I had to watch this health mess we have further destroy my youngest son's life today...

[winyanstaz]

He is a good man. He worked hard but was downsized.
He has sold almost everything he owns to keep up his DOUBLE child support payments..on his child whom he was never told about until after she was almost nine years old..and so he had to make double payments.
He made the payments but the family had to step in to give him a place to live so he could make such big payments (he no longer had that high paying job by then).....and the mom took his daughter so far away to live before he had a chance to stop her that he cannot even see her.
He was happy to have a daughter. He wept with joy when he found out he had a child and he tried hard to be all he could for her.
The state is also now after his driver's license because he can no longer keep up his child support.
He has a chance to get it lowered a little but not for another 6 months.
Who the hell came up with that idea should be beaten twice a day in the town square.
How can parents find jobs or get to work if they take their driver's licenses? Doesn't that make it even harder in an already tough time?

Now today he got a bill from the hospital emergency ward. A week or so ago he was in major pain so I took him to the emergency ward..he was passing out from the shock of the pain when we got there in the nick of time..but todays bill almost made him pass out again.
$4,000.00 for a scan, some glucose and a prescription. The doctor was with him for less than ten minutes.
He had a large kidney stone passing...and two more that could pass at any time..(or not..is a wait and see thing).
He is doing everything he should be doing.
Looking for work every day...there are no jobs here. Still he is pounding the pavement, selling everything he owns.
Decent and law abiding Americans that work hard and try to do the right thing shouldn't be kicked in the teeth over and over again by this system we have.
I had to turn away because I couldn't bear to see the look on his face or feel his pain and despair. I am keeping a close eye on him..I hope he doesnt do anything desperate. He just seemed so broken and I have never seen him like this.
It's just not right for someone as decent as he is and who tries so damned hard to do the right thing to have to go through this.
Where the hell are the jobs?
Where the hell is a decent health care for Americans?
I cannot help him on my widow's pension...this breaks my heart.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I wish I had some good words of comfort, or advice...

How horrifying.

All my best to him, and you, during this time of trial...

:hug:

[winyanstaz]

2. ty peggy...I just had to vent.

Its hard for parents even when their kids are grown to see them suffering.
I know I am not the only parent in the States today feeling this way.
thank you for your kind words.

[GreenPartyVoter]

3. I am so sorry. :^( I hope he feels better and that things turn around real soon.

[Goldstein1984]

4. I've watched similar suffering with one of my sons when he was

outside of Alaska in Seattle.

Here's the irony. My son is 1/4 Alaska Native (Inupiat/Inuit). In Seattle he is uninsured like everybody else in his financial situation. Inside Alaska, all his medical coverage is free--all of it--from band-aid to heart surgery--free.

We have socialized medicine in this country. It works well. But it only goes to a select few.

My wife, who is 1/2 Inupiat, makes all of her medical decisions based on her health. When I make a medical decision, there is a huge economic component. We both have bronchitis and pneumonia right now--latent effects of bouts with H1N1. She is on antibiotics and an inhaler, because her care is free. My doctor charges $300 for an office visit, so I'm just taking over-the-counter medications.

I hope your son makes it through this mess. I hope the nation makes it through this mess.

My best wishes to your family.

[Broken_Hero]

5. IHS for your son

its a matter of trying to find an IHS clinic they will accept the tribe that your son is. I lucked out, and Cherokee Nation covers Haida's(which I am).

It was a very hard decision for me to move to SW MO because of the IHS situation, in my hometown our IHS is really close, and run very well(it use to be utter hell), and in this area(SW MO) I wasn't sure how good it would be, and so far, its...well, the usual for IHS, but at least I'm covered.

In a way I think the PTB use IHS to keep Indians in certain area's of the country. For example, my wife's aunt who is Cherokee, and lives in Missouri was denied a surgery because she lived outside of Oklahoma. Its like the minute you cross a state line you all of a sudden lose your "Heritage."

With my own tribe, they treat me the same way, I'm Haida from SE Alaska, and since I'm of state its like, well there goes another one, bye, see you later! If I applied for any kind of help from my tribe I wouldn't receive any because of course, I live out of state.

[Goldstein1984]

7. What makes me angry is that free medical care really isn't

part of any Native heritage. It comes from the "ward of the state" philosophy.

Why are some, as Orwell wrote, "more equal than others"?

