Doctor Roger Starner Jones is a seventh generation Mississippian and his extracurricular interests are golf, hunting, fishing and college football. He specializes in emergency medicine at The University of Mississippi medical Center.
Dr. Starner Jone (umc.edu)
This Letter to the Editor, written by Doctor Jones about health care in America, is from the August 29th edition of Jackson, Mississippi’s newspaper, the Clarion Ledger.
Dear Sirs:
During my last night’s shift in the ER, I had the pleasure of evaluating a patient with a shiny new gold tooth, multiple elaborate tattoos, a very expensive brand of tennis shoes and a new cellular telephone equipped with her favorite R&B; tune for a ring tone.
Glancing over the chart, one could not help noticing her payer status: Medicaid.
She smokes more than one costly pack of cigarettes every day and, somehow, still has money to buy beer. And our President expects me to pay for this woman’s health care?
Our nation’s health care crisis is not a shortage of quality hospitals, doctors or nurses. It is a crisis of culture – a culture in which it is perfectly acceptable to spend money on vices while refusing to take care of one’s self or, heaven forbid, purchase health insurance.
A culture that thinks I can do whatever I want to because someone else will always take care of me.
Life is really not that hard. Most of us reap what we sow.
Starner Jones, MD
Jackson, MS
![[del.icio.us]](http://spotlight.vitals.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
![[Digg]](http://spotlight.vitals.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/digg.png)
![[Facebook]](http://spotlight.vitals.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/facebook.png)
![[Google]](http://spotlight.vitals.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/google.png)
![[LinkedIn]](http://spotlight.vitals.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/linkedin.png)
![[Mixx]](http://spotlight.vitals.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/mixx.png)
![[MySpace]](http://spotlight.vitals.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/myspace.png)
![[Sphere]](http://spotlight.vitals.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/sphere.png)
![[StumbleUpon]](http://spotlight.vitals.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/stumbleupon.png)
![[Technorati]](http://spotlight.vitals.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/technorati.png)
![[Twitter]](http://spotlight.vitals.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/twitter.png)
![[Windows Live]](http://spotlight.vitals.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/windowslive.png)
![[Yahoo!]](http://spotlight.vitals.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/yahoo.png)
![[Email]](http://spotlight.vitals.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/email.png)
Related posts:
- Top Ten Doctors Viewed in 2009 Vitals.com just released the top ten doctor profiles viewed...
- Dr. Roger Blumenthal - Comparing Zetia and Niacin Cholesterol Medications Researchers studied two medications that control cholesterol and found...
- Ex-Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist Supports Obama’s Health Care Bill H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act,...
- Dr. Richard Rafal Giving Lawyers a Taste of Their own Medicine - Instituting Socialized Legal Care President Obama is preparing to address the nation on...
Tags: Dr. Roger Jones, Dr. Roger Starner Jones, Dr. Starner Jones, Emergency Medicine, Mississippi, President Obama
Vitals TweetTeam | October 31, 2009 at 9:52 pm
Dr. Roger Starner Jones Muses On Crisis Culture: Share this on del.icio.usDigg this!Buzz up!Stumble upon someth.. http://bit.ly/4AU6T9UN:F [1.7.9_1023]
please wait...
Rating: 3.0/5 (2 votes cast)
UN:F [1.7.9_1023]
Rating: +6 (from 12 votes)
Amy Williams | November 1, 2009 at 1:19 pm
This is the most succinct comment I’ve yet read regarding the overall expectation of many Americans today. Frequently I am also amazed at the belief that privledges are rights . . . when will it change? As with the teaching of small children who scream and cry when they want something, only when the parents ignore the tantrum and the child learns that privledges are earned! Unfortunately, the “parent” of America at this time, Obama, is one who believes it is best to give in. And parents (or shall we call them “taxpayers?”) all over America understand what happens then - the child will do it again and again each and every time they want something!
Larry Hayden | November 2, 2009 at 1:12 am
Right on! Love this comment.
Cecil Sinclair | November 2, 2009 at 3:49 pm
I too have Medicare. After reading Dr. Jones’ letter I feel compelled to take certain actions. I am going to have my gold tooth pulled, which has been in my mouth for twenty years, and sent to Dr. Jones to help allay his insurance costs. I am going to donate my Nike walking shoes to the good doctor since he makes enough money to be entitled to wear expensive shoes. I’ll get another pair from the Goodwill of a real cheap brand, even if they are not comfortable. I am quitting chewing snoose. That will save me about $10 a month so I’ll send that to Dr. Jones too. Now I don’t know just what I can do about my tattoos that I have had since I was in the Navy 40 years ago. I should maybe have Dr. Jones remove them. It would only cost a few thousand dollars. Of course I would pay for that myself from my pension money. As for my expensive brand clothes (also Goodwill) I will just tear off the tags and keep wearing them. Then no one will know I am wearing brands I’m not entitled to wear.
Doing all these things still doesn’t ease my conscience, so the next time I get sick I will just stay home so as not to burden Medicare and Dr. Jones, and hope I don’t die from it.
Cecil Sinclair | November 2, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I meant to say Medicaid in the above letter. I forgot to mention that I promise to stop drinking my daily glass of beer. Such a vice as drinking beer is inexcusable, I know. That is all I can do to correct my ways since I have no more vices except masturbating. If it somehow results in costing Dr. Jones, I will cut it down to once a month. That’s the best I can do, doctor. After all, I am almost human.
Tim Carter | November 2, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Dear Cecil, I don’t think the good Doctor is asking you for your gold tooth, or your expensive Nike shoes, or your cellphone. What he IS addressing is that we all have decisions to make in life and that most RESPONSIBLE people if given the choice between paying for the expensive shoes, or the gold tooth, or the cellphone, etc… INSTEAD of buying necessary health insurance coverage are going to opt to buy the less expensive shoes, avoid costly unnecessary (and unhealthy) habits (such as smoking and drinking), and go without the (unnecessary) cellphone. These are luxuries. Health care insurance like food is not a luxury. Also like food it is not a right! Those of us who make healthier decisions, more responsible decisions SHOULD NOT have to pay for someone else’s health insurance - especially as he points out so well, when they clearly are not making any effort at paying for it themselves. It is the culture of this entitled and irresponsible mentality that is eating at the fabric of this country! Kudos to Dr. Starner for stating the obvious.
Kailyn S. | November 2, 2009 at 6:24 pm
Ah, so you have a computer too Cecil? My, my, my…..
Nick S | November 4, 2009 at 1:10 pm
Dear Cecil, you certainly did a good job of articulating the entitlement mentality point of view.
Tim | November 4, 2009 at 5:16 pm
Right on Doc. There is far too much of this in society. A lack of responsibility and an expectation that everyone else in society should have to bear the costs of ones own poor decisions. I am not against helping those who have fallen on hard times - but there seems to be a pervasive element within our society whose expectations about what they are due are drastically out of sync with what value they add to society.
I remember a John Stossel piece on 20/20 years ago when he debunked “poverty stricken” soup kitchen folks. He asked - do you have a telephone? TV? Cable? A microwave? To which all answers were yes. The examples now are even more egregious — jacked up pick up trucks, chrome plated “spinner” wheels on cars, ipods, tatoos, gold chains, etc. And yet no ability to pay for the basics like food or healthcare? As John would say, “give me a break”.
Let’s help those who need help - but demand more of those who are capable. Starting in the schools.
Bill | November 5, 2009 at 12:00 pm
It’s too bad these kinds of stories sink into an argument about the superficial issues. “Who are you to say how I should spend my money?” “Don’t you care about those less fortunate than you?” “If she can pay for a tattoo, she can pay the doctor.”
The deeper issue is whether we are becoming a society of people who don’t care about the consequences of their decisions and are growing ever more dependent on the power of the government to force “others” to take care of us. We are witnessing and participating in a society of individuals that are too willing to forfeit their independence in exchange for security - somebody to take care of the consequences of our decisions.
Folks, no matter how you want to spin this, it’s destroying our society. I fear for my grandchildren. Regards, Bill
rock | November 5, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Why should not become a society like this when the “Obamanation” has bailed out so many companies that make billion and trillion dollar bailouts but yet their CEO’s get bonuses “because it was promised” to them how about this, when you went in to business you knew there were responsibilities and you failed to maintain the standards. How about they file bankruptcy like the common man, and not be able to get loans for 7 years or longer because they cant be trusted to do the right thing with their money. I have served 20 years in the military and I have been promised health care for life if, I maintained my standards and fulfilled my oath. I applaud this young Dr’s views why should veterans or AMERICANS suffer from lack of Healthcare because we give it to illegal immigrants and deadbeats that are able to walk around and not work.
