Delusional Duck Discussion Forums

the healthcare thread to end all healthcare threads…

2009-08-14T11:35:07Z

so obviously, this is on a lot of folks’ minds. here are some thoughts of mine to get this started. to be sure, there are lots of holes here; i do not claim to have all the answers, nor to i claim to have righteousness on my side. i am here to learn, not preach, as i would hope all of us are. so let’s talk about this with the goal of helping and educating one another, not talking down to one another as if there is a singular answer to this problem (and by implication suggesting some of us are too stupid to ``get it’;). my political ideology is ever-evolving and one that’s the result of an intellectual journey to learn all i can. too often, it seems folks start with the assertion that one party or one ideology is ``evil’’ and then just start finding reasons to attack it cafeteria style. i’d like to try and avoid that here.

i will start with the assertion that healthcare is broken. badly. there is little doubt about this. however, as i suggested here http://delusionalduck.com/index.php/site/comments/just_who_are_these_health_care_protesters/ i am of the opinion that we do not need to do something as desperately as the political machine would have us think. we’d be much better off to think hard about this first. i’m not suggesting that we get into ``paralysis by analysis’‘, but Obama’s desire to move on this so quickly seems short-sighted and overly ambitious.

i am far from a tax-and-spend liberal, but as an American, i will advance the assertion that every American who wants healthcare should be able to get it at an affordable rate. period. obviously, there are lots of devils in the details and implementation.

my favorite idea is this concept of Medicare for all. i’ve seen all the arguments for and against this, and i don’t have my mind made up yet. it’s just an idea that’s currently sticking. one thing is for certain: it will be expensive. i believe the general consensus is that Medicare for all will end up costing us like 18% of GDP. that’s too high. as i pointed out in my post above we can afford this—-we don’t want for money as a nation, we only want for common sense approaches to government spending. but certainly as a percentage of GDP it may not be the best use of our money. France can do it for around 10% or less of their GDP if i recall my figures correctly. (not that i’m advocating a system based on the French model, but they are at the low end of the spectrum, so i use it as a point of comparison only).

i’m certainly not for more government intrusion in my life. but i’m much more concerned about what the government is getting away with now (surveillance cameras, red light cameras, license plate scanners, illegal wire taps, property rights encroachments by forcing business owners to adopt no smoking, etc., etc….) that i don’t have time to worry about what might or might not be with a health care bill that hasn’t even passed yet. right now, i have a business executive in the way of my health care. the health care my employer provides for me is run by a public corporation. that means the Board of Directors and the executive team have a fiduciary responsibility to the stockholders, not my health. i never thought i’d see the day when i said this, but i truly think i’d rather have a government bureaucrat there than a business executive who only sees dollar signs. well maybe, anyway.

oh, and about these ``death squads’‘, man i just don’t know. i don’t expect that i’m going to gain any popularity points here, but c’mon. we’re all going to die. we all end up in either a pine box or an urn, yes? the rhetoric doesn’t scare me. i’m not scared of death, i’m just waiting to see what’s on the next plane. i know that i will transcend.

but my point is this: for those of you who are against any government-run health care in any way, shape, or form—-why? how do you know it will be bad until you’ve experienced it? just how do you know this? is it a gut feeling? i’m certainly aware of all the colossal failures of government programs (No Child Left Behind comes to mind), but why not give something like this a chance? why not fight for something that will work? when it comes to our government, very rarely do i ever suspect conspiracy; rather 99.9% of the time it’s incompetence. so why not fight to make our government accountable? why not fight to have competent professionals installed?

We The People can take control of this situation. we’re just not that organized. we can make a system that benefits all of society and adds to the already long list of reasons why this country is the greatest example of democracy in human history.

i look forward to hearing from you.

Charles County Sheriff’s Office earns CALEA Flagship Agency status

2010-09-08T01:09:38Z

A team of assessors from the Commission on the Accreditation of Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., (CALEA) completed an audit of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office in late August in which a detailed inspection of the Sheriff’s Office and public comments session were conducted. During the inspection portion of the on-site audit, the assessors examined the Sheriff’s Office’s policies and procedures, management, operations and support services. Among its standards CALEA requires a set of well-thought written directives, a well-developed system of internal reporting used to provide the Sheriff with fact-based information upon which to make management decisions, and a preparedness program for all types of emergencies. After this extensive review, the CALEA assessors have determined the Charles County Sheriff’s Office is eligible for “Flagship Status,” a designation that is designed to acknowledge CALEA Accredited public safety agencies that have demonstrated success in the accreditation process. The program also serves to provide other agencies seeking accreditation with examples of “best practices” on how to address compliance, policy development, file maintenance, and other issues relating to the accreditation process. The Flagship Agency designation is effective for the duration of the current award period.

The assessors were Chief Roy Liddicott, from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., who served as the team leader and Lieutenant John Dolan, from Hillsboro, Mo. The assessors reviewed written materials, interviewed individuals and visited offices and other places where compliance with CALEA standards were to be observed.