Everybody should have the kind of medical care my wife and children receive. Look at what the lack of it has done to this person's son's life.

My wife often jokes, "My people have been coming to the Alaska Native Medical Center since time immemorial."

I'm actually 1/4 Cherokee, but my great grandfather refused to participate in some census at the end of the 19th century, so it's unofficial. I'm also supposed to be rich, and all I have to do to claim my rightful place in the family aristocracy is move to Germany and adopt the German family name, Schuchtermann.

Heredity is funny.

But the status of health care in this country is not. I feel for the family in this OP.

[Broken_Hero]

10. I believe that everyone

should have Universal Health care, or something very similar. I joke with my wife at times and state that my plan on getting everyone health care would be for everyone to claim Cherokee lineage and IHS for everyone. :)

I know at times I rag on IHS, but I thank the PTB that I have it to rely on, and I can't wait for the USA to adopt an across the board health care for everyone, and it appears that a very large amount of Americans want the same. It just amazes me how much energy is put into the thought of "money" and what it can turn people/companies into.

I lost a friend of mine last Sept because of money, he got care from both the VA and IHS but because of money he didn't get the "proper" care he needed, and was left to die, and did. Its a mad world out there...

[Goldstein1984]

14. Agreed - 100%

Until then, how many more people are dying from the the neglect induced by a for-profit health care system than are dying at the hands of "terrorists"?

[lbrtbell]

15. I tried explaining that to a Republican friend

It goes in one ear and out the other, because they're just cowards who see terrorists lurking around every corner. This guy is pushing 60, is too cheap to get medical insurance, and will soon face the reality of health care in America, as soon as his health starts to fail.

And I'm going to be the first to say, "I told you so."

[liberation]

36. Let's stop hoping and let's stop showing them we are not going to take it anymore

We need to come to terms that our society has degenerated (not that it was that much better in the old days, but the past is always viewed with rose hues...) to the point that it resembles a sociopath's wet dream.

If enough people decide they have had enough, to say f*ck it and go into a national strike. Let the filthy rich make all that money on their own, because there is one thing we know is that they are not going to help us one bit. Why the f*ck are we wasting our lives to make them richer?

A country which uses, chews and spits out its citizens with such abandon is not worthy of such undivided loyalty.


Seriously, can anyone tell me what the f*ck is the whole point of this? If a significant amount of people are simply going to get used and abused? They don't even allow us to cope with this crap by allowing people to do whatever they want with their bodies. It seems as if not only they want to make us miserable, but they want to avoid any sort of breather.


This is nuts... people losing their homes, broken families, 3 jobs just to make ends meet, our disease is a source of profit, education is a privilege, one of the most insane (if not the biggest) economic divide in our nation's history, infrastructure is crumbling, some people's only exit is to die or kill people in a hell hole half a world away dishing misery and pain against people who never did anything to us and who at a basic level want the same sh*t we want, and on and on and on. And all this suffering is just so that a few selected assholes don't have to pay their fair share and get to buy yet another vacation home in another tax heaven.

Meanwhile, whatever passes for the left in this country is too busy singing kumbaya and putting forth their best interpretative dances on the subject. A bunch of spoiled dolts who are more interested in wether or not they are having fun with their "activism" than wether or not they have concrete results. Coffee shop liberals, whose only care in the world is making sure no one could ever be offende, because at the end of the day they are too f*cking cowardly and non committed to do what it takes: and trust me, a sheep can't stop the slaughter by being nice to the wolves.

I am sorry to be so pissed. But I see similar situations, we just had to house my wife's cousin because she literally had no place left to go but the street. What the f*ck is wrong with us, with this place?

[Melinda]

51. Your rant (response) deserves it's own thread... I too wonder where our tipping point is.

It has to rest with the young... I'm too tired to be promote and engage in anarchy anymore, hell I still have scars from the 60's that have never healed. Righteous rant; thanks.

[winyanstaz]

40. Thank you very much...

I am amazed at all the kindness people are showing.

[Broken_Hero]

6. I'm so sorry to hear about

your son's situation, it appears to be a very common one, shared by many.

My best wishes to you, and your family. :hug:

[pnwmom]

8. Tell him to write a letter to the hospital

telling them exactly how bad his financial picture is right now. I know a woman who did that (with details) and the hospital forgave the $5,000 bill.

It's worth a shot.

