Friday, March 16, 2012
Gas Prices-Talk Is Cheap: President Obama, We Need Action, Not Gobbly-Gook
THE KUHNS REPORT
________________
LAS VEGAS - Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
How soon are we Americans going to see something done about the out of control gasoline prices at the pump? These prices are now undermining any economic recovery that may have been on the horizon. The American public is going to pull back from spending and all because of these high gasoline prices. Needless to say the high prices clearly have an impact when we, the consumer, looks at their financial health. The increase at the pump is like a tax to us.
All Obama and his administration is doing is the same ol', same ol'. President Obama went before a crowd of people while he was out politicking for a second term and said his solution, according to him is to "form a task force" to look into the high cost of gasoline. Hell, form a task force? That's only more talk, more dog and pony shows and "NO ACTION."
Folks, Obama is full of talk and no action. He won his election on that talk, talk policy. But what we need is immediate action to get the gasoline prices back to "at least" $2.00 a gallon. Remember people, when Obama took office gasoline prices at the pump were $1.89, now they are at $4.00 -plus, in some states and there is no let up in sight.
Again, remember in the not too distant past when Congress brought all of the oil executives before their gathering to explain why gasoline prices were rising? All that was accomplished from those hearing was all of the Congress people went before the cameras to get their face splashed across the country but coddled the oil execs and didn't have any sufficient result come out of the hearings. This happened on at least two different occasions.The final result is always that the oil titans go home and continue to contribute to the Congressman's political campaigns.
With the oil companies making obscene profits each and every quarter in the "BILLIONS" of dollars our lackluster lawmakers nod and talk before the hearing but in reality nod and wink to the oil companies to continue doing what they are doing. Do you really think these lawmakers who have an ongoing "Lewinsky" relationship with the oil giants are actually interested in taking them to task and have them lower gasoline prices? If you do, I'll sell you a bridge in Brooklyn.
The administration needs to tell the oil companies that unless they lower the gasoline prices the government will immediately cease any and all subsidies that they are currently enjoying.
Another idea, the government should let the oil execs know that the government can go into the oil business and operate their own refineries and stations so it can offer cheaper gasoline to the public. Why not? The government had no qualms about going into the auto business or the banking business and the government already runs a health system and a welfare system so costs can be regulated. It's only one more step to open refineries and gas stations where people can buy cheaper gas. If that would happen I predict that the oil companies would quickly lower their gasoline prices so they could be competitive with government prices.
Better yet, just have the government regulate oil prices like they do in other countries. Right now in Mexico, gasoline prices are just a tad over $2.00 a gallon while our here in America is over $4.00 and close to $5.00 in some states and still climbing. Mexico regulates the prices of oil and gasoline so what's the matter with our government not taking some of these same steps?
If it takes regulating the price of gasoline I say, "LET'S DO IT."Greed by these oil companies is not the answer. The answer is having our government regulate the price of gasoline and if they did I would predict the economy would get a shot in the arm and improve dramatically over night. Hell, the government has no qualms about regulating other businesses and industries in our country. They do it every day. I would suggest to the American people that we insist our government regulate oil and gasoline prices. That will be the only way to have these oil companies fall in line.
If we, the American people do not rise up in peaceful protest all across this nation and march for gasoline price regulation, all that will happen is the gasoline prices will continue to climb.
Folks,Obama is clearly against lowering the price of gasoline. He has already said he opposes drilling off the East and West coasts or the Artic Wildlife Refugee. He refuses to drill on Federal land and he nixed the Keystone Pipe line that would have employed thousands of shovel- ready jobs and now all of that oil will go to China and damage our good relationship with our closest allied partner, Canada. I say drill here in the U.S. and keep all of that needed money here in the U.S.
All Obama is doing is making sure the price of gasoline goes "UP", for reasons only known to him and his friends in government. Don't kid yourself, Obama and Chu and his ilk want the gasoline prices to escalate. His actions in this matter speak much louder that his "hope, hope mantra. His friend and Energy Czar Steven Chu is going to spend $14 or $15 million dollars of taxpayer monies on sea algae as an alternative fuel. Come on! Obama's track record for alternative fuels is in the toilet. His Solyndra fiasco hit us taxpayers in the pocket book, big time while his friends who owned the company made millions to stuff their pockets. Politics? You bet! Now remember people, this is the same Dr. Chu (the guy that works for Obama) who said, in 2008, that he wanted gasoline prices to rise to European levels of $8.00 and $10.00 a gallon. And this guy is in charge of our Energy policy-Can you believe it? I suggest that Obama and Chu are getting their way.
Another way to lower gasoline prices. Stop these lousy wars. Get the United States presence out of the Arab world. Just us being there in the Middle East causes continued turmoil which in turn causes oil and gasoline prices to escalate. Prior to the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan the Middle East was fairly calm and the rest of the world was humming along just fine. However, because President Bush and Cheney made the decision to invade for the "OIL", it turned the entire Middle East into a flaming inferno.
Another suggestion: stop all of the political sparring between Iran and the United States. As long as Obama's people and Congress continue to pick at Iran prices will keep going up. If the United States and Israel adopts a more conciliatory tone toward Iran oil and gas prices could tumble very quickly. So, can the government do something to lower gasoline prices? I say, "yes". There are a number of options to correct this situation.
Every time there is discontent by us Americans the Congress and the administration wheel out the same old line to pacify us until they are reelected to office again. They always propose the same thing, -"alternative fuel" and they say we have to get off the reliance of foreign oil and in ten years we will be free from that foreign addiction to oil. What a crock. Ten years?
As far back as President Jimmy Carter the lawmakers were singing that song. If indeed, they initiated a program back then, and according to them, we would be free from foreign oil dependence. Hey Congress, ten years have come and gone many times over. It's about time to stop the lies you're feeding the American people.
Let me give an example of how it could have been done years ago. Other countries did it. A good example is BRAZIL. That country made a decision years ago to set a ten year time frame to be free of foreign dependence on oil. They did what we didn't do. Brazil actually initiated their program and they used sugar as an alternative and even before the ten year time frame rolled around they had 98% of their gasoline being produced by their own country. They were free from dependence on foreign oil.
Now, just think, if our government were serious about providing Americans with reasonable gasoline they could have did what Brazil did. I mean, Christ, America is bigger and more powerful and has more technology that the small country of Brazil. If that country completed their task within their ten year time frame I have no doubts America could have did it well under ten years. However, I believe our lawmakers and Congress does not have the stomach to really use alternatives to produce cheap gasoline for us because they are too dependent on the large oil barons.
Keep in mind although Brazil did it with their countries abundance of sugar I'm not saying we could do the same. However, we have more than an abundance of sugar beets and can continually turn out crop after crop after crop. People, those sugar beets can be turned into gasoline just like the sugar was in Brazil. There are other alternatives such as corn but corn has been proven to be too expensive to convert. All the government is doing when it tries to use corn as an alternative fuel is provide subsidy programs for the large, rich farmers who are friends with the lawmakers on the hill - - plus ,using corn is raising the cost of food for us Americans in everything from breakfast cereal to breads and food stuffs.
As a side note: Congress should halt all of these subsidies to those rich farmer friends who are pushing to use corn and making millions from the government for an alternative fuel.
There are many other "cheap"alternative fuel selections the government could use to produce reasonable gasoline for us Americans but they are still in that" pay to play mode" policy of protecting their political donors and they clearly do not want to upset the oil executives who stuff their political campaign war chests.
