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Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013
The Journal
OPINION
VIRGINIA VIEWPOINTS
Christmas 1914: When the shooting stopped Ninety-nine years ago this Christmas soldiers of the British, French, and Belgian Armies were facing each other across no man’s land. It was first year of World War One and the beginning of a long period of trench warfare that would last four more years. Already, since David S. Kerr the war began in August, as many as a million had already died.
Leadership was in question, and more than a few soldiers, on both sides of no man’s land, that minimal stretch of territory between the lines, wondered if it was all worth it. In the long term, for the cause of the Allies, it probably was, but right at that moment, in the midst of battle, it wasn’t fighting that broke out, but rather it was Christmas. Along the line, which ran for hundreds of miles, British, French and Belgian soldiers faced their German enemy with sometimes just a hundred yards between them. It was on Christmas Eve 1914 that British soldiers noticed lights coming from the German lines. At
Op-Ed
The “You” in universal healthcare
Arlene jacovelli One of the first notable instances of universal healthcare is recorded in the Bible (Numbers 21:4-9), when Moses, at God’s command, brandished a rod with a brass serpent on it to cure snakebites from fiery serpents running amok in the camp. This rod, with a single snake twined about it, is known in Greek culture as the “Rod of Asclepius,” symbolizing the science of the healing arts. Ironically, the rod with two snakes entwined is “Caduceus,” which symbolizes commerce, theft, deception and death, and is commonly used by commercial medical ventures and government agencies, including the U.S. Army Medical Corp. Nearly 70% of all medical associations (professional and not-for-profit) use the Rod of Asclepius, whereas 76% of commercial healthcare organizations use the Caduceus symbol. This muddled depiction of life and death symbols ironically serves as a perfect analogy of the chaos consumers are experiencing as the government attempts to “play God” by attempting to provide universal healthcare. So which of those symbols truly symbolizes trustworthy healthcare? Which business model will best deliver medical care? Regionally, as if to underline in red the conflict playing out nationally, both King George Urgent Care and Primary Care went belly-up. However, in every obstacle there is always an opportunity, and so with intention and purpose, like-minded individuals in the community have come together to be masters of our medical fate by forming 24/7 TLC Community Care Clinic. Its motto, “Innovative health & wellness for all,” aptly describes its vision. I cannot speak for my fellow difference-makers, but my passion to bring innovative, entrepreneurial medical solutions to our community is born from painful personal medical experiences. Early childhood exposure to the 100% certainty of government bungling in management matters, specifically the affairs of Native Americans dependent upon the Bureau of Indian Affairs, left me deeply suspicious of the “Great White Father” in Washington, D.C. It is why Native American tribes are winning suit after suit for the gross mismanagement of their funds and fates. It bothers me greatly when you see people figuratively running out into the street, when you know from personal experience it does not end well. Watching people clamoring to be consigned to the “reservation” under the “paternal” care of the government hurts my heart. Nowhere in history and nowhere in the future does this ever function to the benefit of the individual. The physical pain I experienced as a child (growing up in a culture where western medicine and doctors were shunned, except in the most extreme case) left an unusual appreciation for cutting-edge modern medicine. It is with gratefulness that I take advantage of all that western medicine has to offer, when I am, or my children are sick. As the original “I dare you to do that” kid, not a day goes by that it does not strike me as a wonderful luxury to have medical care after the pain suffered as a child in that culture. Conversely, it also cultivated a sincere respect for the many alternative, effective therapies available outside of strictly western medicine disciplines. Balance and constant integration of the best practices is critical to treating
people. Other indelible lasting impressions came from medical events in my life, including an older son who had aged-off our insurance policy, but was then in a terrible dune buggy accident. For nearly three years, we battled Medicaid to obtain even sub-adequate services until he died of complications. Oddly, his struggle paralleled my husband’s death battle with serious medical issues. The hurt of watching a father call from his near-deathbed to his son’s deathbed in another state cannot be described. The quality of medical care is only part of the picture. Medical events cost families in a myriad of ways, even with direct medical coverage. The death of Michael Jr. found us broke, demoralized and deeply disillusioned with government-run medical systems. I’m in my fifties now and have had the misfortune of being a victim in eight car accidents over my lifespan, yet have never caused one myself. While it certainly was not funny at the time, I now reel off amusing stories: about the guy- high on drugs, in a stolen car, with a suspended driver’s license, who plowed into me while I was stopped at a red light; or once, while working in Europe, we drove through an intersection and were T-boned by an idiot running the red light; or on another occasion, up in Snowmass, a Canadian hockey player on the lam, living under an alias and driving someone else’s rental car slammed into me. The stories are colorful, but it is never pleasant to wake up in the hospital after an accident, but especially in a foreign country! I’ve been a “Jane Doe,” and I know all I never wanted to know about battling car insurance companies, including your own. In short, you never want to ride in my car. These devastating medical events have cost me businesses I’ve built, and even led to bankruptcy. None of us can comprehend the devastation that can follow debilitating medical events. So why am I not a fan of government-run universal healthcare? Many people visualize military care when they think of government care, and I’m the first to thank God every day for the military care my husband’s service has provided. But sadly, what you find out is that any government care leads to many brick walls. To cover the many and the usual, you must limit, dissuade and ration the unusual. While my car accidents left me with permanent injuries, family genetics did me no favors either, along with contracting Lyme disease from a penchant for outdoor life. While I can understand some of the obscure issues being missed, it was the Lyme disease that really shows you how just