[a la izquierda]

38. I was going to suggest the same thing.

My best friend shattered her ankle. As grad students, we have some health coverage, but it was not nearly enough to cover the surgery she needed to walk again. The hospital forgave all but about $500 of a $15000 surgery.

[aquart]

9. Send this to your Senator, your Congressman, your President, and your newspaper.

Silence is consent. Never suffer in silence. And never suffer alone.

--family motto.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

25. I absolutely endorse this!

Say nothing, nothing changes.

Speak out, even if your voice shakes.

When you speak up, think of the many people you are speaking for.

It just feels a HELL of a lot better to DO something, rather than be a nice quiet doormat.

I haven't been able to change everything I've spoken up about over the years, but I HAVE changed some...quite a few, actually. Some, small issues but some pretty sort of kind of big.

[renate]

11. as a mother I am ACHING for you

As badly as your son is suffering, I'm sure that seeing your child suffering is literally like a knife in your heart. And he sounds like such a good person, too, someone who wants so badly to do the right thing and has tried so hard to stay above water... I am so sorry. :hug::cry:

I hope that you can work something out with the hospital. Please don't let the first "no" response be the final word... take your case higher and higher up if you need to, call the local TV news if you need to, because he sounds like a very appealing guy and public sentiment would go his way if this got any publicity.

I just hate to hear this. The economy has kicked so many of us in the teeth that it almost seems normal by now, but when you hear a story like this it's just impossible to describe how painful and unfair it all is.

:grouphug:

I will be praying for your son and everyone who reads your post here will be moved and will keep him in their thoughts. I know it's not much, but you and he are not going through this without love and support.

[proteus_lives]

12. Sucks about his kids.

Woman doesn't tell him about the kid until she needs money. I bet it happens all the time.

[The Doctor.]

13. You have to understand... he's a man, and therefore already guilty.

The system is calibrated to always treat the woman like his victim. No matter what, no matter who he is, no matter how good a father he is, no matter how hard he tries... he WILL be punished for the crime of having a child by a woman that wants nothing to do with him.

Can you tell I've seen this first-hand?

The injustice that good men suffer at the hands of pernicious females wielding the court system is unbelievable... but it happens every day.

Here's the good news (for your son); Women like that seldom have good relationships with their children. As the children grow up, the inherent selfishness of such women becomes anathema to them. Eventually, they seek out their other parent.

I have been through similar things, and am going through such a hell right now, but I have a great deal of understanding and I know how things will likely turn out if I merely focus on keeping my feet below me. Eventually, the children, as with my older son, will wind up living with me.

The same will happen with your son.

Meanwhile, If she is collecting support, he gets access, and in most states, one parent cannot remove the child from the state without the other parent's or the court's permission.

He should go straight to family court in his county and file a pettition. Consult an attorney as well.



I wish him the best of luck. Tell him he's not alone.

[deek]

18. Overgeneralization

"The system is calibrated to always treat the woman like his victim. No matter what, no matter who he is, no matter how good a father he is, no matter how hard he tries... he WILL be punished for the crime of having a child by a woman that wants nothing to do with him.

Can you tell I've seen this first-hand?

The injustice that good men suffer at the hands of pernicious females wielding the court system is unbelievable... but it happens every day."

While that may be true in your case, it is not in mine nor in many other women's situations.

[The Doctor.]

19. That's what they all say.

(JK) :p

Seriously; I'm quite aware that women often get a raw deal too, so you're right; speaking in absolutes is seldom correct.


Let me ask you this; If a guy left his marriage for a very rich woman he liked to do coke with, lied about his wife to justify it, perjured himself in court in order to gain a favorable judgment, lied to the law guardian to get custody of her kids at his girlfriend's house, and even managed to force her to pay for his attorney through similar perjurious motions. And all that while she managed to keep and maintain the home where the children grew up, was able to care for them, asked for fair visitation for the father but lost custody anyhow, and even after expressing concerns to the law guardian about his and his girlfriend's drug habits....

Who would you feel got the raw end?

[Tumbulu]

68. This is not true for me and many other single moms

who have to take care of our children 100%, get no child support and little help from our children's fathers.

Kind people get walked on. The more you love and try to protect your child, the more it costs you. Man or woman, it is the aggressive bully who wins in our capitalist system and this can be the father or the mother. But the mother is expected by society to take care of the child 100% and fathers seem to be expected to come up with money to pay for maybe 1/3 of the actual expenses of rearing a child.

