On Andy Griffith And A Goddess Named Panacea: "I've Decided To SHAME These Political Posers (Obama & Burr & Miller & Marshal Et Al.) - At EVERY Opportunity"

For those who are not in the blogging know, "General Greensboro" is the moderator of the story boards at the Greensboro News & Record.  I've not done a lot of battle over there in quite a while.  You see, when you're banned from the Newspaper Editor's blog (for questioning - almost prophetically as it turned out - his effectiveness on the job), it kinda puts a damper on things.

And it IS an ECHO chamber.  I clued-in fairly early-on in my not-so-magical-mystery-tour through the local blogosphere.

What makes my experience in citizen journalism all the more ironic/sad/pathetic when is the-same-local-newspaper-Editor-who-invited-me-into-the ether uses an article from several states away to bemoan how hard he & his team have had trying to breach "the White Wall of medicine".  I mean, having stories handed to you on a silver platter makes protecting the public from evil doctors must be sooooooo hard (never mind that the story-in-question was gift-wrapped for you by a local doctor - and it's not just about doctors).

(It's the reason I do not feel sorry AT ALL for the N&R's ex-medical blogger/reporter, Lex Alexander . . . now finding out what it's like to be a private citizen writing letters to Congressmen & Senators.  Lex once had a golden opportunity to take a story brought-to-him-by-a-fellow-blogger and RUN with it.  He didn't.  A lot of that was about his own partisanship. 

I've read Lex's recent letters to his elected representatives.  He seems to have the patently ridiculous notion that they are there to serve us.  And the letters are actually almost funny in the sense that this man is one of the people who used to lecture me on my own sometimes less-than-tactful approach to politicians blowing-me-off.

Don't be angry Lex.  Get over it.  Move on.  Maybe you should see a shrink.)

Of course, it's not all Lex's fault.  I know that the much larger problem is that the doctor's tail of woe does not (1) reflect well on a major advertiser, and (2) doesn't fit its liberal agenda that more intervention by government can solve all of medicine's woes.   So, no matter how much evidence-you've-REFUSED-to-look-at-for-all-of-five-years that the burned physician has . . . and no matter how relevant the doctor's story may be to the sorry state of medicine (and the economy) today . . .  let's continue ignoring her and calling her every ugly name under the sun because she's angry about what happened to her IN PUBLIC SERVICE right under the newspapers' smug, stuck-up, disinterested, pandering-to-the-"right-people" noses.

Yeah, that's the ticket.  And I'll raise you a, "Wish 'er well".

Given the last post here at Housecalls - about North Carolina Senator Richard Burr and Congressman Brad Miller championing the "emerging pattern" of retaliation against medical whistle-blowers at a Pennsylvania VA hospital (never mind that "the pattern" emerged well over a decade ago - and extends to all branches of military and public health - and has long been ignored by noble politicos like Burr and Miller unless there was something in it for them - and is most certainly NOT best exemplified by the FAKE case of Anna Chacko) - a headline this week at the N&R intrigued me.

North Carolina "favorite son" (at least to the deep, deep blues) Andy Griffith, backed by $700,000 taxpayer/Medicare dollars courtesy of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Obamacare gave them lots of our money to throw around), has been featured in an ad directed at seniors - describing all of the wonderful new benefits that will be flowing from Obama's fountain-of-health.

Long story short.  Senator Richard Burr hates it.

Truth is, I'm more or less indifferent.  It is (for sure) a crass, opportunistic move on the part of the Obama administration to promote its agenda through an old TV star who is beloved by many in this state (ironically because his wholesome, home-boy image dates back to a time when managers, businessmen, and third parties were not in the healthcare mix) . . . and PURE MANIPULATION . . . not unlike fake-son Opie's fawning pro-Obama ads before the 2008 election.

(Don't-cha just get tired of the Hollywood gadzillionaires telling the rest of us what we should think and do?  It's a huge part of what's wrong with this country now.)

