Sunday, September 20, 2009

Issue 3

First of all What exactly is issue 3? I looked it up on smartvoter and this is what it reads like:

To adopt Section 12 of Article XV of the Constitution of the State of Ohio.
This amendment to the Constitution would:

Permit up to 31,500 slot machines at seven horse racing tracks and at two Cleveland non-track locations. Permit expanded gaming in the four Cuyahoga County locations if approved by the county's voters. Distribute the revenues as follows: 55% to the slot and casino owners and operators. 30% to the Board of Regents for college scholarships and grants to eligible students and administration of the program. The remaining revenues to be divided among local governments, race tracks for purse money, gambling addiction services, and The administration of the Gaming Integrity Commission comprised of five members appointed by the governor and the majority legislative leaders. The moneys provided by this amendment are to supplement and not supplant existing and future constitutional obligations to post-secondary education and local governments.

All these Ads about 34,000 jobs coming to Oho. Then we have the ads that state these jobs won't go to Ohio people because the Casinos will hire out of state professionals. Now lets look at this. First of all if 34,000 people move to Ohio for a job that is going to bring growth to our state. I know if 34,000 people move to Ohio I will probably be selling a few homes. The banks and grocery stores will get more clients. Restaurants will have more business well you see where I am going with this. The statement that all these jobs will go out to out of state workers is just crazy. First of all how many professionals are left out there. Every other state has opened casinos all around us. Seems to me they will have to do some training to get good help. Also if you were really a good professional in the casino business wouldn't you be in Vegas, or St. Marrten somewhere with better weather than Cleveland Ohio. So the claim that it won't help us is just wrong. Then there is the moral issue. Gambling is dangerous and a sickness. Do you really believe that people who have this problem aren't doing it because we don't have a Casino? Do you really believe that we are drug and crime free because we don't have a casino? Do you really think we don't have prostitution? Come on get real!!! The thing that bothers me in this bill is that the revenues from gambling won't go the city or state. I understand that to encourage new growth we have to give a little. I understand that all these workers will be paying taxes and boosting our economy. We need a Casino in the Flats! They have the Green light to get started with the development. Along with the Medical Mart and Convention Center we may have a shot at an economic turn around. If you have been to Windsor or Detroit you will see that the only thing going is the Casinos. Well we have theaters, the Rock Hall of Fame the Science Center. Wonderful museums and a botanical garden that is absolutely beautiful. We have Fabulous restaurants and neat little sections of town like Tremont, Little Italy to name a few. All this with a lake view!!Come on Cleveland so what if every tax dollar doesn't go to the City and State , so what is some people move to Ohio because of this. Lets vote for Growth and change that can make a difference for all of us!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

My Rant about health care


Recently if you read my blog you will know that I had the opportunity to experience our health care system in action. I went to the hospital thinking I was having a heart attack. The doctors decided to "ADMIT" me overnight for observation. I have highlighted the word admit because it is wrong. They commit you. Once they do this you can not leave on your own free will. They threaten you with your insurance company telling you that they will not cover your bill if you leave without getting "released" from the doctor. With that in mind, that is how the system starts to treat you. You are no longer a person with rights. Any rights for that matter. They will poke and prod you all night and order whatever tests that they can. Now take the same person with out health care. Chances are they would take a blood test to evaluate the levels of whatever it is they look for I think enzymes and release them once they see the blood levels aren't jumping with bad enzymes. Why I am writing about this months after this experience? This big fight regarding health care is insane! No one is saying what really needs to be said!! The price of health care has gotten out of control in this country. My one night stay in the hospital billed out to a little over $10,000.00. That is insane!! The hospital that billed this is "non profit" I have never seen a more profitable non profit in all my life! Then I went for a follow up stress test. Between the observation (I saw the guy once when he let me out) Echocardiograph and stress test that bill came to over $1500.00 of which I had to pay $230.22. My total patient cost was around $2000.00. I have insurance!!! This is the problem. I am afraid to make appointments to go to the doctor for "well" visits.I think of insurance kind of like a car insurance if I get too many tickets or have and accident or two then my rate goes up. I can barely afford my rate now. Let alone the deductible payments. To top that off can anyone understand the billings that they send you? I went to see my regular doctor who I see maybe once every two or three years. Thought I should follow up. The bill that came in the mail said she charged $330.00 for that visit! The insurance company paid $169.69 of it. I paid $25.00 when I got to the appointment. Somehow $133.22 is not charged because I went to the right provider! Once she sent me for a test and I went to where she asked me to go and it was the wrong provider! I had to pay out of my pocket $800.00. Not only is it too expensive but it is too confusing!! If I had my health care paid for me and my deductible was nothing I wouldn't understand what all the fuss is about either. I am a middle class hard working self employed citizen that at any minute could be put into bankruptcy if I get a catastrophic illness! Why don't we hear that costs are out of control and Americans have the right to basic health care. Who are these people that are against trying to fix a system that has gotten so far out of whack? I've talked with Canadians and they don't complain about their health care. We do!