Lovely, huh? TB is back. For me, this is a nice illustration of the fact that we either progress or regress as a society. There is no such word as "gress."
So, bring this creepy Top 10 list up at your office holiday party and see how many people remain in the conversation circle when you're done.
From the World Health Organization:
10 - Every 20 seconds, someone in the world dies of TB.
9 - Two billion people, or about one-third of the world's population, are infected with the bacteria that causes TB.
8 - About one out of every 10 of those people will develop active TB.
7 - If left untreated, a person sick with TB in their lungs can infect 10 to 15 people a year.
6 - TB is the leading infectious killer of people living with HIV/AIDs in the world.
5 - Some 9.2 million new cases of tuberculosis occurred worldwide in 2006, up nearly 40 percent from 1990, due mostly to population growth.
4 - India had the highest number of new absolute cases, followed by China, Indonesia, South Africa and Nigeria.
3 - Just 22 countries account for 80 percent of the worldwide cases of TB. The disease is most prevalent in developing countries.
2 - Multidrug-resistant TB, a form of TB that does not respond to the usual drugs and must be treated with special drugs, has proliferated in recent years and causes about 130,000 deaths annually.
And the number one creepiest fact about TB in 2008:
- An even more extreme form of TB, known as XDR-TB, is virtually uncurable. Cases have appeared around the world.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Memoirs of Government Cheese
Alright, I know I have readers because I am hearing from you. This is a place for comments, people, comments!!
So, we're going to have some fun with this one. I am soliciting your fondest memories of Government Cheese. I dont have to say more about it, you either remember it or you dont.
Beginning in 1982, the USDA made use of a subsidized dairy surplus by meeting the nutritional needs of millions of Americans being pounded by a recession many of us still remember vividly, by backing up trucks to supermarket parking lots and giving away blocks of processed cheese.
The stuff kinda looked like Velveeta, but tasted different, because it was lots of kinds of cheese all molded together.
Now, I like grilled cheese, so slicing it up and substituting it for traditional cheddar made very little difference. I can make a solid argument the Government Cheese had a richer flavor. Whenever I have grilled cheese and tomato soup on a cold, wet day, I am taken back to the days of Government Cheese.
The Kansas City-based alternative rock band The Rainmakers even had a song that played off disingenuous Reaganomics with the line "they're feedin' our people that government cheese."
It also was really good as a sliced snack.
But when it came to the "cheese sandwich" that was all butter and cheese on white bread, I had to draw the line. That was a bit too . . . dairy for me.
I am sure moms all over the country found creative and interesting uses for this stuff. What happened in your household? Come on people!!
A "Working Families Protection Act"
On September 16, Iowa's First Lady, Mari Culver, hosted a full-day event bringing together policymakers, politicians, advocates and consumers to attack poverty in Iowa. Some great ideas came out of that meeting. My hope is that the momentum that was on display in September is still alive in January when the legislature returns to work.
I realize we dont have any money. I am the last person to suggest some feel-good liberal tripe at a time when the state and federal coffers are about as bare as anyone can remember. Still, it seems when tough times come, folks who are on the margins economically get hit disproportionately hard, and for a longer period of time.
Growing up I watched my dad go through multiple plant closings (all in the fall, leading up to Christmas, which was . . . memorable) and I can tell you what that kind of rapid displacement does to families and communities. We know better.
Far from simply protecting our existing programs like Medicaid that assist the working poor in Iowa, we should aggresively seek ways to alleviate the devastating impact of rapid economic displacement that will cause some residents to leave the state, and others to leave the job market when we need them most.
Look at it like this: when you invest in the people at the top of the economic ladder, they will take some of the money and save it, invest some, give some to the kids, and pay down some debt. All are wise disbursements. But they dont produce an immediate economic stimulus, which is something we desperately need.
