How Happy are You America? Looking at Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness…

Notation: for those of you that would rather watch this blog, scroll down to the end to use the video player. 

I think that there is absolute truth to the fact that being happy extends your very life.

Question, how do we fare here in America? Are we happy?  What constitutes being a happy individual and, how does our health relate to our happiness level?  It seems that we would need to be in good health to be happy.  We would also need the ability to prosper so that we can enjoy our lifestyles.   Let’s take a look at some interesting statistics identified in portions of a Harvard study I was listening to during a live recording from an alternative public radio station, *Sojourner Truth, on the subject of today’s mortality rates in America. This Harvard study initially focused their primary attention on disease as being the number one contributor to the shortened mortality rates in America today.

*Sojourner Truth broadcast available on this link for 90 days from Dec. 31^st, 2010

However, as they began to research the various diseases they discovered that there seems to be some definitive underlying factors that predisposed people to contracting various diseases; and therefore the focus of the study branched off into what those other factors were.  Before we dive into that, let’s look at some mortality statistics within America today when compared to that of neighboring countries that are also considered among the wealthiest countries in the world. 

In 2009, Congress funded a study on mortality rates in America and upon concluding their study it was reported that a young man of 25 years was less likely to reach retirement at age 65 when compared to men of the same age in other rich nations.  In researching those comparative statistics it was also discovered that 45 countries have a better chance of attaining longer life spans than we do here in America today.  

When looking at infant mortality rates, it was discovered that 41 nations have a lower child mortality rates pertaining to those children being able to reach the age of 5 years than do we here in America.  There seemed to be a direct correlation between these countries and ourselves in that these other countries all provided health care for their populations; and had seemingly better infant health care systems than do we here in America.   This made me think of the day I gave birth to my son.   On that day, there were 13 women in labor in the maternity ward, and there were only two OBGYNs’ on hand.  

Of these thirteen women in labor, ten gave birth via C-Section and the rest were naturally born.   I was one of the lucky ones in that I did not even see my doctor during my eighteen hours of labor until I was rushed into the delivery room already giving natural birth.  I had to wonder as I lay next to a woman in pain having had a C-Section; just how many of those women having this procedure did so due to the under staffing of the OBGYNs’ on that day? 

In 1960 it was noted that only 14 other countries had better health care than did we in America; today however America, along with Kroweshia, Afghanistan, Africa, and Iraq are among the countries today noted in the Harvard study as having the least adequate health care programs for their populations.  So let’s look at the quality of health care in America today as provided with the Obama Care Plan, or, the Health Care Reform Act HR3200 that was recently passed into law in both the House and Senate.  Rather, let’s look at who was behind the influence in creating this bill and assuring that it would become Law.  

If you watched the specifics of this Senate Bill from this blog’s link you will see that this Bill, HR3200, actually limits our ability to receive adequate and comprehensive health care.  So we have to ask, is the President’s power being trumped by something that is actually more powerful than the President’s own ability as President to provide a quality health care program for America?  If so, what could that power be?  That power is “Numbers”… 

These numbers are to the tune of 375 million dollars.  These are the numbers that private interest lobbyist groups, mostly contributions from the Health and Insurance Industries, have contributed to Congressional Leaders to influence the debate and the outcome of the health care reform bill, as well as its passage into law.  This is the most money ever poured into any one issue in the history of our country.  This money has been mostly used to stop reform in the healthcare industry related to regulating the costs of health care procedures and pharmaceutical necessities; and in so doing excessively weakens America’s ability to provide comprehensive health care to its citizens.

Here is the Break Down of Those Expenditures…

If you listen to Rick Sanchez of CNN discuss this with Senator Bernie Sanders you will discover which politicians have been given huge amounts of campaign funds from corporate pharmaceutical companies in order to influence decisions in Congress that address the quality of provisional health care. 

These are the monies our elected officials were given to promote the agenda driven interests of various health care entities and their lobbyist as acquired from the site,  http://www.opensecrets.org/

 

Resource Information provided at: http://www.opensecrets.org/.

