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New York State as #3 for health care in the U.S.

 

The ranking of New York State as #3 for health care in the U.S. News & World Report's "Best States" rankings for 2021 reflects a combination of factors related to access to care, quality of care, and public health.

1. Access to care: This indicator looks at factors like the percentage of adults with health insurance, the availability of primary care providers and mental health professionals, and the affordability of health care. New York State ranked #4 for access to care, indicating that many residents have health insurance and can access necessary medical services.

2. Quality of care: This indicator considers factors like the quality of hospitals, nursing homes, and home health care providers, as well as the effectiveness of public health interventions like vaccination rates and cancer screenings. New York State ranked #5 for quality of care, suggesting that residents receive high-quality medical treatment and preventive care.

3. Public health: This indicator looks at factors like the prevalence of smoking, obesity, and other health risk factors, as well as the overall health of the population and the effectiveness of public health policies and programs. New York State ranked #11 for public health, indicating that there is still room for improvement in this area.

The high ranking for health care in New York State suggests that residents generally have access to high-quality medical care and preventive services.

Good social policies produce good outcomes. Good social policies are legislated by competent, capable, knowledgeable, ethical legislators. It makes a difference who you vote for. Choose wisely when you vote for politicians to represent you.

New York States in top three in efforts to mitigate climate change.

 

The evolutionary marvel of the anus.

 

 

 For more, Katherine J. Wu's article," “The Body’s Most Embarrassing Organ Is An Evolutionary Marvel”, click here.

Stand up to fascistic bullies.

 

New York State ranks fourth lowest in the US in gun deaths

Who are preventing gun safety legislation in congress?

 Here is a list of the 10 most pro-gun Congress people, according to the Gun Owners of America:

1. Thomas Massie (R-KY)
2. Matt Gaetz (R-FL)
3. Paul Gosar (R-AZ)
4. Louie Gohmert (R-TX)
5. Jim Jordan (R-OH)
6. Chip Roy (R-TX)
7. Lauren Boebert (R-CO)
8. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA)
9. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX)
10. Andy Biggs (R-AZ)

These members of Congress have consistently voted in favor of gun rights and against gun control measures. They have also been vocal advocates for the Second Amendment and the right of law-abiding citizens to own and carry firearms.

Notice that the 10 most pro gun congress people are Republican. They need to be voted out of office before the gun problem in the United States can reduced.

In Tennessee citizens get what they vote fore with gun violence

 

In Tennessee people voted for a representative who glorifies guns with his family at Christmas. Who are the people who vote for people who champion these norms and attitudes and what is the price they pay for such misguided policy decisions?

Cigna rejects health insurance claims without looking at them

For more click here.

Trump's fascist troops

 

Trump's fascist troops have been deployed in American. They stormed the capitol on Jan 6, 2021. They attempted to kidnap the Governor of Michigan. They have stormed FBI buildings. The strut around carrying their guns. They all support GOP political candidates or they are one themselves. They are bullies and must be managed lest they gain power in our democracy.

Did you know that anti-war protests matter?

 

The United Nations (UN) voted against the war in Iraq in 2003. In November 2002, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 1441, which called on Iraq to disarm its weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) and allow inspections to verify their disarmament. The resolution did not explicitly authorize military force, but the United States and some of its allies argued that it provided a legal basis for the use of force if Iraq failed to comply.

In March 2003, the United States and a coalition of countries invaded Iraq without explicit authorization from the Security Council. The invasion was controversial and sparked widespread protests around the world. The Security Council held further meetings on the situation in Iraq, but no new resolution was passed explicitly authorizing the use of force.

In hindsight, the lack of evidence of WMDs in Iraq and the failure to find them after the invasion led to widespread criticism of the war and the decision to invade.

Some have argued that the war in Iraq was a war crime.

Ejaculate Responsibly: A Whole New Way To Think About Abortion by Gabrielle Blair

I was in Lift Bridge Book Shop on Thursday, 03/16/23,  and engaged in what for me is a very dangerous activity, browsing.

I left 45 minutes later with a $141.27 on my credit card.

Here's a picture of one of my purchases.

For more information click here.

Threshold: The Crisis Of Western Culture

 

What are the three major challenges facing homo sapiens? Climate change, an unsustainable belief in free market capitalism, and the carrying capacity of planet Earth of homo sapiens.