CALEA assessors are recruited from some distance away from the agency to be assessed in order to maintain the objectivity of the assessment process. CALEA was established in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs’ Association and Police Executive Research Forum. For more information about CALEA visit its website, http://www.calea.org.

The Sheriff’s Office was initially accredited in 2001 and was successfully audited in 2004 and 2007. For more information about the Sheriff’s Office, visit its website, http://www.ccso.us.

Lee Platt for Charles County Democratic Central Committee

2009-07-01T23:22:24Z

I was appointed in 2004 and served until the 2006 elections, during which I did not campaign, and therefore, was not elected.

I was appointed to fill a vacancy in 2007 and am now the Vice Chair.

One of the most active and vocal members of the committee and now that I have a better idea of “the ropes”, will be campaigning in earnest to win back my seat in 2010.

What good is the CNS notification system?

2009-10-31T17:16:21Z

I don’t know how many other people here have signed-up for the CNS (Citizens Notification Service), but in my opinion it has been a big bust.

I don’t know who is in charge of it, or how they are alerted to an emergency and other pertinent and/or relevant information, but how hard would it be, to let say, send a message out to remind the subscribers to this service to turn your clocks back at 2 AM (11/01/09), and check/change your smoke detector batteries too.

I’ve also noticed that the other area notification services, send out a lot of other information for there counties that has impacted Charles County, but we didn’t receive anything from or CNS system.

I realize this is a free service to the citizens of Charles County, but when you don’t receive anything that may impact you, what good is it.

Maryland Independent Primary Endorsements

2010-09-08T00:32:37Z

Remember, the Maryland Independent is endorsing candidates for the Primary Election in contested races only. Candidates not in a contested race, still appear on the Primary ballot for their party and will go on to the General Election. The Maryland Independent will make another endorsement for each office before the General Election.

Representative in Congress, District 5
-Steny Hoyer (D)
-Charles Lollar (R)

House of Delegates, District 28
-Sally Jameson (D)
-Peter Murphy (D)
-CT Wilson (D)

County Commissioner
*President
-Candice Quinn Kelly (D)
-Jim Thompson (R)
*District 1
-Ken Robinson (D)
*District 2
-Leo Eyombo (D)
*District 3
-Al Smith (D)
-Eric Vrem (R)
*District 4
=Joe Lehan (D)

State’s Attorney
-Tony Covington (D)

Sheriff
-Rex Coffey (D)

You can see all endorsements of local candidates on Delusional Duck’s Election page.

Don Derencin for Commissioner, District 4

2010-07-01T14:00:41Z

Candidates for Election - Charles County Board of Elections

DERENCIN, DON
REPUBLICAN
Juris.: Charles
Status: Active
Date Filed: 06/30/2010

Mailing Address
2262 Hopkins Ct
WALDORF, MD 20602

Phone & Email

dderencin at hotmail dot com

Paul Donato, Candidate for Board of Education

2010-06-29T17:00:03Z

Candidates for Election - Charles County Board of Elections

DONATO, PAUL
NON-PARTISAN Mailing
Juris.: Charles
Status: Active
Date Filed: 06/29/2010

Address Phone & Email
7525 Tottenham Dr
WHITE PLAINS, MD 20695

Phone & Email
443-375-2238
pdonato at live dot com

Who is C.T. Wilson representing?

2010-09-08T09:26:45Z

Well, C.T. Wilson is running for office alright but who is he going to represent if elected? According to his last 2 campaign finance reports, Mr. Wilson has received 57 individual campaign contributions. Only 9 come from residents of Charles County; all $100 or less for a total of $415.00. The largest contributions and the majority of contributions come from residents or businesses in Prince George’s County. In addition, Mr. Wilson has received contributions from the political committees of Del. Nathaniel Oakes, Baltimore City ($250), Del. Jay Walker, Prince George’s County ($250), and Prince George’s County State’s Attorney (and Mr. Wilson’s boss) Glenn Ivey ($1,000). I think that if Mr. Wilson wants to be a delegate for Prince George’s County, he should move to and run from a legislative district there. Just how dumb does Mr. Wilson and his cronies think we are down here in Charles County?

Why isn’t there a fire station in the north end of the county?

2010-06-03T14:28:02Z

Can someone here tell me why there is no F.D. in the north end of the county, let’s say in the Pinefield area?

This could be fun, share with us all why you are a (insert party here)

2010-09-05T00:24:26Z

Presently there are 5 recognized parties in Maryland. They are the Republican, Democratic, Green, Libertarian, and Constitution parties.

Please take a minute and complete one of these questions, just one, try to keep it short, and let’s be positive.

I am a Republican because …
I am a Democrat because …
I am a Libertarian because …
I am a Constitutionalist because …
I am a Green because …
I am not affiliated because …

I will start this off.

I am a Republican because I believe in small government, responsible spending, minimal taxation, self determination, personal responsibility and the proper separation of powers between local, state and federal government.

One last thing, let’s just this once not comment on each other’s post. I think this could be a great learning experience.