Indian Medical Tourism

My Lady Love and I just spent another exciting evening at Barnes and Noble. Bashing Obama didn't appeal to me for the moment, so I shied away from books by Mark Levin and Glenn Beck. Instead, I picked up a copy of Forbes Magazine to find out what lies ahead in the investment world. Steve always writes an editorial in the first few pages, and I like to get his take on what is going on. Along with a host of other gems, he made mention of the fact that excellent health care is available in countries like India, Malaysia, and Singapore, to name a couple, and might be a viable alternative if one is paying for the treatment out of his own pocket. I had run across an advertisement a while back which invited people who needed major surgery or other treatments to come to India to have it done. The ad said that you could travel to India, get your procedure done, enjoy a nice vacation, and still spend only a fraction of what you would have to pay in the U.S. I found that I wanted to know more, so I turned to my trusty computer to enlighten myself.

The first hit told me that, in general, the Indian public health care system is really pathetic. The main problem is that, while there are very good hospitals, they are all in the cities, and the bulk of the populace is in relatively remote rural areas. People who may need treatment are generally in circumstances that make it very difficult to get to treatment centers. When they get there, they have to endure long lines, shortage of medicines and doctors, lack of sanitary facilities, and months-long waits to see a specialist. The situation is what you would find in a typical third-world country.

On the other hand, the major hospitals in the major cities, which cater to foreigners and the middle to upper classes in their own country, are top of the line, first-class operations. Steve (Forbes) mentioned some statistic that their infection rates are substantially lower than those found in U.S. hospitals. This would be really important to me. I checked out the web sites of a couple of the hospitals, and pretty much found that the care would be on a par with what we find here in the States. ( My personal doctor is from India, and I have complete confidence in him.)
Anyway, I came upon a page that listed the prices that they charge for various procedures. This is a novel idea, I thought to myself - actually knowing what the charges are ahead of time. Then I remembered that the patient pays his own bill, and it couldn't be any other way. One of the surgeries that was on the list was a heart bypass operation. One hospital charged $8941 and the other $10,000. This compared to $130,000 - $140,000 in an American hospital (their figures). The good news, beyond the price, is that the operation would normally be done within 7 - 8 days after first contact. They get a lot of business from Europe and Canada.

Anyway, I thought this might be of interest to you. Here are a couple of web sites if you want to check them out for yourself: www.allmedical tourism.com, and www.indiaprofile.com/medical tourism.

G'night!

Health Care

President Obama is at it again today, this time with a tele-conference with the AARP. I have pretty much heard it all before, so I'm not going to waste my time tuning in on it. No doubt the talking heads will disgorge the highlights, if any, over the course of the evening news. He probably thinks that if he stays in our face with this stuff, we will come around to his way of thinking. In my case, its not goin' to happen.

OK, here is my view. We need to do something about health care in our country, but we do not have to completely dismantle and remake the best care in the world. Directly put, we simply do not have the money to do what Obama wants to do. And, this is so complicated that it should not have to be approved by this weekend, without the scrutiny that such legislation demands. Instead, let's just put all this into the wastebasket and start over. So, how could we just improve on the system we have? I have said before that having all the records on an electronic database is a good idea for a number of reasons. Doctors would benefit greatly from this setup and should be willing to ante up most of the money to convert to the new system. The doctors would have a bit more money to spend on their records if their malpractice premiums were not so high. It would make total sense to put some restrictions on potential lawsuits. Obama has said flat out that he would not consider tort reform in his plan. Can't tick off all the lawyers that contributed to his campaign to get elected - what other reason could there be? And maybe we need to put a few more watchdogs on the payroll to make sure that all payments to providers are legitimate ones. I heard that fraudulent claims on Medicare and Medicaid alone in New York City are estimated at ten percent of the total claims paid there. If the public has to pay for the health care of poor people anyway, let's figure out a way to do it somewhere other than hospital emergency rooms.

This is just a beginning list of things that could be done to improve and cut waste from the system we have now, and it wouldn't bankrupt our country in one fell swoop. I really get nervous when I hear our representatives talking about taxing everything including soda pop and candy bars just to pay for this wild boondoggle that most of the American people don't want. That is true - the polls are showing that the people are overwhelmingly against the package that is now under consideration. So, if this is really a government of the people, by the people and for the people, the powers that be have no choice but to hit the "Delete" button and start over.

