A Question for Doctors and NP's

When I was young, a visit to the doctor was and annual occurrence. at most, for a DPT booster...if something like a broken bone, or stitches, wasn't required. I remember four events that required a special visit. One was for stitching up my chin after trying to tight-rope walk on a bassinet. One was for a broken finger while playing dodge ball, one was for addressing red streaks running up my leg after being stung by a wasp, and one was for being knocked out, with a concussion, while playing softball in gym. Bad scrapes, cuts that didn't cause large open wounds, colds, flu, measles, mumps, and chicken pox were handled at home without a visit to the doctor. A visit to the ER was out of the question. That was for life-threatening events, which was decided by parents, emergency personnel, and finances. 

Today, people go to urgent care, or emergency rooms, for things not contemplated as requiring such things in the past. A visit to either shows people ratchet-jawing on their phone as they wait for the doctor, or nurse practitioner. Very sick children I can understand, but when they're fidgeting, complaining, and don't show any sign of severe malaise, or injury, I wonder if there is really a necessity for the visit. That brings me to my question: What percentage of visits are medically necessary, and what percentage could have been handled at home, with over the counter medications? It seems the percentage is probably too high for unnecessary visits, but that's just an opinion.

Paying Their Debt For a Student Loan

I can't fathom the amount of money given to students without any collateral, especially the loans secured by the stealing of money from taxpayers. It's over a trillion dollars, with a substantial amount of the loans in default. So, without any recourse, except for wage garnishment, how are taxpayers going to be reimbursed for the largess of some corrupt politicians? 

Should universities be on the hook for the majority of the unpaid debt? Even our local university used the easiness of securing a loan to peddle degrees that flooded the market with potential employees without an avenue toward a job in the future. Many were two year technical degrees, but the market didn't support the number of students. That's unconscionable,  and the stupidity should fall on the university. If they have to rob their trusts, sell some of their real estate, and lay off some of their employees, then maybe that's part of the solution. They sold their snake oil, and it's time they became responsible for the problems they created. 

What about the politicians? They were involved with passing legislation that allowed the waste of taxpayer funds. Maybe their pensions should be taken, their salaries garnished, and those still in office faced with a very small staff. No junkets, fact finding missions, and no travel on military aircraft. They created this problem, and should bear some of the costs. 

The students are responsible too. They signed the agreement, and many either are paying in good faith, or have paid off their loans, but the default rate is too high. To make things worse, with the only jobs available for some degrees, and income that doesn't support the loan amount, paying the loan, and living, can't happen. That money is lost, and recovery will never happen. 

So, it appears the only loser in this student loan debacle is the taxpayers that produced, had their income reduced to pay for student loans, and were betrayed by the government. Expecting them to burden more is not an option. If the government has to sell off some national parks, stop giving any money in foreign aid, and go after the money promised to be repaid after the last world war, then so be it. Enough is enough, and it's time this problem is solved.

New Eye Glasses

 I've worn glasses for years. They correct for astigmatism, and seeing closely. I've always worn progressive lens glasses, until this time. I decided on bifocals, which don't require finding the "sweet spot" for whatever is being observed. It's a change, and typing at the computer now requires my readers. I can use the bifocals, but they cause an unnatural tilting of my head, and I'm finding the neck strain I would have is gone. Also, my peripheral vision is better. I don't have to turn my head as far to see side road traffic. That would exacerbate my sore neck. Still it's a change, but in the next few years, my ophthalmologist thinks cataract surgery will be required for my cataracts. As of now, I don't have the terrible night vision, or the dullness of light advanced cataracts can cause.  

High Level Incompetence

I've worked with some highly qualified people that were a credit to their profession. Their knowledge allowed them to make good choices, justified their position, and eliminated the boondoggles that happen on every project. Most had some years under their belt, but there were younger professionals that were a credit to their advanced education. 

As time went on, and my years increased in construction, I found of who should have been the culls still in positions they couldn't handle, and in many situations, those in the public sector were advanced in position to solve the problem of not being able to terminate their employment. Their power was wielded without understanding the costs, or damage to their reputation. One, I called the "Smiling Menace". They grinned like a jackass eating briars constantly, and regardless of how ridiculous their decisions were, held fast to their decisions because their ignorance overruled their knowledge. 

The article below explains the problems with universities. Those that should have never reached the top in running the university now hold positions they use to stroke their incompetency fueled ego. They're releasing graduates that have degrees that demand a competency they don't have, and the ultimate result will be a strong unwillingness to hire those from these universities, and a suspicion of college graduates.

Link 

The Might of the Rank

I've been watching the news reports about base commanders pulling rank, thumbing their noses at the highest ranking members of the military, and forgetting their arbitrary abuse of power can be their downfall. Maybe they think they're right, but in the military, you're subordinate to the President and Vice President. Piss them off, and you might find yourself walking down the road and kicking cans.