Everyone feels put upon and nothing is at all fair.

[The Doctor.]

71. Precisely;

"the mother is expected by society to take care of the child 100% and fathers seem to be expected to come up with money to pay for maybe 1/3 of the actual expenses of rearing a child"

It is because of these 'assigned roles' that fathers who want to be with their children are stripped of them unfairly and forced to 'fork over' when they'd rather have their children be a greater part of their lives.

In executing this paradigm, the men are treated as pariahs, not fit for parenthood, while the mother is given all deference as a parent.

The flip side of this is that fathers who don't care make it virtually impossible for the mother to get help. The system compensates by treating all men like deadbeats, and good dads get shit on while the bad ones don't give a shit.


Do you see?


FWIW; My ex is a coke-head who abandoned her marriage for a multi-millionaire. She won custody by lying through her teeth, and is trying her best to destroy my life for no other reason than pernicious, unjustified spite.

That holds up to your 'bully' theory.

[winyanstaz]

16. Thank you all for your kind words and advice...

I was in tears when I wrote this but I am now just angry and I will do all I can.
I have a full-blood Mi'kmaq (sometimes it is spelled Micmac) grandmother on my fathers side and a matis grandfather on my father's side but the family thought my father could pass for white so he was not registered.
My older sister is trying to find all the things to get us registered but we are not there yet.
For one thing our grandmother and grandfather and father all died long ago and we cannot find her grave or her birth records if any. Her name was only put down as meaning Indian "From the woods". which is the case in many native births back then.
So that doesnt help me or my son now.
However I will try the other things suggested.
I know we are not the only family hurting this way and I also know he would probably be mad at me for even writing about this..but at the time...I just didnt know what else to do.
I am glad I did however as there are some good suggestions there.
Thank you all very much.

[Broken_Hero]

17. ........

:hug:

[dgibby]

26. Are you a member of the DU genealogy group?

They can probably help you with your research. Also, many of the on line genealogy groups are great, especially Ancestry.com and Rootsweb.com. I'm a member of both, and am willing to help you research your family if you want me to. Good luck to you and your son.:hug:

[winyanstaz]

39. thank you very much for your offer...

My older sister does genealogy for the Mormon Church. I think she has looked there but I will ask her.
Thank you for your kindness

[Aimee in OKC]

63. A few genealogy resources ...

A good starting point:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mi'kmaq

*******
Micmac culture and history:

http://www.native-languages.org/mikmaq_culture.htm

http://www.dickshovel.com/mic.html

http://www.angelfire.com/tx/carolynegenealogy/page11genealogy.html

*******
Ancestry.com's Micmac message board:

http://boards.ancestry.com/topics.ethnic.natam.nations.mikmaq.mikmaqnat/mb.ashx?dc=50

Another site:

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/queries/results.php?tribe=Micmac

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/index.htm

*******
http://www.findagrave.com/

[Juche]

20. I don't know what to tell you

I really don't. A lot of us are trying to do the right thing and we are getting screwed royally on endless fronts. I bet your son is getting predatory offers from credit card companies during these harsh times. And even if he had health insurance, the company would've looked for a technicality to rescind his policy once he used it. Its becoming more and more obvious that we are a plutocracy and that the system is rigged by the wealthy and powerful.

I don't know what the long term effects are, but how can you have a functioning system where huge numbers know the game is rigged? What is going to happen if we feel that efforts to change the system via the democratic system fall on deaf ears?

I hope something constructive eventually comes out of all this pain, hopelessness, despair and rage people are feeling.

[Vinca]

21. I'm so sorry for his situation.

Sometimes it feels as if we're just trash thrown to the side of the road. It shouldn't be this way in the United States of America.

[Tippy]

22. winyanstaz

My heart goes out to you as bleak as it is right now there are some things your son can do. First and formost he needs medical care. I am speaking from experience. Look for a Hospital in your area that is owened by the county or state you live in. They are out there, they will take patients who can not afford to payor pay less. Go to the ER, they have to treat your son. Look for Free/Sliding Fee clinics in your area we have them in our State/County...then there is always your Health Department. You pay according to what you make. I have kidney stones too, and without the help of a Clinic I, really don't know where I woud be today. Eventualy I was told the next time I had an attack to head for the ER at a large teaching hospital in our area, I was a poor canididate for surgery. I am still having kidney problems because of the massive infections, and our finances have improved a little and I got on Medicare. I am still being treated by the hospital who did the surgery, and our local clinic.