The cable news networks and social media sensationalize outrage and personalities for views and likes and rarely deal with the underlying challenges for the survival of homo sapiens as a species on earth. At Markham's Slow News the focus on the long term survival and quality of life for all components of our terrestrial ecology. We are the stewards of the Universe's gifts to us. Will you join us in raising our mutual consciousness upon which the survival of the next generations depends?

What kind of a man is Ron DeSantis?

 

For more from Harper's March 2023.

What factors contribute to people voting for narcissistic psychopaths?

There is no single factor that can fully explain why some people vote for narcissistic psychopaths, but there are several factors that have been suggested as potential contributors:

1. Charisma and persuasive communication: Narcissistic psychopaths can be highly charismatic and skilled at communicating their message in a persuasive way that appeals to people's emotions and fears.

2. Cultivation of fear and anger: Narcissistic psychopaths may also appeal to people's fears and anger, tapping into emotions that can override rational decision-making.

3. Simplistic and polarizing messaging: They may offer simplistic and polarizing messages that present complex issues as black and white, which can resonate with people who feel overwhelmed or frustrated with the status quo.

4. Populist appeals: Narcissistic psychopaths may also use populist appeals, presenting themselves as outsiders who will shake up the system and fight for the common people.

5. Disenchantment with traditional politicians: People who are dissatisfied with traditional politicians and feel like they are not being heard may be more open to alternative candidates who promise change.

6. Confirmation bias: People may also be more likely to vote for a candidate who confirms their existing beliefs and values, even if those beliefs are based on inaccurate or incomplete information.

It's important to note that not all voters who support narcissistic psychopaths are necessarily aware of the candidate's personality disorder or psychopathic tendencies. Instead, they may be drawn to the candidate's perceived strengths and promises for change.

2/3 of Americans worried about the future of democracy.

 

What do you think about the future of democracy?

If you are worried about democracy's future, specifically what are your three biggest worries?

Having identified the threats to the future of democracy what can you do to minimize or eliminate them?

We all are interconnected.

The sixth skill in spiritual intelligence according to Cindy Wigglesworth is awareness of our interconnectedness.

Good trouble

Continuing with the topic of non violent protest, we come to the idea of “good trouble” which became associated with John Lewis the civil rights advocate with Martin Luther King, Jr. and the long time member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

"Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble."

John Lewis in a tweet in June, 2018.

For more click here.

The bumper sticker, “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”

Changing hearts and minds about military conflict.

The ways in which protest influences policy are not always apparent. Movements can win even as they appear to lose. While the anti-war movement did not prevent the invasion of Iraq, it helped set the terms of the debate by insisting on UN approval for the use of force and by convincing key governments to refuse to participate, thereby shaping the war’s eventual outcome. The Bush administration was unable to win the larger struggle for hearts and minds at home and abroad. The White House lost the war politically before it ever began militarily. For more click here.

Editor’s note: America has always been a “can do” nation expecting fast if not immediate results. Election cycles are very short from 2 years in the House of Representatives, to 4 years as president, and 6 years as a senator. Therefore Americans have never been good at the long game.

Changing hearts and minds is a generational thing. It takes ten years at least and often the older generation has to die off before the new values, norms, attitudes, and beliefs become predominant.

The anti-military thought system has been slowly growing since Vietnam. Younger generations are against it to resolve international conflicts as there is a growing awareness that our mutual fate on planet Earth depends on resolving our conflicts in other than violent ways and that cooperation and collaboration are the path forward.

When will we ever learn that war is not the solution?

When Secretary of State Colin Powell went to the Security Council in February 2003, however, he was decisively rebuffed. Despite its determined efforts to twist arms, the US was only able to muster the votes of the UK, Bulgaria, and Spain. Rather than face the humiliation of such a paltry showing, the White House withdrew the proposed resolution and proceeded with the attack.

Bush’s so-called “coalition of the willing” was a threadbare arrangement that provided little military help. The massive scale of public opposition prevented many countries from joining and convinced most of those that did to limit their role to noncombat duties. The US Army history says the coalition was “largely unsuccessful” at the operational level, with American troops doing almost all of the fighting and suffering 93 percent of the casualties.

Colin Powell’s disingenuous presentation to the UN about the “WMD”, weapons of mass destruction, when the UN’s own inspection team headed by Hans Blix had not found any evidence of was the end of Powell’s political career and brought shame to the government of the U.S. in the international community.