The figures listed above list the contributions given to our elected officials in 2009. These were given directly from the Pharmaceutical and Health Products Companies.  The question that Rick Sanchez asked of Senator Sanders after reviewing these numbers was…

 “Do you think that these companies expect a return on their investment?” 

 Senator Sanders stated, “You bet they do, adding that America has become way too corporatized, if not controlled by corporate interests.”   He gives an example of how in America today we pay the highest prices for prescription drugs than any other country in the world, stating the reason for this as being that drug companies pour millions and millions of dollars into the political processes that regulate health care issues, including prescription drugs. 

He adds that…

 “America is the only country in the industrialized world that does not provide health care for its citizens.”

“This is because the hospitals, the health care insurance industries, and the pharmaceutical companies are all making billions of dollars right now, and they don’t want us to touch their profits.  And they are going to influence legislation in order to protect their assets.”   This lack of caring and sharing coming from our elected officials is one of the direct contributors to the lessened longevity of, We the People, in America today.  We’ll identify the three major causes at the conclusion of this blog. 

Hummm…. Is America way too corporatized?   Under the First Amendment, individuals have their inalienable rights to pursue prosperity, correct?  However, Ted Olsen, former Solicitor General for the Bush Administration stated in a report to the Senate that Corporations have the right to their first amendment rights just as do individuals.  

According to Mr. Olsen corporations should have the right to become major share holders in the American economy, and they should be allowed to fund their corporate prosperities through legislation in their efforts to achieve their own economic prosperity in America, just as do individuals in America today.  Their investments should be considered individual investments, and as such should be protected under law.  

Upon hearing this, Ruth Ginsburg the Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; who also was instrumental in launching the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Organization, posed this question to Mr. Olsen with regard to his reasoning in formulating this idea pertaining to corporations as individuals.  Here is how their discussion went…

Ruth Ginsburg asks…                          

 

 

 

Adding…

 

 

Mr. Olsen responds, “Yes.”

 

Prompting this second question from Ginsburg…  

  

 

 

 

Mr. Olsen replies…   

 

 

 

 

He then adds… 

 

    

 

 

 

And Ruth Ginsburg asks…       

 

 

 

 

And Mr. Olsen responds…  

  

 

 

 

And she replies… 

 

 

 

 

 O.K., let’s look at some important points in this discussion… 

First of all, Mr. Olsen states, “The Court” makes no distinction based upon the nature of the entity that might own a share of a corporation.    Did you notice that now the entity that is “The Court” is somehow making conclusions about what and individual, and individual rights are?  Hummm, does that mean that the plural entity that is the Court now over rides the US Constitution that sets in place the protection of the rights of the individual?  

Does this mean that “The Court” through its laws cancels out the U.S. Constitution’s?  But Justice Ginsburg makes a valid point worth considering.  So what happens if the major shareholders in the American economy are shareholders from other countries, and their interests may be contrary to guaranteeing the health and economic prosperity of our country itself? 

Now I have no problems with international businesses crossing over throughout the world to support world-wide business collaborations to the benefit of all here in America; but what Ruth Ginsburg is concerned about is the un-equal benefit to these corporations over individual American citizens themselves; as corporations use financial leverage through their congressional contributions, which are then able to manipulate laws to facilitate their own prosperity at the expense of the American people and the economy itself.

Because of the severely wavering economic stability of individual citizens in our society today, these individuals simply do not have the economic means to make their interests heard in the House and Senate as do corporations.  Bottom line, poverty in America has become the new American dream, perhaps nightmare, as state by state unemployment rates continue to rise above 9% in each state.

Now going back to the Harvard study, in addition to lack of sharing and caring pertaining to assuring people that they can have access to comprehensive preventative medical treatment; for the most part, today’s medicine focuses on disease instead of what makes people susceptible to illness.  Within the Harvard study findings it was discovered that these health disparities in longevity were also directly related to economic status.