Now about your son's Child Support...If your son can pay even a little and keep up those payments and show the Child Support Offiec is is really trying, they may work with him, after all the Courts and Child Support know it's much better to be getting something then nothing. Tell him to contact the Child support office to see if he can work out something with them. If he is lucky to find a smypathetic person, I know of one person who hit bad times explained the situation to the CS officer and when the papers came from the court telling this person was bing arrested for non payment, as soon as the court learned Child Support was working with this person the court was satisfied.

I hope this helps somewhat, I've been there. My best to you and your son will keep you both in my prayers. Tippy

[winyanstaz]

41. Thank you Tippy....

Yes he got right on it and is working with the collections agency..thing is they are saying even with no job he has to make at least a hundred dollar payment a month or lose his license.
So far he has been able to do so with an odd job here or there or by selling some things.
However..tonight we got some good news..he is a computer wiz and someone who did computer tec in this area has moved and is turning over his customers to my son.
We shall have to see how that goes..but it is sure good news for now. :)
He is going to go talk to the hospital on monday as well.
I sure hope your health gets better too..and your son is ok.
thanks :)

[BlancheSplanchnik]

23. Please send this to media, your congresspeople, the White House, anyone and everyone

who should hear about this----

media especially should get names of those bureaucrats carrying out this sick cycle, the Dr and hospital charging 4,000.00 for 10 min.

I know doing this won't change the situation around, but the situation won't change if you only vent it here, either.

Just heartbreaking to hear this and the other many things I'm hearing about here.

:(

[shadowknows69]

24. Your story echoes so many these days. Bless you for sharing.

And best of luck to your son. I've been effectively unemployed for five years, and am apparently unemployable in my city at the age of forty. If it is so hard for a young, motivated person I don't hold much hope for myself. This is what is becoming of our disposable people society. Corporate bottom lines have no feelings or scruples and apparently major stock holders don't either.

[lonestarnot]

27. I'm sorry.

:cry:

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

28. AFAIK, child support payments are based on your earnings.

At least that's the way it was when I had to pay to my ex-husband 15 years ago. If your son is earing less now, his support payments should be reduced. He doesn't need a lawyer to do that - go see the clerk of the court in Family Court and they can get it going. There would be a small filing fee, I think, but this is a routine matter and he should be able to do it pro se. I have.

[winyanstaz]

42. in WA state they base it on the total earnings of the previous year.

My son doesn't mind paying and pays on time...he loves his little girl and doesn't want her to go without.
But when there is no work for months now....it gets rough.
He has been advised to wait for three more months to file...because then they will not base it on the great income but on what he is actually making now.
He has gone directly to the support collections offices and has been trying to work with them.
It will change of course when his income changes.
thank you for your advice :) I really do appreciate how kind people have been.

[uppityperson]

29. One piece of advice, contact the hospital as they will lower the bill

hospitals (usually) have a way to lower the bill. You fill out papers and they do some income thingie and adjust it. Having been there myself, I know.

Best of luck to him and to all.

[Ignis]

31. A kick for some great advice. (nt)

[Diane R]

62. I was going to post the same advice. I know someone who had a $40,000 bill reduced to $5K.

[Ignis]

30. Sorry to hear this, winyanstaz.

Hang in there, and BB. :hug:

[icymist]

32. Sorry to hear about this winyanstaz

We will be setting candles for you and yours tonight.

[winyanstaz]

48. ty icy...all the love and caring has already helped...

and my son got some good news tonight. The chance of more work has come for him at last. :)

[mrbarber]

33. Wow, his ex sounds like a real catch.

Here's to hoping there's some cancer in her future.

[winyanstaz]

49. I do not wish any ill upon her...I am sure her own karma will catch up.

My son will still be a good person on the other end of this.
I hope someday she will be the same.
I wish I could see my granddaughter but perhaps one day she will return to us.

[secondwind]

34. there are laws that protect fathers from mothers who take children more than 50 mi. from fathers....

he should inquire about this, and he shouldn't have to pay double child support if he cannot even SEE his child!!!

Check it out!

[stevenleser]

59. Only one problem with that. You need a lawyer...

and in many places, family lawyers will not talk to you if you dont have $3000 up front.

