Still no word about my mother's illness. Because it occurred during a holiday, the reality of medicine is that she has simply been shuttled into a state of limbo.... no tests, little examination, fewer answers. It is understandable of course, the members of the medical community want, need, and deserve holiday relief like everyone else. But, the reality is that with the assinine way our medical system is today, the health care workers (all of them... nurses, doctors, PAs, respiratory therapists, etc) have adopted (understandably) a "bunker mentality". Instead of having dedication and pride in their work being at the forefront of what they do each day, they instead need to build a shell around themselves to insulate them from the corporate management that simply lives by the motto..... BETTER (in terms of profits), CHEAPER (in terms of profits, and FASTER (in terms of profits). Hell be damned if nurturing, or caring, or quality of life were ever an issue in the minds of any hospital/medical facility or corporation. The all might dollar is driving every damn thing that happens in a hospital today.

In my utopian vision, I believe we should have nurses and doctors paid for their efforts in a manner that is a reward for their high quality care and skill. I also feel that health care should be a national program for ALL of our citizens. People often point to Canada (both in a positive and a negative sense) and its health care system. I think Canada does a good job, but I think if WE WANTED to as a society, and if we could stop having half of our population be brainwashed by corporations to believe that we should bow down and worship the ground Corporate America uses, we COULD develop a full, affordable, comprehensive national health care system in the US.

That we have a large very large population of the US that act simply as corporate mouthpieces and schills should not stop us that do not want to be rear-ended by corporations from deciding and demanding that national health care be a priority.