Letter to the President

[Emilgevor]

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs314.ash2/59438_1279737653723_1838498283_545879_3617256_s.jp g

Pictured is a young physician by the name of Dr. Roger Starner Jones. His short... two-paragraph letter to the White House accurately puts the blame on a "Culture Crisis" instead of a "Health Care Crisis"..

It's worth a quick read:


Dear Mr. President:
During my shift in the Emergency Room last night, I had the pleasure of evaluating a patient whose smile revealed an expensive shiny gold tooth, whose body was adorned with a wide assortment of elaborate and costly tattoos, who wore a very expensive brand of tennis shoes and who chatted on a new cellular telephone equipped with a popular R&B ringtone.


While glancing over her patient chart, I happened to notice that her payer status was listed as "Medicaid"! During my examination of her, the patient informed me that she smokes more than one pack of cigarettes every day, eats only at fast-food take-outs, and somehow still has money to buy pretzels and beer. And, you and our Congress expect me to pay for this woman's health care? I contend that our nation's "health care crisis" is not the result of a shortage of quality hospitals, doctors or nurses. Rather, it is the result of a "crisis of culture" a culture in which it is perfectly acceptable to spend money on luxuries and vices while refusing to take care of one's self or, heaven forbid, purchase health insurance. It is a culture based in the irresponsible credo that "I can do whatever I want to because someone else will always take care of me". Once you fix this "culture crisis" that rewards irresponsibility and dependency, you'll be amazed at how quickly our nation's health care difficulties will disappear.

Respectfully,
ROGER STARNER JONES, MD

[J-b5]

Chris Rock once said something that rings very true...

I looooove black people... but I hate....


You know the rest. :)

[JoshDub]

Every part of that letter is true.

But he needs her vote, if she even does, to stay in office.

[jamestown478]

omg this is soo true. Kinda like the other day when I was at the grocery store and this black chick was bitchin that she couldn't use her food stamps on milk and had to buy it herself. Seen her loadin her almost free grocerys into a brand new escalade. Shit like that pisses me off like no other.

[Emilgevor]

Im curious is the mechanics shop that fixes that fancy escalade accepts food stamps

[gtiupb2002]

This is sad but true. It is sad due to the fact that our society allows this to happen. I am one for getting rid of welfare, this is ruining this nation like no other. I understand some people need help, so lets give it to those people who need it. How about we put a limit on how long you can be on foodstamps, say like 6 months, or how about we drug test these people. I hate this ****, I work my ass off everyday to get what I have. Maybe I should just quit working, produce as many kids as possible and live off of state help this seems like the way to go.

[Emilgevor]

^^^ What sad is that the fact that I bust my ass working and get my own way. I am getting married and getting everything done without no ones help. We both work full time and it seems that people on welfare are doing better and easier than we are. This is not fair and should be stopped. I personally dont give a rats ass how many kids they got. I don't have any right now because I know that I can not provide 100% for them. And that somehow makes me more poor than the people on welfare with 4 kids who don't know the first thing about raising a child.

[Kerby]

Sometimes I wish I can quit work, get a gold tooth, and just sit around in my old neighborhood in Brooklyn with everyone I grew up with and loiter. I had strict Haitian parents who didn't play that shit, I had a job since I was 13, went away to college at 16 on a full scholarship, and been on my own since. It's definitely a cultural thing, not a black thing.

There's a culture of people who believe they're victims to the government that they assume they understand, and the government actually falls victim to paying their bills. Education is free, Healthcare is free, and unfortunately there are those that abuse it instead of using it to meet a goal.

Obama isn't doing anything different than any other President in the past, just trying to cut cost by making a uniformed system. The government's current spending on Healthcare for clowns like the one the OP speaks about is atrocious.

[Emilgevor]

Sometimes I wish I can quit work, get a gold tooth, and just sit around in my old neighborhood in Brooklyn with everyone I grew up with and loiter. I had strict Haitian parents who didn't play that shit, I had a job since I was 13, went away to college at 16 on a full scholarship, and been on my own since. It's definitely a cultural thing, not a black thing.