But in the great scheme of things, Richard Burr has a whole lot more he could complain about . . . and fix.

In the spirit of old-times, I hung around and did some blog-battle on the N&R's "Burr-disses-on-poor-Andy" thread . . . with a regular commenter who goes by the moniker of "Panacea" (Panacea was the Greek Goddess of healing - for those who occasionally mock my decision to use my real name & the-title-I-earned in the blogosphere, I must say someone has a really high opinion of herself). 

I'm not going to re-hash the whole thread here - we will just be hitting the highlights.  Suffice it to say that the Goddess has been an Obama-loving shill on the boards since day one.  She says she's a nurse with all kinds of mad real-word experience in a variety of practice settings/locations (in other words, a lot like me - albeit for different reasons).  She says she was once fired from a job in the Department of Corrections (I will "assume" it was in N.C.) because she reported a Breton Juberg-type situation to the higher-ups.  She currently makes her living by teaching and some Hospice work - and (wait for it) medically-forensically reviewing charts for malpractice lawyers (as was demonstrated in the thread, she may be a self-described clinical expert, but when it comes to the actual successful prosecution of a malpractice claim, she does not have a very firm grasp of how the law actually works).

Trouble is, I cannot vet ANY of that because Panacea does not sign her name (most probably because she sells her expert opinion to lawyers, and a lot of what she's said an done on the N&R boards could chew up her credibility on the stand).  What's more, she wears the fact that she's not  "required" to sign her name like some badge of honor.  And, for purely political/partisan reasons, she can slam and dice up folks who do put it all out there (like me), and cast all kinds of not-so-subtle aspersions against our characters/mental health . . . because we've suffered mightily under blue-party rule . . . and fought the good fight THAT SHE DIDN'T HAVE THE STOMACH FOR.

But we're the ones with no credibility.  We're too embittered and need to get over it.  Move forward and all that jazz.  It's "sad" that she can, and I can't.

(Now WHERE have I heard that before?)

Panacea loves Obamacare - and she's got all the talking points down.  Obama's plan will equalize the playing field and everyone will get "their fair share".  She leaves out the part about it being a "fair share" of someone else's time/life/labor . . . or that all of the insurance changes (which sure smells un-Constitutional) that we-who-feel-some-personal-responsibility-for-the-choices-we-make will be forced to navigate DO NOT NOW AND WILL NEVER apply to HUGE portions of the population that are already getting their healthcare FOR FREE (never mind that IT AIN'T FREE and that's what is really bankrupting this nation).

According to Panacea, tort reform, whistle-blower protection and medical peer review reform (all of which might cut down on the actual need to sue doctors-she-deems-bad into oblivion) . . . not-to-mention setting some limits on who-gets-what-for-free-how-much-do-they-get-and-why . . . were NOT necessary in the grand social experiment that will essentially turn doctors into mindless drones following government-approved cookbooks-of-care . . . and rationing it to serve what's best for their salaries (as employees).

(I'm "interpreting" her talking points.)

She does not seem to realize that she is describing a scenario in which the "art" of medicine will totally go out the window.  The physician-patient relationship as we know it will crumble.  And yes, I expect you will be able to get more doctors on-the-cheap . . . because you won't need the deep-thinkers . . . or the brightest and the best . . .or the dedication to work ethic & patient care that most doctors now possess.  Moreover, no one is going to be motivated to spend decades in school/training - or postpone personal lives & happiness (much less go above-and-beyond) for the crumbs the government/insurance companies are going to want to throw.

In short, I think Panacea is seriously deluded about what Obamacare is going to do for medicine and patient care.

No.  In Panacea's view, Obamacare is the law-of-the-land now . . . and if we lesser-pay-the-bills-that-kill-beings do not like how it was passed . . . . or the expense and the "unintended consequences" we will be burdened with (because, as Panacea ADMITS, no one really knows how the bill will work - and that's because so few of the legislators who voted for it actually read it - much less understood it), well, we need to just sit down and shut up.

