My mother is crazy

[Yzzim]

My mother is crazy, but sometimes that's what it takes to get things noticed.

Saturday morning at 6am my family, close friends and supporters met at our local courthouse steps. We met to start what has been in the works for 3+ months, involved many late nights and the help of many other people just as crazy as my mother.

That morning we kicked off what is to be the longest and most important walk of my mother's life - The Great HealthCare Walk. A 154 mile walk to the state capitol to talk with legislators about making healthcare for Minnesotans a consitutional right. Along the way she is building up support by having town meetings to discuss the topic, and have people sign a petition to get the amendment moving.

The idea first started 3 months ago when my grandmother was moving into a nursing home. Almost all of the money my grandmother gets from social security and veteran's benefits goes to covering her care. She ends up with about $75/month. Of that, just under $20 is taken out for her medical decutable and another $25 is taken out to have a telephone. She ends up with $30/month to buy anything the nursing home does not offer. With 6 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren, birthdays and christmas really deduct from that money quickly.

I work a full-time job and do not have any health insurance through work. My wife is going to school full-time (for nursing, no less) and is unable to get a part-time job. We pay $220/month for health insurance with a $1000 deductible. That is decent coverage for a fair price. However, we are both young. In 10 years we will be paying triple that, easily, for the same coverage.

Thus, my mother walks.

In her first day she put in 34 miles. Her second day was the same. Averaging 3.5 miles/hour she has made the trip by walking right at sunrise and arriving at her destination a little before sunset. Stopping for a break every couple hours to eat some protein bars and take the much needed bathroom breaks.

Her feet are blistered. Her ankle is getting more sore by the mile. Not that she will tell anyone in the press that, as it will take the focus off her goal.

This walk has gotten bigger and bigger each and every step she takes. First our local paper did an article on her. Once she started the walk it went state-wide.

KEYC-TV w/video

Manakto Free Press

St Paul Pioneer Press

Star Tribune

WCCO

(links may require subscription)

She was also live on WCCO Radio this morning. And again on KEYC-TV (w/video) today. There was also an excerpt in today's USA Today.

As she gets closer to the capitol more organizations are gaining interest. With the contacts we have come in touch with my neighbor and I are working on getting a couple well-known people to meet her at the capitol (a former Vice President?) but nothing is concrete.

This is not a walk in the park (pun intended) as she's walking just feet from vehicles traveling at 65+ MPH.

If you could please remember my mother in your prayers tonight it would be much appreciated.

 

[secretanchitman]

:Q

 

[MegaWorks]

At least she's doing it for a good cause, I guess.

 

[gotsmack]

what reform actions does your mother want to see happen?

I think the most important thing is to make health coverage more affordable for small businesses.

 

[everman]

Interesting. Is there a specific bill she is endorsing in support of this? What does she mean by "Constitutional Right"?
I remember there was a bill here in CA that would have made some healthcare requirements for businesses, that sort of thing would have bankrupt them if they didn't move to another state if it passed.

 

[aidanjm]

Best wishes to her, hope she is successful in her campaign.

EDIT: be a loving son, and offer to massage her poor aching feet after the walk.

 

[Rage187]

The only people who should get free health care are children under 21, and food service workers.

 

[PHiuR]

good for her!
it's dangerous walking on the highway.

 

[minendo]

Props to your mom.

 

[Feldenak]

I hope she stays safe but I hope the goal of her walk fails miserably. Healthcare is not a right nor should it be considered one.

/P&N

 

[isasir]

Good luck to her.

 

[Queasy]

Originally posted by: Rage187
The only people who should get free health care are children under 21, and food service workers.

No such thing as "free" health care which is why it shouldn't be considered a "right". Something would have to be taken from someone else.

Yzzim, I hope your mother makes it through her trip ok.

 

[Acanthus]

I think medical costs are more of the problem than the insurance itself.

The cost is so high because of the rediculous costs associated with hospitals.

A trip to the emergency room often exceeds $500 for minor things, if youre seriously hurt youre talking a lifetimes income. The same care in another country is a fraction of the cost across the board.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: Acanthus
I think medical costs are more of the problem than the insurance itself.

The cost is so high because of the rediculous costs associated with hospitals.

A trip to the emergency room often exceeds $500 for minor things, if youre seriously hurt youre talking a lifetimes income. The same care in another country is a fraction of the cost across the board.

Part of the problem are the high malpractice premiums that doctors have to pay. Part of the high medical costs have been brought on by society and malpractice suits.

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: everman
Interesting. Is there a specific bill she is endorsing in support of this? What does she mean by "Constitutional Right"?
I remember there was a bill here in CA that would have made some healthcare requirements for businesses, that sort of thing would have bankrupt them if they didn't move to another state if it passed.