A. Miller | November 5, 2009 at 2:43 pm
Dr. Jones, I am a single mother who has worked for attorneys for 30 years…I am 45, which tells you that I started working in a professional office at age 15 (via Business/Office Education Program in which I enrolled in high school the beginning of my sophomore year)…12:00-5:00 every day during the school year and full-time during the summers. Therefore, I had no “free” summers as most other kids my age…you included, I am sure. However, because of the greed of these bottomfeeders, I was laid off 18 weeks ago. In 18 weeks I have sent out 96 resumes. For 30 years I have paid into our government’s system…but because I make $2.00 per month too much on “unemployment” ($280/week…could you possibly live on that amount of money, doc??) and do receive a small monthly child support payment (a portion of which I had to sacrifice - a condition my ex required in order for him to allow me to keep the house to raise our son), I did not qualify for food assistance (food stamps) that I truly need to help feed my son and myself. During my 30 year career, I accumulated may nice things, including a nice home (did I mention I am now in the process of filing bankruptcy in order to keep my home, praying I do find another job before the unemployment runs out…and no, I do not have one single credit card debt); nice clothing I could not really afford even though it was purchased at a consignment shop (because the law firms I worked for required the same because “we have an image to uphold”), and oh yes, I do own a vehicle and a cell phone. I am sorry, but these “luxuries” ARE required in my life…after all, that cell # IS listed on those 96 resumes I have sent out. And yes, I do own a computer…which was purchased and given to me by a true friend because even working 40+ hours per week, I could not afford one. Your sarcastic comment that “I [you] had the pleasure of evaluating a patient…” disgusts me. Tell me, should I dress in rags and lie on my medical form that I smoke in order to not receive your judgment??
You live in what is commonly referred to as “The Bible Belt”. Surely you are familiar with Matthew 7:1-6??
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. Mk. 4.24
3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
Dr. Z | November 5, 2009 at 10:00 pm
As I read the posts on this site I agree somewhat with both sides. Having just graduated medical school and earning the title of physician (even though still in training) I have already experienced the frustration of treating many patients who fit the description above- having many unhealthy and expensive vices (smoking and drinking) as well as the newest technology, yet complain about a $20 co-pay or better yet, come to the emergency room because they knew they would get Benedryl for free, instead of just going to the closest drug store. How much do cigarettes cost these days? Not to mention the fact that every cigarette they smoke puts them closer and closer to needing long term health care on societies’ dime.
On another hand, my husband and I both come from families who’s parents can’t afford health care due to rising costs and a poor economy. I see the struggles of losing your job despite being a hard worker and struggling to make ends meat. We have family members who have had to rely on medicaid at some point in their lives to get their needed health care.
So, I agree- with both sides of the issue. The problem is that too many people are sucking the system dry. Not working, or attempting to work, when they are fully able to. Having unhealthy habits that they can’t afford that lead to their demise and ultimately further burden society.
So for the single mother who is doing her best, I applaud you- my mother was also a single parent working multiple jobs to raise me. And for the vet who has served your time and deserve health care, I thank you- my husband and I are both in the Air Force and my Father-in-law retired Army- I know first hand of the sacrifices you made for our country and agree you deserve a lot in return, including health care. And to the Doctors working long hours to take care of (some) people who don’t take care of themselves- thank you.
To the people who bleed the system… get your act together, we are all suffering the consequences of your selfish and thoughtless ways…
Ariana | November 7, 2009 at 3:14 am
The very fact that some of you are DEFENDING your “right” to not want more for yourselves instead of sitting on public assistance/subsidized healthcare is a joke to me! I understand that almost every one falls on “hard times” at least once in their life and may need some help to get back up… But those that are content to just sit there and remain in the system? C’mon! Get some self-respect! I was on Medicaid once too… You know what I did? I got a JOB! One with health benefits! It took me a few lousy ones that didn’t pay worth a damn to find one that gave benefits (and still doesn’t pay me too much more than nothing)… But I took it–and took back some dignity and control of my own life. Try it sometime.. You may just find you LIKE how it feels to not be a sponge. Meanwhile, if you receive public assistance (such as food stamps), the powers-that-be are now recognizing that you would have more of a chance of finding a job if you had a phone–so they are now providing FREE cell phones and minutes to those that qualify (income stipulations, of course)… But I can assure you, none of those free cell phones are Blackberries or iPhones (which I still cannot afford with my FULL TIME job, by the way).. And of the ones they DO provide, you couldn’t possibly upload any of the latest ringtones to “pimp your style”–they are bargain-basement phones that only have a handful of midi ringtones and no internet capabilities… So if you are legitimately needing a phone for all of your resume’s you have out there, this will work for you. If that is NOT the truth of it, then please–stop making lame excuses.. Get up and improve your own life… I wish they would raise the price of cigarettes here to $12/pack to offset these ppl that are butt-raping the system.. As much as they say they have no $$$ for co-pays, you KNOW they would find the $$ to buy the cigarettes, and inadvertently (heaven forbid) help to pay for their OWN healthcare costs… Worth a look…
Marie | November 9, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Right on, Dr. Jones! God bless the man who is willing to work for what he has! Socialism has been proven to NOT WORK for society, it is a disgusting shame to see America headed that direction.
Bebe Hartnett | November 9, 2009 at 4:30 pm
While I can agree that attitudes of entitlement are abhorrent. The fact is that even a high deductible medical insurance monthly premium will cost you the equivalent of a month’s rent for a family of four. Insurance is VERY EXPENSIVE, and those high deductible plans do not have co-pays for ANYTHING–so you pay the premiums–$400 per month, and THEN pay for the doctor AND medicine out of your pocket til you reach the $3,000 deductible? I think the working poor could afford EITHER the health insurance OR the doctor visits, but not both. So make it work better–insure them, make them pay $20 per dr. visit, and get them to pay SOMETHING, instead of the nothing they pay now.
barb landers | November 10, 2009 at 12:09 am
Good discussion - bottom line nothing is free and you must be responsible for your choices.
Ruth | November 11, 2009 at 2:19 pm
And because of this judgmental mentality by Dr. Jones, it really brings up the question, is he really doing his job?
Inside the ER I’ve heard remarks from doctors and nurses such as these and, not surprisingly, the “treatment” that is provided to these “entitled” people is horrible!! How can a person who takes an oath to serve all who are in need, make such vile innuendo and suggestive commentary. You really don’t know why people end up with Medicaid as their healthcare option. Have you considered your patient could have had a medical or mental disability that entitled her to Medicaid? Are you aware that phone companies are issuing prepaid phones to the poor and others in need for emergency purposes. The gold tooth may be cheaper a less expensive option than having to do a root canal and a crown. Tatoos may be a sign of deeper emotional issues and life hardships you obviously have and never will face. Before making such narrow-minded and completely seemingly undereducated comments as you did, did you consider the undereducated background of not only this patient but those before her? She may be an unwilling product of a society that is filled with people of your hardened ilk. That this society rejects her as much or more as you do.
If I remember correctly, you took an oath to serve all in need. You are an American, I suppose and so is she. May be a sense of responsibility is lacking on both sides of the aisle but entitlement? That is a whole other subject…
LH | November 12, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Those of you who are turning this against the doctor who is disgusted with entitled people have no clue what people in the medical profession deal with on a daily basis.
In my 15 years of medical experience, those who are on social programs are, without fail, the hardest to please and the ones who appreciate it the least. The doctor who wrote this letter is simply tired of going to work every day and seeing hundreds of TOTALLY able-bodied humans feeding at the government trough like hogs. I agree with him.
I guarantee he gets cussed and spat upon at the UMC ER by those who haven’t worked a single minute for their entitlements, while the ones who have jobs and pay for their care are much more appreciative.
Those of you who are trying to turn this into a religious discussion, I welcome you to sit in a local ER or clinic and deal with Medicaid patients all day. You will change your tune.
I also recall several verses of the Bible saying things about working hard for your rewards, and not being lazy.
I am fine with people using Medicaid as a bridge to get through hard times for a few months, but these people have no intention of ever doing anything other than mooching off the government.
TxRancher | November 12, 2009 at 8:00 pm
The dumbing-down of America has begun to take its toll!
TL | November 12, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Jones should be ashamed of his apparent bigotry which should have no place in the medical field. You took an oath but must have forgotten that part of your reason for wanting to be a doctor. So it would seem that you are far more concerned about the financial aspect. Since we are on the subject of vises, you forgot to mention the one that plagues most people in this country according to statistics…overweight fat people are also at a health risk. So would that be considered in your estimation of the people who deserve health care. That would certainly preclude most folks from your idea of people who take care of themselves. My waistline has never changed since High School..31″ so i say this to all you people who thank Jones for his bravery in speaking up…check your waistline…if you are fat…then perhaps you should consider going on a diet before you mouth off!!!…. These comments smack of the perfect Arryan Race…look what happened to Hitler.
Chase Edwards Cooper | November 14, 2009 at 10:27 am
Some of you seem to be rather upset knowing that some of us expect our fellow Americans to be partly responsible for their choices which have consequences. In this case, each of us would have a stake in these consequences given that tax dollars would be used to combat irresponsible behavior that would lead to health problems.
But since the entitlement mentality of those same people will continue to exist, it’s likely that the doctor was just preaching to the choir here. Those of you who feel that you’re owed something simply because you’re American will continue to feel this way. You’ll also continue to feel that those of us who produce on a daily basis will be your providers.
As for the comment by TL, it’s probably the best example of what the debate will become: when you can’t win the argument using intellect, spin the situation into a racial debate and hope that no one notices otherwise.
Luke Wilson | November 17, 2009 at 12:31 pm
Has anyone seen my movie “Idiocracy” which at first seems like a slapstick comedy but has serious undertones which speak directly to entitlements and those who act irresponsible verses those that do act responsible. Those that are responsible will eventually succumb to growing numbers of irresponsible people. Unfortunately, the American government is full of those same irresponsible people who couldn’t run a successful business if their life depended on it and thus, the government is not who will fix this problem. We first need to fix the problems in our own lives and teach / show others how to fix theirs.
ER Nurse Hagker | November 20, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Thank you, Dr., for your opinion. I work in an ER also. 2 young females came in recently both requesting pregnancy tests. I informed them it would be cheaper to pick one up at the drug store than going thru the ER. They informed me since they were on Medicaid it would not cost them anything.