We need to, "wait and see."  Butterflies and bunnies are coming.  Just you wait.

What our dear Panacea does not seem to grasp is that both she and I stand as perfect examples of why Obamacare, as passed, is going to mire this country down in muck-the-likes-of-which-we-cannot-yet-imagine (and this will bring me back to Richard and Brad):

Panacea is basing her opinion, that she will not stand behind with her name (ergo, in realistic terms, it counts only for one vote and some noise in the ether), on a pile of do-gooding, high-minded theories that ANYONE who has ever slaved away in the Federal and state systems can tell you are DOOMED to the pissest-of-poor oversight (and that would be if things stood as they did before this bill was passed). 

But things do NOT stand as they were.  For Obamacare has added 2000+ pages of new regulations to enforce (by the poorly-equipped IRS no less) - on top of what was already not being enforced.  It's just INSANE!

Here's the other thing that bothers me about Panacea:  Both in her personal/professional life - and in her blogging - she is not "required" to sign her name . . . or go above-and-beyond (in terms of fighting back against the wrong that she says was done her) . . . so she just doesn't. 

But she'll stand in harsh judgement of those who do and did . . . especially if their life & professional experience casts aspersions upon her super-hero-President's pseudo-socialist agenda.

And I'm sorry, that makes her really no better than the anonymous doctors providing answers in the recent AMA study that "disturbed" her so much.

I left my last comment at the N&R last night.  It was a detailed, honest-to-God attempt to make the Goddess understand just how totally my life was derailed (financially and personally) by what Randolph Hospital did . . . and why I have ZERO faith in Obamacare's ability to fix healthcare without lending an ear to people like me.

You see, I once was a salaried employee . . . of a "non-profit" . . . serving under the "oversight" of a Federal program . . . who played by ALL of the rules. 

Yet LOOK at what happened to me. 

Panacea does not get that Obamacare is no panacea. You can pass all of the rules and regulations and guidelines in the world.  They do not matter and make no difference if no one cares enough to enforce them.

Panacea also does not seem to grasp that I actually do not have to specifically debate every point she thows out . . . and that's because my VERY EXISTENCE in this blogosphere . . . threatened, fired, SLAPP-sued, swindled . . . . my case ignored by government officials and law enforcement - my personal and professional life derailed . . . ridiculed by journalists and bloggers who declare boldly to anyone who will listen that they're all about accountability & transparency & real change, but who've done nothing but sneer & spit at me . . . stands as VIVID counter-point to every "argument" she made in her comments in the Burr thread.

I'm living proof that Obamacare, as legislated, is NOT going to work.

Panacea returned - as did another anonymous commenter - to berate me for being (I'm paraphrasing some of it) go-for-the-throat-angry, selfish, not-diplomatic, money-grubbing, and (once-again) somehow mentally-unbalance for not "cutting my losses" and "tilting at windmills".

Same old crap-tactics.  Different day.  Indeed, much the same thing happened yesterday at The Provocateur - after I did not pounce on an "anon's" invite to stand beside fake whistle-blower, Anna Chacko, throw out all principle, and turn on the charm to woo politicians like Richard Burr and Brad Miller to a common cause.

My comment (responding to the suggestion to hone and package my message for said politicians):

. . . I've brought a case with both Federal and state jurisdiction to the authorities - with a charge that has NO statute-of-limitations. I should not have to be hiring a lawyer (to drain-me-dry) . . . or filing a lawsuit to get said authorities attention.

My case could have been PREVENTED with a couple of well-placed phone calls on the part of a Federal official/Congressional representative twelve years ago. It could be easily nipped-in-the-bud now in the same fashion. This hospital is a JCAHO-accreditied "non-profit" that lives off certificates-of-need and Federal money. It's just not that hard to make them own up and play fair. I've only ever asked that people do their jobs.

Moreover, the "legalities" here are WIDE OPEN.