America, we need a government that is serious about buckling down and getting one specific program in the works and within a specific time frame that will "produce gasoline" domestically. It is very doable but the lawmakers do not want to do it. We have the resources, the technology, the intelligence and the people to do exactly what Brazil has done however, our lawmakers doesn't have the will and backbone to say "no" to BIG OIL.
Another side note: Remember when Obama was campaigning for President. He said he would have the most transparent administration in history. If that were the case he would have Congress hold the oil execs feet to the fire, in front of the American people and "demand" specific answers from these fat cats as to such things as: Why are the oil companies makings billions in profits every quarter? What is the matter with oil refiners that they frequently shut them down and then raise gasoline prices? Why isn't the oil companies building more refineries so as to handle gasoline demand? Is there collusion in the refinery shut downs? Price fixing? Speculators? Let the American people hear specific answers.
It wasn't that long ago when Vice-President Cheney in the Bush administration met privately, in secret and met with all of the oil magnates to set an oil policy that was beneficial to him and his colleagues and friends in the oil industry. We all know how that turned out. It only benefited the oil companies who made record profits and many lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
The American people needs honesty, open dialog and transparency from our lawmakers and we clearly are not getting that at the present time.
So, my suggestion to Obama is to STOP this: "let's hope", "we have hope" " we can hope" and "we'll form a task force yada-yadda-yadda stuff. Forget the talk Mr.President. What we need is action by you. Talk is cheap and it is so cheap it won't buy a gallon of gas. Do something constructive and set out a specific plan with a specific time line to complete the task - - then GO FOR IT. President Kennedy did it for our Moon and space projects. Why can't you do something tangible for our gasoline production? - And, that's my opinion. Readers, make your own decisions. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
_______________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by e-mail at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Personally, I'll Never Buy a Ford Car Again
KUHNS REPORT
_____________
LAS VEGAS - Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
My experience with Ford Motor Company is very disappointing. Let me tell you of my issues with Ford.
First, let me say my family and I drove Fords since the early 1940's. Myself since 1952. I used to swear by the brand (FORD), but NO MORE! Over the years, where ever I was living I would faithfully take my car in for it's scheduled service to the nearest Ford dealership.
In 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada I took my Ford Crown Victoria in for service. There are approximately two dealerships in Las Vegas that I am aware of. I took the car into the dealer where I bought the car.
The service department customer service representative told me that the cost of repairs to my Crown Victoria would be $4,000.00. Now, keep in mind I bought the Crown Victoria from this dealership a few years prior and during all of that time I only had it serviced by the same dealership. I've never been hit with a car repair for that large amount of money anywhere. To me that sounded like a lot of money.
I told the female service representative that if I paid that much for repairs I would expect to see and retain all of the old parts which were being repaired. I also advised her that I would have a state inspector check out the work to see if everything was done that she said had to be repaired. With that, she became irate and began shouting "you don't trust us?", "take your car somewhere else." When she said that, I wondered what the dealership was afraid of by my having the repaired vehicle inspected and all of the replacement parts checked out.
Folks, that was alright with me. I told her to have my vehicle brought around and that I would take it elsewhere. I reiterated that a $4,000 repair job was a lot of money and I wanted to know for sure what work was being done by Ford and if in fact,the work was done.
In any event I took the Ford vehicle to another repair shop "not a Ford dealer" and had the car repaired. The cost was $1800.00.
I "will not" buy another Ford in my lifetime, believe me. In fact, later in the year, I purchased a late model HYUNDAI .
Why wouldn't I go to another Ford dealership and buy a car? That's easy. Over the years Ford Service departments told me that all of their mechanics and service representatives are trained by Ford, "all the same way." I was told by one dealership that FORD prides itself on employee training saying I could take my Ford vehicle to any dealership in the country and receive the same quality of service and pricing because Ford was consistent in their service of a vehicle.
So, if one dealership is afraid to stand for an inspection as to the work they were to perform on my Crown Vic., it stands to reason that all of the other Ford representatives trained in the same manner might be like this customer service person was.
I wrote the manager/ owner of the dealership explaining the very bad experience I had with his FORD employees and guess what? he sent me a note saying if I bought a "new Ford" he would give me $100.00 off the price of the new car. Can you believe it? Who's he kidding?
This experience with the dealership in Las Vegas made me wonder if over all of those prior years I was ripped off by the Ford dealership service departments.
In any event Ford cars are on my "poop" list. It's a shame too, because of the fact I believed whatever the Ford service people told me all those years since 1952 as I took the car in to these dealerships to have them service it.
As I think back of my dealings with this particular FORD dealership I wonder if other Ford buyers and customers were given the same song and dance and if those other customers paid the outrageous repair bills without saying anything. Apparently Ford will sell you the car but after the sale , "FORGET IT."
Speaking for myself I will never own a Ford car again. If one can't trust the service people to be honest in their dealings what good is it to buy the car and get screwed on the service end of the purchase. - And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions as to if you want to buy Ford. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
_______________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by e-mail at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
_____________
LAS VEGAS - Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
My experience with Ford Motor Company is very disappointing. Let me tell you of my issues with Ford.
First, let me say my family and I drove Fords since the early 1940's. Myself since 1952. I used to swear by the brand (FORD), but NO MORE! Over the years, where ever I was living I would faithfully take my car in for it's scheduled service to the nearest Ford dealership.
In 2011, in Las Vegas, Nevada I took my Ford Crown Victoria in for service. There are approximately two dealerships in Las Vegas that I am aware of. I took the car into the dealer where I bought the car.
The service department customer service representative told me that the cost of repairs to my Crown Victoria would be $4,000.00. Now, keep in mind I bought the Crown Victoria from this dealership a few years prior and during all of that time I only had it serviced by the same dealership. I've never been hit with a car repair for that large amount of money anywhere. To me that sounded like a lot of money.
I told the female service representative that if I paid that much for repairs I would expect to see and retain all of the old parts which were being repaired. I also advised her that I would have a state inspector check out the work to see if everything was done that she said had to be repaired. With that, she became irate and began shouting "you don't trust us?", "take your car somewhere else." When she said that, I wondered what the dealership was afraid of by my having the repaired vehicle inspected and all of the replacement parts checked out.
Folks, that was alright with me. I told her to have my vehicle brought around and that I would take it elsewhere. I reiterated that a $4,000 repair job was a lot of money and I wanted to know for sure what work was being done by Ford and if in fact,the work was done.
In any event I took the Ford vehicle to another repair shop "not a Ford dealer" and had the car repaired. The cost was $1800.00.
I "will not" buy another Ford in my lifetime, believe me. In fact, later in the year, I purchased a late model HYUNDAI .
Why wouldn't I go to another Ford dealership and buy a car? That's easy. Over the years Ford Service departments told me that all of their mechanics and service representatives are trained by Ford, "all the same way." I was told by one dealership that FORD prides itself on employee training saying I could take my Ford vehicle to any dealership in the country and receive the same quality of service and pricing because Ford was consistent in their service of a vehicle.
So, if one dealership is afraid to stand for an inspection as to the work they were to perform on my Crown Vic., it stands to reason that all of the other Ford representatives trained in the same manner might be like this customer service person was.
I wrote the manager/ owner of the dealership explaining the very bad experience I had with his FORD employees and guess what? he sent me a note saying if I bought a "new Ford" he would give me $100.00 off the price of the new car. Can you believe it? Who's he kidding?
