How Can the U.S. Constitutional System Cope When Big Fracking Bucks mean Big Toxin Dumping?

With New Forms of Toxic Waste from the Fracking Bonanza Piling Up, What Must Be Done? I really like the PBS documentary mini-series Constitution USA, because it brings forward the constitutional arguments that are so relevant to the problems we face in our country today.  It explores a worthy cross-section of important legal/constitutional debates with … Continue reading “How Can the U.S. Constitutional System Cope When Big Fracking Bucks mean Big Toxin Dumping?”

Diamonds in the Rough ‘n Tumble Webternets: What Med-people of Conscience Are Blogging (Part 4/4)

Part 4 of 4 of the series When Life and Death is “A Matter of Policy” For part 2, I wrote an overview of some of the bad things that have occurred when people in medical settings follow policy strictly even when it leads to horrible consequences, or in the case of Eric Garner, they … Continue reading “Diamonds in the Rough ‘n Tumble Webternets: What Med-people of Conscience Are Blogging (Part 4/4)”

Human Nature, the Tendency to OBEY, Bad Incentives, and the U.S. Medical System (Part 3/4)

Part 3 of 4 of the series When Life and Death is “A Matter of Policy” In part 2, I examined some of the bad things that can happen when people in medical settings apply “the rules” strictly, unmodified by the patient involved or the dictates of conscience. Now I’ll look at the what and why … Continue reading “Human Nature, the Tendency to OBEY, Bad Incentives, and the U.S. Medical System (Part 3/4)”

Paramedics, the VA, and Eric Garner: When Deference to Authority Goes Horribly Wrong (Part 2/4)

Part 2 of 4 of the series When Life and Death is “A Matter of Policy” Annnnnnnnnd we’re back… in part one of this series, I detailed one policy driven by No Discernable Medical Purpose (NDMP), and that’s the “no foreign ventilator” policy hospitals have, affecting me in the past and maybe at points in the … Continue reading “Paramedics, the VA, and Eric Garner: When Deference to Authority Goes Horribly Wrong (Part 2/4)”

Medical Bureaucracy: Switching Your Ventilator “Because Policy” (Part 1/4)

Part 1 of 4 of the series: When Life and Death is “A Matter of Policy” As I mentioned recently in the quasi-mission statement of the blog, I create bloggings to ask the right questions, to illuminate the unseen issues facing us ignored vulnerable groups, or that’s the goal.  Within that is the idea that … Continue reading “Medical Bureaucracy: Switching Your Ventilator “Because Policy” (Part 1/4)”

OMG! Invasive Species: Asian Carp Confound U.S. System

The Mississippi River watershed a post-aCARPalypse world, the Great Lakes fear Carpmageddon! Verb: zerg (third-person singular simple present zergs, present participle zerging, simple past and past participle zerged) (slang, video games, strategy games) To attack an opponent with a large swarm of units before they have been able to build sufficient defenses. From the game StarCraft (1998), in … Continue reading “OMG! Invasive Species: Asian Carp Confound U.S. System”

In a Nutshell: America’s Regulatory Octopus and Non-working Toilets

Part of a new series, “In a Nutshell,” in which I try to explain an idea in 500 words or less. When the tentacles of regulation clog your toilet The Commerce Clause of Article I of the U.S. Constitution gives Congress the power “To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the … Continue reading “In a Nutshell: America’s Regulatory Octopus and Non-working Toilets”

High-Speed Rail Vital for PWD and the Nation; Why Have the Promises Evaporated?

High-Speed Rail (HSR) would help everyone and boost the economy but would disproportionately benefit PWD—people with disabilities—because for a significant percentage of us, it’s difficult to impossible to use the airlines. And with the TSA confusing the grit you get on your hands operating a manual wheelchair with “bomb residue” again and again, fewer PWD … Continue reading “High-Speed Rail Vital for PWD and the Nation; Why Have the Promises Evaporated?”

The Social vs. Medical Model of Disability, Communities Will Be Forced To Choose

You may or may not know about the medical model and the social model of disability. I wanted to talk about the social model of services and supports for people with disabilities, and barriers to implementing it. When you think about disability internationally, most disabled people in countries around the world are taken care of … Continue reading “The Social vs. Medical Model of Disability, Communities Will Be Forced To Choose”

Nick’s Essay on America’s Decline, with Big Solutions (long)

I’ve been away for quite some time, I know, but I haven’t stopped thinking about public policy and the way things are going. They aren’t going well. I followed the health care reform debate with a magnifying glass throughout, and came away deeply disgusted in both the final product and the process that made that … Continue reading “Nick’s Essay on America’s Decline, with Big Solutions (long)”

Fix The Broken Foundation Before Building A Skyscraper On Top Of It

My biggest beef with Health Care Reform right now is that we’re building a new tower on top of a broken foundation. Medicare and Medicaid are badly broken, and we’re building more programs on top of that. Bad idea. Insurance company bureaucracy is even worse, but federal programs have to be significantly better in the … Continue reading “Fix The Broken Foundation Before Building A Skyscraper On Top Of It”

Ninth “Nick’s Crusade” Video Blog: Too Many Setbacks To Count

The Ninth “Nick’s Crusade” Video Blog Ninth “Nick’s Crusade” Video Blog: Too Many Setbacks To Count (June 15, 2009) from Alejandra Ospina on Vimeo. Too Many Setbacks To Count Videographer: Alejandra Ospina Writer/Director/Editor: Nick Dupree Music by The Eagles Footage of The Count from this YouTube video Finished video made with Corel VideoStudio by Nick Dupree … Continue reading “Ninth “Nick’s Crusade” Video Blog: Too Many Setbacks To Count”

Obama’s Blunder: Hiring Too Many Cooks

I like Barack Obama; I voted for him because I wanted a fresh start beyond the stale 1960s debates, Olbermann vs. O’Reilly daily “hot button issue” and endless socialism vs. capitalism rock ‘em-sock ‘em robots that lead us nowhere and accomplish nothing.  We can’t afford that crap in times like these.  And I wanted a serious … Continue reading “Obama’s Blunder: Hiring Too Many Cooks”

Medical Personnel’s Hands So Tied By Liability Concerns They Hesitate To Save A Life

Months ago, a serious incident happened on Unit A13. Suddenly, I heard the operator blast over the loudspeaker “CODE BLUE A-APPLE-13!! CODE BLUE A-APPLE-13!!” Aides frantically checked all the patients, coming to me first (because I’m in the first room). They ran up and down the hall. Everyone was fine. “WHERE’S THE CODE??” It wasn’t … Continue reading “Medical Personnel’s Hands So Tied By Liability Concerns They Hesitate To Save A Life”