As for lawyers, after getting SLAPP-sued for telling the government-I-served the TRUTH . . . and watching those who sued me RUN from their own despicable intimidation-tactic like little girls . . . and knowing that they lied their asses off in their own discovery responses to get out on the cheap . . . the lawyers just don't scare me anymore. Moreover, I'm not paying out another damned dime to a lawyer in the uber-corrupt North Carolina legal system when I am the victim of a crime.

In fact, a lawyer actually told me to "raise some hell". And guess what? He doesn't have to charge me for that.

Moving on along to "salesmanship" and "overwhelming evidence" (that the authorities and journalists and local bloggers have literally REFUSED to even look at), as a former public servant-done-way-beyond-dirty, I've spent over TWELVE years "auditioning" and "crafting" my message into sound bites and jumping though hoops of people who cannot seem to ask one objective question of those I accuse. And I am &^%$#@! DONE with that.

A LOT of people (including NC Congresman Brad Miller and NC Senator Richard Burr - currently bending over backwards and setting deadlines for out-of-state doctors, Chacko and Van Boven) KNOW that I'm in the blogosphere. My home address and my phone number and my e-mail have not changed in years.

My biggest message for those in oversight who might be embarrassed/disturbed by this government's apathy and gross negligence: LOOK THEM UP.

Because I've written all the letters I'm going to write to my "representatives" in the land-of-John-Edwards-and-Mike-Nifong. You see, what's been done to me has been ALL about who THEIR cronies are.

With regards to legislation, that goes for Mr. Devine too. I'm here. I've been here FOR YEARS. Would be happy to chat him up/testify. But I'm DONE begging.

And as for teaming up with Anna Chacko. No thank you. She is claiming to be something she is NOT. It would be a slap in the face to anyone who has actually bled real blood for the sin of blowing a real whistle.

And further on down:

OBTW, I did "diplomacy". For a VERY long time. I was as nice as I could be. But without a lot of money . . . or the "right" name . . . or power . . . it matters about as much as the lives of those ripped-off soldiers-with-brain-injuries.

So I've decided to SHAME these political posers - at EVERY opportunity.

The anon (who I suspect what Chacko or one of her cronies) went from turning on the charm - and seeking an alliance - to telling me I needed a shrink in all of a New York minute.  Reminds me of the Qui-Tam chasers at Semmelweis.

But I'm sorry.  I wasn't born yesterday, and I'm just not that pathetically desperate.  I do have standards.

(In the interest of full disclosure, not everyone rains on the parade. Mike Volpe did e-mail me, and tell me that he liked my comments very much . . . that they were "fiesty".)

And that finally brings us back to "General Greensboro".  As is the N&R's long-standing modus operandi when Dr. Mary lands a torpedo too close to their bow, the comments on the thread were closed . . . AFTER the comments disparaging me were lodged.  The General's reasoning was that the thread had been "de-railed" . . . nevermind that a doctor and a nurse were debating the very Obamacare that good-ole-homeboy-Andy Griffith was endorsing.  No chance was afforded for me to counter the ugly comments (ergo, the reason we are here).

Me being me, I dropped an e-mail to "the General" to complain.  But I don't expect to hear anything the N&R.  The General is probably JR.

General Greensboro kinda reminds me of the Confederate soldier who stands in front of Asheboro's Courthouse. 

When it comes to fighting the battles that count, he's facing defiantly in the wrong direction.

And if this kind of blind, partisan, entitlement-soaked, doctor-hating garbage keeps up, I suspect all those seniors good-ole-Andy Griffith is trying to re-assure are going to have a very hard time finding a doctor.

"Sheriff" Andy won't have to worry, of course.  He's taken his money and run.

(Authors's Note:  That's it for today folks.  I'm out of the ether for the weekend.  My next post will be up sometime middle-of-next-week.  I promise that it will be a doosey - working the shame angel - and that Randolph Hospital is NOT going to like it one bit.)