Sunday, February 26, 2012

Cold Day In....Promontory

We spent yesterday up near the Golden Spike National Historic Site. My daughter in law Melissa has a rather active family. Her uncle Tom and his friend Cort, her Dad and brother, a friend, and she, Ben, Joyce and I drove out to Promontory to shoot guns. They had ATV's but it was a cold, windy day as you can see from our attire so they weren't used much. Joyce is trying her luck shooting the clay discs with a 20 gauge shotgun as is Ben. We later took out the Glock 19 and the Springfield .45 and tried to hit discs from 45 yards. That was a waste of ammunition but it was fun. Some of the other weapons included a black powder muzzle loader, a little .22 Baretta, I had my 12 gauge and hit more targets than I ever have.

The best way to finish a day like this would probably be to head back home to Farmington through Brigham City's Main Street, reminiscing of the years I spent there visiting my grandparents and then stopping in Perry at Maddox for a late afternoon lunch. So we did.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Character and Romney

I have read a lot the past couple of days about character; the character in candidates. Particularly that Mitt Romney is lacking in character. Full disclosure—I have never met Romney. I am a Mormon. Hopefully, what I say may help others who are not Mormon understand a little of the character that I believe Gov. Romney has. (I admit also that I am still evaluating the candidates and am not settled on Gov. Romney as the one I think should be the nominee)

Mitt Romney served as a Stake President for a number of years. He was the one called to preside over a collection of congregations, usually 6 or more. He was involved in many different areas that demonstrate character above and beyond the norm. He dealt with members of his stake in confessions as part of the repentance process. He helped with circumstances dealing with welfare and the needy on a very personal level. He prayed and fasted many times for and with the members of his Stake. Believe me that he was involved in a deep and committed level with many people. As a Stake President he interviewed hundreds of members of his stake in many different connections ranging from extending callings to serving in positions and signing recommends allowing them entrance into the Church’s Temples.

Mr. Romney served as a missionary in France. He lived for some time in humble circumstances. During this time of service he knocked on doors, talked to people and bore his feelings and his soul as it pertained to Christ’s teachings. France, being a very secular and un-religious place then and now, must have been a veritable desert as far as teaching opportunities. It was undoubtedly a difficult mission and took patience, devotion and faith to fulfill it.

Gov. Romney has made covenants that guide his life. These are made at baptism and also in the Holy Temple. These covenants are binding commitments of obedience to God’s laws, Sacrificing, Living the Golden Rule, living a moral and pure life and consecrating all that God blesses you with to building up His Kingdom and being a blessing in the lives of His children. Overarching these is the covenant of Marriage he made with his wife.

There has been some comment made in a mocking manner by Chuckie Blow of the New York Times relating to an object of clothing that one wears after participating in Temple ceremonies. It is not “magic”. It is sacred. Its sole purpose is to act as a constant reminder of the covenants made.

Gov. Romney’s character can also be displayed by analyzing his family. He is devoted to his wife who has her own hardships to bear. Looking at a picture of his children, their spouses and their children, one wonders what kind of place it would be to live with families like that in your neighborhood. They love each other and are devoted. I have all kinds of families like that living around me. Yes they have challenges and problems but it is an amazing thing to be a part of. And no, it doesn't happen that way because of great wealth, just true commitment to their faith.

Character? Some many criticize him for not having character, but I assure you, he has character; a lot of character and capacity. He has plenty of character to serve as the President of the United States. Character? You have got to be kidding!

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

The Pill and Faith

I was fascinated to watch the birth control tango the past couple of weeks. Tying this to George "Stephy" Stephanopoulos and his question to Mitt Romney in a debate several weeks back is an interesting aside.

I hear everyone say that this is about womens' health. I am all for womens' health. When a woman feels good, the man feels good, the kids feel good, the world feels good. So it is with no small sense of confusion when I hear that the "right" to contraceptives, abortifacients and other birth control or birth cessation medicaments and treatments should be able to be purchased easily, through insurance, by anyone who desires them, with no copayment. Maybe they ought to just be OTC.

