We need to Fight Disease
By Neil Daniels
In Iowa it is not the insurance companies causing high health care costs. I am have someone cyberattacking on my e-mail. No doubt because of this issue. I am causing someone pain. I hope he/she is a Republican. Someone wants to shut me up but what they have done is scared me silly and forced me fight harder, get louder and be more angry. Don't fence in me because I am no cow!
Food costs, epidemic diseases and health care costs are rising. The root of these problems is obvious. With ethanol becoming a necessity our food costs will rise.
Our cheap food gave America weight gain and more disease. How does starchy food like potatoes prevent food shortages? Calories! French fries are the solution to obesity?
Our diseases remain as America goes hungry.I fear the social unrest coupled with most epidemics. Millions are going to die. Obesity is history’s worst preventable morbidity pandemic and yet our democracies are powerless because the short term need for cheap food. Let the world’s poor eat Twinkies and drink soda! Both of America’s political parties share this 21st century Marie Antoinette like motto. Public health officials are mute witnesses to a crime being publicly covered up. I don’t understand the Nuremberg defense of it is my job to be quiet. Quiet during a genocide/epidemic? Silence will only worsen our troubles.
Maybe we don’t have enough nutrient dense food or the finances to avoid civil unrest and/or high health care costs. We have the science to stop obesity but I doubt we have the food supply or political will. Democracy is about talking through trouble in the town square and working for justice. Allow me to speak.
Neil Daniels
Coralville IA
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Thursday, May 22
We need to Fight Disease
by
Sam Garchik
on Thu 22 May 2008 11:23 AM CDT
Saturday, May 3
SEIU and Iowa for Health Care Help Raise Nurse Wages Statewide
by
Sam Garchik
on Sat 03 May 2008 09:03 AM CDT
SEIU and Iowa for Health Care Help Raise Nurse Wages Statewide.
By Iowans for Health Care
SEIU Local 199 and Iowa for Health Care are holding a Press Conference at the UI Hospitals and Clinics on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at Noon. The Press Conference is to highlight a new bill that will bring wage increases to nurses across the state. Speakers include SEIU Iowa President Cathy Glasson, SEIU Iowa Political Director Sarah Swisher, and State Senator Bob Dvorsky.
On the last day of Iowa's legislative session, the Iowa House and Senate passed a historic bill that earmarks this year's Medicaid provider reimbursement increase to boost nurse wages across the state. This one-percent Medicaid provider reimbursement increase could mean $4.2 million for Iowa's RNs, translating to hundreds of dollars per nurse.
Beginning to raise nurse wages is a needed step toward solving the state's drastic nurse shortage. At the rate we are going, Iowa is set to have a shortfall of 9,100 RNs by 2020, leaving a 27 percent shortage. Passing this bill proves that Iowa is ready to take on the issue that hits our nurses the hardest: wages. Iowa's nurses are the lowest wage earners of any state in the country, ranking 52nd in the country, also behind Washington D.C. and Guam.
"While hundreds a year is not a huge pay increase, this bill shows that nurses and policymakers can initiate change that will lead to the recruitment and retention of quality nurses in our state. I am proud that SEIU led this charge and that members and not yet union members are being rewarded," said SEIU Iowa president and national nurse leader Cathy Glasson.
WHAT: Press Conference to highlight bill that will bring statewide raises in nurse wages.
WHEN: Noon - Tuesday, May 6, 2008
WHERE: Grassy area outside near Main Entrance of UI Hospitals and Clinics
WHO: Cathy Singer-Glasson, President of SEIU Iowa, RN Sarah Swisher, Political Director of SEIU Iowa, RN Bob Dvorsky, State Senator from Coralville Pat Murphy, Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives
Iowa for Health Care is uniting nurses and other citizens who are concerned about the skyrocketing cost of health care. As part of Americans for Health Care – a project of SEIU, the nation's largest health care union – we are working to secure quality, affordable health care for every man, woman, and child in America. |
Iowa Sites Child & Family Policy Center - Iowa Genetic Engineering Action Network Iowa Citizen Action Network - ICAN Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility Iowa Public Interest Research Group Midwest Environmental Justice Advocates Progressive Action for the Common Good Progressive Coalition of Central Iowa QCAD (Quad-Citians Affirming Diversity - GLBT) Iowa Blogs The Deprogrammer (Quad Cities) Iowa True Blue (Gordon Fischer's Blog) Iowa Voters for Open and Transparent Elections Political FalloutFight Iowa Rapid Response Network - Iowa
Iowans for Better Local TV
Air America
The Counterpoint
National FAIR: Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting
Media Matters for America
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