The following is by a young physician by the name of Dr. 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 ring tone. 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 costly pack of cigarettes every day 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 on 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,
STARNER JONES, MD
(I’m pretty sure that this letter was sent to the former president and not the current president.)
We go on occasion because I’m the director of the HOG chapter, but it’s not my scene. I don’t do the bar thing very well. I won’t drink and ride. 30+ people there, I knew 6. Not my scene.
Saturday, we had a ride. It didn’t work out just right and I ended up calling the ride due to low fuel on my bike and another rider’s bike. Better safe than sorry!
Sunday, was just a lazy day with Nina. Stopped by Harley before heading out to dinner @ Olive Garden. Just hanging around basically.
Monday, was a ride with SFHD employees and some chapter members. The chapter paid for lunch for everyone at Greenside Café in Cedar Crest after making the run up and down Sandia Peak. 16 bikes and 17 people. We had a blast.
Tuesday, another lazy day with Nina and I heading out on the Harley for a “short” ride. We rode to Vaughn and had lunch @ Penny’s Diner and headed home. 180+ miles. Very relaxing ride.
Today, Wednesday, I’m heading into town to pick up a part I ordered. I was going to have the store install it, but I found out they were going to charge me $100 to do that, so I’ll install it myself.
Next week starts off with meetings. On Tuesday I go before the County Commission to stir up some shit within the county, so to speak. My visit there is to inform and request direction on Lodger’s Tax Board issues. I will inform the county of unpaid tax revenues that they are probably unaware of, i.e. bed & breakfast properties that are using the online booking services and they’re not paying lodger’s tax. If they’re not paying lodger’s tax, it’s doubtful that they have a business license or are paying gross receipts tax (sales tax in other states) either. Shit stirring? Yep, everywhere this issue comes up it causes anger and fighting from the B&B owners. I will also inform them of a property on the outskirts of the county that it subpar in sanitation and facilities that is operating on Conchas Lake. I will request direction from the commission on how they wish the board to proceed in this and other matters regarding the tax.
Another issue I will address is the wording of the Lodger’s Tax Advisory Law and it’s application. I will ask that it is clarified from the county’s lawyer and possibly changed to include all lodging properties. To the board it is unclear as to the lowest number of units that is taxed. I read it as all rental units and others see it as units of 2 or more are taxed.
The rest of next week seems to be free and clear and Nina and I may just disappear for a couple of nights. Ouray maybe?
Those of us that walked to the summit of Sandia Peak. Doug F, Wayne P, Debby P, GBP, Robin & Steve, Marco and Maya?The entire crew that made the trip to the summit parking lot. Great ride with a lot of twisties.View from the summit.View from the summit. Albuquerque.View from the summit. Albuquerque.View from the summit. Albuquerque.All of us, the unedited version.
Taken on a pre-ride for a ride that couldn’t happen. Fire in the area was contained to the point of roads being opened again, but too much fire fighter activity for it to be a safe ride.Chapter ride to Tres Piedras that went wrong in so many ways. The scenery was great though and I got this one picture.
Today starts our 24th year as owners of Pecos River RV Camp, still our legal name, even though we now operate as Pecos River Station. 23 years here. I still love living here, just would like to sell the business!
I just fueled up the bike and cleared the trip odometer. 60 miles shy of 4000 miles this month. Not a bad riding month, must be because it’s my birth month, right?
Nina and I are hitting the road today to the Chili Line Depot with the HOG Chapter. Looks like a great day to ride!
Chasing all over the area running errands and such. Still one more trip to SF to make and then the rest of the day is mine.
I am a husband, father, grandfather, friend, business owner, traveller, Harley rider, citizen, patriot, gun owner, politically eclectic person of strange personal habits. I support police, trust no politicians, and can argue any side of an argument just to amuse myself. People love me or hate me and those that are in-between don't know me.