[winyanstaz]

75. she took the child to another state before she even bothered to tell him he had a child..

the courts will not make her return.
He has seen his child three times and now they have moved and he has no idea where they are now.
We are trying to get the support agency to find her address..all we know for sure is they are still in that state.

[WillYourVoteBCounted]

35. see Equal Justice Foundation

www.efji.org I don't know they might help some.

[winyanstaz]

43. ty for the link :)

[KittyWampus]

37. Mature children in need sometimes move back in with their parents. Families living together

isn't that uncommon despite what the US has come to expect in the last few decades

[winyanstaz]

47. Kitty...I am a widow and when my husband passed...

we found he had stopped paying a lot of the bills. He was much worse off than anyone knew and had been trying to hide it from us. We found important papers stuffed in the back of the closet.
To make a long explanation short, after I had to sell our place in the country..my oldest and my youngest son (I have three sons..my middle son is in Israel with his wife and kids)moved in with me here in the outskirts of this little town ...so they could help ME out.
At that time my own health was not so good at that time and I was in shock due to my husbands death but I am doing much much better now.:)
They are good sons.
This house lets us have our own space without being in each others faces and we get along great.
The three of us were doing fine until my youngest got downsized and hit with these bills.
We will be fine in the long run because we are a close family and we have always tried to look out for one another.
I thank you for your concern. You are a very caring and kind soul.

[Cleita]

44. My heart goes out to you.

All I can offer is this right now. :hug: I hope we can change this awful destruction of honest and hardworking Americans sooner rather than later.

[winyanstaz]

45. Thank you all so very much. I was overwhelmed when I came on

and posted...I was so distraught and I was crying.
I came back and was overwhelmed to see the outpouring of kindness..
You all almost made me cry again! And I don't cry easily. :)
Thank you all for your kindness and your good advice.
DU has some amazing and bright and caring people. I appreciate you all vey much.
Just to let you know..we had some good news this evening.
A long time friend that did computer tec and repair in the area is moving away and is turning his business clients over to my son (who is a computer wiz) so the future is looking a lot less bleak for him tonight..and so of course for me as his mom as well :)
It is a step in the right direction.
He will be going to talk to the hospital on monday and we are going to follow through on getting his support lowered until he is back up and running.
again
thank you DU :)

[bertman]

46. I wish I knew how to help you, St. Staz, but right now my heart aches for you and your son.

It sounds like you are getting some good information here. I hope things get better for you real soon.

[winyanstaz]

50. thank you bertman...that is most kind of you.

We already have gotten some very good news tonight..so things are looking up. He will be getting some work. :)
I think a lot of the good vibes and prayers and energy from the people here had something to do with it.
It looked so bleak for my son and now it is looking so much brighter.
:)

[bertman]

53. That's the best news I've heard all day. I'm hoping you're on a roll! nt

[highplainsdem]

54. I'm so glad you got some good news, that your son will be getting some work.

It's heartbreaking that he's had so much go wrong. So unfair. I'll be praying this good news you got tonight will be followed by more good news and good fortune, for all your family.

[Melinda]

52. Dear winyanstaz, please post again once you have news about the support issue & updates on your...

sons health. Till then, warm thoughts and prayers to you all. :hug:

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

55. Sounds more like child support is killing him.

[scentopine]

56. We sold the jobs to Asia for pennies on the dollar and...

most will vote for democrats and republicans who will do it again and again and again. I don't know why we do it but I cannot figure out why we vote for these heartless bastards who are strip mining human capital and gorging themselves on our misfortune.

The madness of voting for the same thing over and over has ended for me. I am only pulling third party levers or write in. I've never voted for any republican, but no more dems, now. It isn't enough of a difference for me.

Your $4000 dollar figure is about right for MRI or advanced image. Its a cash cow.

The irony is = more and more of those images are being sent via internet to? Yep - Asia. They read for pennies on the dollar, and your corporate health care center is going to jack up the cost even higher than if they paid a $300/hr specialist here in USA.

That's the beauty of American free enterprise as it applies to Fortune 500. All the profit and tax breaks, and tax bailouts mwithout any guilt of human suffering and cruelty behind it.

[NNN0LHI]

73. It wasn't Democratic politicians who gave those jobs away

It was your neighbors with a couple of Hondas or Toyotas sitting in their driveway that did that.

Thank them.

