With all the hullabaloo about healthcare from politicians recently, I thought it was time to dust off my typewriter. I claim some knowledge and experience in this area, having practiced medicine for 40 years. I am also board-certified in two medical specialties and have two master’s degrees. None of that implies that my beliefs are…
I have been intending to write to explain some of the nuances of a single-payer healthcare system, commonly referred as “Medicare for All.” Confusion and attempts at distortion abound, but a short essay can, unfortunately, only serve to lay the groundwork for more homework on the part of every voter. There have been various proposals,…
It is difficult to adequately express my gratitude to the firefighters and other first responders who saved our home from the Cranston Fire. Since we live close to the transfer station, the fire was very close and, were it not for the hard work of many, our home would be toast. I believe, however, that…
I have strong beliefs, as many of you do. My goal in writing this column was to encourage cogitation, not create controversy, but, of course, they often go hand in hand. Therefore, when a few readers have responded negatively, I read their responses but could find no value in continued arguments in print. Everyone is…
I have learned a lot about electric bicycles lately since I have been wrestling with my insurance company, trying to convince them that my ebike is not a motor vehicle. It seems that insurance companies can do whatever they want, despite California state law, but that doesn’t subtract from my life-changing mountain bike that, even…
“The first principle is that you must not fool yourself and you are the easiest person to fool.” -Richard P. Feynman The recent severe storms once again brought the question of climate change to the fore. Climate is not the same as weather so it is not possible to blame a particular storm on man-made…
Imagine developing a serious illness, seeking medical care, presenting your Medicare card and receiving it without denials or appeals or copays or deductibles. When your healthcare team suggests a medication that will likely cure your condition, you receive it at no cost.Such a scenario describes a system that would be more fair and empathetic, and…
Marshall Hawkins has had, by all accounts, a very eventful life, including touring with well-known entertainers and teaching students who would succeed in many aspects of life. The wisdom and grace he radiates certainly qualifies him to be Idyllwild’s ambassador-at-large. Therefore, when he says that his experience travelling to Tanzania with the Karimu Foundation was…
I began to write this column because I learned that one-third of U.S. citizens didn’t realize that the Affordable Care Act was the same as Obamacare, so I thought there was a need for enlightenment about healthcare in our country. It was my intention to base my comments on facts, but also to encourage readers…
I am writing this on the 52nd anniversary of the official signing by President Lyndon Johnson of the legislation enacting Medicare, generally regarded as the most successful and popular U.S. government program ever. Just as many of us take inventory on our birthdays, this seems like a good time to consider what Medicare is and…
