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An Uncle Warren Buffett quote:
"If you've got a good enough business, if you have a monopoly newspaper, if you have a network television station — I'm talking of the past — you know, your 'idiot nephew' could run it. And if you've got a really good business, it doesn't make any difference." Business Insider
"A really good business", for who? This John Oliver YouTube video might give us an idea.
Actually I wouldn't be so unkind as to call the former CEO mentioned in the John Oliver video a total idiot, more an idiot savant. He was really good at raking in the money for himself and DaVita management (just had to sell their souls).
"In 1991 Medicare expenditures were $5.8 billion, and non-Medicare costs from heath plans and other coverage were $2.2 billion—a total, then, of $8.0 billion from all sources (see Figure p.6 on page 17). By 2001, costs of the program had reached $22.8 billion, almost triple the earlier level of expenditures" Colorado Legislature Fact Sheet
Triple the level of previous expenditures!!! I'm sure medical care must have gotten better, UH NO!:
"www.usrds.org Annual Data Report 2003 pg 172, population up 106%, deaths up 123% from ’91 to ‘01 (I should add the for-profit companies – such as Davita – were taking over this area of medicine during this time period)" Colorado Legislature Fact Sheet
Deaths up 123%!!! Unfortunately for patients, Kent Thiry and DaVita's talents go as far as figuring out how to squeeze the taxpayer1 - medical care doesn't seem to be in the mix, hence they might be considered idiot savants!
[1] Medicare is the main source of DaVita's revenue
* For a near 50 year history of this field of medicine check out this: Quick Minute Intro
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**See how to help at the bottom of the webpage**
Organization Introduction
Started in the late 1990s, intro includes Early DialysisEthics Founders (many deceased) and two Surviving Members. One survivor helps terminated patients through the Dialysis Advocates organization. The other runs this site as of 2023.
Personal Intro
Find out what has kept this Surviving Member of DialysisEthics going for more that 20 years and led to my helping to head-up a group that got a bill through the Colorado Statehouse for the certification of kidney dialysis technicians (passed in 2007, renewed in 2012 and 2019).
*In Colorado I'm the last of the original group still standing - R.I.P. my friends)
A Quick Minute Look
A 45 year history of Kidney Dialysis at a glance (plus quotes)
Billionaire Information Packet
A more in-depth look at kidney dialysis with stories behind the numbers. This was left at the administrative offices of the Warren Buffett Berkshire event in May of 2023 (see below)
Scandals and Fact Sheet presented to the Colorado Legislature
Suggested Reading List
Some of the above plus 5 suggested books about the abuse of corporate power!
HQ-Save-the-Billionaires-or-not-Walk-updates
Get ready for the the May 4th, 2024 Walk in Omaha Nebraska! Everyone welcome!! Open the eyes of at least a couple of billionaires who are in a great position to actually do something!!
-This last May 2023 Walk
How to Help!!! (click on link)
As has been said, the majority of kidney dialysis patients haven't been in a position to help themselves for decades!!! Poor health and intimidation have been factors, click link above and find out how you can make a difference!!! This isn't just about kidney dialysis!
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(not just about kidney dialysis - those looking into pro-competition capitalism should also find this eyeopening)
Quick 1 minute start - get a near 50 year history of kidney dialysis at a glance! Included is mortality, a quote from a doctor who received a Lifetime Achievement award, and an international comparison. This was handed out at the 2023 Warren Buffett event in Omaha NE.
Billionaire Information Packet - includes an executive summary taken from the 1 minute start mentioned above, stories behind the numbers, and a fact sheet presented to the Colorado State Legislation. This was left at the administrative offices of the Warren Buffett event previously mentioned.
(Warren Buffett's Berkshire owns 40% of DaVita, a huge part of a kidney dialysis duopoly, yet is only 1% of the Berkshire portfolio)
A starting article: Warren Buffett: America's Folksiest Predator by Matt Stoller August 9th, 2020
Save the Billionaires (or not) Blog
Books:
- 'Goliath' by Matt Stoller, May we raise the spirit of Texas Congressman Wright Patman
- 'Division of Light and Power' by Dennis Kucinich His fight as mayor for Muni Light was epic and
read like a thriller. (utilities and dialysis clinics both carve out a geographical area and can operate quite similarly)
- 'Monopolized' by David Dayen, Started reading it, sounds like dialysis isn't the only area seeing the
effects of concentrated corporate power!
- ‘Car Guys vs. Bean Counters’ by Bob Lutz, former President of Chrysler Corp.. Featured in Blog #9 at DialysisEthics2.org
***Look for ‘How to Make a Killing: Blood, Death and Dollars in American Medicine’ by Tom Mueller coming out August 1st, 2023! (aka 'Dialysis 4-You!')
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Kidney Dialysis could be the most egregious example of the misuse of concentrated corporate power with all its scandals and its ghastly numbers. However concentrated corporate power has been seen to negatively affect so many facets of our lives! From concentrated power in airlines choking off growth in smaller cities to pharmaceutical companies fueling the opioid crisis, these corporations large size and money (which has bought influence) have been near insurmountable to stop! There is example after example in this Suggested Reading List! It is time to stop corporate power abuse!
Why Participate?
We are offering an opportunity to strike back at some of the worst abuses of corporate power! And to help a vulnerable population that is unable to help itself! To strike back at a field of medicine that has taken away so many of our friends, mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, etc... - and yes, even our children at an early age! And there is no reason for those without experience in dialysis to participate! This is a fight against monopolies, duopolies, etc... This is everybody's fight!!
How to Particpate!!!
1) Email your federal representatives with this question: (added July 2nd, 2023)
"There are a lot of reasons DaVita should be broken up (the numbers, scandals), are there any reasons left indicating DaVita shouldn't be broken up into something like small care co-ops?" (example: what was written to Congressman Jason Crow)
2) Write to CNBC. They were asking for questions before the Warren Buffett event in Omaha NE on May 6th, 2023 and were written to (see DE Blog #7)
Though the Warren Buffett event is over for the year 2023, it would still seem a wonderful idea to try and get an answer to the above question - or tell CNBC what you have to say!
Three possible email addresses are:
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3) Write to the stock guru Jim Cramer. DialysisEthics Blog #8 provides an example of what has been sent to Mr. Cramer.
Jim Cramer's email address:
4) Sign a petition: 'Save the Billionaires (or not)' petition at Change.org. Not sure a break up of the huge dialysis company DaVita is called for? Then the Reading List mentioned might help you. It contains everything from a 'Quick 1 minute intro' to 5 suggested books.
5) Participate in the May 4th, 2024 'Save the Billionaires (or not)' Walk in Omaha Nebraska. Coincides with the Berkshire Hathaway event with Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger. A calm and peace of mind were an unexpected side effect for this 2023 participant! For more about the May 2023 event and scouting mission there is DE Blog #11.