My entire life I thought pregnancy was a physiological condition caused by determined actions of at least two people of opposing genders. I never, ever considered it a pathology. Pregnancy isn't a disease. That is not to say gestational complications do not occur, in fact they do. I freely admit and understand from observation that the woman walks through the valley of the shadow of death. But by and large the course of a pregnancy is a physiological condition, that for the vast majority experiencing it is inconvenient, uncomfortable but leads to the birth of another human being. And except for rare occasions the condition is caused by voluntary, free will behavior.

So if this is REALLY a women's health issue I can only figure that it is caused by some recently discovered virus. I know UV exposure is not good for your skin, but maybe there is a virus that causes another UV condition--Uncontrollable Vagina. Evidently, it afflicts a great portion of the populace, and it must grasp unsuspecting penises, extracting biological procreative material, sending it willy nilly up the Fallopian tubes, colliding with an ovum, causing uterine implantation and, voila the start of another human being. If it wasn't so widespread then this drastic State intervention would not be necessary.

I imagine any human infected with this UV virus probably has no capacity to control themselves. It must cause some irresistible urge that affects the woman and pheromones then are produced which cause the same illicit behavior in the dude. The more one thinks of this there is no way around it. This type of human behavior is totally unavoidable, and to think that it ought to be restrained until marriage is unthinkable; how archaic! I guess if you have the UV virus there is nothing you can do. I suppose guys get a virus too, it must be the UP virus--Uncontrollable Penis.

I have never observed either condition in any of my patients (I fix teeth) and I usually see my clients when the sun is up. Maybe, the UV light from the sun affects the UV virus, and it can only replicate and infect or modify the human behavior at night. I doubt UV light affects the UP virus. Who knows?

From my way of thinking, if contraceptives are a womens' health issue, and should be acquired freely with no copayment, does that mean all medications used by women should have no copayment? I wonder. What if the UV condition leads to syphilis and antibiotics are needed? That certainly is a health issue and I cannot imagine not linking these two conditions, hence, no copayment should be required, but on my medical plan there is a copayment for all medications so contraceptives would be in a special class, hence a form of discrimination. Most probably the majority of people who are on medical plans with small businesses have the same requirements.

What about the adoption copayment? I know a lot of folks who want to adopt a child, but their copayment is in the tens of thousands of dollars. I mean, shucks, they are taking the little urchin off the hands of the pregnant woman who will not have the burden of raising the child. That alone is worth a 100 grand in savings to the woman in costs that are incumbent in raising a child that she will not have to pay. I think adoption should have no "copayment" either. It ought to be nearly free of charge. But, if the pregnancy is aborted that option is out obviously.

I always hear the Church and State argument as a reason for complete spiritual enucleation from all activities that have the slightest connection to the State. So, in my mind I wonder, how can the State dictate to the Church requirements that cause the Church to break their covenants and ties to their Doctrine, which they consider sacred? There is no separation there. This argument by the State that the insurance companies will pay for it is...Nonsense. The Church will directly be forced to pay it with higher insurance premiums. The Church doesn't force people to be employed in its schools, hospitals and charitable enterprises. They can go other places to work. In my mind though it isn't just the dictatorial attitude towards the Church. Why should governmenta be able to dictate this to insurance carriers? Because they can? It seems to me if it is desired, insurance companies will make them easy to get as a benefit and a reason to buy their product.

I wonder if the Administration has the foggiest idea what real life is like. The Leviathan is running amok. This dictate coming down is about control of institutions that the State does not like. It is not about women's health. This is not about disease, pathology or life. It is about controlling institutions and then controlling individuals.

So as the game starts drawing to a close, I kind of wish Dandy Don were here to sing for us again--"Turn out the lights, the party's over."

Friday, February 3, 2012

They Say the Economy is Improving

Being a self employed health care provider I would have to say that I do not see much of an economic improvement. This blurb here has what appear to be some pretty good links to data on some basic questions.