Bill Maher Panel Highlights - June 19, 2009

HEALTHCARE is the main focus of much of this (followed by a great quotation by Paul Begala about 7 minutes in re Catholics and sex.) Why is the US spending so much more than everyone else to be #37 in healthcare? Blame the health INDUSTRY, including the AMA, which is only 25% of the doctors, mind you. SINGLE PAYER HEALTHCARE NOW -- the public option is the COMPROMISE -- and it must be affordable and comprehensive. NOTE: We should accept NOTHING LESS.

Sen.Sanders: Private Health Care Companies are NOT about Supplying Healthcare

Senator Bernie Sanders has this right. Insurance companies are about profit, not healthcare. They deny needed services and put road blocks in the way of those they purport to serve. We must get the profit motive out of healthcare. Make a living, yes, but not a killing!

"The function of healthcare is not to make insurance companies rich. It's to provide the best quality healthcare at the lowest possible price to all of our people." -- Senator Bernie Sanders, on Thom Hartmann, 03/27/09

Aggie's Amazin' Beans

I have to find more vegetarian recipes to enjoy without cheese in them :-) From Nutrition Action Healthletter I got Aggie's Amazin' Bean recipe, one of my favorites:

1 can of Goya Black Beans (rinsed)
Juice from one lemon
2 cloves of garlic (smashed)
Fresh parsley and/or
Fresh cilantro (To taste -- I use a handful of BOTH green types)
Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil

Let the beans marinate in the mixture at least a half an hour then HEAT a portion for a minute or two in the microwave. WOW -- yummy. The recipe says it can last a week in your refrigerator but it won't because you will EAT it. It is good cold, too, but
delicious and healthy and easy to make.

FYI: Lemons juice easier if you first plop them into hot water and then ROLL them on the counter. You can then make a small hole and squeeze -- or use a juicer if you prefer. (I have one of those orange plastic juice knobs that you insert into the lemon and then squeeze.)

Episcopal, Authority, Healing, Peace

The American Episcopal Church is going through a transitory period, which results from anger arising from the appointment of an openly gay bishop, this on top of earlier allowing women to become priests. One reason I joined the Anglican community is that it IS open to women and accepting of my gay brother. The world needs to open its heart and heal itself of old wounds. The spiritual world is part of this healing. I trust the Episcopal community will heal. Speaking on Authority this advent season is the Rev. Sharon Gracen, the vicar of Faith Episcopal Church of Liguna Niguel, California. Listen to her words and also follow the healing available through the Interfaith Alliance. Peace hugs one and all!