What I also find appalling is the Medicaid pt, or even the Medicare pt, whose urine tests positive for illegal drugs. Now, I have to pass a urine drug test to work, to pay my taxes, to pay for my healthcare. It is insulting to me to not only care for those who take advantage of the healthcare system and abuse their body by using illegal substances, but then also have to foot the bill thru my tax dollars.
Nunjo Biznezz | November 20, 2009 at 3:30 pm
I’m guessing that this entire thing is a hoax, and that “STARNER” is simply an anagram for “RANTERS”.
patrickschmitt | November 23, 2009 at 11:00 am
READ THIS: Dr. Roger Starner Jones, MD Muses On Crisis Culture~http://is.gd/51W9x #hi_dc #DC #HCR #HC #TCOTUN:F [1.7.9_1023]
please wait...
Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)
UN:F [1.7.9_1023]
Rating: -2 (from 4 votes)
Yeah Right | November 25, 2009 at 7:24 pm
HIPPA violation.
If this (imaginary) patient recognizes herself in this blog she can sue the (imaginary) Dr. Starner and his hospital for a tremendous amount of money. Dr. Starner could lose his medical license for revealing private information about a patient.
Let’s see, I looked you up at umc.edu staff
You don’t appear to be a physician. You are a “House Officer” for “UH System Admin B” - sounds like a rent-a-cop.
https://lawwebn.umc.edu/cgi-local/hr/intranetEmployeeAndDepartmentListing/employeeSearch.pl
Let’s see how long this post stays up. Or if you put it up at all.
Liar.
u-fail | December 2, 2009 at 1:07 pm
“House staff: Sometimes referred to as house officers. The house staff is a broad term for all physicians who have completed medical school and are continuing their training. They are directly and closely involved in the care of the patient, but report to the attending physician who oversees the complete care of each patient. There are three categories of house staff.”
http://emergencymedicine.umc.edu/classof2010.html
The story is legit, is he smart for doing it? No, but I give him kudos for being willing to state an opinion in this cuddly, cumbayah singing, politcally correct, craptastic society we are now living in.
Gwen Williams | December 4, 2009 at 5:18 am
Dear Dr. Jones:
Your ethnocentric ancestors denied that young lady’s ancestors their constitutional rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.They were denied opportunities that would have enabled them to mature into well educated, independent, and productive citizens and to pass that on to their children and grandchildren, like the one you are treating today in the ER. Instead, they were restricted to slave labor which included breast feeding and nurturing your ancestor’s children, who subsequently passed their wealth and privileges on to their children and grandchildren, like yourself. Their arrogant and self-righteousness attitude is yet reflected in your comments.
Having had educational opportunities all your life, you should know that it was even against the law to teach the laborers how to read. Your ancestors enforced such mandates as a means of restricting most of society’s privilege, to include decent jobs and homes for themselves. Today, healthcare is in the forefront.
Had those people been allowed the necessary means to provide sufficiently for themselves and to provide educational opportunities for their children, or merely the same privileges you have enjoyed most of your life, the individual you are complaining about might be a fully productive and self-sufficient citizen as you claim to be.
You do reap what you sew, however, in this case, you are reaping what your ancestors sowed. Unless you rid yourself of the bigotry and hatred reflected in your comments, your children and grandchildren will reap what you sow.
Gwen Williams | December 4, 2009 at 5:46 am
Dr. Jones, I forgot one critical comment. I am the wife of a military officer who served 30 years. Have you ever served in the military?
What do you have to say to the hundreds of soldiers fighting today in Iraq and Afghanistan today, who have loved ones back home suffering because they can’t pay to see a physician?
If you had serve in the military to “earn” the privilege of attending medical school, would you be a doctor today? Without the services of thousands of people like the lady you described, you would not have food on your table unless you travelled to pick it up yourself; mail in your box, clothes on your back, tools to use in your profession; a sanitized facility to practice in; law enforcement personnel to protect you; firefighters to save your home; soldiers to pay for your freedoms;
people to maintain your city’s highways and bi-ways; factory workers to put together everything you have in your home; and the list goes on……….Dr. Jones, I hope the negligible judgement you have relayed in your comments are not reflective of the quality of medical care you provide.
Compassionate not Stupid Texan | December 5, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Miss Gwen, you missed the entire point of Dr. Jones’ letter. And for the record, he never mentioned whether his patient was white, black, brown, or purple. You are the one whose predjudice led you to the conclusion that he was speaking of a black person.
First, he didn’t have to pick on gold teeth, cigarettes, tennis shoes, ring tones and booze. Everyday there are thousands upon thousands of irresponsible persons with a set of controllable and stupid circumstances whose bad decisions and selfishness manage to rape our health care system (as well as other social systems) by sticking their collective hands out for freebies instead of picking up their individual rears and going to work and dumping their bad habits.
I raised two kids, singly, and at times worked as many as five piddly jobs in order to pay for my kids and me. I never took a free anything! However, sometimes people can’t find five piddly jobs, so if they are trying fine! Dr. JOnes is talking about the masses out there who are not trying - the ones who first afford the luxuires, the wants, and not the needs.
Secondly, Miss Gwen, your argument about blacks in America doesn’t hold water. How long does it take a group of people to get over a tragedy? There have been sufficient interveining years for every black person in the country to achieve greatness, as proved by those great black people in our country. But your quick reaction to attribute Dr. JOnes remarks to being about a black person tells me that the chip on your shoulder is huge and that you need to get rid of it before it weighs you way down.
Third, you berate Dr. JOnes about his background, his “wealth”, his military background and you know nothing about him. Neither do I. You are the one rushing to judgement with no knowledge whatsoever. Talk about preconceived predjudices!
Lastly, I applaud Dr. JOnes for having the courage to talk plainly and openly about one of the worst abuses in our health system today - one that could easily be fixed.
Next time, think before you assume facts not in evidence and write about them.
Gwen Williams | December 7, 2009 at 3:42 pm
Dear Compassionate Texan:
You are correct in stating that Dr. Jones did NOT have to “pick on gold teeth, cigarettes, tennis shoes, ring tones and booze,” but he did. Further, if you read very carefully, you will find the word “Black” in my statement anywhere. You made that assumption based on your knowledge of the history of this great nation, but you need to be mindful that it may very well apply to the Indians, Hispanics and any other resident minorities. If Dr. Jone’s argument was based on the issue of responsibility and accountability, there was no need for him to provide a description of any particular individual. Dr. Jones was stereotyping, and it should be unacceptable in his professional field.
The question of individual responsibility and accountability, apart from that individual and the description he used, is a valid question. However, there are many millionaires, i.e. athletes, musicians and actors alike, who fit that description who are philanthropists and far from considered irresponsible.
In terms of “raping the system” as you stated, you might want to give some consideration to AIG executives and other CEOs, who may not have gold teeth or wear fancy sneakers. They have caused far more devastation to far more people than the young lady described as having “ring tones.”
The real issue, as I attempted to raise, is the affect of long term poverty on people of any race. While I did not assume that Dr. Jones is a wealthy man, I do know that it takes resources, for the most part, that allude the average poverty stricken individual and when individuals have an opportunity to achieve a good education, they have the knowledge and the ability to provide for their families and to develop into responsible and productive citizens. This strengthens the family, the community, and the nation as a whole benefits. While you are correct in that some go on to achieve anyway, this is more ofo an exception and is far from the norm.
We cannot continue to proclaim ourselves to be one nation under God when we accept without condemnation the gross disparities that exists in our nation today. We cannot remain a powerful nation when our wars continue to be fought by our nation’s poorest. No man has ever been judged “too poor” to put on a uniform fight, and I know of none who has been barred from serving because of his fancy sneakers or gold teeth.
This nation has never won any war or achieved any great victory fighting as one race, rather even the civil war and the great civil rights struggle achieved victories because American people united as one, and fought as one for a moral cause.
The provision of basic health care for every American is a moral issue and we must dispense with the practice that bases a man’s worth to live on his individual wealth.
What purpose does a government serve, if it does not exist for the common good?
We have the resources to eradicate diseases and so we should. We have the resources to establish a system of medical care for all, though with some governance, and so we should.
If, we continue to allow people to suffer and die and do so because they lack wealth, it is inhumane and it is tantamount to legal genocide. The acceptance and practice of such, without condemnation, makes us unfit to serve as a leader for the world, and such lack of humanity makes us grossly unfit to declare ourselves as “one Nation under God, with liberty, and justice for all.
Michael | December 8, 2009 at 11:34 am
No, I don’t agree at all.
The same person that sent me this is– of course– a Republican and this email is being circulated and forwarded like crazy. I bet somebody reading this will even cut-and-paste and send it along to friends with a subject line like, “This doctor is really smart!”
Let’s take a look at Dr. Redneck’s email a little closer, shall we?
He makes it very clear that he is talking about a black person in the first paragraph. And just to make sure we get the point, he even throws in “R&B” music, just to hammer it home. He could have left out the gold tooth thing. But he paints us a real nice picture, doesn’t he? I’m sure all of his black patients are like this. Every single one of them has gold teeth and an R&B ringtone…I’m sure.
Incidentally, Mississippi has the highest poverty level in all 50 states. So I’m sure he had his pick of whites and blacks– and, of course, he makes an example of a black person.