This experience with the dealership in Las Vegas made me wonder if over all of those prior years I was ripped off by the Ford dealership service departments.
In any event Ford cars are on my "poop" list. It's a shame too, because of the fact I believed whatever the Ford service people told me all those years since 1952 as I took the car in to these dealerships to have them service it.
As I think back of my dealings with this particular FORD dealership I wonder if other Ford buyers and customers were given the same song and dance and if those other customers paid the outrageous repair bills without saying anything. Apparently Ford will sell you the car but after the sale , "FORGET IT."
Speaking for myself I will never own a Ford car again. If one can't trust the service people to be honest in their dealings what good is it to buy the car and get screwed on the service end of the purchase. - And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions as to if you want to buy Ford. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
_______________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by e-mail at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
Monday, March 12, 2012
Israel Is the Aggressor Once Again: Stirring Unrest Worldwide
THE KUHNS REPORT
________________
Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
Israel just cannot stop agitating and stirring the pot in the Middle East.
Israel launched a Friday attack on the Gaza Strip. They initiated the attack. The Israel airstrikes killed three Gazans including a young boy and a farm guard. The airstrike also killed PRC leader Zuhair al-Qaissi in a car in downtown Gaza. To date, three days of attacks have ensued, with no signs of letting up.
The cross-border fighting was solely caused by the act of Israel attacking Gaza.It should be noted that in this preemptive attack on the Gazans by Israel Hamas has pointedly kept its large rocket arsenal and thousands of fighters out of this particular confrontation. Even Israel Defense Minister Ehud Barak acknowledged that Hamas did not take part in the rocket salvos.
Israel's military chief, Lt. General Benny Gantz, said yesterday that "we are not interested in escalation in and of itself." What a crock. Israel appears to want to escalate the friction and unrest in the Middle East as a pretext to go to war.
Benjamin Netanyahu stated "the airstrikes would continue as long as necessary." "We have a clear policy": " We will hit anyone who plans to harm us." That's all fine and good but assumptions and vague implications does not make for a "PLAN." Again, he is using the policy of "I think", "maybe" "they could" which really boils down to:" I want to cause unrest and attack another territory and need a reason to do so."
Netanyahu and his cohorts say that they launched the attack in downtown Gaza to stop a plan (again- with the "plan") by Zuhair al-Qaissi) splinter group to infiltrate into Israel through Egypt's lawless Sinai Peninsula. Israel says the PRC was behind an attack on the border in August, killing eight Israelis. Really? Where's the proof. Again with the "I think"and "could be's". I say, that's no way to run a country. Instead, if Israel is infiltrated, then, and only then, arrest and punish the infiltrators. Don't cry until you are hurt Israel.
When your are hit and know who it is that hit you, that is when you respond in kind. What's wrong with this picture? As it stands, the picture being seen by all of the Palestinians, all of the Arab world and the rest of the international community is one of Israel deliberately increasing and escalating the tension and turmoil across the entire Middle East.
My view is one that Israel should immediately stop any and all airstrikes. Other Arab countries, like Egypt are continually trying to broker a peace and resolution to this Israel/Arab conflict but they cannot make any headway as long as Israel continues to use preemptive military strikes.
Does Israel really expect Gaza and the Palestinian people not defend themselves? That is what Israel is always whining about. They say "we have a right to defend ourselves." True, but only when you're attacked. In this case, Gaza was attacked. So my question to Netanyahu and his military? Doesn't Gaza have a right to defend themselves when in fact, they were attacked FIRST?
Israel, "stop" instigating , agitating and stirring the cauldron throughout the Middle East by picking fights with your neighbors. Until you are actually militarily attacked by another country, let life go on in Israel and the Palestinian territories as usual while letting the world powers resume the project of building a two state solution. Israel, your country keeps picking at an open scab and anyone knows that if you keep picking at a scab, it will never heal. STOP, your aggressive behavior and allow things to cool down. - And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
_______________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by e-mail at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
________________
Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
Israel just cannot stop agitating and stirring the pot in the Middle East.
Israel launched a Friday attack on the Gaza Strip. They initiated the attack. The Israel airstrikes killed three Gazans including a young boy and a farm guard. The airstrike also killed PRC leader Zuhair al-Qaissi in a car in downtown Gaza. To date, three days of attacks have ensued, with no signs of letting up.
The cross-border fighting was solely caused by the act of Israel attacking Gaza.It should be noted that in this preemptive attack on the Gazans by Israel Hamas has pointedly kept its large rocket arsenal and thousands of fighters out of this particular confrontation. Even Israel Defense Minister Ehud Barak acknowledged that Hamas did not take part in the rocket salvos.
Israel's military chief, Lt. General Benny Gantz, said yesterday that "we are not interested in escalation in and of itself." What a crock. Israel appears to want to escalate the friction and unrest in the Middle East as a pretext to go to war.
Benjamin Netanyahu stated "the airstrikes would continue as long as necessary." "We have a clear policy": " We will hit anyone who plans to harm us." That's all fine and good but assumptions and vague implications does not make for a "PLAN." Again, he is using the policy of "I think", "maybe" "they could" which really boils down to:" I want to cause unrest and attack another territory and need a reason to do so."
Netanyahu and his cohorts say that they launched the attack in downtown Gaza to stop a plan (again- with the "plan") by Zuhair al-Qaissi) splinter group to infiltrate into Israel through Egypt's lawless Sinai Peninsula. Israel says the PRC was behind an attack on the border in August, killing eight Israelis. Really? Where's the proof. Again with the "I think"and "could be's". I say, that's no way to run a country. Instead, if Israel is infiltrated, then, and only then, arrest and punish the infiltrators. Don't cry until you are hurt Israel.
When your are hit and know who it is that hit you, that is when you respond in kind. What's wrong with this picture? As it stands, the picture being seen by all of the Palestinians, all of the Arab world and the rest of the international community is one of Israel deliberately increasing and escalating the tension and turmoil across the entire Middle East.
My view is one that Israel should immediately stop any and all airstrikes. Other Arab countries, like Egypt are continually trying to broker a peace and resolution to this Israel/Arab conflict but they cannot make any headway as long as Israel continues to use preemptive military strikes.
Does Israel really expect Gaza and the Palestinian people not defend themselves? That is what Israel is always whining about. They say "we have a right to defend ourselves." True, but only when you're attacked. In this case, Gaza was attacked. So my question to Netanyahu and his military? Doesn't Gaza have a right to defend themselves when in fact, they were attacked FIRST?
Israel, "stop" instigating , agitating and stirring the cauldron throughout the Middle East by picking fights with your neighbors. Until you are actually militarily attacked by another country, let life go on in Israel and the Palestinian territories as usual while letting the world powers resume the project of building a two state solution. Israel, your country keeps picking at an open scab and anyone knows that if you keep picking at a scab, it will never heal. STOP, your aggressive behavior and allow things to cool down. - And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
_______________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by e-mail at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Lawyer's- Why Many People Hold Them in Contempt
THE KUHNS REPORT
_________________
LAS VEGAS - Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
Many attorney's in Las Vegas constantly advertise on local television seeking clients with injuries. Some say things such as:"Need my help? Call Me." and "Need a check?" Apparently they are only interested in fast and quick automobile accident cases where they can call the insurance companies and hit them up for a few thousand dollars in settlement claims after which they then pay the victims a pittance. However, if the victim of an injury other than a car accident asks for their help - -FOR GET ABOUT IT. It seems the attorney doesn't want to go to court and do some work for their money.
