New version of Toledo Talk

Preventative Medicine - Gov. Strickland's thoughts on preventative medicine are on the money. It is certainly better to be proactive rather than reactive. If our school aged children are going to be targeted, we need to get back to the basics. These children need to get outdoors and PLAY. Recess is in short supply at TPS, at least this was the case when our children attended. Good physical health also promotes good emotional and mental health. I find it extraordinary so many children are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. Perhaps letting some of these children outdoors to blow off some steam may be beneficial. Parents need to assume responsibilty for good nutrition and excersise, as what we give our children today impacts their health tomorrow. Fast food is the norm rather than the exception nowadays. Smoking is deadly, period. COPD, Chronic Bronchitis, CAD and a host of other ailments affect a large percentage of our senior citizens. We are certainly better educated on the hazards than we were when smoking was glamorized. Let's take good care of our children now, so they can live long and happy lives.
posted by louie1961 to news at 7:10 A.M. EST     (6 Comments)

Comments ...

Healthy kids - of course prevntion is a better value per health care dollar. However, the program does not go far enough. Uninsured children usually mean an uninsured parent or parents. Affordable accessible preventative health care is important for all ages. I had hoped that Strickland would have been bold enough to tackle the entire health care issue. But, I guess this is at least a small start.
posted by holland at 09:29 A.M. EST on Sun Apr 01, 2007     #

Prevention is definitely the way to go, and I'm glad Gov. Strickland has mentioned it. My concern, however, is that simply adding a physical education requirement or telling people not to smoke doesn't help. While I guess it's better than nothing, having physical education once a week for 30 minutes isn't going to do the job. I think, long-term, that time could be better spent in the classroom learning math. Our kids need to be playing something everyday.

As for adults, I think they need to be hit in the pocketbook for it to work. Doctors telling the person not to smoke or not to drink Coke doesn't work. However, what would work is if smokers or the overweight or alcoholics are charged an insurance surcharge. However, that doesn't work in today's current insurance setup. Almost no one has private insurance by themselves. It's almost always through an employer with each employee paying the same rate which forces many employees to overpay their share and many employees to underpay their share.

And of course we need to get everyone in the United States insured. Unfortunately Gov. Strickland (unlike his former opponent) hasn't outlined a plan to cover 100% of Ohioans. There are a number of plans out there that would cover 100% of Ohioans (and Americans), but he has so far refused to endorse them.
posted by HeyHey at 04:10 P.M. EST on Sun Apr 01, 2007     #

Absolutely. I can't wait to be given public health insurance paid for by you. I can't wait to be told I must forfeit my personal decisions on what I want to eat. I can't wait to see waiting rooms in doctors offices get even more cramped and delayed. I can't wait to go to the doctor because I stubbed my toe...now that I have insurance I don't have to pay for. I can't wait for the state to tell me how I must excercise, since they pay for my healthcare. I can't wait to see the sales tax, cigarette tax, alcohol licenses, estate tax, income tax (ad nauseum) go up because the state can't efficiently administer health care. But most of all, I can't wait to see the other 49 states out-grow Ohio because they refused to practice socialism. In sarcasm:
posted by NW_LP_Rep at 12:12 A.M. EST on Mon Apr 02, 2007     #

NW_LP,
I think you're responding to my post? You must be fairly new because if you read any of my posts on here you'd realize I'm about as far from a socialist as you can get.

I said that every Ohioan needs to be covered by insurance. I never said that the state of Ohio would run that insurance. In face, I'm one of the most ardent supporters of keeping as much of the healthcare industry in the private market as possible. There are several plans in existence right now that maintain the private insurance marketplace and still provide insurance coverage for anyone who wants it. If you want more details feel free to ask.

I also never said you should forfeit your personal decisions on what to eat or drink or smoke. I did say that if you make concious and willing decisions to lead an unhealthy lifestyle then you should have to pay more in healthcare premiums. I don't want to subsidize your behaviors and eventual bad health. You have every right to endanger your life, but you don't have a right to endanger your life and then expect me to help pay for your medical care (which is what happens when insurance risk pools don't discriminate between lifestyle choices).
posted by HeyHey at 03:49 A.M. EST on Mon Apr 02, 2007     #

NW_LP_Rep forgot to mention repeal of the helmet law and the seatbelt law and automobile child seat restraints. Lets go ALL the way.
posted by holland at 04:41 P.M. EST on Mon Apr 02, 2007     #

posted by NW_LP_Rep at 01:12 A.M. EST on Mon Apr 02, 2007 #
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Great comments and welcome to the board!
posted by Darkseid at 05:15 A.M. EST on Thu Apr 05, 2007     #

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