You are right Race has nothing to do with this. It's some people who screw it up for everyone else and make their race look bad. Up where I live its mostly whites who take advantage of the system. You move about an hour north its mostly blacks who abuse the system. It's sad to see that people like that fuck everything up for everyone.

[Matador]

You're absolutely right. The 5% of the people that will look for every way to abuse any system should fuck up opportunity for the rest of us. Like that kid that ran his dad's M5 off a runway, that should make it so no car has over 200HP again, correct?

We have approximately 320 million people in this country. No matter what, especially due to the last two decades of a culture of not teaching self-accountability, we will always have the 5% that do anything they can to do nothing and get everything.

People reach adulthood now thinking there are no real consequences for their actions. How many people are 18+ that remember being scared shitless at the threat of having their parents called for causing trouble at school? For a large majority, that doesn't exist anymore. Somehow parents reading these parenting books think "timeout" will tech a kid to reflect on their actions and understand the moral consequences. How is a 7 year old that wonders why different color boogers don't have different flavors supposed to even fathom self-reflection???

I've been in Europe for the last week and a half, and have visited 3 countries. It's amazing (even looking at Prague) how far back America has fallen back compared to the rest of the world; technologically, culturally, and in a lot more respects. In America, there's always someone to point the finger at rather than looking in the mirror. We claim with pride we are better than every other country on the planet because of the freedoms we enjoy, but what do we do with these freedoms? No universal healthcare, no significant reduction in fossil fuel dependency (whereas even the French, THE FRENCH!!! have surpassed us in alternative fuel technology), internet infrastructure is a joke, and a public transportation that nationally is akin to a horse drawn carriage. Universal healthcare shouldn't be looked at someone trying to get something for free while you work harder, but understanding that A) we're the richest fucking country in the world, we really do have the money to spare, and B) everyone has different circumstances that take them down different paths in life. Ultimately what makes us human is to understand the value of a human life beyond their cultural or economical background, sometimes past their own stupidity.

SO this one doctor is upset that his tax dollars have to pay for this one shitbrick that they probably also watched get high and skip class in high scool. This person will never strive for better in their life, ever. What about the next kid that comes as an innocent bystander from a drive-by, from the same hood same block as the shitbrick, but instead jumped for that brass ring and has a scholarship to Rutgers when he graduates? His parents busted their ass as janitors or postal workers his entire life to make sure he could stay in school, and he has to end his life now because they can't afford more than medicaid?

There always has been and always will be that 5%. Don't focus on them to have everything else screwed up for the rest of us.

P.S. - There is no administration in existence save for a bloody dictatorship that can correct irresponsibility and dependency as a cultural norm. PARENTS are the only ones who can make that change in their children. This physician needs to stop looking to a government institution for corrections to self-accountability and instead adress these concerns to his peers. If he sees a parent not doing what the fuck they're supposed to be doing, call them out on it.

[J-b5]

Plus your beer is terrible.

[gtiupb2002]

No they shouldn't loose an opportunity for help when NEEDED, but too many people now a days feels they are owed something from the government. They need to monitor the welfare system better, do inspections on people that are getting welfare, drug test them this will get rid of the abusers. There are some people that genuinely need the help, I wont lie I grew up with my mother that raised 4 children on her own, and we did get state help, but she also worked. I now work my ass off along with my wife and I know she feels the same way I do when it comes to this situation.

This one Doctor has every right to be pissed off, just as I am pissed off at the people that abuse the system too because it is our tax dollars that go to them. I work in a prison and I see the system in there constantly abused by inmates. I disagree with the fact that we have to pay their medical, dental, and any other BS that comes up. Its disgusting, there have been cases of inmates on DEATH ROW with life threatening conditions and yet we do everything in our power to keep them alive to just kill them later? I might as well break the law, get thrown in prison and call it quits, why because I get a free roof over my head, free food, free medical, and free dental, o and the only thing I need to worry about is myself.