EXAMPLE: A senior citizen was injured in a large Las Vegas Casino due to a fall. The entire incident was captured on casino video tape. There are cameras everywhere in a Las Vegas casino so the incident is documented. The incident was also reported to the casino security staff and they took photographs of one of the injured people. Reports and statements were also given. It's was all a matter of record. The senior citizen eventually received medical treatment and had to undergo surgery because of the fall. He also had to spend months with in-home nursing care and physical therapy which was followed by additional out patient therapy.
The man contacted thirteen (13) attorney's for help and they all refused to accept the case. Could it be because they didn't want to go up against a large Nevada casino giant? Probably. Could be.
On the fourteenth (14th.) try a law firm sent a representative to the victims house, took a statement and then filled out all paper work for the law firm to represent the man. However, a few weeks later the law firm called the injured man and said they were cancelling the agreement. Apparently the law firm saw no large amount of money in it for them telling the man that since he was a senior citizen who was retired and who had his working and earning years behind him, it wouldn't be financially beneficial for them to represent the person. Wow! Who is out there to represent the senior citizen who becomes injured? A Side Note: Even though retired, the man still was actively working as a professional doing writing and research.
Many attorneys take the fast, "lets settle without going to court" fender benders and other ridiculous, frivolous cases but when it come to representing a senior citizen with a legitimate documented physical injury, they fail to step up.
Let me give you an example of some of these frivolous lawsuits that many attorneys will file.
THESE EXAMPLES ARE REAL CASES: My thanks to to the people at Stella Awards for their offerings.
First, what are the Stella awards you ask? Well, they are named after Stella Liebeck, the 81-year old little lady that sued McDonald's in New Mexico. Remember? She was the lady that purchased coffee at McDonald's and then removed the lid off the coffee and placed the open cardboard cup between her knees while she was driving an automobile. Come On! She is driving in a moving automobile with a cardboard cup , without a lid, full of hot coffee and then doesn't expect to be burned. But that attorney got her millions in the first go-round with McDonald's.
Let's look at a few others - - -
2002 AWARDS:
"The Godfather of Soul", James Brown has a "grudge" against his daughters Deanna Brown Thomas and Yamma Brown Lumar, These two allege Brown told the media" that his daughters will never get a dime from him." Brown kept his word. But the daughters did what any grieving daughters would do when they were cut off from the singer's bank accounts. They sued him for more than $1 million dollars, claiming that they were owed royalties for at least 25 of his songs, which they say, they helped him write even though at the time, they were children. An example, when Brown's 1976 hit "Get Up Offa That Thing" was a chart topper, the girls were 3, and 6 years old. NOTE: I bet Brown is turning in his grave.
Another,- -
When you visit your doctor you're told the same old things: eat less, exercise more and don't smoke. Do you listen? Neither did Kathleen Ann McCormick. The obese, cigarette smoking woman from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a family history of heart disease. Yet, according to her the doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs "did not do enough" to convince her to work to improve her health. She had a heart attack and in a Federal lawsuit she says she's a "cardiac invalid." She's suing 8 doctors, their employers - the United States government demanding $1 million dollars in compensation.
2003 AWARDS
Shawn Perkins of Laurel,Indiana was hit by lightening in the parking lot of the Paramount Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio. You and I would think that was an "act of God", right?Not in his lawyers money grubbing eyes. The lawyer filed suit against the amusement park asking for unspecified damages, arguing the park should have "warned" people not to be outside during a thunderstorm.
Another, --
Caesar Barber, 56, of New York City sued McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's and KFC. His lawsuit claims that this 5-foot-10 and 270 pound man forced him to eat their fatty food four or five times a week, and that is why he is obese, a diabetic and suffers from heart disease. The judge threw the case out twice and barred it from being filed for a third time. NOTE: Bet you dollars to donuts that these greedy lawyers will find a way around the situation and go at it again.
Another, --
Wanda Hudson, from Mobile, Alabama lost her home to foreclosure. She moved her belonging to a storage unit. She said she was inside her unit one night "looking for papers" when the lot manager found her door ajar - - and locked it. She denies she was sleeping in the storage unit, but incredibly did not call out for help or bang on the door to be left out. She was not found for 63 days and barely survived; the formerly plump 150- lb., woman lived on food she just "happened to have had" in the unit and was a mere 83 pounds when found. She sued the storage unit company for $10 million dollars claiming negligence. Even though the jury was not allowed to know the woman had previous mental problems , it found that Hudson was nearly 100 percent responsible for her own predicament - - but still awarded her $100,000.
Another, - -
The Winner of the 2003 Awards:
The City of Madera, California : Police officer Marcy Noriega had the suspect from a minor disturbance handcuffed in the back of her patrol car. When the suspect began kicking at the car's windows, Officer Noriega decided to subdue him with a Taser. However, instead of pulling her stun gun, the Taser, she pulled her service weapon and shot the suspect in the chest, killing him instantly. The city, incredibly, says the killing is not the officers fault; it argues that "any reasonable police officer" could "mistakenly draw and fire a handgun instead of the Taser device" and has filed suit against Taser,arguing the company should pay for any award from a wrongful death suit. Wow! NOTE: What a slap in the face for all of the excellent police officers who are professionally trained and who knows the difference between a real gun and a stun gun! What a cowardly attempt to escape responsibility for the actions of its own under-trained officer.
2004 AWARDS:
Tanisha Torres of Wyndanch, N.Y. sued Radio Shack for misspelling her town as "Crimedanch" on her cell phone bill. She didn't even ask them to change it, she just sued. She whined, "I'm not a criminal" "My son plays on the high school football team. Sure lady, that makes a lotta sense. The name Crimedanch is a common joke, and police says it's a high crime rate area. Still, Torres claimed she suffered "outrage" and "embarrassment" at having to see the spelling on her private phone bill. Her suit seeks unspecified damages.
The winner for 2004 goes to:
Mary Ubaudi of Madison County, Ill. Ubaudi was a passenger in a car that got into a wreck. She put most of the blame on the deepest pockets she could find- Mazda Motors, who made the car this money seeking person was riding in. She demands " in excess of $150,000" from the automaker, claiming" it failed to provide instructions regarding the safe and proper use of a seat belt." Mazda should make her swear in court that she has never before worn a seat belt, has never flown on an airline, and that she's to stupid to figure out how to fasten a seat belt. NOTE: Some attorney is really trolling for a livelihood here. Don't ya think?
2005 AWARDS:
The winner for the 2005 award goes to Christopher Roller of Burnsville, Minn. He was mystified by magicians, so he sued David Copperfield and David Blaine to demand they reveal their secrets to him - - or else pay him 10 percent of their lifelong earnings, which he figures amounts to $50 million for Copperfield and $2 million for Blaine. His suit says that the magicians defy the laws of physics, and thus must be using "Godly Powers: - and since Roller is God (according to him) they're somehow stealing that power from him. NOTE: Folks, tell me what kind of an attorney would file such a suit. How hungry could he be.
Another, - -
Rhonda Nichols said a "wild bird" "attacked" her outside a home improvement store in Fairview Heights, Ill., causing head injuries. You read right: "outside the store." Yet Nichols still held the Lowe store responsible for "allowing" wild birds to fly around free in the air. She never reported the incident to the store, but still sued for "at least" $100,000 in damages. In January 2006, the case was thrown out of court. NOTE: Attorneys stoop to new lows everyday, don't they?