And he is sarcastic about doing his job for a black person, when he writes “I had the pleasure of evaluating a patient with a gold tooth…”
Gee whiz Doctor Starner Jones. Why are you a doctor if you only prefer white patients who have ringtones that are more appropriate to your redneck values? You know, something by Hank Williams or such? Something that doesn’t offend his arrogant whites-only values?
Incidentally, the poverty level for blacks in Mississippi is 44%! I’m sure the many, many years of racism in Mississippi, banning black AMERICAN CITIZENS from the same opportunities as whites, until the Supreme Court finally stepped in, has nothing to do with anything. Yeah, I’m sure that 200 years of oppression has no effect on the black population in Mississippi.
He could have described many of his poor white clients, but he chose a black person. You know, just to be hateful and make his fellow Red-Staters happy. (He wrote this letter to his local paper.)
Finally, the ignorant little shit writes the dumbest thing he could possibly write:
“Life is not really that hard.”
(Unless of course, you are black and live in Mississippi. If you didn’t read my post on “Whites Only” Prom in Mississippi, check it out.)
And…
“Most of us reap what we sow.”
Hmmmm… The whole economy is in the toilet, the real estate market stinks right now, we have a huge 14.5% foreclosure rate in the United States. No Doctor, I think we are “reaping” what George Bush sowed. Personally, I am well-educated and have always made a six-figure income. But I am struggling right now. And I really think I sowed pretty well.
When I see Disabled American Vets handing out plastic flags around the holidays– in hope for a small donation– it makes me sick. Did these guys reap what they sowed? I love all of these posts about supporting our troops, but never anything about supporting vets. They get the shaft. I guess they are reaping what they sowed fighting for our country.
My wife got cancer and it financially devastated me. She didn’t drink or smoke or use drugs. Did she reap what she sowed? Did I?
My father-in-law was a GM employee for 30 years. He was basically laid off. They called it “early retirement.” He has eight U.S. patents. Now, this brilliant engineer is looking for work as a cabbie. I guess he reaped what he sowed also. Graduated at the top of his class many years ago and was a loyal GM employee. Yep, he deserves it.
I just cancelled my own health insurance, because I simply can’t afford it and they love to deny claims anyway. And I don’t have any R&B ringtones on my telephone. Weird, huh?
They should fire Doctor Starner Jones. Then he can reap what he sowed by writing this racist letter.
Michael | December 8, 2009 at 11:36 am
Thank God we voted losers (who think like this loser) right on the hell out of office, 2 elections running.
Triathlon Doc | December 9, 2009 at 4:04 am
Okay folks…for all those people missing the whole point of Dr. Jones’ post. I too am a physician and share these exact same sentiments. It doesn’t mean I’m racially biased or refuse to care for the uninsured, etc. There are plenty of “insured” who fall under this sense of entitlement attitude.
Let me give my “perspective”. A patient once asked me what I thought of the state of health care today. I simply gave her this analogy…
I asked her…”Have you bought a car before?” She said yes. I then said “Well then I assume you also went out and bought auto insurance as well.” She said yes. I then asked her…”Did you go out after you got insurance and purposefully drive your car into a brick wall, back up and do it again?” She laughed and said no. I simply asked…”why not?” She shrugged and said it would damage the paint job, the engine, etc. I said “exactly”. I then said, “what if you did drive into a wall, would you take it to your autodealership, expect them to fix it like brand new and expect all the people who DIDN’T run their car into a wall to pay for it?”
She was silent….she knew what I was getting at….she is a smoker and is obese. Just because people have insurance or someone else pays for it, for some reason gives them this sense of entitlement to live unhealthy lives. Dr. Jones isn’t harping on people with gold teeth and cell phones, etc. We’re harping on those who feel they can drive their body into oblivion (i.e. eating themselves to obesity; smoking themselves to death) and EXPECT for us and the rest of us taxpayers who do live a healthy lifestyle to coddle them when their body gives out. It’s THOSE people we as doctors can’t stand.
Daylo | December 10, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Dr. Jones,
You are only echoing what most of the rest of us have witnesed at the grocery stores. We see healthy, strapping people come in to shop and we get behind them in the check out line. They are dressed to the nines’. They have recently been to the manicurist and their nails are at least 3 inches, nicely polished and they smell like they bathed in perfume. They have an expensive Blackberry and they are buying thick steaks. They whip out the old welfare card and pay for that. Not only that, but they are entitled to get “cash back” and if you pay close enough attention, you will see them haul their goodies out to the Escalade and return with the cash to buy beer and cigarettes. By the way, I have witnessed this going on for most of my 58 years. It’s not even funny how many times I have gone to the grocery store and witnessed this. That just tells me these are not isolated events. These same people are probably the ones that are screaming louder than anyone else about being treated UNFAIRLY.
I have a pay as you go phone because I don’t see the sense in paying a communications company a fee every month for something that I can have for free. In addition, I have worked hard all of my life, never asked for a hand out of ANY kind. I currently have TWO Jobs in this economy and I still cannot afford what these people buy.
Just call me burned up and without sympathy.
Ocia | December 19, 2009 at 10:02 am
I am saddened to say that I CAN believe that so many people totally missed Dr Roger Starner Jones’ point. It’s the very reason someone can (and TOO many do!) live off the hard working tax payers in this country. Too many people defend and excuse such carelessness. If someone, anyone, everyone that looked as that patient looked and came to your front door and said “care for me because I want you to” would you? Believe it not … we (who work) do every time we earn a paycheck. The critics to Dr Jones’ letter made ASSUMPTIONS about whether or not Dr Jones cared for or treated what ailed her. He never alluded to having not done his job or how it affected his reimbursement. It was ASSUMED that Dr Jones’ specialty is not Psychology, just because he’s working in an Emergency Room. Can that be ASSUMED? Dr Jones never said anything in his letter concerning the patients’ ability to work or hold down a job. The critics ASSUMED he refused her treatment (breaching his training/oath). They ASSUMED his opinion tainted his course of care. They ASSUMED her race or ethnicity and her age. It’s a disgrace for someone to take from others in order maintain their own reckless lifestyle. NO ONE, I REPEAT, NO ONE DESERVES ANYthing MORE THAN WHAT HE OR SHE ===>>> E-A-R-N-S. Who am I to say that? The sole and primary owner of ME and what’s MINE - that which I’ve E-A-R-N-E-D. Those who CAN’T earn…family responsibility and obligation should be second nature and is to some compassionate-hearted families. Tolerance is a trait that is paling worldwide and when it comes to the needs of a family member…people should be ashamed of not banding together to care for their own loved ones in need. Whose responsibility are they? Not ours, but theirs! If you were that family member in need…wouldn’t/shouldn’t you go to your family before going to total strangers – who OWE YOU NOTHING? If it was MY family member taking away from YOUR lifestyle just because I wanted YOU to, would you be so negatively opinioned about what this doctor simply POINTED OUT? The case of this woman’s visit to the ER compares to a grown child asking you for hundreds of dollars (taking away from your own already stressed budget) for a medical procedure, or what ever, just for you to find out 2-3 weeks later that more hundreds of dollars were spent by that same grown child to purchase an elaborate present for a boy/girlfriend. I guess these critics would excuse or condone that, TOO. Figure it out people. We don’t have the luxury or time to continue allowing this blatant raping of our society by our own populace. And I AM SO BLASTED TIRED of people making excuses for it, throwing the ‘race card’ or the ’stereotype card’ or the ‘profile card in on these matters and totally ignoring what is actually taking place in our society and this great country.
BJ | December 21, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Dr. Jones thank you for this post. I wish more professionals like you would stand up against what is going on. Dr. Jones did not say anything about people who are justly deserving of Medicaid, nor justly deserving of wearing the clothes they wish too. He was saying only that what is being done in the country today with health care is not right. Many of us buy our own insurance. Many of us are told by our insurance companies that the emergency room is ONLY for emergencies. We pay for our insurance, however, there are those white, green, black, purple, pink, yellow, all sizes and shapes who have medicaid, who have the latest and greatest in cell phones, clothes, gold tooth, tattoos and piercings. The system has made it to easy for people to “milk the system” of what they see as “owed to them.” I for one am tired of these people bleeding every program dry. I don’t care about color of skin — that is not the point — the point is this…I PAY FOR MY INSURANCE, AND I DON’T HAVE MEDICAID, AND I DON’T HAVE CELL PHONES, AND I DON’T HAVE DESIGNER CLOTHES. So give me a break - you whiney hiney people that say behavior like that so very much demonstrated in our society today is right — it is wrong. Obama and his party are wrong for what they are trying to do to this country. We have become a nation of YOU OWE ME …. NO NO… That is very wrong. You should work hard and pay your way. We need more doctors to stand up like this.
mike2738 | December 22, 2009 at 5:44 pm
The doctor’s point is that the patient he mentioned seemed to be able to afford health care as opposed to being on the dole. His letter was right on target.
William Phillips | January 6, 2010 at 8:52 pm
You know, for everyone that responded to his comments that has had a job, has a job, retired, etc and have Medicaid - Medicare - HE was not aiming his rifled tongue (or pen) at you. There are PLENTY of Americans in day and time that cannot make ends meet. I was a Law Enforcement Officer for 12 years and was paid BELOW poverty level. The “Sheriff” at that time refused to allow single Mothers (and even married) with children to get food stamps because of the “image” that would portray to the citizens of our community. But yet the drug dealers (who do not claim that income), the thieves (who do not claim that income), the child molesters, etc (I think you get the point) were better off than HONEST - LAW ABIDING - HARD WORKING members of the society. Granted - I do not look at Medicaid - Medicare as a handout. I do look at it as a hand up. But you can only pull someone up for so long, and then you start dragging yourself down with them. There are too many that fall into that category now. There are too many that really don’t care if they can repay a loan or pay a hospital bill - because someone will pick up their slack - he did not say anyone and everyone who is on Medicare and Medicaid falls into that category. Are there people out there that deserve unemployment? YES! But I’m sure you can ask how many people you know that has at one time abused that system. Think logically PLEASE. Congrats Doc !