Further, the lie that the war into Iraq was a multinational affair has been exposed even though it goes unacknowledged by the American people. These lies which attempt to justify military aggression by the United States need exposure if the American people are to learn from their mistakes and make amends for the harm they have perpetrated. As the chorus in the old folk song Where have all the flowers gone? “When will we ever learn? When will we ever learn?” The time is now. Non violent resistance is a path to raising our cultural consciousness and lead to better social policies.

Do protests matter?

David Cortright has a great article in The Nation, 02/20-27/23 issue entitled "Why Protest Matters.

On February 15, 2003, in hundreds of cities across the world, some 10 million people demonstrated against the United States’ impending invasion of Iraq. By many accounts, it was the largest single day of anti-war protest in history. More than a million people jammed London’s center, while huge throngs marched in Rome, Berlin, Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, and Sydney. In New York City, hundreds of thousands braved the bitter cold to rally against the war.

“The world says no to war” was the slogan and the reality.

A few days after the February demonstrations, the New York Times reporter Patrick Tyler wrote that the huge anti-war demonstrations were indications of “two superpowers on the planet: the United States and world public opinion.” The Nation’s Jonathan Schell wrote of the movement’s “immense power” in winning the hearts and minds of the majority of the world’s people.

10 Million around the planet earth protested the U.S. Iraq war which the U.S. started anyway which has been called "criminal" by the U.N.

While the protests did not stop the U.S., 20 years later, increasingly, the Iraq war is a source of shame especially for politicians who voted for it and promoted it.

What have Americans learned from their blunder into Afghanistan and Iraq? In the short run very little, but in the long run we can be hopeful and Americans will learn from their military hubris.

Children aren't threatened by LBGTQ but by guns. What's the GOP up to?

In Texas and Florida today, state authorities are coming for the parents of trans kids. Red states that have been seized by fascist demagogues are purging libraries and schools of books, banning drag shows, and outlawing women’s rights to abortion and contraception.

Sexuality, race, and religion are universally weaponized by fascists. But it usually begins with sexuality/gender.

The ACLU is tracking 371 anti-trans bills across the United States: every one was introduced by Republicans. Most all include draconian criminal penalties. Erin Reed has compiled a map of them on Substack. Many are promoted as being necessary to “protect the children.”

That would be the same children who die by bullets every 2 hours and 26 minutes every day in America. Are injured every 10 to 15 minutes.

For more click here.

Republicans want to cut Social Security and Medicare

 

Views about abortion by religious group.

 

China's fertility rate below replacement.

 

Quote of the day - Stupidity of American Voters

Makes you wonder what the heck is wrong with the people of Long Island who elected such a person (George Santos) to represent them? A running theme on this list which I take responsibility for keeping alive is the stupidity of the American voters. Allowing uninformed people to vote is the major flaw in democracy which the founding fathers were well aware of and took steps to try to mitigate. And then there is the media....

Anonymouse

Has the society envisioned in The Handmaid's Tale has become real in some states in the United States?

With the Dobbs decision by the US Supreme Court have some states in the United States taken a step closer to the society envisioned in Margaret Atwood's novel, The Handmaid's Tale?

 

American corporations will pay for abortions but not parental leave and benefits.

 

Policies at most American corporations are not family friendly.

People may want to consider who they work for and from what companies they buy their products and services if they are concerned about families.

You can learn more by clicking here.

Housing First programs work.

During the last decade, Houston, the nation’s fourth most populous city, has moved more than 25,000 homeless people directly into apartments and houses. The overwhelming majority of them have remained housed after two years. The number of people deemed homeless in the Houston region has been cut by 63 percent since 2011, according to the latest numbers from local officials. Even judging by the more modest metrics registered in a 2020 federal report, Houston did more than twice as well as the rest of the country at reducing homelessness over the previous decade. Ten years ago, homeless veterans, one of the categories that the federal government tracks, waited 720 days and had to navigate 76 bureaucratic steps to get from the street into permanent housing with support from social service counselors. Today, a streamlined process means the wait for housing is 32 days.

As a society we know how to eliminate homelessness. The problem is the political will and the organizational skill to align the elements of the system to provide this outcome.

Eliminating homelessness improves the quality of lives of the individuals who gain a stable residence, their communities in which they reside, and our society as a whole which cares for those with few resources.

Tell others about housing first programs and support them.

You can learn more by clicking here.