| |
What's PlayingBazaarsNov. 21
St. Stanislaus School benefit, 9 to 4 in Kolbe Hall, Adams. Bake sale, snack bar, games, Chinese auctions, money raffle, crafts, and pierogi.
Blackinton Union Church, 1373 Massachusetts Ave., North Adams; 10 to 2. Crafts table, bake sale, Chinese auction, the Christmas table, and kid's grab bag. Lunch $4, $2 kids.
First Congregational Church, North Adams, 9-2.
Nov. 28
Becket Federated Church, Route 8, holiday bazaar from 9-3. Lunch, crafts, baked goods, holiday and other items. Information: Mary Peltier, Parish House, 413-623-5217.
Dec. 5
Holiday Fair at First Congregational Church, 25 Park Place, Lee, from 10 to 3; handcrafted items, raffles, children's shop, bake sale, cut Christmas trees and lunch from 11 to 1. Includes angel-themed goods from SERRV. Information, 413-243-1033 or www.ucc-lee.org.
Dec. 12-13
North Adams Country Club, crafts 9-4; food from That's a Wrap from 11-2. Information: Sheryl Morehouse at 413-822-3329.
Planning a bazaar this season? Submit information to info@iberkshires.com to have it listed here. |
Sales FliersDaily DigestMammography Dispute
The government's issued controversial new guidelines stating that women shouldn't get annual mammograms until age 50, rather than age 40.
iBerkshires will be meeting with local medical experts Monday. Have a question you'd like answered on this issue? Send it info@iberkshires.com with "mammogram" in the subject line. |
ObituariesSportsMedia PartnersElection
Trying to remember who won what and why? All the information is right here. |
Related Stories |
| |
Olver: Health-Insurance Reform NecessaryBy Kathy Keeser
Special to iBerkshires
05:15PM / Monday, October 19, 2009
Photos by Kathy Keeser
U.S. Rep. John W. Olver discussed health-care reform at a recent NBCC meeting. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Health insurance reform is imperative because of the high costs and poor outcomes, U.S. Rep. John W. Olver told a packed room at the monthly Northern Berkshire Community Coalition meeting.
The panel on health care, held Friday, Oct. 9, in the meeting room at First Baptist Church, included state Rep. Daniel E. Bosley, D-North Adams, Northern Berkshire Healthcare President Richard Palmisano, Dr. William Kober and NBCC outreach worker Andrea Peters.
"[The U.S. health-care system] is without any question, bar none, the most costly health-care system in the world," said the Amherst Democrat. "Everyone agrees that it is too costly. This is one of those things that affects everyone in the country."
The 110 attendees to the NBCC's October forum listened attentively to Olver's presentation, the responses from the panel, and the few questions that time allowed to be asked them.
Olver began with explaining why need health-care reform is needed. When compared to other industrialized countries, Americans have lower life expectancy and higher infant mortality, he said, and many people are getting their health care "in crisis" at the emergency room because of the lack of preventative medical care.
"Lives are lost that could have been saved if there was prevention, this is costly in terms of dollars and lives," he said. "It's really a bad situation."
Since the Democratic-controlled Congress set out early in 2009 on the path to reform health-care at the directive of President Obama, many wonder why it is taking so long. Others have vocally expressed concern over cost, access and government control. The attempt to reform has been bogged down in controversy and competing concepts between the House and Senate and the major parties.
"It is very complicated and tough to come up with something that will get the votes to pass the legislature, then be signed by the president," summarized Olver.
In the beginning, he said, all the congressional committees working on health-care reform got together to layout guidelines that they wanted to achieve: for all people to have affordable health care, with emphasis on prevention and primary care, expansion of community health centers and protection and improvement of Medicare and Medicaid.
The final goal was to keep the cost under the $900 billion over a 10-year cap established by the president.
"The other end is that you got to pay for it," Olver pointed out. "By shifting the spending of the money and saving money within the health-care system, the hope is that the total cost will be lowered or at least stop the rise in cost."
Andrea Peters talks to crowd about people struggling to get access and afford insurance co-pays. |
Olver expected to have a single bill produced that will go for a full debate on the House floor by the end of October and final legislative version before Thanksgiving.
What might this bill contain and how will it benefit people was the last picture Olver tried to paint for the crowd.
"You see the ads about 'don't allow the government to get between you and your doctor' but at the moment, it is the insurance companies that are getting between you and your doctor. I think that government has pretty soft hands," he said.
Olver had been criticized by a few conservative citizens' groups for failing to hold town meetings during the August recess. In a response to a question about that at the end of the panel, Olver replied that "there wasn't a bill."
"It is much easier if you have a bill to deal with," he said. "Then you can answer the questions."
