Health Care Costs in the U.S.: This Pretty Much Says It All

Here we are, the richest country in the world. I guess that means we can afford to pay for all the extra health care costs, eh?

This infographic from the National Geographic Magazine blog pretty much clarifies the situation, as does this quote from Michelle Andrews, at NGM:

The United States spends more on medical care per person than any country, yet life expectancy is shorter than in most other developed nations and many developing ones. Lack of health insurance is a factor in life span and contributes to an estimated 45,000 deaths a year.

Fast Food is Costing Us in the Long Run

Saw this infographic on Kiplinger. It really makes you think about whether or not all the junk we are eating is really worth it. We may save more now, but how much will we pay down the road? Health insurance isn't getting any cheaper, and other medical costs will only go up. And, as our health as a society deteriorates, we'll all be paying more.

And don't fool yourself about how universal coverage will result in you suddenly paying for so and so's health condition. You're already paying for others' ill health. Insurance companies practice their own form of socialized medicine by putting everyone into groups. When someone in your group has problems, everyone in that group sees increases in their health insurance.

Plus, when people wait and wait and wait until they have to go to the emergency room to be treated for something because they don't have the insurance that helps pay for the doctor visit, costs go up for everyone. So, no matter what system we have, you're always going to pay for the health choices made by others.

What we really need is a system and a society that values prevention -- one in which all of the incentives aren't on the side of more drugs, and taking care of us when we're sick. Until we're ready to change our habits, and until the health care industry actually cares about having a healthy population, things will remain expensive.

Blogs Bring Back Sensationalist Yellow Journalism

Thanks to Jon Stewart for this media commentary on the blogosphere :)

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
The Blogs Must Be Crazy
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

As a Woman, I Need Friends to Help Me Make Decisions

"Women sometimes need a little more handholding, or they need their friends to help them make a decision."
-- RNC co-chair Jan Larimer, on GOP efforts to recruit and train more women candidates


Honestly, this quote probably applies to everyone, men as well as women. Sometimes we all need a little help making decisions, or handholding when it comes to charting new territory.

But perhaps there are other reasons that women are not terribly interested in a GOP candidacy. I have two reasons right here:

1. Perhaps women who are interested and active in politics are more likely to be liberal.
2. Maybe conservative women feel that taking good care of their families and being there for their children, and raising them to be good citizens, is a more important endeavor than being involved in the time-consuming game of politics.

I'm sure you can think of many other reasons that the GOP is having a hard time finding women candidates. And I'll bet they have little to do with some inherent neediness to have someone else to handhold them.

Shameless Self-Promotion: The Old Standby

When I feel guilty that I haven't been posting on this blog, I get to pull out the old shameless self-promotion. Does it make me feel even worse? Yes. But it means that I am posting.

It's been an interesting couple of months, with me dropping three clients (equaling four blogs). It's kind of nice. It has me looking forward to when Josh is done with his Ph.D. and I drop a couple more clients...

Anyway, enjoy this dose of self-promotion:

1. How to Build a CD Ladder: Learn how you can create an awesome emergency fund via CD laddering.
2. How To Be a Successful Freelance Writer: Find out a couple things about how I have managed to support my family as a freelancer.
3. State of the Union: Can Barack Obama Kickstart the Economy?: A look at Obama's plans from his SOTU, and a little commentary on how I think it's kind of unrealistic.
4. David Bach's 5 Ways to Save $5,000: A video blog from iMommyTalk about how you can save a little money.
5. What To Do When Your Wallet or Purse is Stolen: A step-by-step look at what you should do when someone rips off your wallet or purse.