By contrast, when you put the money into the people at the bottom, they are like little economic gerbils on the wheel of life, spending every dime of that money on bills, groceries, Christmas, the car and maybe a new microwave. That's an immediate - like within two weeks - impact on the economy.
I've collected a number of ideas and will post them here in the coming days. See what you think. I believe they add up to a workable, affordable working families agenda, that if passed by gutsy Iowa legislators, will go a long way toward assisting families in the short term and saving our economy for the long haul.
As always comments are welcome.
I realize we dont have any money. I am the last person to suggest some feel-good liberal tripe at a time when the state and federal coffers are about as bare as anyone can remember. Still, it seems when tough times come, folks who are on the margins economically get hit disproportionately hard, and for a longer period of time.
Growing up I watched my dad go through multiple plant closings (all in the fall, leading up to Christmas, which was . . . memorable) and I can tell you what that kind of rapid displacement does to families and communities. We know better.
Far from simply protecting our existing programs like Medicaid that assist the working poor in Iowa, we should aggresively seek ways to alleviate the devastating impact of rapid economic displacement that will cause some residents to leave the state, and others to leave the job market when we need them most.
Look at it like this: when you invest in the people at the top of the economic ladder, they will take some of the money and save it, invest some, give some to the kids, and pay down some debt. All are wise disbursements. But they dont produce an immediate economic stimulus, which is something we desperately need.
By contrast, when you put the money into the people at the bottom, they are like little economic gerbils on the wheel of life, spending every dime of that money on bills, groceries, Christmas, the car and maybe a new microwave. That's an immediate - like within two weeks - impact on the economy.
I've collected a number of ideas and will post them here in the coming days. See what you think. I believe they add up to a workable, affordable working families agenda, that if passed by gutsy Iowa legislators, will go a long way toward assisting families in the short term and saving our economy for the long haul.
As always comments are welcome.
Wyoming as Paragon of Health?
Seems like they are making a go of it, at least where state employees are concerned in the square state that gave us quadruple heart attack sufferer Dick Cheney as their poster boy.
Apparently they're fed up with paying ever increasing premiums for state employees and have decided to do something:
Now I know the Governor is a D, but still, this is not a flaky liberal state. They must believe there's a help to their bottom line if they are going to pay for this. Think they're anything to it?
Apparently they're fed up with paying ever increasing premiums for state employees and have decided to do something:
Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal (D) has announced a new program for state employees to reward those who engage in healthy behavior, get regular medical checkups and take an active role in their own health. The voluntary Healthier WY program is designed to "educate, engage and empower busy adults and to create a culture of wellness that includes physical activity, good nutrition, annual physicals and smart daily health decisions." The Healthier WY program is open only to employees who participate in the State Employee Group Insurance plan, including employees of community colleges, the University of Wyoming and retirees but does not include family members.
Now I know the Governor is a D, but still, this is not a flaky liberal state. They must believe there's a help to their bottom line if they are going to pay for this. Think they're anything to it?
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Recalling Detroit's Finest
The Detroit bailout still has me flummoxed. Even as we read news that the recession is hitting auto dealers hard, with decreases in sales of perhaps 47 percent for the year, I cant help but think about how we got here. You have heard the well-worn arguments about why Detroit isnt competing with foreign producers. They include a failure to increase fuel efficiency standards and a resistance to development of hybrid and other alternative vehicles. And, the credit crisis in the financial markets is very important because it freezes money in the system, for consumers, dealers and suppliers alike. Those arguments all have some validity as far as I can tell, but they just dont add up to the kind of crash we are seeing.
This is a massive sector of the American economy deteriorating before our eyes. There is something else going on. I know I am just sitting here in the cornfields (gold mines, really, if you think about it!) throwing potshots at the carmakers, but here goes anyway.
I saw a GM exec from the big national auto show last week make the argument that GM was really changing because the Chevy Volt will be on storeroom floors in November 2010. Hello! Not even close to fast enough to save that company or the American segment of the industry.