2006 AWARDS
Marcy Meckler who was shopping at a mall stepped outside and was "attacked" by a squirrel that lived among the trees and bushes. And "while frantically attempting to escape from the squirrel and detach it from her leg (Meckler) fell and suffered " severe injuries." her lawsuit said. That's the malls fault, the lawsuit claims, demanding more than $50,000, based on the malls "failure to warn" her that squirrels live outside.
Another, - -
Robert Clymer. And FBI agent working a high-profile case in Las Vegas Nevada. Clymer allegedly created a disturbance, lost the magazine from his pistol, then crashed his pickup truck in a drunken stupor - - his blood level was 0.306 percent, more than three times the legal limit for driving in Nevada. He plead guilty to drunk driving because his lawyer explained, "With public officials, we expect them to own up to their mistakes and correct them." Yet Clymer had the gall to sue the manufacturer of his pickup truck, and the dealer he bought it from, because he "somehow lost consciousness" and the truck " somehow produced a heavy smoke that filled his passenger cab." Yep: the drunk-driving accident wasn't his fault, but the truck's fault. Just the type of man you want carrying a gun in the name of the law.
The Winner for 2006: To Mr. Allan Ray Heckard. Even though Heckard is 3 inches shorter, 25 pounds lighter, and 8 years older than former basketball star Michael Jordon , the Portland, Oregon man says he looks a lot like Jordon, and is often confused for him - and thus he deserves $52 million "for defamation and permanent injury" - plus $364 million in "punitive damage for emotional pain and suffering", plus the SAME amount from Nike co-founder Phil Knight. He dropped the suit after Nike's lawyers chatted with him, where they presumably explained how they'd counter-sue if he pressed on.
2007 AWARDS
The family of Robert Hornbeck. Hornbeck volunteered for the Army and served a stint in Iraq. After getting home, he got drunk, wandered into a hotel's service area (passing "DANGER" waring signs) , crawled into an air conditioning unit, and was severely cut when the machinery activated. Unable to care for himself due to his drunkenness, he bled to death. A tragedy, to be sure, but one solely caused by a supposedly responsible adult with military training.Despite his irresponsible behavior - and his perhaps criminal trespassing - Hornbeck's family sued the hotel for $10 million, as if it's reasonably foreseeable that some drunk fool would ignore warnings signs and climb into its heavy duty machinery to sleep off his bender.
The winner of the 2007 award goes to: Roy L. Pearson Jr., . He was a 57- year- old Administrative Law judge from Washington, D.C., who claimed a dry cleaner lost a pair of his pants. He sued the mom and pop dry cleaner for $65,462, 500. You read right. He sued this small mom and pop business for more than $65 million dollars. He represented himself. He even cried in court over the loss of his pants. But the Superior Court judge wasn't phased by his tears. He called the case "vexation litigation", scolded Judge Pearson for "bad faith" and awarded damages to the dry cleaner. But Pearson didn't take no for an answer. He appealed his case and it is still pending. NOTE: A judge is nothing but an attorney that got some breaks or knew someone but it looks like this judges legal mind is still scheming for a big payday.
My point, there are attorneys out there that look to manipulate the system. Many do not want to represent actual injured people but instead look for deep pockets and class action lawsuits by twisting the law to fit their idea of a big payday for themselves. And they wonder why people look at attorney's with a jaundiced . - And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D.,O.M.D.
_______________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by e-mail at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
_________________
LAS VEGAS - Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
Many attorney's in Las Vegas constantly advertise on local television seeking clients with injuries. Some say things such as:"Need my help? Call Me." and "Need a check?" Apparently they are only interested in fast and quick automobile accident cases where they can call the insurance companies and hit them up for a few thousand dollars in settlement claims after which they then pay the victims a pittance. However, if the victim of an injury other than a car accident asks for their help - -FOR GET ABOUT IT. It seems the attorney doesn't want to go to court and do some work for their money.
EXAMPLE: A senior citizen was injured in a large Las Vegas Casino due to a fall. The entire incident was captured on casino video tape. There are cameras everywhere in a Las Vegas casino so the incident is documented. The incident was also reported to the casino security staff and they took photographs of one of the injured people. Reports and statements were also given. It's was all a matter of record. The senior citizen eventually received medical treatment and had to undergo surgery because of the fall. He also had to spend months with in-home nursing care and physical therapy which was followed by additional out patient therapy.
The man contacted thirteen (13) attorney's for help and they all refused to accept the case. Could it be because they didn't want to go up against a large Nevada casino giant? Probably. Could be.
On the fourteenth (14th.) try a law firm sent a representative to the victims house, took a statement and then filled out all paper work for the law firm to represent the man. However, a few weeks later the law firm called the injured man and said they were cancelling the agreement. Apparently the law firm saw no large amount of money in it for them telling the man that since he was a senior citizen who was retired and who had his working and earning years behind him, it wouldn't be financially beneficial for them to represent the person. Wow! Who is out there to represent the senior citizen who becomes injured? A Side Note: Even though retired, the man still was actively working as a professional doing writing and research.
Many attorneys take the fast, "lets settle without going to court" fender benders and other ridiculous, frivolous cases but when it come to representing a senior citizen with a legitimate documented physical injury, they fail to step up.
Let me give you an example of some of these frivolous lawsuits that many attorneys will file.
THESE EXAMPLES ARE REAL CASES: My thanks to to the people at Stella Awards for their offerings.
First, what are the Stella awards you ask? Well, they are named after Stella Liebeck, the 81-year old little lady that sued McDonald's in New Mexico. Remember? She was the lady that purchased coffee at McDonald's and then removed the lid off the coffee and placed the open cardboard cup between her knees while she was driving an automobile. Come On! She is driving in a moving automobile with a cardboard cup , without a lid, full of hot coffee and then doesn't expect to be burned. But that attorney got her millions in the first go-round with McDonald's.
Let's look at a few others - - -
2002 AWARDS:
"The Godfather of Soul", James Brown has a "grudge" against his daughters Deanna Brown Thomas and Yamma Brown Lumar, These two allege Brown told the media" that his daughters will never get a dime from him." Brown kept his word. But the daughters did what any grieving daughters would do when they were cut off from the singer's bank accounts. They sued him for more than $1 million dollars, claiming that they were owed royalties for at least 25 of his songs, which they say, they helped him write even though at the time, they were children. An example, when Brown's 1976 hit "Get Up Offa That Thing" was a chart topper, the girls were 3, and 6 years old. NOTE: I bet Brown is turning in his grave.
Another,- -
When you visit your doctor you're told the same old things: eat less, exercise more and don't smoke. Do you listen? Neither did Kathleen Ann McCormick. The obese, cigarette smoking woman from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania had high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a family history of heart disease. Yet, according to her the doctors at the Department of Veterans Affairs "did not do enough" to convince her to work to improve her health. She had a heart attack and in a Federal lawsuit she says she's a "cardiac invalid." She's suing 8 doctors, their employers - the United States government demanding $1 million dollars in compensation.
2003 AWARDS
Shawn Perkins of Laurel,Indiana was hit by lightening in the parking lot of the Paramount Kings Island amusement park in Mason, Ohio. You and I would think that was an "act of God", right?Not in his lawyers money grubbing eyes. The lawyer filed suit against the amusement park asking for unspecified damages, arguing the park should have "warned" people not to be outside during a thunderstorm.
