Blog #28 Broadening out of a writer's Civic Duty: The Blue Wave vs The Red Storm
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- Written by: Super User
(This is a longer version of a post on X)
Before I start I'll mention what my civic duty has been for the last 20+ years: my background - below are links with more about that. But lately I've felt the need to join hands with others to form the big Blue Wave coming in November! You might have guessed which side of the fence I'm on right now (not right). Though I have hope for the Red Storm - after the cult is smashed!
Anyway, a post was done on X by me about people who have been helpful in joining hands with others by increasing our follower counts - it seemed well received. The folks below provide lists of people who can be followed and should follow back. But be careful not to go over the limit of following not more than 400 people a day! ---The rules: Following on X--- And @ByronJo34131043 suggests keeping your followers/following ratio to 0.9 or more! (or in other words, keep your following not more than 9% more than your followers) Otherwise restrictions could occur! (more followers the better!) Bryon also suggests allowing your non-followers 1-3 days to follow back. (see below for details on how I go about trimming my following list)
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#NoDemUnder1k #NoDemUnder5K #NoDemUnder10K
@Wisewonders
Don't do as I've done and follow more than 400 people in a day! (again, the rules: Following on X) And as mentioned, try to keep your followers/following ration to 0.9 or more to avoid restrictions! (more followers the better!)
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Update: And it gets worse: KIDS!!!!
Petition (and see our visit to DC and DC Press Conference + Rally)
Blog #27 Oh, the Agony When Frenemies Part Ways!
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- Written by: Super User
Update: And it gets worse: KIDS!!!!
Petition (and see our visit to DC and DC Press Conference + Rally)
As I stated in an X post, I had a bit of a disagreement with someone I now consider intelligent and sensitive: @TomDNaughton. Like many intelligent, sensitive people, he isn't used to being wrong. When I simply pointed out an article he had me look at just might be less than accurate - he jumped all over me! Ok, maybe I did deliver it in a bit of a smart aleck manner. Ok - no maybe - I did deliver it in a smart aleck manner. If he ever reads this, I'll just say after 20+ years of staring at things like the horror show that has been going on in kidney dialysis, I can be a little cranky at times. (horror show continued)
When Naughton spewed venom at me, I did what is natural for me and spewed it back. He hurt this delicate flower! (ok, I chuckled a bit) I was curious though who I was dealing with and noticed he is a documentary maker. I thought, oh goody, more ammo! Much to my surprise I actually liked his documentary 'Fat Head'! It was informative! It was funny! Even a blind squirrel trips over a nut now and then! (sorry, couldn't resist) I wanted to hate it, but couldn't. I might have handled things differently if I had seen it first, eh probably not. I'm not feeling that guilty because I still think he was asking for it - sorry, my bitter nature coming out again. Besides Naughton's documentary I would also recommend Dr. Richard K. Bernstein's 'The Diabetes Solution' documentary (and his book) - and would listen to many of the people in this message board thread. This is all starting to fit in well to the theme of #RaidingTheSupplyTrainToDialysis.
But getting back to what riled me up, I took issue with his statement that Kamala Harris is going to give us Price Controls. He didn't much like the former labor secretary Robert Reich video I showed him. Apparently he is not a fan of Robert Reich, ok fine. He then sent me a Washington Post article he liked. I pointed out author Matt Stoller didn't like it much and I dug into Mr. Naughton a bit. Here is just one quote from the newsletter I just pointed out:
"Catherine Rampell is a Washington Post columnist. Her husband Chris Conlon is a minor economist known for his hostility to FTC Chair Lina Khan.." FTC chair Khan has been involved in things like banning noncompete contracts and she has been ticking off the right billionaires.
Before he blocked me, he let me know I wasn't worthy of having an opinion, and he had read "dozens of books on economics"! I hope he hadn't read the neoliberal crap coming out of the University of Chicago back in the '70s or so. Sounds like the free market was supposed to be the be and end all for economics - sorry, but I've seen it free to take advantage when choice isn't involved. But maybe I should pick up a book or two if there is ever a toilet paper shortage again. I'm more of a fan of people like Louis Brandeis - the father of the New Deal, and Texas Rep. Wright Patman, one of the last New Dealers in Congress. They were both featured in Matt Stoller's book 'Goliath'. They weren't '70s Chicago economists and that looks like a good thing. As Matt Stoller had to say in the blog I mentioned concerning Harris:
“I can’t see much of a downside to being attacked by economists and experts, after all these are the elites who got us into this mess”.