Don


Toyota tops list of new car sales under 'cash-for-clunkers' program in U.S.

Thursday 27th August, 07:01 AM JST

http://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/toyota-tops-list-of-new-car-sales-under-cash-for-clunkers-program-in-us

[scentopine]

74. *The* problem with detroit is this cycle of insanity

Back in seventies executives and wall street told Americans that they could not compete in US labor markets. it was all unions fault. The only way they could survive they told us was to move 1 million jobs to mexico and beyond. This was when toyota and honda were still building clunkers.

While Japan buckled down and invented new more efficient and cleaner technology for a more global market, GM decide that cutting every cost and outsourcing to cheap markets was the way to profitability. They couldn't give a fuck if every godam car in America was built in China, Mexico India. The corporation has become its own nation state and we have used legislation to literally rape America in the process.

So we let them move to mexico and guess what? It didn't work. Of course executive pay and bonus money in last 3 or 4 years exceeded the bailout money we gave them for the rescue.

And - when Mexico wasn't good enough - they moved to China. Now India. These fuckers do not care what happens to America as long as their bank accounts stay bloated with obscene amounts of tax payer cash. They hide their earnings with loop holes and their fortunes are protected from civil and criminal wrong doing.

I would not shed a tear if the executive mansions were burned to the ground. I blame democrats and republicans who keep letting these mother fuckers exploit unregulated labor markets while building clunkers.

------ snip
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/01/china-europe-invest-more-us-wind-power.php

Billions of investment dollars are floating around, yet someone like Tom Carnahan of Missouri could not get a single American bank to invest in his $240 million, 150-megawatt wind farm project. Instead, European and Japanese banks stepped up to the plate. In October, Renewable Energy Group and Cielo Wind Power announced a joint venture agreement with the Chinese Shenyang Power Group to construct a 600 megawatt wind farm in Texas. On November 6th, AES Corporation announced that China Investment Corporation (CIC) was purchasing a fifteen percent stake in the company for $1.58 billion.

All this amounts to the fact that some 84% of $1 billion US energy grants have gone to foreign companies--because they're the ones actually getting the ball rolling.

[earcandle]

57. Americans are being blind-sided by the greedy.

[Naturyl]

58. Well, that sucks, and so does this country for allowing it.

Kidney stones plus a $4k bill for a scan and 10 cents worth of sugar? Wow, that's just super-duper. What a fun experience for him. How and why people accept this without complaining every day is beyond me. My house is miserable because I bitch about things like this every waking moment - and I think it's high tome everyone else started bitching, too. Enough is enough. Somebody has to be willing to suffer a little bit psychologically to drop the whole "positive attitude" la-la-land and start calling it like we see it in this country.

[debbierlus]

60. He should IMMEDIATELY go to the courts and petition for lowering child support payments

If they are basing his payments on his former income, they will lower the payments. He needs to explain hardship to the courts. He should be able to get it lowered. Look for low income legal services in your area for further advisement. Sometimes fathers rights groups can help advise on these issues as well, and they sometimes have volunteer lawyers for fathers in such situations as your son.

Good luck.

I am so sorry.

[rumpel]

61. I am so sorry your son is going through this

definitely, he should ask for a modification. The family courts right now are overwhelmed with these requests. It is so unfair for someone like your son to be treated like this, and my ex who makes millions a year get away with not paying support for over 15 years.
It is completely screwed up.

I hope he will feel better soon.

:grouphug:

[countmyvote4real]

64. Stay hydrated. Cranberry Juice is good.

This may be TMI.

I don’t mean to be flip. You raise a lot of issues and I’m truly sorry for the turn your son’s life has taken. I’m currently dealing with my “first” kidney stone incident with no health insurance coverage.

On New Year’s Eve Eve (12/30) I was awakened in the wee hours by excruciating lower back pain. I took two Advil and went back to bed. When I awoke at my regular time, I was still hurting and took two more Advils. That’s how I was prepared to deal with it until I saw my urine was brown!

That freaked me out and I knew I should try to get some medical attention. And I still procrastinated a bit hoping that a hot bath would offer some more immediate relief. And it did, but the hot bath wasn’t going to diagnose what the hell was going on. So, I made my way to the ER of a local hospital that I try to maintain an annual registration based on my variable income and ability to pay. I'm a free lancer. I had two days left on my 2009 status. I had not been there at all this year other than to renew my registration back at the beginning of the year. Perhaps there is a hospital in your area that has a similar program.