It is the utter failure of corporate management to understand their surroundings, which eerily mirrors the failure of public management in the post-Iraq, post-Katrina era, that is at the root of the failure of the automakers.
Management in the business setting is about looking into the future of the market for your product and making decisions about what products or services to sell and how many people and resources are needed to do that. The movement of those levers up and down IS management. What else is there at the core of that job?
dont know why this isn't getting bigger play in the infamous MSM, but it is useful to remember the blockbuster business deal in late 2007 that sent Chrysler away from the German company Daimler, and back into the hands of Americans and Canadians at Cerberus Capital.
Who was the genius who looked into the future less than a year ago and said "Hey, you know what, we should sink vast sums of private money into an American automaker!!" Who spoke about the deal, pushed for it, and used all possible influence to make it happen, and is now asking the federal government for the most massive bailout of a manufacturing company in the history of the world?
That genius is Cerberus Global International(one of the company's units) Chairman, prominent Republican, and former Vice President Dan Quayle.
Ladies and gentlemen, the 2009 Chrysler Potatoe.
This is a massive sector of the American economy deteriorating before our eyes. There is something else going on. I know I am just sitting here in the cornfields (gold mines, really, if you think about it!) throwing potshots at the carmakers, but here goes anyway.
I saw a GM exec from the big national auto show last week make the argument that GM was really changing because the Chevy Volt will be on storeroom floors in November 2010. Hello! Not even close to fast enough to save that company or the American segment of the industry.
It is the utter failure of corporate management to understand their surroundings, which eerily mirrors the failure of public management in the post-Iraq, post-Katrina era, that is at the root of the failure of the automakers.
Management in the business setting is about looking into the future of the market for your product and making decisions about what products or services to sell and how many people and resources are needed to do that. The movement of those levers up and down IS management. What else is there at the core of that job?
dont know why this isn't getting bigger play in the infamous MSM, but it is useful to remember the blockbuster business deal in late 2007 that sent Chrysler away from the German company Daimler, and back into the hands of Americans and Canadians at Cerberus Capital.
Who was the genius who looked into the future less than a year ago and said "Hey, you know what, we should sink vast sums of private money into an American automaker!!" Who spoke about the deal, pushed for it, and used all possible influence to make it happen, and is now asking the federal government for the most massive bailout of a manufacturing company in the history of the world?
That genius is Cerberus Global International(one of the company's units) Chairman, prominent Republican, and former Vice President Dan Quayle.
Ladies and gentlemen, the 2009 Chrysler Potatoe.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Historic Day! First Retraction at Almost Blue!
A couple of weeks ago I wanted to establish that I liked and could say nice things about some Republicans in Iowa. I wrote this post about Rep. Kraig Paulsen of Hiawatha upon his election to run the Iowa House GOP caucus by his dwindling number of peers.
One of the things I said was:
Well it turns out if you are a Republican in Iowa these days you have a need to show toughness, take the gloves off, hit the Democrats hard, blah blah blah. Its all the old political nonsense people just got sick of and voted out.
Today, Paulsen indicates he has concerns First Lady Mari Culver is misusing her state patrol protection privileges. He has offered no authority to support his position, nor demonstrated an understanding of the purpose and function of the Executive Protection Unit. These patrol officers are dedicated people in a coveted position who operate for long hours every day to avoid threats, whether from crazy people or terrorists, on the First Family.
Paulsen's position, apparently, is if one of the First Kids is sick, hurt or the victim of, God forbid, an act of foul play, and their mother is away from Terrace Hill at the time, she should have to fend for herself to get back to them.
Phooey. The EPU is there to protect this family . . . and get used to it, there's a young family in the White House now too. Why do the Republicans glorify the nuclear family and then take potshots at any professional who's serious about both career and family? Why do we let them get away with it? Why is Kraig Paulsen jumping into that camp with both feet?