Another, --
Caesar Barber, 56, of New York City sued McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's and KFC. His lawsuit claims that this 5-foot-10 and 270 pound man forced him to eat their fatty food four or five times a week, and that is why he is obese, a diabetic and suffers from heart disease. The judge threw the case out twice and barred it from being filed for a third time. NOTE: Bet you dollars to donuts that these greedy lawyers will find a way around the situation and go at it again.
Another, --
Wanda Hudson, from Mobile, Alabama lost her home to foreclosure. She moved her belonging to a storage unit. She said she was inside her unit one night "looking for papers" when the lot manager found her door ajar - - and locked it. She denies she was sleeping in the storage unit, but incredibly did not call out for help or bang on the door to be left out. She was not found for 63 days and barely survived; the formerly plump 150- lb., woman lived on food she just "happened to have had" in the unit and was a mere 83 pounds when found. She sued the storage unit company for $10 million dollars claiming negligence. Even though the jury was not allowed to know the woman had previous mental problems , it found that Hudson was nearly 100 percent responsible for her own predicament - - but still awarded her $100,000.
Another, - -
The Winner of the 2003 Awards:
The City of Madera, California : Police officer Marcy Noriega had the suspect from a minor disturbance handcuffed in the back of her patrol car. When the suspect began kicking at the car's windows, Officer Noriega decided to subdue him with a Taser. However, instead of pulling her stun gun, the Taser, she pulled her service weapon and shot the suspect in the chest, killing him instantly. The city, incredibly, says the killing is not the officers fault; it argues that "any reasonable police officer" could "mistakenly draw and fire a handgun instead of the Taser device" and has filed suit against Taser,arguing the company should pay for any award from a wrongful death suit. Wow! NOTE: What a slap in the face for all of the excellent police officers who are professionally trained and who knows the difference between a real gun and a stun gun! What a cowardly attempt to escape responsibility for the actions of its own under-trained officer.
2004 AWARDS:
Tanisha Torres of Wyndanch, N.Y. sued Radio Shack for misspelling her town as "Crimedanch" on her cell phone bill. She didn't even ask them to change it, she just sued. She whined, "I'm not a criminal" "My son plays on the high school football team. Sure lady, that makes a lotta sense. The name Crimedanch is a common joke, and police says it's a high crime rate area. Still, Torres claimed she suffered "outrage" and "embarrassment" at having to see the spelling on her private phone bill. Her suit seeks unspecified damages.
The winner for 2004 goes to:
Mary Ubaudi of Madison County, Ill. Ubaudi was a passenger in a car that got into a wreck. She put most of the blame on the deepest pockets she could find- Mazda Motors, who made the car this money seeking person was riding in. She demands " in excess of $150,000" from the automaker, claiming" it failed to provide instructions regarding the safe and proper use of a seat belt." Mazda should make her swear in court that she has never before worn a seat belt, has never flown on an airline, and that she's to stupid to figure out how to fasten a seat belt. NOTE: Some attorney is really trolling for a livelihood here. Don't ya think?
2005 AWARDS:
The winner for the 2005 award goes to Christopher Roller of Burnsville, Minn. He was mystified by magicians, so he sued David Copperfield and David Blaine to demand they reveal their secrets to him - - or else pay him 10 percent of their lifelong earnings, which he figures amounts to $50 million for Copperfield and $2 million for Blaine. His suit says that the magicians defy the laws of physics, and thus must be using "Godly Powers: - and since Roller is God (according to him) they're somehow stealing that power from him. NOTE: Folks, tell me what kind of an attorney would file such a suit. How hungry could he be.
Another, - -
Rhonda Nichols said a "wild bird" "attacked" her outside a home improvement store in Fairview Heights, Ill., causing head injuries. You read right: "outside the store." Yet Nichols still held the Lowe store responsible for "allowing" wild birds to fly around free in the air. She never reported the incident to the store, but still sued for "at least" $100,000 in damages. In January 2006, the case was thrown out of court. NOTE: Attorneys stoop to new lows everyday, don't they?
2006 AWARDS
Marcy Meckler who was shopping at a mall stepped outside and was "attacked" by a squirrel that lived among the trees and bushes. And "while frantically attempting to escape from the squirrel and detach it from her leg (Meckler) fell and suffered " severe injuries." her lawsuit said. That's the malls fault, the lawsuit claims, demanding more than $50,000, based on the malls "failure to warn" her that squirrels live outside.
Another, - -
Robert Clymer. And FBI agent working a high-profile case in Las Vegas Nevada. Clymer allegedly created a disturbance, lost the magazine from his pistol, then crashed his pickup truck in a drunken stupor - - his blood level was 0.306 percent, more than three times the legal limit for driving in Nevada. He plead guilty to drunk driving because his lawyer explained, "With public officials, we expect them to own up to their mistakes and correct them." Yet Clymer had the gall to sue the manufacturer of his pickup truck, and the dealer he bought it from, because he "somehow lost consciousness" and the truck " somehow produced a heavy smoke that filled his passenger cab." Yep: the drunk-driving accident wasn't his fault, but the truck's fault. Just the type of man you want carrying a gun in the name of the law.
The Winner for 2006: To Mr. Allan Ray Heckard. Even though Heckard is 3 inches shorter, 25 pounds lighter, and 8 years older than former basketball star Michael Jordon , the Portland, Oregon man says he looks a lot like Jordon, and is often confused for him - and thus he deserves $52 million "for defamation and permanent injury" - plus $364 million in "punitive damage for emotional pain and suffering", plus the SAME amount from Nike co-founder Phil Knight. He dropped the suit after Nike's lawyers chatted with him, where they presumably explained how they'd counter-sue if he pressed on.
2007 AWARDS
The family of Robert Hornbeck. Hornbeck volunteered for the Army and served a stint in Iraq. After getting home, he got drunk, wandered into a hotel's service area (passing "DANGER" waring signs) , crawled into an air conditioning unit, and was severely cut when the machinery activated. Unable to care for himself due to his drunkenness, he bled to death. A tragedy, to be sure, but one solely caused by a supposedly responsible adult with military training.Despite his irresponsible behavior - and his perhaps criminal trespassing - Hornbeck's family sued the hotel for $10 million, as if it's reasonably foreseeable that some drunk fool would ignore warnings signs and climb into its heavy duty machinery to sleep off his bender.
The winner of the 2007 award goes to: Roy L. Pearson Jr., . He was a 57- year- old Administrative Law judge from Washington, D.C., who claimed a dry cleaner lost a pair of his pants. He sued the mom and pop dry cleaner for $65,462, 500. You read right. He sued this small mom and pop business for more than $65 million dollars. He represented himself. He even cried in court over the loss of his pants. But the Superior Court judge wasn't phased by his tears. He called the case "vexation litigation", scolded Judge Pearson for "bad faith" and awarded damages to the dry cleaner. But Pearson didn't take no for an answer. He appealed his case and it is still pending. NOTE: A judge is nothing but an attorney that got some breaks or knew someone but it looks like this judges legal mind is still scheming for a big payday.
My point, there are attorneys out there that look to manipulate the system. Many do not want to represent actual injured people but instead look for deep pockets and class action lawsuits by twisting the law to fit their idea of a big payday for themselves. And they wonder why people look at attorney's with a jaundiced . - And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D.,O.M.D.