Olver provided a list of links to helpful Web sites to learn more and encouraged people to contact him with questions about health-reform efforts through HealthReform.OLver@mail.house.gov, requesting that those contacting him include their name and address.
Other members of the panel brought the discussion closer to home: how does the federal plan for health-care reform affect Massachusetts and a rural area like Northern Berkshire?
Various members of the panel said there are not enough doctors in our area, largely because doctors cannot cover the cost of their medical practice here. While more people are insured (Bosley stated that Massachusetts' uninsured rate is down to 2.6 percent because of state insurance reform), sometimes people do not have access to the health care they need.
"If you want to get access, you have to pay medical the cost of care," he said because government programs like Mass Health and Medicaid doesn't.
When the federal plan is put in place, said Bosley, the state's landmark insurance legislation would have to adapt. "I would rather run the deficit up on this than some of things that it has been run up for in the past eight years!"
Kober, a family practioner in North Adams, said health care must be a priority.
"Health is our first wealth. We are not going anywhere as a country unless we can wake up every day with the trust that if we get ill, we can see a physician," said Kober. "Forty-two years ago, Richard Nixon said that we have a health-care crisis ... what have we done since?" |
| How can we afford this? We can't afford the commitments we've already made (Social Security, Medicare, etc.). There are already TRILLIONS of unfunded liabilities hanging out there when we talk about covering only people 65 and up. How many trillions will it be if everyone is covered? If INDIVIDUALS feel that more should be done to help the less fortunate, then those INDIVIDUALS should donate their time and money to charities. Health care is an individual responsibility, not a societal one. | | from: Wooderston | on: 10-21-2009 |
|
U.S.HEALTH*CARE FOR POORER AMERICANS (45,000 NEEDLESS DEATHS YEARLY) HAS BECOME CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY ISSUES ...
PRESIDENT OBAMA~THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND OUR ACTIVE DUTY U.S. MILITARY FAMILIES FROM POOR FAMILIES BACK HOME DESERVE TO BE ENLIGHTENED AND INFORMED ABOUT THE SPECIFIC FAMILY NAMES OF ALL THESE NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL BEHIND THE SCENE BILLIONAIRE HEALTH*CARE INSURANCE COMPANIES(MAJORITY SHAREHOLDER INVESTORS) WHO ARE ATTEMPTING TO CONTROL THEIR FUTURE PROFITS OVER THE HORROR OF 45,000 POORER AMERICANS DYING EVERY YEAR WITHOUT PROPER HEALTH*CARE...
IT IS NOW VERY OBVIOUS TO MOST AMERICANS THAT CERTAIN U.S.CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS OF THE FREE WORLD HAVE ALREADY MADE UP THEIR MINDS TO SELL OUT OUR 45 MILLION MIDDLE CLASS AND WORKING POOR AMERICANS… 4 RE~ELECTION MONIES…
~ AND SO, MY FELLOW POOR AMERICAN SOLDIERS:ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRIES HEALTH*CARE INSURANCE COMPANIES CAN DO FOR YOU- ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRIES HEALTH*CARE INSURANCE COMPANIES ~
** OUR BRAVE AMERICAN ACTIVE DUTY U.S. MILITARY AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE RISKING AND LOSING THEIR LIVES FOR ALL OF USA ALSO HAVE POORER PARENTS AND SIBLINGS BACK HOME WHO ARE DYING WITHOUT HEALTH*CARE**
*PRESIDENT OBAMA ~ PLEASE MAKE A SPECIAL POINT OF ASSURING OUR AMERICAN MILITARY WORLD-WIDE THAT YOU WILL FIGHT FOR THEIR LOVED ONES HEALTH*CARE BACK HOME ALSO!!!
~ PRESIDENT OBAMA AND U.S. SENATOR OLYMPIA SNOWE OF MAINE BOTH KNOW THAT ANY FUTURE HEALTH*CARE PLAN FOR OUR NEW AMERICA NEEDS TO ALSO ENCOMPASS ALL FAMILY MEMBERS(PARENTS & SIBLINGS) OF ACTIVE DUTY MILITARY MEMBERS…ANYTHING LESS WOULD BE UN*AMERICAN ~
**JUST MAYBE AMERICA NEEDS A FEW MORE REVOLVING DOORS IN OUR U.S. CONGRESS **
OUR COUNTRY COULD REALLY USE MANY MORE SINCERE AMERICANS LIKE THIS SPECIAL U.S.SENATOR OLYMPIA SNOWE FROM MAINE WHO CONSIDERS THIS COUNTRIES 45 MILLION POOR AMERICAN MEN WOMEN AND CHILDREN WITHOUT PROPER HEALTH CARE LIKE HER OWN FAMILY AHEAD OF HER ELECTED POLITICAL FAMILY **
45 MILLION POORER AMERICANS HAVE OBVIOUSLY BEEN TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL WITH THE PEOPLES U.S. SENATOR SNOWE OF MAINE.
