Ralph Nader Speaks

We just got back from hearing Ralph Nader talk at the West Hartford public library. He's on a book tour, promoting Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us. I'd already bought it for B for the holidays, and we had it signed. We read the first few pages in lines and waiting for the event to start. All in all, it was a good event. It was cool to meet Mr. Nader and hear him talk. It was pretty much what you'd expect if you've heard him talk in recent years.

The talk was free, but open only to the first 100 people, so we got in line for tickets about an hour before they started handing them out. (The line was inside the library, so it's not like there wasn't anything to do. It was probably much better than any other Black Friday line.) Once armed with our tickets, we got in another line for the book-signing, to which Nader was late because of traffic coming over Talcott Mountain. In the meantime, we posed for the cameras and thought of questions to ask him. B asked if he would run for president again. He didn't seem too interested in that. Others asked if he would run for Dodd's CT senate seat, but he was decidedly non-committal.

His talk focused on the book, which is neither fact nor fiction. It's his imaginary tale of what would happen if 17 super-rich Americans (Ted Turner, Warren Buffet, Bill Cosby, etc.) got together and decided to use their money, power, and knowledge for the greater good. I haven't gotten very far and it's a long book, but it sounds like Nader has fleshed out an outline of all the changes that need to be made to the country (and the world) to solve all the problems. He truly believes this would work, and he talks about this book as "proof" of this. (Of course, the book takes place in his imaginary world, so it's only really proof that it would work in his imagination.) I'll report on the content of the book after I've read it.

When they opened for questions, somebody needed to get the ball rolling and I've had plenty of experience listening to talks and trying to think of a good question, so I asked, "Have you talk to any of your characters? Do they see this as a sort of challenge?" He said he sent them each a copy when it came out, but he doesn't think they've read it yet. Yoko Ono wanted to know if he portrayed her as a "little dragon," whatever that means. He didn't seem to think of it as a challenge to the rich, which is how I saw it. I mean, there are all these super-rich people who want to do good (Bill Gates, for example, made his fortune with the express purpose of philanthropy), and Nader has laid out a step-by-step plan for changing the world. But to him, I think, it's more of a challenge on a smaller scale. After all, he's in West Hartford, and though there aren't a lot of super-rich people, there are some regular-rich people who could probably do a good deal if they tried. He seemed to be speaking to that purpose, to get the rich organized.

And of course, he had that hint of disorganization in his speech that makes him a little less personable than, say, Bill Clinton. You know, how he's always a touch stand-offish and know-it-allish. He spouts off numbers and statistics in a way that makes you think maybe he's making it all up. Because how can all that be true and people aren't up in arms about it? Well, that's his point.

The most entertaining part was when he did a lengthy stand-up routine outlining the modern evening news schedule, focusing on the suspense they try to inject into the weather report.

Health Care Reform?

My health insurance pays for 4 doctor's visits a year, with a $20 co-pay for each. After those 4 visits, I'm supposed to pay the whole cost (until I meet my deductible, which will never happen).

In February, I had a routine physical. In April, I had a lady-parts annual exam. In June I went to a dermatologist for a mole-check (also routine for someone with fair skin and a family history of skin cancer). And in October I had my annual eye exam.

My calculations are that since I don't need a physical every year, I should have one "free" doctor's visit each year, in case I get sick, except the years when I get a physical. Also, if I space them out strategically (like going for an annual exam every 15 months), I might be able to work in physical without sacrificing my "free" appointment.

By the way, I had an issue with my eye exam. I went to my eye doctor in CA, the one who knows me and asks about my life and treats my parents and is listed in one of the many optometrist listings on my insurance website. But when I got there her assistant said they don't take my insurance, and so I have to pay up front and send in the claim to be reimbursed. I called my insurance company, whose representative said I was using the wrong online listing, and I probably wouldn't be reimbursed, but that it would be subject to my deductible. So I sent the claim in, along with a letter explaining the situation, and how miffed I was. I also sent the whole packet to my state and federal representatives, just so they know how dumb health insurance is. (I don't by any means think this is the worst the insurance company could do. One of my greatest fears is that I will get cancer and my health insurance will drop my coverage. And I said so in the letter.) By the time I got back to CT, there was a check waiting for me. Surprise! My insurance company had reimbursed me all but the $20 co-pay. I also got a letter from Lieberman about how dedicated he is to health care reform, but not the public option. Douchebag.

Anyway, that's not the point. This is the point: After my October eye exam, I had to go until February without needing to see the doctor, but then I got sick. I went to the doctor, paid my $20 co-pay got my prescription, and got better. I expected to get a bill from the doctor saying my insurance wouldn't pay the rest of the bill (since it was my 5th visit in a year).

Instead, I got a check for $20 from a different doctor. WTF? They say I overpaid. They didn't say who or when, or for what, just, "Here's $20." Whatever. I'm not asking questions. I'm just cashing the check.

Joey Pigza Loses Control

Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos


My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Joey Pigza has ADD (or something that makes him hyper), and usually he has a patch that keeps him grounded. But when visiting his father (who has a similar condition, but has always self-medicated with nicotine and alcohol), his father pressures Joey to go off his meds. Joey loses control.

There isn't much to say about this book except that I feel like I have a better understanding of what kids may feel like with unmedicated ADD (or whatever it is). I understand that for some kids this really is a hormonal imbalance that leads to a disability, and for Joey that really seems to be the case. (He likes himself better when he's on his meds, he's able to sleep, he makes better decisions, etc.) But for some kids it's not, and this book gives no context or explanation or balance to that side of the argument, even though I think Joey's dad may believe the medication is preventing Joey from being who he "really is". I think this is a series and maybe there was a book that came before in which Joey was diagnosed and this was discussed. But it's not in this one.

So yes, this book gives a pretty good idea of what it's like to need medication to be able to focus. But I think there's more to the issue than what's presented here.