American Individual Prosperity…

 Today in America 7% of our national population live in poverty.  Minimally 9% of all Americans in each state are unemployed.  While American’s line the corners heading to the food banks and unemployment lines; our government is bailing out big corporations, banks, and wealthy investors on Wall Street with billions of tax payer dollars. 

In a major filibuster speech given by Senator Bernie Sanders to Congress in December of 2009 Senator Sanders states, “Mr. President, in the year 2007, as the Middle class began to collapse, the top 1% of earners in the United States made 23 ½% of all income, more than the entire bottom 50%.  The percentage of income going to the top 1% nearly tripled since the 1970s’.   Today, if you can believe it, the top 1/10 of 1% earns about 12¢ of every dollar earned in America.  If anybody takes a little time to research these statistics it is clear to see that while the Middle Class is collapsing, the top 1% are doing extremely well while the bottom 50% continue their decline into poverty.”

Poverty leads to depression and a sense of helplessness that does not support a happy and healthy outlook on life, or life itself for that matter.  This directly predisposes the poor to illness and shortened longevity according to the Harvard study.  Poverty also increases the likelihood that individuals will end up incarcerated within the prison systems.  Today in America 1 in 100 are incarcerated. 

Today America’s Department of Corrections is the largest run correctional establishment throughout the world.  If we are free, why do we need the largest department of corrections?  Also, it was noted that children growing up in poverty are more likely to find themselves in the correctional institutions before the age of 15.  And it is widely known that America’s prison systems have very poor health care provisions for their inmates.   Recently I read that the D.O.C., Department of Corrections, was considering pardoning those with terminal illness early, releasing them into the social system for their care.   I have to ask, in our current failing health care system that offers little assurance of needed treatment to those individuals that can afford health insurance, what is the likelihood that these early release individuals will find the health care they need to treat their terminal illnesses?

Where is the protection for the American people?  How can we attain our inalienable rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness in today’s societal system?  

And, what are the key killers in today’s society that predisposes us to dying?  They are… 

Lack of Societal Caring and Sharing… 

Early Life Disadvantage…

Where is the Heart of American Morality?

And Poverty… 

My Friends, these three things seem to be the very things that we are being forced to endure under our current political structure in America.   For our government to force us into complacency, disadvantaged health care, and poverty is immoral; and represents political corruption in its entirety.   So why is this occurring?  It is because our current elected officials are allowing the flaws of their own human nature to dictate the outcomes of our lives; and, it is all because of their greed and selfishness.  

This is clearly evident in our current economic system.  We must remember the power of the few political elite on top is totally dependant on the obedience of the majority on the bottom. Are we to be obedient to these political elite that sail away on their yachts with the American tax payers providing the winds for their sales?   These political elite are forcing America and her American Citizens into poverty through coercive laws and regulations to the demise of our very own inalienable right to life, liberty, and now, even hope for pursuing happiness.

Now it is not too late to use our majority vote to bring back the sound leverage of fairness and honesty in political practices.   We have not lost the power of our vote.   Your vote, in the long run is more cost-effective to the politician than the millions that lobbyist groups and corporations can pour into their coffers.   Without you and me they too will find themselves in the ranks of the unemployed.

I suggest to you that only a politician that is dedicated to fully operational honesty, without compromise, is capable of representing his or her people.  I invite you to look at the Twelve Visions Party Contract, to read it and then to realize that, a Twelve Visions Party candidate is bound through the Twelve Visions Party contract to represent The Prime Law.

We cannot stand alone for change.  We cannot live alone and be represented.  We must unify for the protection of all, bound under the representation of truth and honesty if we are to lift each and every individual American Citizen to the Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness that they are ordained to have as sentient beings in life.

With a government of non-initiatory force governing America today we will once again be lifted up in wealth, health, and prosperity for all.  Do you want to live a life of happiness again?   You say yes?  Then today, now it is time to do something about it.  You can join in with the Twelve Visions Party® in its mission to re-establish Life and Happiness for All using fully integrated honesty to de-politicize a corrupt political system.

