PROGRESSIVE DISCUSSION - TUESDAY 2/13

Good morning everyone! I've just got a minute to say hello, and then taking my dad to oncologist where they will check his blood and determine whether or not to give him an iron infusion and Aranesp injection. I am guessing they will, as we can all tell he is weaker. He gets these not due to cancer even though they're done at the oncologist, but due to his kidneys.

Read some brief information this morning on new proposals from the JA administration regarding food stamps and also prescription drugs with Medicare and Medicaid. What I read has several issues that are very concerning, especially the drug issue. It sounds like instead of making things better for seniors it most likely will make them worse. The article I read was brief, so I will try to find more information as that's an area of real concern to me. In December, I paid over $1,400 for my mom and dad's medicines even though they have Part D because they were in the doughnut hole. But I just got the January bill, and it is still $992 for their portion. There are a lot of seniors out there who will not be able to do that, but from what I read about the WH's proposal there would be fewer drugs covered which would be very bad news--perhaps even only one drug per category. So if that one drug doesn't work for you, then what? Ughhhhh!!!!!

So the WH lied and continues to lie about Rob Porter. That's not news, that's just par for the course. News would be if anyone there actually told the truth about anything.

Yes, Linda, that is very disturbing about what the WH is planning for Medicare/Medicaid drug coverage. Hopefully they won't be able to get that through Congress, but I'm certain that Paul Ryan will go to bat for it as well, I suspect, as a majority of Republicans. They want to look tough and start talking about the deficit again now that they have exploded it exponentially. As you said, the elderly and the special needs are the ones who will be hurt. Imagine if only one drug per category is approved?!! Not every drug helps every patient. So what if the one approved for any coverage is one that doesn't really work for you? I guess that's just tough. Also, with my mom at least one drug she is taking is frequently used for agitation/aggressiveness in dementia patients BUT the FDA approved it for something else so it is "off label" or whatever they call it when it is used for dementia patients even though it's been shown to be effective in many cases. Not sure yet if it's helping my mom or not--but, if the WH got this through we wouldn't have the option to find out. I don't see this helping anyone but the drug companies. If only one drug is approved, then absolutely that's the drug that's going to get prescribed so where's the competition? I thought Rs were supposed to be all about the free market. I guess not when it means drug companies are putting big money in your pocket.

Fat Tuesday? LOL! Gorge yourself for Jesus? Ugh!

It's not about the food. It's about the sacrifice. Sorry, I can't help myself.

I thought the whole idea of fasting was to grow spiritually. To give up something you enjoy and replace it with spiritual thoughts, ideas, and good deeds. But, especially to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for you by sacrificing something you love and enjoy.

Hello! My name is Debbie Downer. What's yours? lol.