my views on healthcare reform

I am not writing about Obama’s healthcare reform plan. I’m not debating about the different arguments of republicans or democrats or the faults or merits of their plans. I am writing about what I think.

Christiana told me of a man in the army who was very republican, anti government healthcare, etc. That is, until he found out he has MS. Since it’s considered a preexisting condition, the army doesn’t have to do anything about it. So suddenly he’s going to be kicked out of the army with no insurance and a lifetime of medical needs ahead of him. Now he is all for universal healthcare.

There is another man in the south that started up a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to drive children to doctors appointments, because their families can’t even afford to drive them there.

Maybe the bills going on right now about healthcare reform are flawed. Maybe it should all be thrown out and started over again. But it SHOULD happen. Just because you disagree with HOW something is being done doesn’t mean that the cause isn’t worthy. Healthcare for everyone; that any man woman or child can go see a doctor if they are sick or in pain. Why wouldn’t we want that? Because it means higher taxes? I do not enjoy paying taxes any more than anyone else – but if ever there was a cause worthy of my money, this is it.

We think it’s so noble when we hear of doctors volunteering their time to go to third world countries and help the people there. In fact, we think it’s such a worthy cause that many of us make donations so they can do this! So I ask you, why not here? Why would you do that for a stranger and not your neighbor?

Perhaps I am biased. I am, after all, one of those millions of people who know that when my insurance contract runs out – I’m going to be in big trouble.

My point is this: You can disagree with how people are going about healthcare reform. You can argue that this isn’t the way to do it. But please don’t blanket the entire idea with a sense of impending doom. Stop arguing over who’s right and who’s wrong and this person said this. It IS a worthy cause. If we can spend billions of dollars to pay for a war, and hundreds of billions of dollars to bail out financial firms, we can damn well spend some money to get kids in to see a doctor.

So many people speculate on the possible negative things that would happen if we implement healthcare reform. It’s true, some of these worries even have some merit. But we know what will happen if we don’t do anything. People are just going to keep dying.

If you’re reading this, then you’re my friend or part of my family. You’re an intelligent person, with a kind heart. Use that intelligence to find solutions instead of arguing and forwarding emails warning of the evils and possible downfalls.

That’s all. I just wanted to get that off my chest.

-Dylan

Petitioning the Academic Council

I have a dilemma.

My biology professor has offered to get me an internship at the University of California next summer in a biology lab. I'd be doing my own research project, and it pays! It's pretty much perfect.

Problem!
In order to be eligible for this internship, I need to get my next 2 biology courses done. One this fall, one in the spring.
The biology I need to take this fall has a co-requisite of a certain chemistry class, which would normally be no big deal. The problem is, the chemistry class has a prerequisite of either Chem2 or high school chemistry.

Problem with taking Chem2: I don't have time! If I take chem2, I won't finish my requirements in time for the internship.

Problem with high school chemistry: I didn't take it! I joined the army instead!!

So I have to petition the college Academic Council this coming Tuesday and convince them to, as my adviser put it, "ignore their own policies and make an exception just for you."

Basically, if I fail, the internship goes to someone else and I lose the opportunity of a lifetime. I do have a 4.0 on my side - but that only gets you so far. My adviser advised me to get a letter from my professor in support of this plan - unfortunately, he's speaking at a big biology conference at the Burgess Shale right now and I have no way to get a hold of him.

Blah!!

Any great ideas as to how to make myself look as smart and dedicated as possible?

-Dylan

every beginning is another beginning's end

It's finals week. I just finished my biology lecture exam and the lab practical. Only 3 more finals to go this week and I'm done with the semester!!

At least... I get one week off, the I start summer semester. I do believe it will be like this for the next several years.

So, sorry I haven't been posting anything exciting - it's cause I haven't done anything exciting. Study study study.

Jameson is growing at a steady pound a week - I think he may get a bit bigger than we thought...

-Dylan

Pictures of the kids :) and some dear...

grr

Apparently the blog cut all my pictures in half. I will have to fix that later - I have to go to school now. Check back this weekend for the other half! :P

-Dylan

Beach Pictures

Stairs to the beach are closed this time of year so the seals and have their pups



Baby seals





The Cove



















I'm never more at home than when I'm up in a tree :)

Update

Well it's been far too long since I've written. Life gets busy.
While Christiana was in Germany for 5 weeks I spent the majority of my time studying. I've gotten excellent grades on all of my tests and midterms, and feel confident I'll get a 4.0 this semester. I'm especially enjoying my biology class - definitely the right major for me.
While in Germany Christiana got to go see some sights, but what I'm most jealous about is that she got to go sledding on a famous ski run in the Austrian Alps. She had so much fun, I wish I could have been there with her. But, there's always next time, and I'm glad she had some fun to keep her occupied while she was away :)
A couple days after she got back, we flew up to Seattle to visit our families. My father was having his 60th birthday party. He rented a large dance hall and about 100 people showed up. He's very much into the Seattle waltz scene and there were some incredible dancers there! Christiana and I got out and did some dancing as well, it was fun. She's quite elegant :)
We got to see the rest of the family, too - all the kids are getting so big! It's crazy. It was nice to see everybody.
Now we're back home and enjoying the quiet. We went to the beach the other day and that was nice. Yesterday we went house hunting - it's amazing how expensive this area is. $250k just doesn't get you what it should! We'll see how that goes...
In any case. Hope you're all doing well! I'll get some pictures together to post soon.

-Dylan James