Government Fiasco

When President Obama came back from his trip to Europe, he found a microphone right away and chastised Congress for not passing his hurry-up health care reform bill. And I thought to myself that he must think he is their boss or something. If I were a member of Congress and I had been working all hours to put the thing together, I would take strong offense at such an admonition. In fact, I would probably tell him what he could do with his lousy bill and without my vote. Obama really does think he is in charge, and he uses a lot of "I", Me", and "My" in his speaking. Granted, the President has a lot of responsibilities, but in reality, he can only "suggest" that Congress pay attention to his wishes. It is strictly up to them to write, debate, and vote on legislation. Obama's actual participation can only take place after all the work has been done and the bill winds up on his desk for a signature. I know this is overly simplified, but if he were the "boss" there would be only two sides to the triangle of checks and balances. Add to this a rubber stamp Supreme Court, and we would have what is commonly called a dictatorship.

On paper, our system of government ought to work like a well-oiled machine. We voters elect the members of Congress and our President to represent our concerns in Washington. It is expected that problems come up, propositions are presented, all our representatives work together to find a solution that works for everybody, and the President signs the bill and we have the situation handled. Next problem, please. It doesn't work like that, does it? Actually, we have sent a bunch of unruly children to Washington and all they do is fight and squabble, and don't get anything done. What does get done doesn't seem to be what we the people want, need, or are able to pay for. We, the people, are getting a royal screwing. It is time to let this bunch in Washington know that we are on to them and won't take it anymore. They have until the next election to straighten things out, or else! We are the "boss"!

Back From Niobrara

My Lady Love and I just returned on Friday afternoon from a four day vacation at Niobrara State park in northeastern Nebraska. We were joined by our daughter and her family, so there were eight of us altogether. Our cabin had two bedrooms, air conditioning, a full kitchen, living room, bath, and a wonderful screened-in porch.It was furnished and equipped, so we weren't exactly roughing it. If you need a TV or a telephone to get along, you are out of luck here. Even a cell phone will work only if you use it on top of a hill. As you can see from the picture, the park is hilly and well forested. The last thing we did every day was to drive slowly around the loop road just at dusk to see the deer. We saw so many on our second day that we lost count - probably eighteen or twenty. During the day, wild turkeys and rabbits are to be found all over the place. The animals don't get too spooked if you are in your car, but if you are on foot, it is hard to get close. I walked the loop road every day for exercise. It measured 3.2 miles and gave me a pretty good cardio workout on the hills. I timed myself on two of the walks - 62 minutes - just a smidge over 3 mph. On my first really hard climb, I could tell I was pushing myself pretty hard, and had to stop for a moment to catch my breath. It occurred to me that if I had difficulties in the boonies at the far end of the park, I would just have to lay on the trail until someone happened past. Not too smart on my part, but happily, my heart and lungs held up well and I was able to make it back OK. One of my favorite memories of the trip was going out when it got dark and looking up at the Milky Way. There are so many lights in the city that you can't see it. I spent four hours Wednesday visiting the Ashfall excavation site. It is a state park, and you can watch archaeologists unearth prehistoric skeletons. Evidently, a monster volcano erupted almost 12 million years ago in southern Idaho. The ashes were carried by the wind and a heavy layer was deposited in this area. The dig site was a water hole where animals came to drink. They breathed in the ash, which eventually ruined their lungs and killed them, and they were subsequently covered by the ash and preserved. I found it interesting, and read every placard. It would have bored my wife to tears. Afterward, I met the family at the Green Gables restaurant on a county road south of Ashfall. I don't know how they do it, but they do a huge business. Of course the food is great and the decor is Quaint. Their peach pie ala mode is to die for, as I can personally testify.
We have been keeping up with the Tour de France, and are very happy that Lance Armstrong will probably end up in third place overall. The race winds up tomorrow in Paris. Lance is 38 years old and still able to ride with the younger cyclists. Of all the tours that we have watched, this one had the most outstanding riders. There are eight or ten that have what it takes to win the race.
Now I have to get back into watching the political game, so I can criticize, criticize, criticize.

