The Kern River Valley talks healthcare reform...it was a good meeting

There were some concerns this last Monday night, Aug. 24th, that a political split might occur over the hot topic of healthcare reform at our Town Hall meeting in Lake Isabella, but those issues were muted by mostly open, intelligent discussion.

There were Republicans, Democrats, and some belonging to neither family, standing up to speak with an audience of more than 60 people using good manners allowing each their opinion. Yes, you're right it is strange to imagine that people holding very different political agendas could stay in a room together for three hours without trouncing over one another, but it happened.

Even as I was out and about today, people were asking the question with a suspicious tone, "how did the meeting go?"

I'd say as an observer that it was productive to see people coming together over something which will effect us all in one way or another.

The Doc's take:

Dr. Robert Gross, DO, Kern Valley Healthcare District Hospitalist

and also board member, talked about the urgency of the situation

of reforming the healthcare insurance.

"Access to healthcare is a civil right," he announced to the audience.

"There are 15,000 physicians in this country right now that belong to an organization called, "Physicians for a National Healthcare Plan." That organization started three years ago and the reason that that organization is growing so fast is because we see that there will not be any viable healthcare in this country, except private healthcare insurance, if we don't make some changes right now."

Dr. Gross and Rural Healthcare Family Practitioner, Dr. Jack Nadler, concurred that they spend more time trying to get private insurance to pay for tests and medications for patients, than they do with the Medicare system.

In rebuttal to one speaker's concerns that the government would be a poor administrator for healthcare, Dr. Nadler, informed the audience how he and Dr. Gross came to be practitioners here in this isolated valley.

"I got up here, like Dr. Gross, through the National Health Service Corp. That pesky government actually helped pay for our medical school so that we would purposely come and work in an underserved area...uh, both of us stayed on...it is still an underserved area to say the least."

I totally, understand, Dr. Nadler, as I am a patient of the Rural Health clinic.

As the moderator, John S., we will call him out of complete laziness in regards to the spelling of his last name, explained the format of the meeting and was particularly into enforcing time constraints and allowing for rebuttal, so, I thought, I would allow my cameraman, to rebutt as well.

Now he uses pictures, so he will utilize pictures to tell his side of the story...

Um...are you sure you want my Honest opinion?

So, being the shy, quiet, simple guy operating the camera, I am often given a rather unique view of the action...although this view might be slightly warped by most, I'd rather just be honest and say it like I see it rather than pretend to know what's going on. Does this equal relevance? Maybe. Does this:

This woman's story made me feel quite sad and I was suddenly reminded of my grandfather who was a World War 2 vet as well. And then I noticed how much the moderator in the background reminded me of Santa Claus in Rudolf The Red-Nosed Reindeer.

Quite the brave soul here, this bold Republican spoke of economics, supply and demand of free healthcare, etc. and yet completely avoided the topic we really wanted to hear about: How does one come up with the decision to purchase and actually wear a shirt like that in public.

What About Bob?

Bob Jamison, a board member of the Kern Valley Healthcare District, was rumored to debate against Dr. Gross was a no show.

Final Rebuttal: As we know there has no been no decision in Washington DC regarding healthcare "insurance" reform, and rumors abound at this time. Members of the audience discussed everything from euthanasia, the Hitler healthcare plan, to urging us all not to make extreme changes by throwing the "baby out with the bath water."

My hope is that as we made comparison's with Canada, the UK, New Zealand, their medical plans and tax rates, we in America will find our own way, the American way. I have some ideas of my own I will share, but as time and other things constrain me, I will get back to you on this.

I would like to say to the community, good job, let's keep talking.

(This blog post brought to you by the "Kern Valley Spin." For entertainment purposes only. Opinions of the authors a bunch of crap. Thanks again.)