By Bill Falzett on 5/18/2007 1:53 PM

Dear Ed,

People like Wally Herger and George Bush – oh yes, and Dick Cheney – keep saying that if we leave Iraq, the terroristas will follow us here. That argument is like proving that garlic repels vampires or grabbing at the empty air scares off elephants. You know the old joke; a guy is grabbing at the air first with right hand, then left, then right, etc. Another guy says, "What are ya doin'?" The first guy says, "Scaring off the elephants." "We don't have no elephants here." says the other guy. The first guy says, "See, it's working." Logical, huh?

... Read More »

By Bill Falzett on 5/4/2007 3:44 PM

I was an “Army brat” growing up. I was reminded constantly I had to behave while we were living in government housing . If I didn’t, my dad, an Army Sergeant, would get a DR. I didn’t know what that was. It sounded pretty bad. I learned later that it meant “Disciplinary Report”. I didn’t always behave but he never got a DR because of me or my siblings. We had too many folks minding our business.

 

On post, everybody watched everybody’s kids. I guess they were watching each other, too. That part didn’t concern me. I just knew that my mom would get the word about what I was doing. When we moved into the city, p ... Read More »

By Bill Falzett on 5/3/2007 1:48 PM

A recent editorial in the Appeal-Democrat indicated that “socialized medicine” was on the horizon referring to California State Senate Bill 840. I am a health provider. I accept insurance patients. As many healthcare practitioners, I am a serf to the ruling lords of “managed costs”.

 

I spent years getting training and education. I have used those skills for 40 years. Providers for managed cost health insurance companies are subject to restrictions imposed by an administrator with a manual of acceptable procedures. I am trained, licensed, and there with the patient. I know the proper procedures. Who ... Read More »