Hiatus

No, my dear friends, I haven't abandoned you. Nothing in the news has really tripped my trigger lately. I really don't find it worth the time it takes to follow the debate on Judge Sotomayor, since her approval is a foregone conclusion. Bor - ing! I would like to know what is happening in Iran. It seems like the opposition movement still has life, but with the Mullah's crackdown on media, it is hard to get any worthwhile information. The Michael Jackson fiasco is still going on, but it is not worth watching. Are there really people out there who care about this crap? Obama is still spending the public's money travelling all over to push his health care and cap and tax programs. And I'm still waiting for our elected officials to put some clamps on him. Why do these bills have to be over a thousand pages huge, why are there so many pork projects in them, and why do they need to be pushed through in such a hurry? Believe me, there is nothing good in any of this, and we, the people, are on the short end of the stick. It was not uncommon to see "WARBI" written in various places when I was in the service. That stands for "We are run by idiots". Kind of describes our situation right now.

I am mourning the loss of Walter Cronkite. He came from an era when we could respect a newsman.

Liz Cheney made my day when she said she is interested in a national elected office. I like her stand on the issues and the way she will not be intimidated.

Remember me telling you about investing the stimulus money we got in GM? It looks pretty shaky right now, and I'm down about 60%. I'm not really complaining - I knew what I was getting into. Like I said, this is money I could afford to lose. But, I did learn something along the way. For one thing, there is no more GM. My shares are now listed as Motors Liquidation Corporation. The GM that Obama talks about is a brand new company that is planning an IPO in the short future. So, rather than a reorganization under a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, what we have is a "sale" to an entirely new entity. I and the other shareholders could end up with as much as a 10% share of the new company. I guess I would settle for that. When I hear that GM has "emerged" from bankruptcy, it sounds like double-talk to me.

As regards the absence of recent posts, I simply was having trouble finding the time. I have to spend a couple of hours following the news, and it is always pretty late when I sit down to write. And, if I don't get enough sleep, I notice it the next day. An extra hour of sleep is pretty cheap medicine to keep my heart on a steady beat - something I have to watch out for. See you soon.

Truth

We had our Bible study class this morning, and I had done enough studying so that I was able to participate without seeming too clueless. I wouldn't describe myself as being overly religious, but I do have sort of a thirst for knowledge. I know that there are millions of people who rely heavily on what they find in the Bible to guide their lives, and I guess I could do with a little guidance myself. The lesson today was on the book of Jeremiah. He was a prophet whose main assignment was to inform the people of Judah, and Jerusalem in particular, that they were about to be ravaged by the Babylonians, and they should prepare themselves for the destruction that lay ahead. Jeremiah was not well received because, even though truthful, his message was one of doom. To add to his problems, there were other prophets who were painting a rosier picture, and they were finding more willing ears among the populace. Jeremiah knew that he was the true prophet (he was working directly with the Lord) and that all the others were false prophets. Which brings me to what I wanted to write about today. How do you know what is actually the "truth"? To translate this into today's relevance, let's consider the stimulus package that became law in February of this year. One group of prophets claims that the bill is exactly the right answer to all the economic problems facing us today. The other prophets say that the remedies put forth in the bill will change for the worse life as we know it. Our dilemma is that we don't know which of the outcomes is the "truth". Jeremiah lamented that no one paid any attention to his true prophesies, but willingly listened to the lies put out by the persuasive arguments of the false prophets. The question did come up - how are we to know who is giving the "true" message?Jeremiah put this question to the Lord, and the Lord answered that when the foretold event comes to pass we will know who was telling the truth. Needless to say, this answer doesn't comfort me one bit, because if the false prophets have their way, an awful lot of damage will have been done and it will be too late to fix it. Is there anyone out there who actually knows if the stimulus package is going to work? I sure sure wish he would come forward and put an end to our anxiety. ---But, could we believe him??