TheUndefeatedLife

  

Swine Flu – Pandemic or Programmed Genocide!

On April 30th, 2009, I read in the news that the worldwide pandemic level has been raised to a “Red Level” of concern due to the recent outbreak of the Swine Flu.  This means that the United States has now been placed under an acute threat status for the spread of a Swine Flu pandemic outbreak.    Let’s look at what types of provisions our government has allotted to the medical facilities in order to protect our citizens from the pandemonium of a life threatening pandemic outbreak.   Three years ago, Congress appropriated billions of dollars to the department of Health and Human Services, “HHS”, for the agency’s pandemic influenza plan after animal outbreaks of the extremely pathogenic avian flu virus were discovered in a dozen countries throughout the world.  Today, even though scientists say the threat of a pandemic is still very real, the nation’s interest in the issue has subsided, and the HHS says it does not have the requested resources to fully implement its strategic plan to combat and prevent a castophic pandemic outbreak.  December, 2005, Congress appropriated $3.3 billion in emergency funding to HHS for the first year of their intervention plan and $2.3 billion for the second year of funding in June, 2006.  

 

  Note, those big plans have, to date, not been realized thus leading to the updated statement from HHS that quote, “The full promise for the progress HHS anticipated cannot be achieved as HHS does not have the requested resources to fully implement the plan it proposed.”  This report added that the fiscal 2008 appropriations bill did not include the $870 million initially requested by the president to support the plan’s next phase.    Why is this occurring? 

 

Why?  The fiscal 2008 appropriations bill did not include the $870 million initially requested by the president to support the plan’s next phase.    And now, here is your answer as to why this is occurring.  Three years ago, the GAO, Government Accountability Office, which was initiated after 9/11 as part of the changes related to the Patriot Act, developed a strategy for its work to support Congress’ decision-making and oversight related to pandemic flu planning.   Their report supplanted Congresses flu pandemic planning and rather included a strategy which incorporated reviews of other national disasters such as the 9/11 terror attacks, hurricanes Katrina and Andrew, and emerging infectious diseases such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome.

 

 Their strategy targeted six themes which were, performance and accountability, leadership, authority and coordination, detecting threats and managing risks; information sharing, and communication, capacity to respond and recover, and planning, training and exercise.   Basically, since 2006, when HHS’s budget was taken over by GAO, 11 reports were published which made 23 recommendations based on its findings.  Then to summarize, control of the funds allocated to HHS had been transferred to a “new governmental office.”  This office, the ASPR, is the office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness Response. 

 

 Because the funding was now, “broad based,” to include various possible risk factors as stated above, little of the initial $7.1 billion in emergency funding specifically proposed for pandemic influenza preparedness by George W. Bush in 2005 actually reached the individual hospital facilities.  Instead the ASPR has allocated to the nation’s states and territories these funds which are supposed to be used to apply to all of the hazards that were reviewed initially by the GAO according to Gregg Pane, an emergency physician who is the director of national healthcare preparedness programs at ASPR.   Pane stated that planning efforts should be shared in a community with emphases on the local medical institutional needs.  This would better target specific areas according to their area of need.    It appears that the funding priorities of these federally funded departments are too federally focused.

 

 Way too much of the money that is allocated from your tax dollars and mine goes to propping up large, federal bureaucracies like the C.D.C., Center for Disease Control, rather than providing the national health care support that our tax dollars are crying out for as we continue to live under the world wide pandemic threat of both the Swine and Avian Flues.   To date, there have been 400+ confirmed cases of the, H1N1, Swine Flu virus within the United States, 8 resulting in death.  Here is what you can do. Write to your local Representatives before you put in your next vote and tell them that we the people are the majority and we will no longer vote them into a life long career – even after retirement if they continue to abandon the health and wellbeing of our lives!    Someone needs to hear the voice of the people before pandemic brings about total silence and death.  Choose Life! 

 

Thank you,

The Undefeated Life