But since I'm not educated enough (I guess the school of hard knocks doesn't count), possibly Mr. Naughton could find someone on his level in this Reading List. I just worry that Mr. Naughton is using that mighty, mighty intelligence to justify something stupid - and is right now intelligent but not wise. But what do I know, I don't read enough economics books – oh wait, see the above quote! I'll be adding him to my long list of people whose work I can admire, but seem so flawed in other ways, though in Naughton’s opinion I may not be worthy of having an opinion. Again, maybe he will find somebody on that Reading List I mentioned. It helped with my deprogramming, yes once upon a time I believed much as he does - but then harsh reality slapped me alongside my head.
Maybe when he called me a moron, it was actually a term of endearment? I noticed his wife called him a moron in the documentary. My wife has that pet name for me too! I guess we are just a couple of lovable knuckleheads going at it on the internet.
Update: And it gets worse: KIDS!!!!
Petition (and see our visit to DC and DC Press Conference + Rally)
Blog #26 A Medievel Hero versus A Modern part-time Villain (giving the villain the benefit of the doubt - maybe he just doesn't know any better)
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- Written by: Super User
Update: And it gets worse: KIDS!!!!
Petition (and see our visit to DC and DC Press Conference + Rally)
For a short time, something has had this nearly 25 year kidney dialysis advocate smiling - the face hurt since it hasn't found itself in that position much over this long span. But before the joy is revealed, it is worth mentioning one major problem in kidney dialysis is nephrologists have been kept in jobs at clinics they may have hated. Hated because these doctors have seen what is under the hood of the clinics run by monopolistic corporations and bean-counting top-management. Why don't they just leave you ask? Unfortunately, noncompete contracts have kept them locked down in a loathsome job - other employers aren't a consideration and innovation is stifled.
But then out of the blue comes a Joan of Arc from an unlikely place, DC! FTC Commissioner Lina Khan and her crew shot down these ridiculous contracts that should never have existed in the first place! A short read will tell you what it has done for kidney dialysis. But every story has a villain doesn't it? So we have coming from the dark, dank, and cobwebbed basements of modern academia where good ideas go to die, a sinister figure. A sinister figure who has the ability to overcome brilliance and blind opponents with bull shit. Someone looking like the Penguin from a Batman movie.
Billionaire Reid Hoffman has made a name for himself, and recently a lot of names have been hurled his way! This after he appeared on CNN which brought up his multi-million dollar to-me-sure-looks-like-a-bribe to Kamala Harris. And what is Reid looking for with his money? Only to get rid of the best FTC Commissioner since the New Deal, Lina Khan! From Reid's book Blitzscaling apparently this guy really loves monopolies! Monopolies have worked for Robber Barrons like Andrew Carnegie, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and John D. Rockefeller - why can't they be allowed to work for him? Us indentured servants are lucky to get the crumbs we do, so be grateful! His nerdy rear-end wants to get higher in the stratosphere, away from us bothersome earthlings. Hey, maybe he can catch a ride on SpaceX for a few more bucks.
Reading a bit of his bio it can be seen he has faced some tough choices in his life - where does he go, Stanford or Berkeley? If there is one fellow who CAN'T relate to people who face food or rent choices each month, this would be the one. But I know, he got to where he is by himself, like Homer.
I've only gotten to know Mr. Hoffman recently. I don't know how I've missed him since he seems like a fellow who doesn't know how to shut up. In his latest word salad I've seen, he goes on a long spiel on X. It looks like he is doing the Distract Dance until all the mean people go away, another good example of "if you can't dazzle them with brilliance, blind them with bull shit". But out of the verbal mess, one item stood out, quote: "I think her (Lina Khan's) ongoing efforts to dismantle companies weakens America's innovation economy". I would wonder what companies he would be talking about that have been "dismantled" and weakened? I mean beyond taking a few bucks out of a billionaire's pocket. Were there mass layoffs? Did product quality suffer? Or did costs rise? Oh wait, we have seen that - but usually when it has gone in the other direction: Mergers and Acquisitions. And a few of us have seen the worst of what duopolies and monopolies can do when left to be free: free to take advantage.
What could be at the root of Hoffman's problem? He seems like an intelligent fellow (wise might another story). He is well-educated. Possibly he has been hanging around too many brainwashed MBA holders, like this one. If anybody see's former DaVita ceo Kent Thiry, tell him I still have a few questions for him.
But getting back to Hoffman, how could we deprogram this misguided soul. Apparently he likes to read books! He likes to write books! I hope his books are better than his mish-mash of an X reply!
Possibly he would appreciate a reading list, all the writers are impressive with impressive credentials:
Update: And it gets worse: KIDS!!!!