Mother Teresa on Abortion

I still have to do some studying for tomorrow's Bible study class, but I didn't want to leave you with nothing to read from me. When I changed clothes after work today, I noticed a folded-up napkin with writing on it on a shelf in my closet. It is not uncommon for me to scrabble around for writing materials if I find something that is worth keeping. Evidently President Carter had written to Mother Teresa, and the following is her reply.
Calcutta, 11-17-79
Dear Mr. J. Carter,
God love you for the very beautiful message of love that you have sent.
Right from the beginning of the work --your people through Catholic Relief Services - have shared the joy of feeding the Hungry Christ, clothing the Naked Christ and giving a home to the Homeless Christ. In all these years, nearly 30 years, your people have always been there. Thank God.
You will be glad to know our sisters are with the "shut-ins" at 335 East 145 St., Bronx, and in Detroit and St. Louis.
Your people suffer much from very deep poverty. The poverty of loneliness and fear of the shut-ins -- and the murder of the unborn child through fear of having to feed one more child --educate one more child -- the child must die. I was so very surprised. The other day, when in my prayer, I realized that it was the unborn St. John that lept with joy in his mother's womb when Mary, the mother of Jesus, brought Him in her womb to his home. I ask you for a gift. Abolish this law of abortion in your country and you will have peace. How will you meet God --What will you answer Him for all the murders of innocent unborn children done in your country --God has entrusted to you -- Open your heart to the cry of the children.
I am praying for you that you may hear their cry and do something -- that God may give you the light to see, the love to accept it, and the courage to do it.
My prayer is with you.
God bless you,
M. Teresa

No Time Tonight

Sorry, but once again I have left too much for the last minute, and I haven't enough time to come up with something to write about. Michael Jackson has finally been laid to rest and now we can get on with our lives. Yes, we know that Sarah Palin resigned and ruined everything. The Obama entourage has finished up in Russia and is heading home. The Obama charm wasn't working on the Russians, and they didn't get the rock star treatment there. To the Russians, Obama is just another president of another country come to call. Anyway, I have to prepare for my Bible study class on Thursday AM - I haven't even started yet.

Bomb, Bomb Iran

There was important news in the last couple of days regarding Israel's plans to bomb Iran's nuclear facilities - maybe..... Two separate news releases this weekend caught my eye. The first was Joe Biden's interview, in which he said that if Israel decided they wanted to bomb Iran, we wouldn't interfere. He said that Israel is a sovereign nation and we couldn't tell them what to do. At about the same time, we heard that Saudi Arabia wouldn't prohibit Israel from using its air space in carrying out the bombing run. It sure seemed like a green light to me, and I was pretty excited. Israel is the only power that could carry out the destruction, because of all the threats coming from Ahmadinejad, calling for Israel's obliteration. Then, today, there were more releases. Arab News reported that the Saudi government denies that it had dealings with Israel to use its air space. Later, someone in our State Department said that the U.S. would not give the green light for Israel to carry out such an attack. So, is that the end of it? I doubt it. I think that the U.S. and Israel came to a deal. All of a sudden, Netanyahu agreed to the idea of a separate state for the Palestinians, something he has always been against. And the U.S. position has always been (publicly, at least) that Israel should not atack Iran, because that would foul up future negotiations. Hmmmm... Then I found two other items. Israel now has a submarine prowling between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean, one that probably has missile-launching capabilities. Also, the Israeli Air Force is about to commence training exercises in the U.S. and Europe, with emphasis on long-range missions involving refueling. Even if all that is happening now never ends up in a bombing run, it should serve as a strong warning to Iran that things are serious. We will keep and eye on this one.