I would rather have work my ass off to provide for my family and have pride in myself than to suck off of the government. On second thought, if my baby momma sucks off the government I go sell drugs and break the law, instead of driving an escalade, I could have the baddest S4 around!!!!

You think that if this doctor or anyone for that matter calls some shitty ass parents out on some BS they are doing, that they are going to give two *****, I dont think so. I do agree with you that it is the parents responsibility to teach there children, but god knows that their parents are not going to teach them whats right, they are going to teach them the same thing that their own parents taught them and so on and so on. So someone somewhere will have to step in and fix it.

[CARTEL]

Chris Rock once said something that rings very true...

I looooove black people... but I hate....


You know the rest. :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3225/2593041967_0f4ef7bf37_o.jpg

[Turbo Nerd]

Living in Detroit I see this all the damn time. There's only 2 types of cars you see here, broken down shit cars and nice fancy cars. The most business our shop sees is on the first when they get there checks. You see all the crack heads going to the crack house for there much needed supplies. A couple weeks ago in one day there was 86 fires near the shop and one that almost caught us on fire and know one is doing anything. These people get everything that they want, free Medicare, free housing, checks every month, food cards and they are driving Mercedes, Cadilacs ect and live in a garbage home. This shit needs to stop. Also we had to disconnect our phone service for the shop because "they" are cutting down the phone wires for copper and it takes the phone company 3 weeks to fix it so we will only have service for maybe a couple days, why spend the money?

[Aggv]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3225/2593041967_0f4ef7bf37_o.jpg

naggers, OOOHHHH SHHHIIIIIIIT. hahahahahah Thanks Obama for demotivating an entire generation with your bullshit rhetoric and appointment of communist in the executive branch

[kbS42001]

heard a great story about a lady whom was caught pouring out dozens and dozens of bottles of water behind a grocery store...
her food stamps could not be used to purchase alcohol and tobacco...
so she bought a few cases of water, poured it out and returned the bottles for the cash deposit ( $0.05) so she could buy her booze...

the only reason i believe she shoulnt be taken out back and shot in the head is because she has 3 kids who depend on her...

[Matador]

naggers, OOOHHHH SHHHIIIIIIIT. hahahahahah Thanks Obama for demotivating an entire generation with your bullshit rhetoric and appointment of communist in the executive branch

Instead of parroting the "communist" argument, is there anything based on fact you have to say?

[VR6Bomber]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3225/2593041967_0f4ef7bf37_o.jpg
^GAH.... you beat me to it!
So settle for this..
http://cdn.newsone.com/files/2008/12/obamanails.bmp

[Exanimas]

P.S. - There is no administration in existence save for a bloody dictatorship that can correct irresponsibility and dependency as a cultural norm. PARENTS are the only ones who can make that change in their children. This physician needs to stop looking to a government institution for corrections to self-accountability and instead adress these concerns to his peers. If he sees a parent not doing what the fuck they're supposed to be doing, call them out on it.


Instead of parroting the "communist" argument, is there anything based on fact you have to say?

You seem to have this backwards. Why should a doctors have to "call people out" who abuse a system that needs to be corrected? If the government (who does control these things) fixed it in the first place, a doctor wouldn't have to try and lecture adults that should know better. I'm sure talking to these people wouldn't get through to any of them either, because I highly doubt they don't know they're abusing the system. It seems to me like you voted for Obama and are getting butthurt by anything said against him or his policies, but forgive me if I'm mistaken.


Plus your beer is terrible.

How's your healthcare system doing up there? [:D]

[exorcet]

You seem to have this backwards. Why should a doctors have to "call people out" who abuse a system that needs to be corrected? If the government (who does control these things) fixed it in the first place, a doctor wouldn't have to try and lecture adults that should know better. I'm sure talking to these people wouldn't get through to any of them either, because I highly doubt they don't know they're abusing the system. It seems to me like you voted for Obama and are getting butthurt by anything said against him or his policies, but forgive me if I'm mistaken.



