On Public Service In "The Village"

As I smile over John Edward's latest clinical manifestation of foot-in-mouthitis (and wait for "the scream"), I am reminded of his past failures as my Senator.

I am now inclined to turn my attention to Hillary Clinton . . . as she pulls the same stunt.

As I blogged long ago, in John Edwards' previous Presidential campaign (before he tacked on to Kerry's coat-tails), Mr. Thick-&-Beautiful-Hair once blathered poetic about public service. An excerpt from that post:

John Kerry recently proposed a program (originally put forth by Senator Edwards in his presidential campaign) that rewards a four-year college education to any young person who would provide “two years service to the United States”.

It is a noble idea – but it is not a new one – the military, as well as various public health agencies have been selling this supposedly sweet deal for years. But Dr. Johnson’s experience as an NHSC physician in Asheboro – and those of many physicians in the military – is proof positive that there is much to clean up in the federal & state programs that already make these kinds of guarantees . . . before we throw more good money after bad.

Again, the truth IS that when Senator John Edwards had the chance, he did not lift a finger to help Dr. Johnson.

Hillary is now calling for a "public service academy".

"I'm going to be asking a new generation to serve," she said. "I think just like our military academies, we need to give a totally all-paid education to young men and women who will serve their country in a public service position."

Clinton, you see (shorty after she was converted from Young Republicanism) was an intern with the Children's Defense Fund, which advocates for minority, poor and disabled children.

As usual, the liberal newbies who think they can save the world lapped it up.

"I loved her personal stories. ... It wasn't her generic speech," said Katelyn Porter, president of the College Democrats chapter at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island.

Well, Ms. Porter, any time you want some really good stories about the reality of indentured government servitude, you give me a call.

You see, I was in public service too. The National Health Service Corps. During Bill Clinton's administration. Medical school debt repaid for service to my hometown.

Got some money from a pay-back deal with the NC Office of Rural Health too.

It's funny how those "community practitioner" deals (now offered by the NC Medical Society Foundation "partnered" with NC Blue-Cross-Blue-Shield) keep changing to expand the time physicians must serve in po-dunk to pay back.

Two years becomes three . . . and four . . . and five.

"Cost of living" adjustments only go upwards for young doctors . . . as the real intent is to keep them in servitude . . . and in their place . . . longer.

Joe calls that kind of thing in government programs "incrementalism". Good word.

Hillary, dear. I was in public service too. In your husband's administration. When I was professionally raped and my practice murdered (back in 1998-99), becasue I dared to stand up against a couple of sexist "goons" (and ignored their edicts to save a life) your crony, Donna Shalala (now enjoying all the sweet perks of post-DHHS Secretary life as a university president in Florida) let me swing.

My "story" would knock Ms. Porter's naive socks off. The reality of what these "service" programs actually accomplish in many situations BITES.

I've seen it over and over again in rural communities. Young doctors come and young doctors go . . . in large part because they are treated like scum by men in suits (big sharks in little ponds) who look as them as nothing more than a replaceable commodity.

"Good Pediatricians are a dime a dozen." Hello Steve Elbin. Remember that line?

How's that visionary theory of "business" worked out for Asheboro so far, Steve?

But the medical establishment does not want these stories of doctors-killed-by-corporate medicine to get out and be told.

That is why I am heartened by efforts like this, to help empower medical students and residents, with the knowledge (of the evils of the real world) that has been with-held from them . . .

. . . knowledge that might protect them from the corporate shark-attack that did my-life-as-I- dreamed-it in.

The never-ending Presidential campaign of trial-lawyer, John Edwards is (thankfully) imploding with every new revelation/demonstration of his hypocrisy. It "IS" (don't you just love that word) time to chase Senator Clinton with the realities some of us experienced in health-care during her husband's administration.

The health-care system she was going to "fix".

Hill, I remember. I was there. In the trenches.

In your precious "village".

Viva la election year!