Week 4, February 2010

I’ve been watching some of the Health Care Summit online this morning (online because where I’m watching it’s uninterrupted by the commercial propaganda that so peppers the television coverage) and I think it’s actually pertinent to the genre of my writings in this website.  Obviously, if it weren’t so complicated this healthcare challenge for each American family’s individual economy would have been resolved already, far better than what exists today.  But yes, it is complicated in its minutiae especially with regard to how philosophical agreements between the political parties can possibly be enacted in reality.  And yet the one thing we can all count on as a legitimate measure of well-being, no matter what our income level may be, is our health.  Our nation’s ability to overcome its economic challenges is directly fed by the health of our citizens.  According to the hearings today, there are as many as 40 million citizens with no health insurance at all; there are over 50 million who are covered, but who have “pre-existing conditions” that prevent them from ever changing insurance carriers; and premiums have soared for policy holders as the health insurance industry’s profits have increased by over 250% in the last decade.  This is the definition of the word “bilked”.  But today I am actually encouraged as I see the President and members of Congress thoughtfully discuss each other’s ideas and solutions.  I think this is, frankly, what we pay these ladies and gentlemen in government to DO.  But if you watch the commercial interruptions in the television coverage you’ll quickly see what well-funded sources stand in the way of reasonable discussions about solutions.  So for the sake of the American family, and by extension the American economy, I hope our well-insured and tax-payer funded members of Congress can create a far more reasonable set of ground rules for health insurance in this country where small businesses, and big businesses, and individuals alike all have a level playing field with regard to healthcare.  I can only speculate at this moment how freeing the market in this manner could possibly expand the opportunities for businesses and individuals to break free from the chains of health insurance policies, invest in their new ideas with the unthinkable risk of losing healthcare absent from their strategies, and fully implement the ONE COMMONLY AGREED UPON RECIPE FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY:  INNOVATION.   Were it not for health insurance concerns, how many people would pursue more innovative ventures?  How many more ideas would be considered feasible?  How many more people can be considered for hire by small businesses?  How many citizens would be able to raise their level of well-being?  Do any of you think for a second that your opportunity to buy your dream home isn’t connected to your health and well-being?   

See here for how the Council on Foreign Relations believes our healthcare system leaves American businesses disadvantaged.

To contact me about financing your dream-home click here.

Weekend Wanderer’s Events

…finding the treasures in your town and beyond. 

Two for This Weekend:

Al Di Meola at the Palace of Fine Arts in SF:  From the Chronicle website: A technical virtuoso with uncommon soul and passion, Al Di Meola is on the shortlist of the world’s great guitarists. The World Sinfonia project, which was first recorded in 1990, showcases his brilliant acoustic guitar playing, while allowing Di Meola to explore various European, Latin and Middle Eastern influences.

Holi Festival of Colors in Dolores Park in SF:  Also from the Chronicle website: Friends of El Shadai is hosting second annual celebration of Holi. This colorful festival is celebrated all over South Asia. In certain areas it signifies the victory of benevolence over malevolence while in other regions it is celebrated as a symbol of love and understanding. Holi is celebrated with bright colors & water balloons.  Looks like a fun spot to go… starts at noon on Saturday. 

Help Your Fellow Living Beings:

Benefit Concert for Tutorpedia at The Connecticut Yankee in SF:  The Tutorpedia Foundation will host a benefit concert on February 27th at the Connecticut Yankee to raise money for free tutoring for low-income Bay Area students.  The fundraiser will feature local band Guella, a silent auction, and raffle. Featured auction items include gift certificates to local restaurants, spa treatments, weekend getaways, sports tickets and much more.

Two Weekends from Now:

Caddyshack Live at the Darkroom Theatre in SF: From their website:  Pandemonium reigns as lovable blowhard Al Czervik disrupts an idyllic snobatorium, The Bushwood Country Club, much to the chagrin of stuffy Judge Smails. Meanwhile, college-bound caddy Danny Noonan must decide whether it’s smarter to kiss up to Smails for the coveted Caddy Scholarship, or take the advice of semi-suave playboy Ty Webb and just be the ball.  You know the movie… see it performed live on Fridays and Saturdays 3/5-3/27.

Pic of the Week… from my phone camera:

A political meeting of the minds