Tuscaloosa Teacher | January 14, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Miss Gwen,
The Jews were enslaved for hundreds of years and have endured severely debilitating cultural stereotyping and racism for centuries. And yet they persevere to be some of the most affluent members of American society. Most cultures who immigrated to America underwent a long period of racism, like Japanese, Irish, Italian, and yes, even African descent. Forget not that America put all the Japanese people in concentration camps… and they were American citizens! Countries make mistakes. Even though American racism was a great dark stain on American history, we should be able to reunite and move forward as one great nation. A nation which raises our children the believe that they must work hard to attain what they want. We must lead the way and teach by EXAMPLE. There will always be exceptions… but the hard line is that laziness breeds laziness, and industriousness breeds industriousness.
Iowa RN | January 16, 2010 at 12:30 pm
Now if only something will be done about the correctness of Dr.Jones’s letter!! It does not matter color or race Medicaid abuse and “poor me” is like a disease in this country because no one is saying no to any of the problems and abuses of the system and no accountability is placed on the participants of these programs. Great letter Doc
Nurse | January 19, 2010 at 8:44 am
I agree with what Dr Jones is saying, as a Nurse I have taken care of many patients with simular situation. I have never understood how you can qualify for Medicaid but yet afford all the luxuries. As a single mother working full time I can barely afford the insurance for myself. But pay for my child’s insurance as I am just over the limit to qualify for any assistance. But barely can pay my bills, living paycheck to paycheck. With such a strick budget that we cannot eat out and I take my lunch every day to work. If we do need to use our insurance for labs or doctor, we still have so much more to pay. There is definately something wrong with the picture when illegals can get free insurance for them and all their family, free lunches for their children and free or assistance with children’s books at school. Also, they can get assistance with their utilities when I can barely pay mine. This new insurance reform is not for the working class, it is not going to benefit us in the long run. I am afraid it will only make this matter worse.
Darell Clem | January 20, 2010 at 9:29 am
This is much larger than you hypocritical critics of Dr. Jones and you justifing your petty materialism and self-righteous judgement on the complaints of over taxed fellow citizens. It is completely misguided and shortsighted opinions that do not comprehending the cultural and collectivist vs. individualism worldview war that is obvious to all except the most naive. The new bulletless war (at least for now) is the fruition of the American Revolutionary [individual empowering] vs. French/European Revolution [collectivist/ eventual dictator empowering] away from monarchial form of government.
Have any of you that are attempting to justify every thing you own in your poverty ever considered what the true American individual empowering principles would call for? Things like empower the help to be channeled through the natural caregivers, families; then Churches, then local cities, then local government…but never a faceless centralized national government! Our families would have a totally different look than they do in our present growing family destroying system! Fewer divorces, fewer illigitimate childern, etc. You socialist think I’m exagerating, I’m sure, but your plan has repeated failed and only led to oppressive dictatorships wherever it was attempted. You’ll eventually be forced to justifiy why you burned boards from what had been your own private fence at one time to stay warm as in Dr. Zivago. Every bite of food more than your neighbor will have to be defended. Just rememeber, neither is Godless Capitalism any better than godless socialim…only capitalism is a tool but socialism is a humanist religion for Utopia on earth.
Bob | January 21, 2010 at 10:00 am
The Doctor made simple observations about what took place in his ER, and assumed and extrapolated to the health care insurance reform being attempted by congress, and not the President.
First, the Doctor and hospital will not refuse medical care to anyone who needs it, and passed these unpaid cost on to paying patients. 20% of our insurance premiums go to pay for those who do not pay, while the medical industry refuses to not treat those who do not pay. If the Doctors and nurses, and hospitols want to provide free services then they should eat it, and pay for it. Talk about a “culture Crisis”
Second, it an issue of access to health insurance. If you have a pre existing condition you cannot buy health insurance. Yet if you have employer provided health care you are covered. Worse case scenario, there may be a 180 day buy in period for a new employer health care policy, with some extreme pre existing conditions.
Yet, if you get cancer or are hit by an drunk driver, once you run out of vacation and sick days, and loose you full time employment status, you employers health care provider will drop your coverage. Good luck with the treatable cancer, or buying a health care policy on an open market that dose not exist.
Third to qualify for Medicare, at least in the state I live, you cannot have more than $7,000 in assets. So sell you house, drive a shit box, burn through you nest egg, and 401k, than get free health care that some one else is paying for. Yes Doctor these are the “choices” most people would want to make, vs having the ability to purchase an HMO policy.
So the Doctor makes a good point about choice and taking responsibility, but he fails to realize, people are locked out of the insurance market, unless you get it from an employer. And once you have major illness, you will loose it.
This is why single payer, or a public option, that you pay for needs to offered nation wide.
and nothing else.
froze | January 21, 2010 at 12:48 pm
I am really shocked that so many people are angry at the doctors comments!
He has the right to his opinions whether you agree or not!
And he is right! My sister-in-law is a nurse and my wife is a supervisor for ther county health dept. The story’s they could tell about the abuse they see and hear!
And why do we always play the race card and assume he is talking about a black person! There are all races of people that abuse the system!
He said these things because there are so many people out there that are tired of working their butt off to pay the bills of people that are capable of working but don’t want to because the government will pay the bill!
A.Miller - I am sorry that you got laid off! The verses you mention don’t apply to his comments! He gave an example of what typically peole that abuse the system do with the money they get! Extravegant lifestyle on the taxpayers money! I don’t think so!
I would more likely help someone as yourself that has worked and would work if you could! I don’t have anything fancy!
Dave Perry | January 22, 2010 at 1:29 am
God blees you Dr.I know the majority of our saddened country feels the same way. Don’t be afraid to stick up for your rights anymore. We have enabled way to many scumbags for years. Let’s put an end to it before our pathetic leaders and the antichrist running this country destroys it.
Health care is deserved by all of us I agree. I also agree that if you can work get off your lazy ass and do it. Stop collecting a hand out because you can. Take some pride in this great country and help the rest of us get it back on it’s feet again. Congress ran it into the ground because we let them. Let’s stand up for ourselves before it’s to late.
Khrys Riley | January 22, 2010 at 5:20 pm
“We reap what we sow?” Hmm…so a college graduate that had a good job with excellent benefits who was laid off and now working a part-time job with no benefits has to tell their child: “I’m sorry, I can’t pay for your $10,000.00 (yes, ten thousand dollar) bi-monthly treatments that will keep you alive because I reap what I sow?” I don’t think so. Are there people that take advantage? Of course! But don’t automatically categorize everyone that has medicaid in any form as a non-working, vice-addicted, loser! As for the handout comments, why don’t you start actually doing something about the deadbeat parents that do nothing to contribute to their children after the divorce? Maybe then you’d see a lot less of us on “welfare.” Shame on everyone that generalizes people like that.
Or, how about this, Dr.? Maybe you and all of your colleagues across the U.S., including pharmaceutical companies, could lower your rates and/or do a lot more pro bono work?
Last, but not least, kiss mine. I hope I never have to see you in an emergency. I’d rather have my arm amputated.
Andrea Javel | January 23, 2010 at 9:27 am
The majority of Americans want everyone to have healthcare and to be able to afford it. We are the only industrialized country on the planet that does not provide healthcare for its citizens. There are so many good people, who are willing to work, but can’t find it right now. There are also people who are independent contractors who pay exorbitant fees for their healthcare and get almost nothing for it. They are plain old middle-class Americans without tattoos. (Although I have nothing against tattoos.) My sister is in this boat. She and her husband are college-educated and their children have asthma which because they moved to find work is now considered to be a pre-existing condition. They have to pay for all asthma medications out of pocket on top of their high health care premiums. 60% of Americans who file for bankruptcy do so because someone in their family has had a catastrophic illness like cancer. We’re Americans. We can do so much better for all of our citizens. I think that we should all be thinking, there, but for the grace of God, go I. I also pray that my mother and my aunt who are on medicare never end up in Dr. Jones’ ER. I know it’s not the same as Medicaid, but who knows, some people might start to feel that the elderly are too much of a burden. Also, I know to doctors that it’s frustrating that some people still smoke. I understand that, but it IS an addiction that is very hard to quit. I would hope that an ER doctor understands that.
E J Krause | January 23, 2010 at 12:06 pm
I can’t help but notice that the good doctor offers no solution or remedy for this ah cultural crisis…
MEG | January 23, 2010 at 3:05 pm
I work in an emergency room, too (WORK, being the operative word), and agree that there is a culture crisis as Dr. Jones described. If I let myself think about it too long, it will eat me alive. The patients in question do not receive any less attention or care because of their payor status, and frequently they get disproportionately MORE attention because they are needy and entitled. I wish Obama had the time to spend a day or a week with me on the job to get an idea of what health care is really about.
