"It's A Different World . . .

. . . than where I come from."

Or so the TV jingle goes. This morning, probably like about half the country, I feel as if I am trapped inside a really bad reality TV show - with some really bad dialogue. Only time will tell.

Alas, it's time I don't think we have.

I am resolved, however, as I make my own "Decision 2008" (which I shall blog about shortly), to be more gracious in defeat than the Gore & Kerry camps of years past. The new regime (and that's what it is - with majorities in the House and Senate) will get a chance to show me what it's made of.

But I am descended from tea-tossers and rebels. They'd better not disappoint.

On the drive down East last night (before the election was called), NPR was citing exit polls that indicated one of the most important issues of our day is healthcare - how it is delivered and how it is paid for.

I agree with that. Most, if not all of my problems in Asheboro found their origin in the clash between medicine as a "business" and medicine as an art/science/calling.

Today, a dear friend goes for an ultrasound of her breast - to evaluate a mass found on mammogram at Randolph Hospital nearly two weeks ago. Incredibly to me, it took that long for my friend (who, as you might imagine, is scared to death) to get the information out of Randolph (a tragedy of errors in itself) and get follow-up appointments made elsewhere (out-of-town).

As I hold my breath on her behalf, I seethe. For I've had my share of lumps and bumps - and have NEVER been treated the way she was. I cannot imagine waiting that long with that kind of fear in your heart.

The thing about technology is that all the bells and whistles in the world don't mean a hill-of-beans if you don't have people who really care behind it.

I've digressed. Unlike so many in the blogosphere, I am not going to spit nails and burn up the type-keys railing against what is done and cannot be undone. I am going to look ahead. I see my disgust with the state of my profession as a starting point to reach across the aisle . . . to people in Raleigh (ala Bev Perdue and Roy Cooper) that I do not trust . . . who have repeatedly disrespected & treated a doctor-formerly-in-public-service like garbage in her pursuit of justice denied.

GSO blogger king, Roch Smith does not EVER get to lecture me on "situational ethics".

Local sources say, in keeping with the pattern of corruption that has ruled Raleigh for decades, that a good portion of my problem has been Randolph CEO Bob Morrison's personal relationships & friendships with the people now celebrating their political victories. His networking is worthy of a Wall Street fat cat.

So it will be interesting to see if the "good-ole-girl" can break free from her rotting roots. My hopes are not very high.

As I reviewed the election results this morning, it occurred to me that the problem with the new and different world in North Carolina, is that blue or red, it's not so new and not very different.

But someone very wise once said you had to be the change you want to see in the world.

I am resolved that it WILL BE a different world . . . for me and for those taking office.

Business will not be as usual.