She is backing a bill to make healthcare a constitutional right. From what I understand it gives the state legislators 2 years to come up with a plan to insure that every minnesotan can have affordable healthcare coverage.

The only people who should get free health care are children under 21, and food service workers.

She is not backing free (you mean universal?) healthcare.


The healthcare in our state (and country for that matter) is becoming more and more of a problem. She does not have the answers to these problems. To quote her "If I had the answer to this problem I wouldn't be walking to the capitol, I would be running -- running for office"

 

[aidanjm]

BTW I am in agreement with your mother, yes OF COURSE health care should be a right. Fortunately I live in Australia, where you don't really need private health insurance, as the public health care system is excellent. I am amazed that you people in America seem to think that health care is some kind of luxury, only available to those that can afford it. My own view is that in a civilised society, health care is made available to all (even those with no money and no job).

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: aidanjm
BTW I am in agreement with your mother, yes OF COURSE health care should be a right. Fortunately I live in Australia, where you don't really need private health insurance, as the public health care system is excellent. I am amazed that you people in America seem to think that health care is some kind of luxury, only available to those that can afford it. My own view is that in a civilised society, health care is made available to all (even those with no money and no job).

If you can't get a job with medical insurance why is that my problem?

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: Feldenak

Originally posted by: Acanthus
I think medical costs are more of the problem than the insurance itself.

The cost is so high because of the rediculous costs associated with hospitals.

A trip to the emergency room often exceeds $500 for minor things, if youre seriously hurt youre talking a lifetimes income. The same care in another country is a fraction of the cost across the board.

Part of the problem are the high malpractice premiums that doctors have to pay. Part of the high medical costs have been brought on by society and malpractice suits.

I brought that up and one of our meetings and everyone agreed that problem does need to be addressed. There is not a single solution to this problem. There is no one way to fix it. It's going to take both sides to come together and get this thing to work.

 

[gotsmack]

I am against making healthcare a constitutional right. This isn't Canada, where they have crappy health care for the really serious cases.

but I would be for a plan tha gives free basic health for all citizens under 18

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: Feldenak
I hope she stays safe but I hope the goal of her walk fails miserably. Healthcare is not a right nor should it be considered one.

/P&N

I can't even begin to fathom the DEPRAVITY that would lead someone to advocate the above viewpoint. You represent everything that is morally sick and diseased in the USA today, imo.

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: Yzzim

Originally posted by: Feldenak

Originally posted by: Acanthus
I think medical costs are more of the problem than the insurance itself.

The cost is so high because of the rediculous costs associated with hospitals.

A trip to the emergency room often exceeds $500 for minor things, if youre seriously hurt youre talking a lifetimes income. The same care in another country is a fraction of the cost across the board.

Part of the problem are the high malpractice premiums that doctors have to pay. Part of the high medical costs have been brought on by society and malpractice suits.

I brought that up and one of our meetings and everyone agreed that problem does need to be addressed. There is not a single solution to this problem. There is no one way to fix it. It's going to take both sides to come together and get this thing to work.

So the solution is to walk/run to the gov't and force the taxpayers to foot the bill?

 

[Feldenak]

Originally posted by: aidanjm

Originally posted by: Feldenak
I hope she stays safe but I hope the goal of her walk fails miserably. Healthcare is not a right nor should it be considered one.

/P&N

I can't even begin to fathom the DEPRAVITY that would lead someone to advocate the above viewpoint. You represent everything that is morally sick and diseased in the USA today, imo.

Yeah, Goddamn me to hell for not wanting to increase my tax burden and foot the bill for other people's medical bills.

 

[her209]

Do healthier citizens make more productive workers?

 

[gotsmack]

Originally posted by: aidanjm

Originally posted by: Feldenak
I hope she stays safe but I hope the goal of her walk fails miserably. Healthcare is not a right nor should it be considered one.

/P&N

I can't even begin to fathom the DEPRAVITY that would lead someone to advocate the above viewpoint. You represent everything that is morally sick and diseased in the USA today, imo.

people only deserve the health care they can pay for. this country was created on the premise that it's citizens would be able to enjoy freedoms of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, NOT free health care.

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: Feldenak

Originally posted by: aidanjm
BTW I am in agreement with your mother, yes OF COURSE health care should be a right. Fortunately I live in Australia, where you don't really need private health insurance, as the public health care system is excellent. I am amazed that you people in America seem to think that health care is some kind of luxury, only available to those that can afford it. My own view is that in a civilised society, health care is made available to all (even those with no money and no job).

If you can't get a job with medical insurance why is that my problem?

It's not about you. It's about what a civilised society decides is appropriate or desirable. It's only a matter of time before you get a socialised medicine in the usa.