Annie Martin | January 24, 2010 at 7:39 pm
LOL - when I read the article, I thought, “That’s my niece he’s describing!” And people, she’s as white as white can be… just sayin’
PJ | January 24, 2010 at 10:06 pm
I hear what the Dr is saying and I hear what so many are saying that they can’t get assistance because their income is a dollar or 2 above the limit. These are the people that need they “assistance”. They are not asking for a hand out only a hand up. When our son was laid off back in the 80’s and his wife worked, they went to see about getting medical help for 1 of their 3 young children, because he had bronchitis. They too had an income just over the limit. It just doesn’t make sense.
While discussing healthcare coverage with my Dr. he told me the following: he had a patient from Nepal, who had been in the USA 4 months, spoke minimal broken English, and had no intentions of becoming a citizen yet had full medical coverage compliments of the USA taxpayers. My question, how and why can we cover these people but can’t cover our own citizens?
Stephanie | January 26, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Interesting and true but saddening and dissappointing. After Katrina, we were put on Medicaid and food stamps by FEMA. It was a gift for us since my hubby was laid off of his teaching job so the insurance company dropped us. Both of my kids had allergies which lead to asthma for them. My husband suffered severe migraines and I am anemic. With money on halt, Medicaid and Food Stamps were such a gift to us! But after 6 months of turning lemons into lemonade in GA, we got off food stamps. After 1 yr in GA we dropped Medicaid and decided to buy our own health inurance. We spend a minimum of $10,000 each year on health insurance which includes our premium and our high end deductible. When I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis, the insurance co. increased our premium an additional $120/mo. What gift we found when the insurance co. covered my hubby’s surgery in December 2009. It was $14,000. The insurance issue is a problem since many take advantage of the system and because insurance companies can raise your premium at any point they choose. For many honest, hard-working people like my husband and myself who were affected by Katrina and other life circumstances, we are fortunate to have received this assistance. But obviously, this gift is not meant to be a long term handout but instead a boost until you balance your personal finances.
FF | January 26, 2010 at 2:17 pm
There are a lot of passions raised here and some good points, but THE point seems to be missed by everyone. Back in the days of the Clinton Campaign (The husband) the slogan was IT’S THE ECONOMY STUPID. Today we might say IT’S THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM STUPID.
The system is based on a certain assumption which is not, in fact, valid.
Assumption: Everyone should have health care, it is a basic human right.
Truth: Health care is a service like any other service which costs money and for which people should be compensated.
Right now, if you are still reading this, you may be feeling very upset with me, and think I am a very cold an cruel person - an elitist or someone who is simply saying the rich should be the only ones who have health care. Hear me out first.
I would love it if when we were born we could be guaranteed the best of health care forever. I would also like to be guaranteed that I could live in a mansion with a swimming pool. I think I deserve it! However, I think that even the most liberal communist or socialist out there will admit that is not practical.
Our Constitution and Declaration of Independence talk about our natural rights, and the rights of all people. They are such things as life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but they do not include health care. You see, these natural rights that we are all born with do not require that someone else pay for them. So for that reason they are natural. If someone has to come in and give me something in order for me to have a “right” then it is no longer natural, but artificial. Such a “right” is health care.
Even if it could be accomplished, it is quite likely that there would be less incentive to be one of the people paying for other people’s care than one of the people receiving care from other people. I don’t know about you, but if someone will give me something without my having to earn it, I stop trying to earn it.
This does not mean that charity is bad. Charity is good. I give to charities and I am glad I do, but Charity is VOLUNTARY, not MANDATORY. There is a word for when someone takes something from you by force that you have earned, and another word for the same situation when it is sanctioned by law.
If health care is in fact a right, then we should all have an equal level of health care. By the simple fact that doctors have different skill and intelligence levels, this could never be accomplished. Health care must, by necessity be unequal in how it is applied. If it must always be applied unequally then how can it be an equal right that all people should enjoy?
Like it or not, Republican or Democrat, Liberal or Conservative, Communist or Nazi, the fact remains that health care is delivered by people who work hard and long to attain the skills to be able to deliver health care. It is also takes a lot of costly stuff (medicine, machines, etc.) to deliver health care. These things have to be paid for which means someone has to work just as hard as these doctors practitioners and other other people in the health care industry work in order to pay for it. Whoever those people are, they are the suckers of society. The cost of health care is the largest cost in the of any industry sector in the US. This is not a minor amount of money.
The assumption that it is a right is not a valid assumption. There can be other assumptions, such as we as a country want to find a way to make it possible for people who can’t pay for health care to give something back to the system in exchange for health care when they need it. Or we as a country want to make charity for health care much easier for people to contribute to by removing all taxes on it instead of having a cap.
Maybe these ideas are not good ones but the point is that there are ways to skin this cat that don’t require the assumption of a “right” that is not a right. As long as we continue to base our health care system on this this false “right” it will continue to fail and be point of contention that is socially divisive - leading to continued trouble for the nation.
Buck Lawrence | January 27, 2010 at 5:41 pm
Well Well …I can really say the good Dr hit it right on the nail.
I just finished applying for my social security and medicare. Since our good President has been in office he has accomplished more than the average person knows.
I can’t draw full benefit from my deceased husband because he chose to get SS at an earlier age (62) and then had the nerve to die on me. But the SS was not his choice it was to help pay the medical bills of cancer and he still died after using all of his retirement, taking early SS and using it to for medical. By the way, co pays never go into 100%. And his co pays were up to 875. per month at his death.
Now I am penalized for him getting sick so I have to take the same lower rate of SS because he had to take it early to pay medical bills.
Wow! how lucky I am that our goverment not only purnishes us for getting sick but also purnishes the widow for the sickness too.
Now I am going to have to work til the day I die becuase the government thinks I don’t deserve full benefit because of his illness. WoW…
But the good Dr is right about one thing. I know of at least 20 black women on medicaid, as matter of fact they refuse the health insurance at their jobs and take medicaid. That gives them the money they make to buy name brands and big cars and they live in government housing and live with men who move out when they get pregnant and move back in when the baby is born, the man makes 50K + per year and they live high on the hog with the money saving nothing. The children go without while Mom & boyfriend eat drink and be merry and the government takes care of all medical, housing and education and food.
What have we done. President FD Roosevelt said welfare is a temporary means until ones returns to work WHAT ! why they have found a way for welfare to be an income. The next thing you hear is they will expect it to be used as income and draw social security on it at retirement age or better yet at disability from drugs, and such.
I go along with the DR. let them go to work, and furnish their own way.
ann | January 27, 2010 at 5:50 pm
Well I agree with the Dr …..whoever said it is the responsibility of others to raise someone ’s else children. help out from time to time but take them on as another dependent by paying for their healthcare while the parents should stop smoking, drinking, partying and they could do it themselves.
Oh! don’t go there, I was the 7th child in line of 8, my Dad was a drunk and my Mom ended the marriage in divorce. She went to work and we managed on her income. We took care of ourselves and we had health issues but she managed to pay for us to have medical care and dental care. She had a running balance with both. She was well respected in the community and people admired her. She did not expect handouts, and did not ask for them
What she did do was barter for things, you know trade outs.
But more than that, when I turned young lady age, she set me down and said now that you are old enough to leave this home without assistance from me, you will be making choices. Some will be good, some not so good. But one will be a forever choice, she choose to have a child, it is your responsibility from the day of conception and make no bones about it you will be the only responsible party to love, feed and clothe it. I love you and I take care of you and you need to know that as a choice of responsibility you too will be expected to take care of your choices. I listened and watch other girls in the community make wrong choices and their lives went downhill. Mine is ok, I work and I will work until I die, but I am proud to say I live to give and work to live.
I say the Dr is right, get up work and take care of yourself and if you can’t afford it don’t buy un necessary items.
Michael | January 29, 2010 at 6:31 pm
I’m with you doc.
As for the back and forth in this conversation, I see it pretty simply. We are NOT entitled to affordable healthcare. Period. We are not entitled to this any more than we are entitled to food, shelter OR a job. The saying goes “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness”, NOT “Life, Liberty, and Affordable Healthcare”!
Kevin Pearson | January 30, 2010 at 8:57 am
I live in New York State, once called the Empire State, but now should be called The Welfare State! We have the cadillac of health care for the poor and the highest taxes in the country to pay for it. I’ve been in line at the drug store to pick up a prescription and over heard a conversation between a pharmacist and a customer. He advised her that her prescription wasn’t phoned in by her dr., but she could buy a over the counter drug that was the same as the prescription drug. Her reply was, I’m not spending my money on that cause medicaid will pay for that! and it goes on and on. Thats just the tip of the iceberg here in NY.
Welfare in this state gets, free cell phones, cars, utility bills payed for, and the more kids you have the more money you get from NY State, and best of all, they are proud of being on welfare! A few comments that I have heard are: paying with food stamps and proud of it!, keep working so I can keep getting welfare and medicaid! and it goes on and on. And yes, they seem to all have tatoos, expensive shoes, and attitudes!! I can only hope the rest of the country doesn’t go down the same road as NY State has gone!!
Roger | January 31, 2010 at 9:28 am
This Doctor needs to the meaning of “diversity” and how misused words can hurt! He says this is a culture “thing”! I’ve said for years that people live outside of their means. That is not a government issue — it’s a parental issue for not teaching children “values”! The government didn’t raise these people! This Doctor might have had the intelligence to pass the tests and practicals to be a physician .. certainly he was not taught how to “explain” himself in a diverse culture of today! Get a life Doctor!
Philadelphia Doctor | January 31, 2010 at 6:53 pm
Thank you Dr. Jones. Bravo.
As young physician that has worked in healthcare- starting as an EMT in college- I could not agree more.