Petition (and see our visit to DC and DC Press Conference + Rally)
Blog #25 Imagine just a Couple of Restaurants in Town
- Details
- Written by: Super User
Update: And it gets worse: KIDS!!!!
Petition (and see our visit to DC and DC Press Conference + Rally)
Suppose a person is wandering the country and winds up in an area where there are only a couple of restaurants: 'Marvelous Mike's Michelin-starred' restaurant and 'Salmonella Sam's Toxic Waste Dump' restaurant where the chef has graduated from "Typhoid Mary's School of Culinary Delights!". Being hungry, but not knowing the area, it is decided to ask a local wandering by where a person might partake of a good meal and refreshments. The local assures the traveler he knows the lay of the land very well - but recommends the traveler dine at 'Salmonella Sam's'! Why? It isn't because the local hates tourists, turns out the local is co-owner of 'Salmonella Sam's'! Hey, the local might otherwise be an upstanding member of the community, but good intentions don't feed the bulldog!
The local restaurant owner could tell themselves: "It is only one meal! The out-of-towner will probably survive? It isn't like a steady diet of crap!". Now imagine a steady diet of crap served up by your local doctor! A local doctor who may not be part-owner of a restaurant, but a dialysis clinic. Let's call this clinic 'Fred's Discount Dialysis', motto: "Discount Care, at High, High Prices!", catchy huh? Instead of clientele who are free to leave and get out of town, the doctor's "customers" are force-fed a steady diet that is eventually going to kill them sooner than when their time would normally be up. Traveling out of town isn't an option for most of them. A 'Marvelous Mike's' of dialysis could show up in town, something like 'Community Dialysis Houses', a wonderful innovation where dialysis patients don't so much as 'cook' for themselves, but control their own treatments! Between the two dialysis options, you may have already guessed which place the local doctor maybe very tempted to recommend - the one he has a financial interest in, 'Fred's Discount Dialysis'! (aka the huge for-profit dialysis companies DaVita and Fresenius)
(You may wonder where the oversight for dialysis clinics is at, much like the health department for restaurants. Can you say 'Captured Regulation'? But that is more a story for another day)
There is good news that there is a tool in the arsenal to keep doctors from recommending things like a 'Fred's Discount Dialysis', that they have a financial interest in! It is called the 'Stark Law'! It is named after federal Rep. Pete Stark who was a main force in getting it passed in 1989 and 1993. It was supposed to stop physician self-referrals. It was supposed to stop co-owner doctors from referring things like a 'Fred's Discount Dialysis' clinic. But the bad news is kidney doctors (nephrologists) got an exemption to the Stark Law! Oh, what big money, corporations, and lobbyists can buy under the guise of the need for rapid expansion! (uh, why couldn't places like small care co-ops just get loans? But maybe I'm naive, but I like to think I know crap when I see it)
An excellent article about physician self-referrals and joint ventures was done by Scientific American and Undark in a series of articles about dialysis.
Here are a few quotes from the article:
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Dr. Berns who has serious qualms about joint ventures: the arrangement leaves many nephrologists with a financial incentive to steer patients to their co-owned clinics for dialysis, even when other, perhaps even better or more appropriate interventions like medication and lifestyle changes are available.
Dr. Moss, who could play the devil's advocate: acknowledged that these same financial incentives could also cause a physician to subconsciously steer patients towards their own clinic and away from options that might be more beneficial.
Dr. Meyer of Tufts Medical Center: if you have the stock market sucking away resources (epitomized by the for-profits DaVita and Fresenius), you just have a mess left over to take care of the patient, even though the people on the ground at the bedside may all have the best intentions and be very, very devoted.
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But getting back to comparing restaurants to dialysis clinics, it seemed more apt to compare DaVita's and Fresenius clinics to 'Salmonella Sam's' restaurants than what former ceo of DaVita Kent Thiry compared them to, Taco Bells. Comedian John Oliver felt compelled to apologize to Taco Bell on behalf of Kent Thiry starting at 21:50 of this video. Quote: "You are actually more likely to find a doctor in one of our restaurants (Taco Bell) than a dialysis clinic".
*Carrie Arnold, a lead reporter for the series of articles mentioned, also did an article about what happens to patients who make the mistake of questioning their care - terminations!
*For a deeper dive, NYT's best-selling author Tom Mueller last year put out the book 'How To Make a Killing; Blood, Death and Dollars in American Medicine'. He is also mentioned attending a press conference in DC in January 2024 along with a 'Rally to Congress' in February of 2024 (same article).
Update: And it gets worse: KIDS!!!!
Petition (and see our visit to DC and DC Press Conference + Rally)
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