Disappointing doesnt begin to describe it. This is over the line and I dont care if he did have a point, which he doesnt, you dont come out of the box taking on the Governor's family. He just took himself out of meaningful budget negotiations in 2009 and showed himself to be in the pocket of the worst elements of his caucus.
Oh, Kraig, we hardly knew ye!
One of the things I said was:
If he's smart enough to pick two or three victories he wants for his caucus in this next legislative session and stick to them over all the other crap his members and constituency groups will want him to do, he could have some success.
Well it turns out if you are a Republican in Iowa these days you have a need to show toughness, take the gloves off, hit the Democrats hard, blah blah blah. Its all the old political nonsense people just got sick of and voted out.
Today, Paulsen indicates he has concerns First Lady Mari Culver is misusing her state patrol protection privileges. He has offered no authority to support his position, nor demonstrated an understanding of the purpose and function of the Executive Protection Unit. These patrol officers are dedicated people in a coveted position who operate for long hours every day to avoid threats, whether from crazy people or terrorists, on the First Family.
Paulsen's position, apparently, is if one of the First Kids is sick, hurt or the victim of, God forbid, an act of foul play, and their mother is away from Terrace Hill at the time, she should have to fend for herself to get back to them.
Phooey. The EPU is there to protect this family . . . and get used to it, there's a young family in the White House now too. Why do the Republicans glorify the nuclear family and then take potshots at any professional who's serious about both career and family? Why do we let them get away with it? Why is Kraig Paulsen jumping into that camp with both feet?
Disappointing doesnt begin to describe it. This is over the line and I dont care if he did have a point, which he doesnt, you dont come out of the box taking on the Governor's family. He just took himself out of meaningful budget negotiations in 2009 and showed himself to be in the pocket of the worst elements of his caucus.
Oh, Kraig, we hardly knew ye!
Ten Years up in Smoke
The Robert Wood Johnson foundation reminds us of the tenth anniversary this week of the Master Settlement Agreement in which state attorneys general (including Iowa's) agreed to settle pending lawsuits with the tobacco companies in exchange for significant payments into perpetuity.
Most of those payments were securitized, meaning the state took a "lump sum" up front to represent the future value of payments from the MSA.
Check out the results:
Kinda makes you wonder who won in this deal. Its still a huge amount of money paid out by the tobacco companies, but the vast majority are still in business, and the states are finding themselves with no money left and still having an obligation to treat sick smokers.
Policymakers in Iowa made the decision to securitize with open eyes in a tough budget cycle in the early part of this decade. It was a conservative Republican legislature that made the decision. For those new to politics, those used to be the ones who would watch taxpayer dollars closely. I wonder if anyone will have the guts now to tell people all the money's gone and we need more for cessation and treatment.
Most of those payments were securitized, meaning the state took a "lump sum" up front to represent the future value of payments from the MSA.
Check out the results:
In the last 10 years, the states have spent just 3.2 percent of their total tobacco-generated revenue on tobacco prevention and cessation programs. From Fiscal Year 2000 to the current Fiscal Year 2009, the states have received $203.5 billion in tobacco revenue – $79.2 billion from the tobacco settlement and $124.3 billion from tobacco taxes. During this time, the states have allocated $6.5 billion to tobacco prevention and cessation programs (states have utilized both tobacco settlement and tobacco tax revenues to fund tobacco prevention programs, and this report includes both sources of funding).
Kinda makes you wonder who won in this deal. Its still a huge amount of money paid out by the tobacco companies, but the vast majority are still in business, and the states are finding themselves with no money left and still having an obligation to treat sick smokers.
Policymakers in Iowa made the decision to securitize with open eyes in a tough budget cycle in the early part of this decade. It was a conservative Republican legislature that made the decision. For those new to politics, those used to be the ones who would watch taxpayer dollars closely. I wonder if anyone will have the guts now to tell people all the money's gone and we need more for cessation and treatment.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