His letter succintly conveys the frustration many healthcare professionals share with individuals that exhibit an arrogant sense of entitlement and feel no obligation to take responsibility for their actions/choices.
As many have already stated, I fully support welfare, unemployment, medicaid, etc for those that have fallen on hard economic times. But an individual- white, black, hispanic, etc- that make such assistance his/her lifestyle disgusts me.
And before the ultra liberal, politically correct brigade attack my supposed cushy affluent upbringing, a litte about me. I was raised by a single working mother that at times (as opposed to regularly) collected food stamps and never indulged herself or her children in name brand attire, electronics, etc. I lied and said I was 13 when I was 10 so I could deliver newspapers in my neighborhood before school. I got through college with academic scholarships and part time jobs, including working in the Emergency Department where I cared for individuals from the same economic background as me.
I am intimately aware that, with decent work ethic and sacrifice, anybody in this country can provide for themselves at least most of the time.
Jack Neely | February 1, 2010 at 12:35 am
Dear Dr. What you have presented us with is a great example of an educated holier-than-thou professional, engaged in class baiting. My only thought here is that I hope you never run for public office - and I pity any poor soul that ends up in your ER if the patient is outside the realm of your socio-economic class. As for your specific complaints, I suggest that you have a personal talk with your staff who take their smoke-breaks off hospital grounds, send soulful messages to the NFL and others re their beer commercials, check the ring-tones on your daughter’s a/o grandchildren’s cell phones, as well as checking the cost of their tennis shoes along with the cost of footwear of your closest high school basketball and tennis teams (Might want to check your own, along with your golf and polo shoes). Doc - as for the pretzels - read a basic health jounal and you will find that they are one of the healthiest snack foods. To bad you do not spend your energy advocating for the prosecution of physicians and others in the medical field that are defrauding the system of millions every month - then you might be worthy of listening to (but I seriously doubt it). There is one good thing however: that you make your prejudice and hate public. It is always good to know who may be holding a scalpel at your throat when one is on a ventilator. But for your own mental health, I suggest three options: move to a) Beverly Hills (but beware of those gold teeth), an Amish community, or broaden your horizon if you dare, and leave the country - for Haiti or Physicians Without Borders. On the other hand don’t - they probably would not accept you.
p.s. Again, for your good, you best not look at your son’s shoulder above the t-shirt sleeve, or your daughter’s backside - you know that little area right below the panty line - for you might spot the delicate bright design you abhor.
Matthew Giles - Houston, Tx | February 1, 2010 at 6:09 pm
This first paragraph is to Ruth - It is truely ignorant to say what you have and question if the doctor is really doing his job. Only because you do not personally know, and neither do I. I don’t claim to praise the Dr. on his work, and I dont try to come up with hypothetical reasons for why he acted the way he did or what he did to help. As an emergency responder I can personally tell you that there are more people as described by Dr. Starner than you can possibly imagine,
and oath or not that doesn’t mean he isn’t entitled to an opinion, that means that legally he’s obligated to help someone who is in medical need.
He didn’t accuse a certain race for it so it isn’t racism, he didn’t give out the patients name so even if the patient did recognize the scenario there is no HIPPA Laws preventing him from stating the moment he recalled, overweight fat people are all aware of their malnutrition seeing as diabetes in 2005 killed 1.1 MILLION PEOPLE according to the World Health Organization, and guess who that greatly effects, fat people. Even if they aren’t aware then they are just as bad as excessive smokers or over-indulgent drinkers who should be aware that they are slowly killing themselves anyway, even if the times are hard and peope treat each other poorly, guess what, life is hard! The strongest survive and the weakest die that is the survival of the fittest.
Now when the people who spend $150+ on a pair of shoes and $90+ on a jersey and $300+ covering themselves in tattoos that is $540+ dollars. Now lets say they spent $50 on a pair of comfortable shoes that they can use they save $100+, and they buy clothes at wal-mart and spend $15 on a polo they save $75+, and they just forget getting a tattoo they save $300+, total they save $475+ dollars which equates to 23 different $20 dollar co-pays or 13 different 35 dollar co-pays. Seeing as the average person doesn’t go to the DR but maybe 3-5 times a year (and thats still quite a few) at a $20 co-pay thats $415 for medication and at a $35 co-pay thats $300 for medication. Just from changing the shoes and shirt you wear as well as refusing to ink yourself up.
And if you are one of the fortunate ones who does have a 31″ waistline congrats, apparently you don’t have diabetes which means less money to spend on the DR.
Also it isn’t revealing information about a patient unless you state the patients name as well as the patients name and reason why the patient was seen so you may want to actually sign a HIPPA contract and read it before you make legal accusations, yet again though I am only a firefighter who has signed this document, but what would I know?
And to the military wives out there, you to should be ashamed. There are things out there called grants and loans. These grants and loans are given out by the same government that pays your husband for his 30 years of service as an officer, which means he went to a college and got a degree and most likely the military paid for it using a little thing called the montgomery GI bill which pays for every active duty or inactive duty soldiers further education as long as they actually are furthering their education and haven’t been dishonerably discharged and if your husband didn’t use this then I’m sorry he was on officer because surely uou would expect an officer to think of getting financial aid if he qualifies… or maybe I’m the only one out there who knows about it. By the way my father was in Vietnam and he used his GI bill to go through school so its been around for a little while now.
To the people who assume R&B Music is only appreciated by african-amercians, go to a club in downtown houston called The Roxy or Rich’s and you will find people of all creeds, colors, and ethnicities including white “busting a move” to some form of R&B whether it be Usher, Beyonce, or any other artist for that matter of that genre so who is stereotyping now?
Yet again as an emergency responder there is no preference to white patients, (yes I am a white male), and I have helped white, black, yellow, green, blue, whatever the hell you want to call. I have helped , whites, asians, mexicans, latins, europeans, and so forth and all with the same amount of professionality as the other. If you want to get technical more races hate white people than there are white people to hate other races. If that isn’t true then why is the an NAACP but no NAAWP? It only offends me only because if an “ethnic” person and a “white” person take the same classes in school the “ethnic” person is more likely to get aid. The “ethnic” person also gets points alotted to them while taking certain test for jobs because of their skin colour and not because of their work ethics or skill.
I’m sorry people get cancer, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000 and has been cancer free since 2001 and my best friends father has mesothelioma and he is not going to make it. I’m sorry people get laid off, thats because of politicians and CEO’s not because of a DR and what his statement about social ethics is. To call his letter racist is to call yourself racist for having a biased opinion with no hard facts, only hard opinions.
And now last but not least dont think that because someone said that someone has medicaid and it’s becuase they don’t know how to spend money refers to everyone on medicaid. There are millions of people who deserve to be on it and there are millions of people who don’t. Next time use a common sense judgement before coming to the conclusion that he’s referring to everybody. And personally it’s up to you whether or not you go to his emergency because he will help, even if he doesn’t agree with you he will help, even if you sit and curse him all night, he’ll be there through it all doing everything in his power to help save your life, but apparently that isn’t worth his 2 cents worth.
You all have a great day, month, year, and life and the next time you want to jump to an accusation think about both sides. He has to make a living as well.
Vi | February 1, 2010 at 10:52 pm
I find it funny that some people here are assuming the doctor is racist and is describing a black patient by “reading between the lines” of his letter. What I got from his comments was the idea that a person will spend money on junk (such as money for a gold tooth, money to buy a cell phone ringtone, money for tattoos, cigarettes, etc.) but not money on actual necessities, leaving that to the taxpayer to take care of. I say bravo to the doctor for speaking his mind and voicing what many others are thinking.
Kevin | February 2, 2010 at 4:45 pm
Dr Jones is dreaming in technocolour. Does he really think that “you’ll be amazed at how quickly our nation’s health care difficulties will disappear” if this so called ‘cultural crisis’ changes?
The last I heard are that 60%-70% of Americans are covered by Private Insurance. I don’t think they are any more healthy than Canadians, Germans, Sweds, Danish, French, Italian etc. etc. etc.
In fact the USA citizen’s health is probably poorer than the aforementioned countries with obesity and related ailments as reported in the American press. I would think many of these people are under private health plans.
Dr Jones is protecting his income…which is fine but please his rational in this case is misdirected. I doubt that he recognizes this himself.
Jo | February 3, 2010 at 3:29 pm
OK, I have to respond.
I know that each of us is preaching to his/her own choir, but I have to state the counter arguments to this very limited perspective…
First of all Dr. Jones does an interesting job painting a portrait of what he views to be a person who wastes money any chooses only the luxuries in life.., of someone who is apparently unworthy of medical care. Just for perspective sake, let us note that over all gold crowns last longer than porcelain, causes less damage to opposing teeth, and cost about the same as a porcelain/metal combo. Many people would choose the all porcelain crown, especially in a noticeable place, but these are the most expensive. The appearance of a gold tooth may conflict with the Dr.’s personal sense of style, but it does not reflect a poor spending habit on the part of the patient.
As for the phone, I know many people who only have a cell phone and no home phone due to the expense issue. (I include some physicians I know personally in this statement). And ring tones are often free or very cheap - even R&B. He is comparing maybe $3 a month for a ring-tone to $600.00 plus for insurance? I do hope that anyone calculating medication doses is more savvy at math than thatcomparison indicates.
