It is still my choice to go without. Did I take a risk? Perhaps but I’m 52 and have only once before needed to go to the doctor for anything. Once in 52 years I’ve had an emergency. For me it was worth the risk.

It is interesting to note that since 1983 I had been off work only 9 days until this 3 week stint in March. I watch people I work with get sick all the time, diabetics stuffing themselves with cookies and cake then being off for days getting their blood sugar back in line, 2 lap band surgeries with little weight loss, etc. For them, Jesse is right, it is a safety net. They have no desire to change their lives and be healthy. That’s what they are paying insurance for they say. And then wonder why the premiums go up every year.

It is a sad state of affairs when everyone says we need access to healthcare. We have it. We just don’t have access to the money the beaurocrats want to shell out for insurance and high medical bills.

Everyone do your best to stay healthy! Bless you Kiva and Jesse!

If we had a serious ailment, we too, would have to try to treat it ourselves and pray for the best outcome. A trip to the hospital would bankrupt us.

Thank you for being a balanced voice in the midst of all this turmoil.

The downside is that the acceptable treatments of radiation and chemo are terribly destructive and extremely artificial. As well, once you are in the system, unless you have the fortitude, presence of mind, and time to sleuth out the “empathetic doctors” you go through their program, complete with their predictions and prognoses, and host of associated drugs to combat all the side effects of treatment protocols. In spite of the fact that these people really do want to help you, you become another guinea pig in the great drug and radiation experiment.

Since that experience, I have been surprised and astonished to find out how many situations seem to require chemotherapy. In addition, everyone seems to have cancer. And as for people wanting a pill to make it better, don’t get me started.

Our health care crisis is in large caused by the general shift to an artificial lifestyle, with abysmal food choices that lead to degenerative disease, which can only be palliated with drugs, never healed. The answer for this is not universal health coverage. It’s a change of diet.

Presently I am a licensed massage practitioner and a student of East West Herb Course, aiming at professional status. I work one afternoon a week in a Nutritional Therapy office, where people come streaming in with serious degenerative diseases and deep adrenal exhaustion. The first thing my associate gives these people is a food journal. Next she works with them to change their eating habits. Sometimes this alone effects huge changes. She also can advise them on supplementation, and has had wonderful effect. This service is one of those “you pay,” not “co-pay,” and so the people who seek her out have some idea of personal responsibility. Some of these people come in medicated with 9 or 10 different prescriptions. We look them all up and go over the side effects with the clients. Getting them off unnecessary drugs is high priority.

In essence, we have a huge population of substance abusers, sanctioned by the medical community and advertised to aggressively by the pharma companies, who are addicted to their prescriptions and suffering needlessly because they have no idea what a healthy lifestyle is. The country will certainly run to universal health care of some kind, and for saviour medicine, nothing is better. But if we want true health, we will have to make a lot of personal changes and choices.

I hope to live as close to the ground as possible; as green as possible, to develop a network of healers devoted to simple care and treatment, and to educate as many as will listen. Jesse, Kiva, Loba, and all your wonderful tribe, I appreciate what you are doing, you have encouraged me no end.

Nor is this a slam against mainstream medicine or healthcare in general.

Wolf is quoting a statistic about preventative medicine vs acute care in the insured vs the insured, that’s not at all the same as saying that all insured people are careless.

Stephany, I think that if you were to read the piece more closely, you would realize that no such assumption is made. You’ll noticed that much of this is qualified by “tends to” or “may” as is backed up by statistics in most cases. It’s not a value judgement, it’s an observation.

Regardless, I think that Wolf’s underlying statement still stands firm and is accurate no matter which way you swing politically.

I would have to say that I disagree with the idea that having insurance makes one careless, as well. My family has employer provided health insurance which I utilize for sports physicals and not much else. I am chancing my arms by saying this, but even with four children I have never had an emergency room trip or stitches.

We waiver back-and-forth on the issue of insurance, some days I would like to drop it, when I actually sit back and let myself comprehend what a waste it is financially. But there are other times when I am comforted by the thought of knowing that if someone is in a car accident or a major medical issue crops up, we are covered to an extent. We live from paycheck-paycheck like most of middle America. There is no savings account nor do we use credit cards so I can’t charge unexpected healthcare expenses (believe it or not, I know people who do this).

I think it unfair to assume that those of us who do pay for that peace-of-mind are unaware of our choices or irresponsible in the use of the insurance.

secondly, my children are covered under state insurance. They have been for years. I have only had to use that insurance a handful of times.
So having insurance does not neccessarily mean one will be careless or put their trust in doctors. But is sure is nice to have when one falls and needs stitches.
As an herbalist, taking my kids to the doctor is usually a horrible experience because I do things so opposite of this system of care. However, it is nice to know that if absolutely needed, my kids are covered.

Although, the way I was taught that insurance works is that a group of people decide together that they want a financial safety net, as it were, so they regularly pool money into a “joint” savings account, which is then drawn on in emergencies. This is a concept of insurance that I can stand behind. It promotes community, interdependence, and empowerment. Imagine if neighborhoods had a resource like this! If someone broke their leg, or someone’s bike got stolen, or any number of things, they could have a lil extra in order to help cover the costs, and the feeling of community support behind it. Private insurance like this exists, but it’s not very well known or understood, and I think it would be even BETTER done at a grass roots community level, than even these private companies. So, I don’t disagree with the whole concept of insurance, but the concept that I grew up understanding looks NOTHING like our insurance does today in this country.