The
first no one knew what to make of it and then it became apparent that these were little Christmas trees. The German soldiers had mounted them on the heights of their trenches. A few hours later there was singing. As was noted in one letter home, the song was in German but it was instantly recognizable as “Silent Night.” The effect of this gentle little hymn wafting across the stillness of the frozen battlefield was too much to resist and soon the British soldiers joined in. The phenomena occurred all up and down the Allied line. And while it seemed most prominent in the British Sector, French and Belgian soldiers
being a number in the production line of government healthcare can kill you. Five different military doctors at various practices, despite the fact I was nearly bedridden, missed my Lyme disease. Their “go to” answer is to prescribe virtual pharmacies of drugs that will kill you faster than the malady. Prescriptions for my various medical disabilities and conditions cost you, the taxpayer, over $1000 a month, yet I paid nearly $300 a month out of my own pocket. Over the past several years, we have spent over $40,000 out-of-pocket in medical care, which Tricare did not cover, but I vitally required. My life is literally owed to entrepreneurial medical practices and labs operating out in the free enterprise system. If my personal medical battles were not enough to convince me to avoid government-run business models, I have 30 years of volunteering or working in outreach ministries, including some thirteen years of running offender re-entry services for mentally challenged or substance addicted veterans, foster youths and adults gone astray. It is impossible to convey to you the many faces that come to my mind where we’ve haggled, advocated and patched together medical resources for these individuals. At the end of the day, the best care and the actual solutions came from entrepreneurial faith-based medical clinics, not the government-run resources. The lifestyle choices of drug addicts and felons cost the medical system dearly. You do not want someone with my medical history or anyone with a high-risk lifestyle in your risk pool. You won’t get services, and neither will we. My brother, his four children and their children live in Canada. Do you, the average American, know how many medical services Canadians come to the States to receive and pay cash for? Hint: it’s a lot. Medical tourism is huge business for Border States.
Journal
also reported similar occurrences. But there was more than just singing. Soon, with various junior officers meeting somewhere in the middle, there were truces. These weren’t sanctioned by higher headquarters, but for days, in whole segments of the line, the shooting stopped. Halts in the fighting have occurred in other wars at Christmastime. But this was the first truly modern warn and it happened spontaneously along one of the longest battlefronts in human history. And, to the dismay of the generals on both sides some of these truces lasted well beyond Christmas. There was even a report of an impromptu soccer match
Our family transferred from San Diego. Do you, the average American, know how many businesses have contracted with Mexican-based services just across the border for their employees’ health and dental plans? Or how many seniors regularly cross the border for services down South? Hint: A lot. Do you, the average American, know the number of people travelling to India for health services, including major surgeries? Hint: A lot. This was all happening before the implementation of the new healthcare laws. Logistically, it will not get better or improve. It is this spectrum of knowledge that informs my rigorous advocacy for faith-based, practical, resultsoriented solutions. True compassion is genuinely and authentically bringing superior solutions to citizens at the best price possible. Poor business models yield inferior products and services to the most vulnerable in our communities. As a community, we can break the paradigm. As a community, we have the opportunity to create and build amazing solutions to our needs. By launching the 24/7 TLC Community Care Clinic model, we are taking our medical horror stories, our hearts of compassion and our skills to create real solutions for our community. All of us have an amazing opportunity to be successful problem-solvers, difference-makers and legacy-builders by implementing this hybrid medical service delivery model, featuring best practices and dynamic business innovations. Not only is it possible to accept all insurances, it is possible to offer direct pay subscription services, all while organically offering the uninsured, low-income individuals a route to quality health services. Join us, as we place the “You” back in Universal Healthcare. Arlene Jacovelli
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between the Germans and the British in no-man’s land. There isn’t much record of the Christmas truces of 1914. Neither side was anxious to publish reports of spontaneous peace breaking out. After all, this was war. Nonetheless, references to the truce pop up in old letters and histories written long after the event.