The Doctor also reflects upon the poor health choices of the patient in question. I do believe that cigarettes are addictive and cause many significant health problems. Unfortunately, I believe that regulation in that department has been a very slow battle - and one many smokers and cigarette companies do not feel should be regulated at all. A person’s economic position - whether poor or rich - really does not dictate a right for addiction and drug abuse in relation to insurance coverage. (Yes, nicotine is a drug) Trust me, all of you who do pay private insurance premiums are paying a lot more to cover your fellow insured smokers.
The fact is we are all paying for the healthcare costs of both the insured and uninsured. When people with insurance do not take care of themselves, and need high cost care (or even when those of us who do take care of ourselves need expensive interventions and end-of-life care), insurance premiums reflect the cost. Insurance companies are for profit. Employers are having to cover the brunt of these rising costs. Many “respectable” individuals are uninsured due to the expense. Many children are uninsured. The number of under-insured is frightening… Does this doctor seriously believe that a comprehensive plan of care is going to reward this patient or any other?? Does he seriously believe it is going to save us money as a society to continue to not provide basic care?? It is going to continue to cost us money as a society not to do so. Denying health coverage to those believed to be taking advantage of the system (and to everyone else who happens to be misfortunate enough to be uninsured) will not only fail to remedy such a situation, but makes very poor economic sense.
WE pay for increasing insurance prices; WE pay to cover those who lack care by increased medical costs; WE pay as a society by un-needed sick time off when illnesses progress due to lack of treatment; WE pay a s a culture when we do not take care of our children…. Doctors, on the other hand, make more money under a private insurance model. Only some doctors are willing to accept that consequence.
Anyone can go to an emergency room for treatment!! The cost of an an ER visit is SIGNIFICANTLY higher than for a primary care doctor’s visit. Your hospital charges are higher to cover these discrepancies. Not only would the appointment be cheaper to go to a primary care doctor or nurse practitioner when necessary, but regular access would allow the patient to get counseling and advice on wellness issues such as cigarette smoking and poor nutrition. Did Dr. Jones take the time to address these issues with the patient in question, or did he choose to spend his time writing about why she was unworthy of adequate medical coverage?
Please think it over, even if you are not a member of my choir.
Jo
tnvalleydude | February 3, 2010 at 11:18 pm
The good doc reminds me of the dog that bites that hand that feeds him. Ask just about any family doctor in the rural or small town South what percentage of his/her practice is funded by medicare or medicaid. Most would be out of business if it weren’t for these aspects of that dreaded word “socialism”.
While it’s very true that we all should live a lifestyle that’s conducive to good health, it’s also true that as a modern society we should have universal healthcare for all of our citizens. Period.
The term socialism is often misunderstood and misused. First, there’s “pure socialism”, which I do not support. One definition of pure socialism is when government (the people collectively) owns and controls the manufacture and distribution of all goods and services. As a capitalist, of course, I don’t support that ideology. However, “aspects” of socialism are not inconsistent with democracy and free markets. In fact, all democracies that I’m aware of, including ours in the USA, does incorporate aspects of socialism.
Have those of you who oppose government sponsored health care for all of our citizens considered the other aspects of our society that have long been socialized? For example, we have in America:
A socialized military
A socialized highway and roads system (mostly)
A socialized education system (Public schools)
Socialized police and fire protection services
Socialized national and state parks
Socialized Public libraries
Socialized Medical Insurance for the elderly and disabled
The list goes on. These are to name but a few aspects of socialism that are a part of our society, even though many people wouldn’t or don’t like to think of these services as socialism. But, in fact, they are.
Even in our so called free market economy we have a blend of socialism and capitalism. Here in Tennessee anytime that the state or a municipal government offers financial incentives to private enterprise to entice them to locate their business here, that is socialism.
If you are an employee of the federal, state or local government and if your health insurance is paid in full or in part by your employer, you are, in a sense, already a beneficiary of socialized medicine. This would include a public school janitor, class room teacher and all the folks in the administrative office of that school. Also included would be policemen, firemen, congress critters, various city, county, state, and federal offices, and anyone else who works for any branch of government and whose insurance is paid by the government (the people). If you fall into this category, your health care is paid for by the people and is therefore socialized medicine. I’m not saying that this is bad or undesirable. No. I’m saying that it’s a form of socialism.
While we’re discussing already existing aspects of socialism in our country, let’s not forget one of the largest beneficiaries of socialized medicine in America: The drug industry. Can you imagine having a business that provides products (drugs) to 40,000,000 people? To be clear, that forty million people. Now, this number reflects only medicare and medicaid patients (customers), not private insurance or self pay customers.
The US government, of course, pays for the drugs for these 40 million customers. And, here’s where the corruption comes in. The drug industry lobbyists actually wrote the legislation (that was passed by Congress and enacted into law by former President Bush) which makes it illegal for the US government to negotiate for lower prices on the drugs that the government buys from the drug industry. This cozy little relationship between Congress and the drug industry is, in reality, more akin to fascism. It’s true that from the viewpoint of the recipients of the drugs this system is a form of socialized medicine. Really, it is and the concept is a good thing. However, the system that allows the drug industry to charge whatever they wish for their drugs, often at extortionist prices and paid for by the American taxpayer, is blatant corruption and immoral collusion between our government and one of our largest industries. It most certainly is not based on anything that one could call “free market”. No, it’s legal price fixing. It’s also shameful that the American people seem to think that this corrupt arrangement is perfectly acceptable.
Moving on along with our topic of Socialism in America:
Any farmer, the very backbone of our nation, who receives any government subsidy in any form is a beneficiary of socialism. The American Farm Bureau, for example, is a powerful organization that lobbies Congress on behalf of its members. I’m a member of the Tennessee Farm Bureau and proud of it, even though I’m not a farmer. That doesn’t mean that I agree with all of the positions of the TFB.
All of us who consume dairy products enjoy the benefits of the Dairy Product Price Support Program administered by the USDA. This program is a form of socialism that helps dairy farmers to remain in business and helps consumers to be able to buy affordable dairy products. Personally, I don’t know of anyone who would cheerfully pay $10-15 for a gallon of milk. That’s likely what we’d be paying at the grocery if we didn’t have the Dairy Product Price Support Program. Though we may not think of it as such, this is a form of socialism that most of support, I think.
Though I’m not yet sure of the best way to provide government funded health care for all of our citizens, what system to implement, it is inevitably coming to America. I hope that it will be a cooperative effort, a joint venture of some kind between the government and private health care providers.
A recent article and health care survey published in US News and World Reports (not exactly a bastion of liberalism!) offers some interesting insight and perspective on the satisfaction of the people with their health care in 5 nations:
http://www.usnews.com/money/blogs/flowchart/2009/09/15/4-countries-with-better-healthcare-than-ours-
http://www.gallup.com/poll/8056/healthcare-system-ratings-us-great-britain-canada.aspx
http://www.correntewire.com/personal_comment_healthcare_here_and_canada
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/72229.html
As Paul Harvey used to say, now, there’s the rest of the story.
kitty bronster | February 5, 2010 at 4:28 pm
I could not agree more. There are several people in my life who receive disability, food stamps and other aid. HOWEVER these same people get their nails done regularly, go to expensive hair salons, smoke cigarettes, buy all sorts of lovely things for their homes, etc. Those on disability enjoy active lives and don’t have to go to work. I on the other-hand am a N.Y.C. Public School teacher, who rises early each weekday to make my commuter rush hour way into work. I have trouble making ends meet and lead a very simple, bare-bones life. There is a major problem with all this. I will say however, that I love my job and when i go to sleep at night I have a sense of pride and know that what I do has value.
Tom Draschil | February 8, 2010 at 1:09 am
The issue is not whether or not the “rich” should help the “poor”. Of course we should if we can. That is God’s way. It should be our way. The issue is force versus freedom, whether or not government should be able to force me to be charitable, whether or not it’s my property or the government’s, whether I’m free to choose when I want to be charitable, or when I think I can afford to be charitable, or not. Freedom means the right to be selfish or unselfish, a bigot or a friend, as long as we don’t tread on others’ rights. The government is not God, although the politicians apparently would like to be. They are not up to it. That’s why We The People did not endow them with the sovereignty He gave to us when He made us free, when He gave us Inalienable rights and thus made us sovereigns. We are the sovereigns, and our choice of charity is between us and God. Government forced welfare always destroys a society economically, and then in other ways. But voluntary welfare allows the productive (call it lucky if you want, that’s OK with me) citizen to retain enough “seed corn” to continue to be productive and charitable in the future. TAD
P.S. The Constitution does not empower the national governent to involve itself in welfare or health insurance AT ALL. On a state or local level, at least that passes constitutional muster - - whether or not it is a good idea on the merits is another matter - - but at least it’s more controllable on that level. Our Founding Fathers were right. We should obey our own law or amend it. If We The People want to amend the Constitution to allow the federal government this power, I’ll go along with it, but not until then.
Brian | February 8, 2010 at 9:15 am
I couldn’t agree with Dr. Jones more! Hear, Hear!!
I’ve never met a poor person that didn’t have a nice home stereo system, a nice TV, and full cablevision. And yet they are poor?
My parents came from poor beginnings to achieve solid, middle-class status. But some of my family still are “poor”. One of my uncles routinely calls my mom to borrow some money (this is the only time she ever hears from him). Yet, he has a wide-screen TV and expanded-full cablevision (the kind that has all of the sports channels). Yet, he sits at home and doesn’t work. Just cashes his Gov’t check every month.
Suzanne Gentling | February 8, 2010 at 9:55 am
The problem is, Dr. Jones, you’re already paying for her health care.