Patriots

Since this is the last day of the Independence Day weekend, I thought I would tell you about some of the people that served in the military in my own family. My father was born in 1907, so he was only a boy when we fought in the First World War. However, he had five older brothers that signed up and went to war, a fact that made the newspapers at that time. I remember Uncle Pete, who was a victim of a poison gas attack, and also had an ugly wound on the underside of his left arm that left him with a disfigured elbow. Pete would have terrible coughing fits that seemed to me would be the end of his life right in front of me. He did live to celebrate his 50th wedding anniversary, though, probably because of the judicious use of "medicine" that he hid in drawers, closets, the outbuildings and his tool box. One of the brothers, Matt, was the image of spit and polish, and even though he lived to be an old man, he always had a ramrod-straight posture and kept his hair cut short. I was about four when my father went to Sioux City to enlist for WWII. He was anemic and had suffered a nervous breakdown, and because of that was rated 4-F. I remember how angry he was when he came home, because he sure thought he was healthy enough to serve his country. My mother's brother, Everett, got in on the last of the fighting in Germany in 1945. In fact, he claimed that he had fired the last shot of the war. After the armistice was signed and the fighting stopped, he and a couple other soldiers went out into the forest to shoot a wild boar for a change of diet, when they were fired upon by some Germans who had not yet heard the word. Everett returned fire, didn't kill anyone, but claimed the last shot. I think it was all BS, but he made a great story out of it. His oldest brother, George, was a cook, and I loved to watch him break four eggs at a time. Brother Lloyd was in the signal core, and hurt his back when he came down too fast from a pole. Lloyd and George never made it overseas. My wife had three uncles who saw a lot of action in the Navy in the Pacific. I don't know their stories, but two of them had their ships shot out from under them and spent time in the water. That had to be pretty scary. On the other side of the coin, my first father-in-law fought on the German side. He told me that at one point he thought he was playing a joke on his comrades, and inadvertently captured several American soldiers. He had no idea what to do with them so he turned them loose again. My first wife's Uncle Karl was terribly wounded, by the Russians, I think. He took a round from the rear that went through his tailbone and pretty much destroyed his genitals. There were complications, probably infection, and he spent a long time in a field hospital near death. He made it, though, and he and I got to know each other really well. It was an honor to know this man.
I served in the Air Force in Germany for over three years, but I was never in any danger. When the Russians built the wall in Berlin, I was working at a site just a couple of kilometers from the border. From my vantage point I could see the show of force by both sides and all of the planes in the air. Because of the sensitive nature of what we were doing there, we were told to be ready for evacuation at a moment's notice, but it never came to that. There was a lot of saber rattling when the Russians shot down Francis Gary Powers, but nothing came of that either. When it was time for me to muster out in 1963, the rumor mill about being sent to the conflict cranking up in Viet Nam was in full swing. It didn't affect me, though and I was sent home and discharged. Over the years, I have always wondered if I could have held up in battle. Some obscure little corner of my brain still wishes I could have been tested, maybe so I would have something to write about now. I will never know.

Independence Day

Celebrating Independence Day on the Fourth of July normally includes getting together with family and friends, having a nice meal and watching fireworks. The fireworks remind us that in the beginning days and years of our country, those flashes of light in the night sky were actual shells and bombs exploding. This independence that we celebrate today was not easily won. We have watched in the last couple of weeks how the people of Iran made a stand against the heavy hand of their own government, and were gradually beaten down into submission. Even though their cause may have been a just one, I don't think they wanted freedom bad enough to really go for it. I didn't see any strong leaders; there was a desire, but no plan laid out to replace their repressive government. They only used stones and slogans to combat the guns and clubs that were wielded against them. They were doomed to fail.
Our own fight for independence was a different story. Even though the idea of declaring independence was not overwhelmingly popular, our leaders felt strongly enough to forge ahead. They knew that under British rule our country would never accomplish all that we were capable of. Up to that point all of our efforts had gone to enrich an oppressive power thousands of miles away, who didn't really care that much about America's welfare. Imagine what the drafting and sending of that declaration of independence must have entailed. The colonists knew that as soon as the declaration was delivered, there would be an immediate and terrible response. It was, in effect, a declaration of war, and there was a good chance that they would not prevail against the strongest military power in the world. But the resolve was there, we won the war, and the rest is history.
My view is that there is a type of oppression that is being waged against us right now. Our elected representatives no longer look out for our well-being. Special interests and politicians are treading on our rights, and the time is coming that we must stand up and be counted. But, we don't have to go to war to make it happen. Our first leaders put into play peaceful means for us to insure that our rights are honored. All we need is a small amount of the resolve that our founding fathers showed when our nation was first born over two centuries ago. It is called the vote, and we can do away with unjust leaders without having to shed a drop of blood. God Bless America!