Well, it started off boring and slow, with Exanimas trying to bullshit everyone with a bunch of smart talk: '"Blah blah blah. You gotta believe me!"'

[Exanimas]

Well, it started off boring and slow, with Exanimas trying to bullshit everyone with a bunch of smart talk: '"Blah blah blah. You gotta believe me!"'

WAT

Your response doesn't make sense. What am I trying to get people to believe? Maybe your mother's doctor should have talked to her about the effects of drinking while pregnant.

[Matador]

Actually, I voted for Gore in '00 and Bush in '04. Kerry was an embarrassment to himself, let alone people who truly wanted a change in the paradigm. Then seeing what a shithouse the Republican party had become I distanced myself. Sarah Palin and Glen Beck are the worst things to happen to the party since Nixon. I'm not butthurt by what you said, I'm insulted at the fact that you clearly have no idea (just like the rest of the Right Wing politics) what the definition of "Communist" or "Socialist" actually means yet use them so flippantly. Do you enjoy stuff like a Fire Department? Public Schools? Highway Transportation? Hooray for you! You're enjoying "communal" programs which you pay to whether or not you use them. I'm just tired of people flinging around "COMMIE!" like the verbal diarrhea it truly is. But by all means, buy into the fear mongering that the big scary black guy is going to destroy the country. I know racism exists, I'm not retarded. I'm just shocked how truly easy it is to lead people with propaganda.

Let's play this Devil's Advocate. Let's pretend I have a "I <3 Beck" shirt with "Limbaugh 4 lyfe!" panties. Nothing I love more than sticking it to people that are too dumb not to be rich like me. HAHA! Fuck poor people. So, let's get together and make sure the best laid plans of the Barry Obama administration are completely destroyed and do everything possible to annihilate the Democratic party out of government. HOORAY! We win! Ethnic purity and people that only believe in my version of God prevail! Now what though? What has the Republican party suggested or laid out as alternative to the current policies to get our country back on track?

Remember that the system failed in 2008, when Republicans were still in the driver seat. If "No-bamanomics" or whatever suck so bad, what other alternate plans, policies, or procedures have the Tea Party or Republicans come up with to restore employment and consumer confidence? The answer is NONE. Sure they've made great powerpoint bullets saying "oh this is what we should see and have in our country" but as far as clear laid plans of implementation there are none. However, they've spent plenty of time planning intricate battle plans and media attacks for political posturing to drive a wedge in the general population. End result? Congratulations, you may have made sure an administration you disagree with fails but you also made sure we remain in the same shit pile we sunk into in '07-'08. Back then McCain had no clear plans of alternative energy, lowering gas prices, fixing economic downturn (and they both supported the stimulus package BTW, which again was enacted by the previous Administration and NOT Obama), or installing a stable government in Iraq. McCain only had fingers to point at the other guy saying how he was wrong. Obama had plans to try and correct the situations at hand and a pretty concise path to enact those plans, that's why I voted for him.

[Exanimas]

I appreciate the well thought out / lengthy ([;)]) response. Just to be clear, I didn't mention the word 'communist' in my post. I was simply observing you being rather defensive over someone calling Obama a communist and putting responsibility on doctors to stop people from abusing the Medicaid system. I really disagree with the latter, and while I'm not saying 'fuck poor people', I'm saying that the system is broken because people who don't NEED the financial help are able to get it. It would probably save tons of money if they just paid people to look into these things rather than the weak verification system that's currently implemented.

[shorterthanrich]

Plus your beer is terrible.

I strongly beg to differ ;)

[splatt]

Plus your beer is terrible.

Purely looking at the numbers, the USA has more micro and craft brewing companies producing more good beer than any other country in the world. Take your Unibroue fueled sense of superiority and go home. They do make good beer, but so do many other companies in many other countries.