ARIES - Mar 21/Apr 20 Aries, handle some unfinished business and establish clear priorities. Otherwise, you may turn what could be a productive week into something frustrating. TAURUS - Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, when you wear your heart on your sleeve for everyone to see, you cannot be shy about expressing your emotions. Friends may be skeptical of you though. GEMINI - May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, don’t be shy about sharing unique plans with your loved ones. The support of friends and family members will only restore your confidence in this new direction. CANCER - Jun 22/Jul 22 Expect your ideas to take shape over the next couple of days, Cancer. Concrete plans will materialize as you begin to pull thoughts from your imagination. The results will be unique.
Both the Allied and German generals had no tolerance for these Christmas truces and as soon as word began to reach higher headquarters of this unsanctioned peacemaking orders went out declaring that any further such truces wouldn’t be tolerated. But, for a little while, a long time ago, it was Christmas and not the war that won the day.
talk about future possibilities. LIBRA - Sept 23/Oct 23 Decoding all of the mixed signals coming your way won’t be easy, Libra. The only thing you can do for the moment is to take each signal one at a time. SCORPIO - Oct 24/Nov 22 Scorpio, you are not in the mood to play games, so you will want to push your romantic relationship to the next level. You will have no problem leading the way. SAGITTARIUS - Nov 23/Dec 21 Opportunities to address your physical well-being present themselves this week, Sagittarius. Make the most of these opportunities to make a significant change. CAPRICORN - Dec 22/Jan 20 Capricorn, you will ride a creative wave for the next several days. Inspiration will strike when you least expect it. You should have some time for play.
LEO - Jul 23/Aug 23 You probably are not interested in inching along this week, Leo. Though it’s good to attack a project with gusto, don’t rush so much that you make mistakes.
AQUARIUS - Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, expect some support from family members and close friends. Receive their generosity as warmly as you can, even if you’re feeling a bit smothered.
VIRGO - Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, you are quite comfortable sharing your thoughts now that you have gotten some things worked out. It’s now much easier to
PISCES - Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, it can be easy to get swept away by other people’s agendas when you attempt to lend a helping hand. Do your best to pitch in.
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
4. Bolivian savanna 5. Open air performing for love 6. No matter what or which 7. Religious degree 8. Lower limb 9. Prefix meaning inside 10. Crust covering a wound 12. Assail repeatedly 13. Samoyedic (alt. sp.) 16. Damascus is the capital 17. Peeps (Scot.) 20. Transaction 22. Touchdown 25. Associated press 26. An opening between things 27. Increasing 29. Cologne 31. Ethiopia (abbr.) 34. A 24-hour period 36. Kitty sound 37. Prefatory discourse 38. -frutti 40. Biblical Sumerian city 43. Criticize harshly 45. 25th state 48. Comedian Carvey 50. A wild disturbance 51. Pueblo American Indians 53. 9-banded armadillo 54. Arbitrageurs 55. Thai language of Khammouane 57. Atomic #105 CLUES DOWN 58. 1st weekday (abbr.) 1. Box top 59. Fleur-de-___ 2. Small integers 61. The 7th tone 3. Mild yellow Dutch cheese See classified page for answers
CLUES ACROSS 1. Leopold’s partner in crime 5. Black furs 11. Truman’s hometown 14. Dean residence 15. Chief Polish port 18. Grin 19. Complied with 21. Explosive 23. Perennial woody plant 24. Expression 28. Small Japanese deer 29. Denotes past 30. Bullfighting maneuver 32. Deaf signing language 33. Assistance 35. What part of (abbr.) 36. Parts per thousand (abbr.) 39. Two-toed sloth 41. Exclamation of surprise 42. Extinct European ox 44. Moving in a circle 46. College army 47. Radioactivity unit 49. Give a quick reply 52. Spanish appetizers 56. Environment 58. Gold, quartz or iron 60. Fellowes’ Masterpiece series 62. Old style recording 63. Questions