LAWYERS FOR POOR AMERICANS THANKS THIS SPECIAL WOMEN FROM THE CARING STATE OF MAINE FOR SHOWING THE REST OF AMERICA THAT GODS VILLAGE OF ANGELICA BEINGS CAN EVEN BE HERE WITH US EVERY~DAY IN THE FLESH.
———————————————————————————————————————————
~ OUR U.S.CONGRESS AT LEAST DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE…THEY AFFORD POORER AMERICANS THE SAME EMERGENCY ONLY HEALTH*CARE THAT ILLEGAL ALIENS RECEIVE ~
AMERICA~LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT~ 45,000 DEAD POOR AMERICANS LEAVE U.S. EVERY*YEAR DUE TO 3rd WORLD HEALTH CONDITIONS ??
** POLITICS IN AMERICA IS VERY SIMPLE TO UNDERSTAND WHEN OUR MIDDLE~CLASS & WORKING POOR CITIZENS ARE ALL BEING FORCED 2 ALLOW BIG $$$ TO CONTROL THE PEOPLES HALLS OF THE U.S.CONGRESS..
~ SADLY,OUR VERY OWN AMERICAN HEALTH*CARE SATANIC VERSES HAS KEPT 45 MILLION POOR AMERICANS IN 3rd WORLD HEALTH CONDITIONS~
DON’T WORRY BE HAPPY ~ THE WORLDS SELECT BILLIONAIRES AND THEIR FRONT CORPORATIONS WILL ALL GET ON BOARD THE NEW HEALTH~TRAIN OF $$$…**ADDING 45 MILLION MORE AMERICAN CITIZENS TO THE CURRENT GIVEN PROFIT MARGINS + WITH A FUTURE AMNESTY PROGRAM (6 months) AFTER NEXT U.S.PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION = $$$$$$$$$………
WEALTH~CARE FOR ALL THE HEAVILY INVESTED INTERNATIONAL AND AMERICAN BILLIONAIRES IN THE CURRENT U.S.HEALTH FOR THE WEALTHY ONLY SYSTEM WILL NOT END ANYTIME SOON… IT WILL ONLY BE RE~ARRANGED TO MAKE SURE ALL THESE MEGA CAPITALISTS PROSPER IN JUST ANOTHER FASHION .
THE FINE ART OF DENYING 45 MILLION AMERICANS HEALTH~CARE IN OUR JUDEO~CHRISTIAN NATION IS NOT RACIST AT ALL… IT’S JUST OUR BEHIND THE SCENE WEALTHY ELITE CITIZENS USING THEIR TREMENDOUS WEALTH TO DIRECTLY INFLUENCE OUR U.S. CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES IN KEEPING ALL THE little poor folk down *
AMERICAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS ALL ACROSS THE USA HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO COUNT ON THEIR RELIGIOUS FLOCK TO CONTRIBUTE(TITHE)THEIR HARD EARNED MONIES TO THEIR MINISTRIES EVERY WEEK. THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ATTENDING RELIGIOUS SERVICES IN THE U.S. ARE MIDDLE~CLASS AND WORKING POOR CITIZENS WHO NOW DESPERATELY NEED THE HELP AND SUPPORT FROM THESE SAME U.S.RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN LOBBYING THE U.S.CONGRESS TO PROVIDE PROPER HEALTH~CARE FOR ALL POORER AMERICANS.
***THERE ARE CURRENTLY AN ESTIMASTED 45 MILLION MEN WOMAN AND CHILDREN WITHOUT HEALTH~CARE IN THE WEALTHIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD????
SILENT AMERICAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS WHO ALL HAVE HEALTH~CARE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES IS MUCH MORE FRIGHTENING THEN THE POSSIBLE DENIAL OF A FUTURE HEALTH~CARE PLAN FOR ALL…
**45,OOO AMERICANS DIE EACH YEAR IN THE WEALTHIEST COUNTRY IN THE WORLD DIRECTLY RELATED TO THEIR LACK OF PROPER HEALTH*CARE.
LAWYERS FOR POOR AMERICANS IS A WWW VOLUNTEER LOBBY FOUND WITH ANY SEARCH ENGINE. (424-247-2013)
| | from: LAWYERS FOR POOR AMERICANS | on: 10-20-2009 |
|
|
Enter your email address below to receive our FREE iBerkshires.com Newsletter
|
|