'Bye, Sarah

Sarah Palin dropped a big one on us today by saying she is resigning as governor of Alaska at the end of July. The announcement caught everyone by surprise, and all of the news pundits had opinions all over the place. Of course, the left-wingers were quick to label her as a quitter, and went on and on about her political career being over. I followed it on Fox news, hoping for the real story, but I didn't get much out of their reports, either. At this point, nobody knows, and Sarah delivered a very carefully crafted speech that was meant to keep everyone somewhat in the dark. (Obama isn't the only one capable of a "carefully crafted" speech.)
Anyway, here is my view, and I admit there is some conjecture here. First, I think she was right when she said that answering all of the allegations brought against her was interfering with her ability to do her job. She said that legal fees had already reached $500,000, which pretty much dwarf her $160,000 annual salary. I am sure financial considerations played a large role in her decision. Also, giving the job to her lieutenant governor at this time will give him enough time to establish himself as a strong incumbent when the elections come around in 2010. So, her resignation might be a genuinely selfless move to make sure that the Republicans stay in power in Alaska. Her next moves could still put her in a good position to run for President in 2012. She has a book ready to be published, so she will spend the next months travelling all over the nation on promotion tours. There is no better way to be in the public eye, and that will help her tremendously. I hope she makes the cover about 11" x 14" with a big picture of her face on it, so it will be plastered all over the bookshelves like a billboard. Watch for her to become a contributor on Fox News; that should also help buy groceries and Pampers. And now that she is not a sitting governor, she can be quite a bit more open in criticizing the Obama administration, thus strenghthening her strong conservative principles. She said that she wants to be able to help Republican candidates wherever she can, and now she will be free to do so. The media will still be watching every move she makes, but now she can thumb her nose at them. If they get on her back now, they will just look stupid. Don't write her off just yet - I think she has a plan. If I were Sarah, I believe I would take my family on an extended moose hunt and just enjoy some quality time.

Way to Go, Helen!

Helen Thomas, who is always to be seen at the White House press briefings, got off a good one on Press Secretary Robert Gibbs. She called him on the fact that at the recent town hall meeting, all the guests were pre-screened, as were the questions that were posed to Obama. Gibbs tried to chuckle it off, but you could tell he was really uncomfortable. Have you ever watched Tony Blair or Gordon Brown before their houses of Parliament, when they had to answer a barrage of questions, mostly unfriendly? These guys gave rapid-fire answers to rapid-fire questions, and they needed to know what they were talking about! When I watch Gibbs, Axelrod and Obama himself try to explain even the simplest things, they falter, stutter, and struggle. None of them can respond on anything beyond their prescribed talking points, and it shows. Axelrod is probably the most obvious - his throat gets dry and he has to swallow a lot. Hooray for Helen! Seeing a really honest questioning session would make my day!
It was another dreary day for the economy. The unemployment figures came in at 467,000 jobs lost, the rate now stands at 9.5%, and the Dow fell 223 points. Our President can talk till he is blue in the face about how his programs are improving the economy, but until I see something positive happen, he is just blowing smoke.

Propaganda?

I was watching the O'reilly Factor a few minutes ago, and caught an interview with Bill Burton, Deputy Press Secretary (I think that's his title) for the White House. Juan Williams, who was standing in for Bill O'reilly, asked him questions about the Cap and Tax bill, the health care plan and Obama's promise to not raise taxes. I swear - it was just like watching Baghdad Bob telling the audience that the Americans were nowhere near the capital city, while buildings were burning over his left shoulder. On Cap and Tax, supposedly the average family might see energy costs rise by as much as $175 annually. And this would not be a tax, but merely the energy company passing on the extra costs to the consumer. (He evidently forgot that Obama himself said that the price of electricity would skyrocket.) He added that the primary purpose of the bill was to create jobs. On the health care question, he answered that the bulk of the costs would be paid for by shifting around money that is already in the current system, with no details given. He prefaced every answer with, "The President has made it crystal clear.....". The only thing that was crystal clear was that he, Robert Gibbs, and that heavy woman that gives interviews on a regular basis (senior moment - I can't remember her name) evidently have a very narrow range of answers that they are allowed to give.
I know I've mentioned this before, but I have noticed this same kind of crap when I check out the North Korean News Agency reports, or when I tune into Iranian state-run Press TV. I expect it from them - they are wild-eyed dictatorships that feel they have to fabricate untruths in order to stay in power. The most important ingredient in this formula is that the rulers feel that the citizens are too dumb to try to figure out the truth. Unfortunately, it seems that Obama has that same opinion about us. In his campaign he had promised openness, accountability, no pork in the bills, and bipartisanship. He hasn't followed through on any of it and nobody is calling him on it. Somehow he has managed to push through several major bills, loaded with earmarks and costing trillions of dollars without allowing time for our elected representative to read them before they voted. On the Cap and Tax thing, 350 pages of amendments were brought in at 3:00 AM on the day of the vote, and yet it passed. I say that those in Congress should be ashamed of themselves for going along with this kind of stuff. Where in the heck are their spines? We are the big losers in this. We voted these clowns in and they forgot about us, leaving us unrepresented. There are a bunch of Tea Parties scheduled for this weekend - maybe we should find one and join in.