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Written by: Super User

Category: Uncategorised

Published: 03 August 2024

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Since the advent of John D. Rockefeller in 1916 as the first billionaire, so many more have joined the ranks!  And watching on the sidelines, hasn't it been just peachy keen seeing how some of these people have led such spectacular lives!  From billionaires' romps in space (I would fine with just NASA) to Warren Buffett bathing his town in Romanesque glory, hasn't it been worth it to suffer some income inequality with so many are asking themselves if it is food or rent this month?  We get to see lives lived in the stratosphere where they can gaze upon us mere earthlings struggling to put food on the table.  And best to keep a good distance from us great unwashed!

One person who had to make a tough choice was billionaire Reid Hoffman, his choice was Berkeley or Stanford!  Not exactly a food or rent choice, but if it turns out to be his toughest choice he will be very, very lucky!!  It has led to his many degrees

He illustrates why nerds would get swirlies in High School - doesn't know when to shut the hell up!

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Written by: Super User

Category: Uncategorised

Published: 16 July 2024

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Jul 15, 2024, 10:31 AM:

Jun 8, 2024, 2:21 PM

 

Rep. Crow,

 

Besides having not even kids being spared in kidney dialysis, I thought I ought to mention another God-awful problem that has been around for decades: dialysis patient terminations.  I came close to almost seeing this firsthand years ago when my daughter was in a clinic and I made the mistake of asking too many questions - and not liking the answers.  The charge nurse threatened to kick my daughter out of the clinic, though she and the doctor relented later.

 

The article I linked to had this to say about terminations:

"This profit motive makes involuntary discharge a very American problem. In countries such as Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, the vast majority of clinics must accept everyone. Involuntary discharge “would not be tolerated in the Canadian health care system,” Bear says. “There would be outrage beyond description.”"

 

And:

"In his nephrology practice in Alberta, Bear saw plenty of patients prone to outbursts and disruptive behavior. What he didn’t see over his four-decade career, he told me, was a single involuntary discharge. He attributes this to lower patient-to-staff ratios. The bulk of care in Canadian dialysis clinics is performed by highly paid and well-trained nurses, Bear says. Technicians are responsible for maintaining the machines, not attending patients. This, and the absence of profiteering, he says, has rendered involuntary discharge nearly nonexistent." (all of this for higher costs here in the US of course)

 

Journalist Carrie Arnold wrote much of the article I quoted, she and others were also responsible for a series of articles put out by Scientific American and Undark.

 

So what are the solutions?  They are mentioned in the 2nd half of the article I'm linking to.  The first half of the article summarizes the press conference NYT's best-selling author Tom Mueller had with the labor union SEIU with DC earlier in the year, Tom Mueller has the book 'How to Make a Killing' out.  A book we left with your staff in DC on February 29th.  A book we hope you and your staff had time to look over!

 

 

Sincerely,

Chris Schwab

DialysisEthics2.org and M.I.Mother's Keeper

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Written by: Super User

Category: Uncategorised

Published: 23 June 2024

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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!   

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Written by: Super User

Category: Uncategorised

Published: 29 March 2023

Hits: 1113

Petition

I'm a nice guy who doesn't believe in eternal damnation (that eternal is a long time!). I believe in the road to redemption for many people. And lately I've become concerned about a couple of our favorite billionaires: Charlie Munger (99 years of age), and Warren Buffett (92 years of age). I’m wondering if they should be tying up some loose ends at their age.

My concern started when I saw their Berkshire Hathaway company held a huge share of davita, the huge kidney dialysis company (40% last I looked - though only a tiny part of the Berkshire portfolio, less than 1% from what I understand) - I’ll give some background and then why I’ve worried.

I've been well acquainted with davita since the year 2000 when my daughter was in a dialysis clinic (transplant now). My experience with kidney dialysis peaked in 2007 when I helped head-up a group that got a bill for the certification of kidney dialysis techs passed (renewed in 2012 and 2019).

What surprised and concerned me about Berkshire being involved in davita was the fact I would think Berkshire would check out the "product" better. I can tell you what we've been seeing: just the numbers and John Oliver and friends. With davita less than 1% of the Berkshire portfolio I thought this must just be some sort of oversight! But then I became aware of this. Huh, besides a long line of former kidney dialysis patients waiting for Mr. Munger and Mr. Buffett in the hereafter there maybe others lined up behind the dialysis folks! It looks like they may have some explaining to do! (thank you Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz) I don't think their absentee-owner, denial-of-culpability act may play as well in the hereafter.

So how can we help these dear unfortunate souls who may have gone through a good portion of their lives with blinders on? I say we encourage Mr. Munger and Mr. Buffett to put the dialysis field of medicine back to the way it was! It was a group of many small clinics - the big for-profits have proven they can't handle too much power!

They have been guilty of:

- a lack of oversight

- using underpaid, under-trained, overworked staff (staff used to be mostly nurses vs. mostly techs now)

- shortening of treatments

- a multitude of scandals- among them having had the Highest Mortality Rate in the industrialized world! (again the numbers) And unique in medicine for having had rising mortality (2^nd post) All for sky-rocketing prices!

So please sign this petition! It can be taken to the ‘Save the Billionaires’ Walk’ on May 6th and presented to Berkshire at their event. Feel free to show up at the Walk! Strike a blow to change this country back from “We the corporations of the United States” to “We the people of the United States”! I have my one share of Berkshire (B) for entry, so I'm sure I'll be treated like royalty.

#More Info
- 'Save the Billionaires' Walk' updates
- BillionaireRedemption Blog
- 2007 Colorado state bill pushed by a group headed up by this DE member for the certification of kidney dialysis technicians (renewed in 2012 and 2019)