[laxman851]

I see a fair amount of bashing going towards welfare... but just so everyone knows welfare isn't as simple as you might like to think it is (I know it can be easy to just listen to the news and jump on bandwagons however, it's much more complicated than reading a yahoo web-link or watching CNN and FOX tickers.) It's just like every other program or bill that get's passed with a rider. There are strings attached. Disability, Unemployment, Medicare and social security income are all parts of welfare and insurance. I personally feel that those are great idealistic programs, although I feel as though they all need a revision to some degree.

[laxman851]

Why should a doctors have to "call people out" who abuse a system that needs to be corrected? If the government (who does control these things) fixed it in the first place, a doctor wouldn't have to try and lecture adults that should know better.

Why should the doctor (or any other lowly profession) try to be proactive in a solution and get involved? I don't know it's a crazy concept. What the hell are you talking about? You're taking a stance that reflects that of the GOP but your message implies more centralized government control. Dissect the situation and ask yourself how you feel about a specific problem and then ask yourself why.[/quote]

[Exanimas]

I see a fair amount of bashing going towards welfare... but just so everyone knows welfare isn't as simple as you might like to think it is (I know it can be easy to just listen to the news and jump on bandwagons however, it's much more complicated than reading a yahoo web-link or watching CNN and FOX tickers.) It's just like every other program or bill that get's passed with a rider. There are strings attached. Disability, Unemployment, Medicare and social security income are all parts of welfare and insurance. I personally feel that those are great idealistic programs, although I feel as though they all need a revision to some degree.

This was essentially what I was saying. The programs need revision. I don't think a doctor should have to lecture people about abusing a system that was set up to help people who truly need it. If you're some scum bag asshole who drives an escalade and has the iPhone 4, but is using some sort of government assistance program, do you think a doctor telling you that it's wrong is going to make you stop what you're doing? No. But like I said, I agree with you 100% about the programs needing revision, but I think they need MAJOR revision.

[MikeyB3]

I agree to alot of whats been said.

Particularly about the point made of self-accountability. In my house, if parents were called, that meant the end of some freedom as you know it. If you didnt want the icy hand of justice upon you, you didnt fuck up. You did what you were told, because you were always walking a fine line. Now, I'm perfectly fine with that, in fact, I'll most DEFINITELY bring my kids up that way, and maybe just up the ante a little bit. This is mainly because the pressure to be a complete cock-up will be around them, and I definitely want my kids to rise above that.

[Dimcorner]

So the doctor is saying go fix the nearly impossible (people's culture and accountability), screw the people that actually need the help (90% or so of the ones that actually need it), so that you can bitch about the 10% of the people that take advantage of it?

What is the break point where you decide to scrap a program that people need to survive (health care) because some are abusing it? Would you let 50% of the underprivilaged die an early death because the other half is abusing it? Is 20% death rate better?

Yes you need to fix the system, but taking it away is not the answer. Unfortunately politics is so full of bickering and "but it's my money" that nothing gets done.

I think another part of the problem is that people in this country don't think about anything but their own well being up to just the immediate future. Credit card debt? I'll pay it off later. Retirement money? I'll put less into 401k just to buy a car now. Health care? I got money now, why should I pay for benefits that don't benefit me now. Never mind that when I'm older, I have no income to pay for medicine and that I might not have enough in my retirement fund to cover it.

Would I like to pay less taxes, you bet your ass I do. But I do realize that the things we take for granted does cost some money and that I might not see a return of investment EVER on it. I do know if I start cutting back on paying I will definitely see a degredation of what I have now. Yes I there is plenty of waste in government (both state and federal) but it's no one party/president to blame. This waste has been going on FOREVER so to promise a government with no waste is crap. Even when they say less wasted resources is all relative.

There will always be free loaders as long as there is a means (Mp3's anyone? Torrents?) and to whine about it and blame ONE MAN who has been in office for less than 4 years for a culture that has been going on (and getting worse) for the last 15-20 years is stupid. Why people always blame the one person is beyond me. I guess the president has absolute power and congress/senate has no say over policy.