After witnessing the return of Gabby Giffords to Congress, the Gun Folks & Big Insurance - along with their supporters - need Kevlar underpants. Gabby makes us "see" truths they would rather keep hidden.
Big Guns
Gun rights advocates would like to shield people of good conscience from the result of the 2nd Amendment's bastardization. A gun did this to Gabby, not an accident or a tumor - a gun and a bullet. Gun Lobbyists and supporters pretend that assault weapons, semi-automatic weapons, mega-clips and the like are abstract "rights" and "freedoms" our Founders ensured would not be taken from us. They speak of rights without speaking of responsibilities - something wholly foreign to our Founders.
After wiping joyful tears, my mood changed. I wanted to scream at the TV images of men and women in suits on the floor of the House, "You did this to her -You changed the Laws - You repealed the Brady Bill - YOU allowed that whack job to acquire all that ammo by virtue of neutering every common sense gun law in this country."
If AZ is such a staunch C&C state, why didn't some Desperado pull a Glock out of his or her underpants and "protect his or her fellow citizens" as we are told the purpose of C&C and this obscene weaponry is.
Robin Williams once pointedly ranted, "We have the right to bear arms or the right to arm bears." Right now, I will take the Grizzly (Ursus arctos horribilis) with a musket for $500 Alex.
Perhaps after seeing her in person, Congress will do the right thing and introduce common sense legislation. How about a bi-partisan "Gabby's Law 1." Common Sense must control the debate - this is too important to be hijacked by extremists; they have controlled the debate on this for too long. I would be happy to send the bear to testify if it would help.
Big Insurance
Big Insurance also needs some good underpants to ensure "coverage limits" on catastrophic injuries of this nature remain hidden. As a member of Congress, Gabby is fortunate to have top notch health care. The majority of people who suffers this level of trauma and injury will NOT be given effective care and rehab - and certainly will not have access to the best of the best. (Sadly, they are out of network!) The ONLY folks who seem to be getting this right are those in the VA - and they are still struggling with resources - isn't that funny - VA - single payer - getting better results than all the private plans. Who knew? (we did)
Surgery & the long rehab path for those with TBI (traumatic brain injury) is ghastly expensive and a long, difficult road. I believe Gabby would thoroughly support the "crazy notion" that everyone in her situation deserves the level of care she is receiving. In fact, I believe during the Health Care debates...she did. If only the Obamacare the Right is wailing about was the actual Obama-care that POTUS intended.
Perhaps seeing her will inspire "Gabby's Law II." A DHS ruling or law that mandates providers pay for care based on what the doctors and therapists - the experts - feel is in the patient's best interest - not one that the actuaries feel will impact profits least and follows an impersonal one-size-fits-all subjective as hell "checklist." (Said checklist is OK with drinking a protein shake through a straw = ability to cook and feed oneself; putting on a bathrobe = able to bathe and dress independently)
Rehab is a long, difficult road; each person responds differently. People are "cut loose" too quickly due to an artificial time table or "norms" or "coverage periods." On this, I know a thing or two - my Mum had 5 hours of brain surgery in November and the rush, hurry and push to get her out of the hospital, and out of Rehab was sickening. The doctors and therapists were not the "deciders" on the duration of her care. In token protest, I ripped up more than one "checklist" and agonized through appeal after appeal; re-evaluation after re-evaluation. I am betting that Gabby's team is looking for reasons to delay checking a box rather than reasons the box should be checked. This is as it should be.
It should not be this way - the money - your insurance money - is being misused, stolen. The insurance executives of these for profit predators fly around in multi-million dollar corporate jets from 2nd home to 3rd home to the 18th green of the Masters or to speak at yet another ALEC model legislation strategy session.
Right now, the jet's underpants are pretty big - they have to cover the N# (tail #) of the plane - Corporate American flies "blocked" so we the little people do not learn they have one of these big toys and rise up in protest. I think the increase in our insurance premiums and decrease in coverage is directly linked to the price of jet fuel :-) Prove me wrong :-)
Instead of the current "push 'em out the door now" system, we as a Nation should insist patients be allowed to reach the top of their potential after TBI. On a strictly economic level - this makes sense. People who leave rehab when they are "ready" can better contribute to society, earn a living, and get on with life - to enjoy the pursuit of happiness. If they are "released" too early, they may not be able to hold meaningful work or contribute; they may relapse or have a setback - they will be a shell of their former selves. All of which costs money and does little for their dignity and well being.
OK Congress, time for you to make the Big Guns & Big Insurance go Commando. Make them take off their underpants and expose what they want desperately to keep hidden. If you won't - and they won't - We the People will make them - Legislate change or be ready for it to be demanded in the streets. Do it for Gabby.
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