_______________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by e-mail at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
Saturday, March 10, 2012
A Nevad HMO Horror Story-Patients Play Russian Roulette
THE KUHNS REPORT
________________
LAS VEGAS - Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
A bad experience with an HMO? Let's say I know a person that had one. That person is me.
I'm a senior senior citizen, who was showing my niece from Ohio around town. We were spending time at the Orleans Casino in Las Vegas and out of the blue this strange man comes running through the casino like a bat out of hell and falls to the floor. People were just gawking. There were no security officers there when the man took his tumble and I thought possibly the man may have had a stroke or heart attack . I walked toward the fallen man to check on him but my feet were kicked out from under me by the man on the floor. I fell to the floor and briefly passed out. When I came to a few seconds later there were a few security guards around the man on the floor and one of them helped me to a seat at a bank of slot machines. I was then moved to a bench at the scene of the encounter.
I was experiencing pain in my legs and right hip. While I was giving a statement to the security men other witnesses said that the man that was running through the casino was "drunk" Some of the people reported that the drunk was playing at the craps table and was so inebriated that he was vomiting at the craps table. While my niece and I were talking to the security officers we heard the security man in change ask a colleague to return to the craps table and gather up the drunks $500. in chips.
It looked as thought the security team knew this guy because they stood him on his feet and told him to go to his room.
One of my main questions would be: Why did the casino and security staff allow this drunken man to gamble at a craps table and vomit there? And why would they let this man run willy-nilly through the casino in his stupor and condition? I would think he would be a danger to himself and possibly other patrons. He certainly was a danger to me - - Duh! Fractured hip because of this drunk. Could it be this drunk was spending a lot of money at the craps table and the casino and security staff turned a blind eye to the possible dangers so that they could continue to take his money? Who knows? Why wasn't this drunk escorted out of the casino by security hours before when it was obvious he was a drunken, slobbering, vomiting customer? If he had been I would never have suffered a fractured hip.
It certainly appeared security knew him when they finally showed up at the scene on the casino floor and retrieved his chips and told him to go to his room, escorting him there.
After filling out the report incident my niece and I left the casino. My niece had to help me walk through the casino to valet parking and she had to drive my vehicle home. It was a chore for me to slowly climb the flight of stairs to my apartment. I told his niece that the pain was very bad and I promised to check with a doctor the next day.
The next day, I did call the casino and asked the people in the risk department if they would send me for an x-ray, saying I still had a lot of pain. The casino refused my request, telling me, "you'll have to pay for your own x-rays."
Now comes the part dealing with an HMO. - - - -
Lets start this way, okay?
Question: If you're sick in Las Vegas , or for that fact, any city in Nevada,where do you go?
Answer: To the airport.
Christ, medical care in Nevada is rated near the bottom of any national list. It's not uncommon for many politician's and lawmakers in Nevada to make a run for the border like a rabbit to go out of state for their heath care . That said, - - -here's a true story.
I drove to the Medical Center run by my HMO. The drive was painful but I managed to get inside the facility. The male Physicians Assistant that met with me said they would take x-rays AND a CAT scan. The pain continued through both exams as the technicians maneuvered me around the x-ray table. The techs said, I know it hurts but we have to do it.
After the results came back the Physicians Assistant came into my exam room and said " there is nothing to worry about. All you have is a " hyper flexor muscle strain". I'm going to give you some muscle relaxers for the pain and prescribe a cane. I'll also give you a sheet of exercises to do. Put some ice on your hip when you get home and in two or three weeks you'll be okay."
An aide wheeled me to reception so I could pay for the visit. The receptionist told another aide to wheel me to my car which was parked in the parking lot across the driveway from the clinic entrance. The black female aide wheeled me away from the reception desk toward the entrance door. While she was doing so she told me: "I shouldn't have to be wheeling you anywhere because I'm pregnant and my baby comes first." "I should be taking care of myself and not wheeling you round." As soon as she got out the main door she stopped and said: "I'm going to let you walk from here." "My baby comes first." She told me to stand and walk across the street on my own. Question? If this aide was pregnant and too sick to work, why was she there? Why was she complaining to an injured patient why she shouldn't be doing the job she was hired to do? I was embarrassed by her comments but after she told me to leave the wheelchair I struggled to walk the long distance to my car. The aide walked back into the building with the empty wheelchair.
Two weeks went by and the pain became even worse as I walked about on my injured leg and while doing the physical exercises the Physician's Assistant told me to do. At the end of the third week I couldn't take the pain any more and returned to the HMO for help. As I entered the reception area they saw I was in pain and called for a wheelchair. I was taken to the examination room again.
This time a female doctor came into the exam room and after hearing about the situation she ordered another x-ray. Following the x-ray, she came back into the room and said "sorry, we made a mistake. You didn't have a hyper flexor muscle strain. Instead, you have a fractured hip. We missed it. You have been walking around and exercising on that fractured hip now for about three weeks so I'm going to send you to the hospital for surgery." I became really concerned and asked the doctor how the devil they could have missed a fractured hip, especially when they took not only x-rays but also a CAT scan. She didn't answer the question. All she said was "we're sorry"saying she would call a medical van to take me to the hospital.
I spent the night in a hospital bed and the next morning I was scheduled for, and had "hip surgery." One of the doctors that was assigned the case asked me about my situation and when I told him about how the doctors at the HMO misdiagnosed the fractured hip and said I only had a hyper flexor muscle strain the doctor just shook his head and said -"that's the problem with HMO's. A lot of them are bad.
After the surgery I was assigned nurse in-home care and then, out patient physical therapy over a period of months. I even wrote the director of the HMO about the bad treatment I had received by the HMO staff and the misdiagnosis of the hip fracture but my complaint fell on deaf ears. I did receive a letter from the HMO saying they were "sorry". That was it.
My observations: The HMO and it's staff did not attend to my medical condition with due diligence and further, the staff showed a total "callous indifference to my serious injury.
I mean, hey! I had a fractured hip and both the technicians and the Physician Assistant misread the x-rays and a CAT scan and gave me misdiagnosis, letting me walk around and do physical exercises on that fractured hip for approximately one month. Further, if I hadn't went back in and complained about the pain for a second time the HMO would have let me fend for myself with the fractured hip for God knows how long, or until the leg and hip broke into pieces. Then, what about that staff member who cried the blues to me about having to do her job. She was pregnant and refused to care for me telling me to get out of the wheel chair and walk a distance on my own with a broken hip.
I would suspect that there are many, many other stories about the bad treatment in HMO's across this country, and this is just one of those. Medical treatment in Nevada is bad enough but the HMO situation seems to be a dangerous place to seek medical assistance. Many people already seek medical care out of state but there are those that can't afford anything else but HMO treatment and they are stuck with it. Where's the recourse for these health care providers mistakes?
People, HMO's are scary places and it appears the doctors and staff really don't give a damn for their patients. It looks like all they care about is drawing their paycheck. - And, that's my opinion. Make your own decision. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
_______________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by e-mail at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
San Diego & Other Cities Didn't Learn Anything-They Continue to Pander to Public Employee Unions
THE KUHNS REPORT
________________
LAS VEGAS- Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
The city of San Diego, California put a comprehensive pension reform initiative on the June 5th.ballot. It would eliminate pensions for new city hires "except" for police. It would also propose a five-year salary freeze for current workers. Doesn't the city of San Diego learn anything from the past? Why should the city exempt police? They shouldn't. It wasn't too long ago that because of the police and fire department unions, the city of San Diego was on the brink of bankruptcy.