After my interview with the triage nurse I asked if I should be there be there at all. She said yes. I got the scan and the IV drip, too. I also got some prescriptions that I had to fill the next day because the hospital pharmacy was closed when I was discharged.

My stones were not determined to be large, so I was encouraged to help them pass by drinking lots of fluids. Cranberry juice in particular was recommended. My dad recommended an over-the-counter cranberry supplement as well.

I have no idea if I’ve passed anything at all even though I’ve been straining my urine and cataloguing the sheets on a daily basis (at least when at home.) I have a follow-up appointment with a hospital urologist next Thursday and hope to learn more. If there is anything I could ask that would benefit your son’s condition, please, let me know.

Did the hospital provide any measurements on the size of your son’s kidney stones other than large? If truly classified as large that implies surgery or some sonic procedures to break them down.

In the meantime, I do recommend all things cranberry.
I hope this is helpful.

[winyanstaz]

66. the dr just said the larger of the stones was passing...

and yup he is drinking the cranberry.
I am into herbs so I have looked up a few teas and home solutions that may help him.
He did pass the stone..with a lot of pain and agony...but it is the two that are left that now concern me and I am hoping we can help them dissolve.

[kidlaw323]

65. I don't know where you live

but your son might find some help if he contacts the child support caseworker at the department of human services about his driver's license. They might even be able to help regarding the child support situation. Also, he should find out how to file a motion with the court with jurisdiction to modify his child support. If he can fix the legal situation, the medical situation will not seem quite as huge as it appears now. If social services cannot or will not help him, and if he has very little or no money, he may be eligible to have a pro bono attorney represent him. Whether legal aid helps him or not, he should get to court. It sounds like that would be faster than the 6 month waiting period he is looking at now.

[donheld]

67. I wish you all the best - wish I could do more.

[pansypoo53219]

69. reaganism killed america.

but hey. his taxes must be low.

[Desertrose]

70. I'm so sorry.....watching our kids suffer and not being able to help...

is torture.

I really hope things turn around for him soon.
:hug:

[NNN0LHI]

72. Where the hell are the jobs?

Japan, Korea, China, etc.

People in the US really like their imported junk.

But when the jobs are gone everyone wonders what happened to all the jobs?

Don

Read more: http://www.tradingeconomics.com/Economics/Unemployment-rate.aspx?symbol=JPY#ixzz0c7fKsCHy

Japan Unemployment Rate

Japan unemployment rate stands at 5.10 percent of the labor force. The labour force is defined as the number of people employed plus the number unemployed but seeking work. The nonlabour force includes those who are not looking for work, those who are institutionalised and those serving in the military. Japan's industrialized, free market economy is the second-largest in the world. Its economy is highly efficient and competitive in areas linked to international trade, but productivity is far lower in protected areas such as agriculture, distribution, and services. Japan's reservoir of industrial leadership and technicians, well-educated and industrious work force, high savings and investment rates, and intensive promotion of industrial development and foreign trade produced a mature industrial economy. Japan has few natural resources, and trade helps it earn the foreign exchange needed to purchase raw materials for its economy. This page includes: Japan Unemployment Rate chart, historical data, forecast and news.


---------------------------------------------------------------------


http://www.tradingeconomics.com/Economics/Unemployment-rate.aspx?symbol=KRW

South Korea Unemployment Rate

South Korea unemployment rate stands at 3.50 percent of the labor force. The labour force is defined as the number of people employed plus the number unemployed but seeking work. The nonlabour force includes those who are not looking for work, those who are institutionalised and those serving in the military. Since the 1960s, South Korea has achieved an incredible record of growth and integration into the high-tech modern world economy. An extremely competitive education system and a highly skilled and motivated workforce are two key factors driving this knowledge economy. In recent years, Korea's economy moved away from the centrally planned, government-directed investment model toward a more market-oriented one. Economists are concerned that South Korea's economic growth potential has fallen because of a rapidly aging population and structural problems that are becoming increasingly apparent. This page includes: South Korea Unemployment Rate chart, historical data, forecast and news.

[winyanstaz]

76. yup...sad to say thats right..

[JNelson6563]

77. Hugs and encouragement to you and yours.

I wish I were more than a hair's breadth from poverty myself so I could be of help to you.

Julie