The police or fire people should be treated no differently than other city employees. They should experience the same pain as all other employees. It's because of the extreme demands by the police and fire department unions for lavish pension and retirement packages along with lucrative overtime, automatic cost of living increases, merit increases and health care benefits that are breaking every city across the nation.
Other cities have caught on to the police and fire department gaming the system to increase their retirement and pension benefits at the expense of the average Joe and Jane Doe taxpayer. There are many cities and counties across the country that have taken the bull by the horns and laid off and fired police officers and fire men and women just as they have with other city and county employees. And I say, that is the way to do it. The police officer or fireman is no different than any other person working in public service. However, just laying them off or firing them is not the solution. Nothing will change unless the cities, counties and states actually do away with all of the lucrative salaries and benefits starting with pensions, retirements, guaranteed cost of living raises, etc,-- Kudo's to those cities and agencies that have actually begun to make those changes.
How the city of San Diego and all other cities can go to the bargaining table year after year and crumble under these public employee unions excessive demands is beyond me. I can only suspect the lawmakers continue to pander for the public employee unions vote to keep them in office. And, that's wrong. The lawmakers should be doing what is best for the taxpayers and not doing what is best for their career.
The public employee unions in San Diego, and in all cities across this nation are making three and four times the wages most people in the private sector earn. The public employee enjoys a large, elaborate pension and retirement program that no one in the private sector will ever hope to see.
The citizens of San Diego and all other cities in the state should demand that police officers, firemen and all other public employees receive the same pension and retirement plans that those in the private sector have to depend on. That is, a 401(k) retirement. They should also be required to pay a large portion for their own health care like most in the private sector have to do. There should be no guaranteed "automatic" cost of living increases every year, no merit pay, no free health plan and the public employees should have to be 65 years old before they can collect a retirement and pension, like the rest of us. Currently some of these public employees can retire in their 40's and 50's and collect "NINETY PERCENT" of their highest salary. NO ONE working in the private sector can receive that benefit.
We everyday taxpayers are paying for the public sector employee to retire and receive a pension and health benefits for them and their families for the rest of their lives while at the same time most in the private sector can't afford to pay for their own health care and who "does not" have a guaranteed pension and retirement to see them through life.
Folks, we have to hold the lawmakers feet to the fire and tell them not to give away the store to these public employee unions. The officials should lay down the law as to what the salary is for a public employee for any position, without "guarantees" of automatic raises and benefits.
Lawmakers have to begin treating the public employee in the same way as those working in the private sector. Hell, no 7-11 employee, truck driver,construction worker, roofer, maid, restaurant worker or clothing and/or department store sales person (just to name a few professions) is guaranteed automatic raises and free, or close to free health care plus a guaranteed pension for life.
That old argument of police work is a dangerous profession and a policeman might be shot is a lame argument. Christ, there are more people that work in a 7-11, or any convenience store that are shot and killed in a year than police. It is much more dangerous to be a 7-11 clerk than a police officer. Then there's the argument: "It's hard work" Hard work? Let one of those policeman or fireman try to put a roof on houses eight hours or more a day, or ruin and break their knees as a carpet layer working all day does. It's a fact, there are more people killed in construction jobs that police or firemen so, my point: - these public sector workers should not be treated any differently than any other profession. They should be laid off and fired and have their salaries cut like everyone else.
If the person doesn't want to accept the job for a stated annual salary minus all the guaranteed benefits then they should seek a job elsewhere. Based on all studies and literature I've seen there will be thousands of applicants standing in line for the job of policeman or fireman. If you doubt that information just look at how many applicants show up for a police or fire position when there are only 10 or 20 positions offered. I have personally seen thousands of applicants come in from all over the country and stand in line to apply for a police or fire job.
I would even suggest to the cities across the nation to file for bankruptcy and bust all of the union contracts. Then start over again from scratch. The cities should only offer an annual salary and a 401(k) pension plan. Again, you would see thousands standing in line to get the job.
It is about time these greedy public employee unions work for the same wages and only receive the same benefits as those in the private sector. Folks, most every city, county and state public employee retirement and pension plan is billions in debt. We taxpayers are on the hook for that debt. That is one reason we keep getting hit for additional taxes. We are paying for the public employees pension, retirement and health care. That's not right. Personally, I would only like to pay for my own families needs and health care and not pay for another families outrageous retirement and health care for the rest of their lives. Wouldn't you? -And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
_______________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by e-mail at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
________________
LAS VEGAS- Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
The city of San Diego, California put a comprehensive pension reform initiative on the June 5th.ballot. It would eliminate pensions for new city hires "except" for police. It would also propose a five-year salary freeze for current workers. Doesn't the city of San Diego learn anything from the past? Why should the city exempt police? They shouldn't. It wasn't too long ago that because of the police and fire department unions, the city of San Diego was on the brink of bankruptcy.
The police or fire people should be treated no differently than other city employees. They should experience the same pain as all other employees. It's because of the extreme demands by the police and fire department unions for lavish pension and retirement packages along with lucrative overtime, automatic cost of living increases, merit increases and health care benefits that are breaking every city across the nation.
Other cities have caught on to the police and fire department gaming the system to increase their retirement and pension benefits at the expense of the average Joe and Jane Doe taxpayer. There are many cities and counties across the country that have taken the bull by the horns and laid off and fired police officers and fire men and women just as they have with other city and county employees. And I say, that is the way to do it. The police officer or fireman is no different than any other person working in public service. However, just laying them off or firing them is not the solution. Nothing will change unless the cities, counties and states actually do away with all of the lucrative salaries and benefits starting with pensions, retirements, guaranteed cost of living raises, etc,-- Kudo's to those cities and agencies that have actually begun to make those changes.
How the city of San Diego and all other cities can go to the bargaining table year after year and crumble under these public employee unions excessive demands is beyond me. I can only suspect the lawmakers continue to pander for the public employee unions vote to keep them in office. And, that's wrong. The lawmakers should be doing what is best for the taxpayers and not doing what is best for their career.
The public employee unions in San Diego, and in all cities across this nation are making three and four times the wages most people in the private sector earn. The public employee enjoys a large, elaborate pension and retirement program that no one in the private sector will ever hope to see.
The citizens of San Diego and all other cities in the state should demand that police officers, firemen and all other public employees receive the same pension and retirement plans that those in the private sector have to depend on. That is, a 401(k) retirement. They should also be required to pay a large portion for their own health care like most in the private sector have to do. There should be no guaranteed "automatic" cost of living increases every year, no merit pay, no free health plan and the public employees should have to be 65 years old before they can collect a retirement and pension, like the rest of us. Currently some of these public employees can retire in their 40's and 50's and collect "NINETY PERCENT" of their highest salary. NO ONE working in the private sector can receive that benefit.
We everyday taxpayers are paying for the public sector employee to retire and receive a pension and health benefits for them and their families for the rest of their lives while at the same time most in the private sector can't afford to pay for their own health care and who "does not" have a guaranteed pension and retirement to see them through life.
Folks, we have to hold the lawmakers feet to the fire and tell them not to give away the store to these public employee unions. The officials should lay down the law as to what the salary is for a public employee for any position, without "guarantees" of automatic raises and benefits.
Lawmakers have to begin treating the public employee in the same way as those working in the private sector. Hell, no 7-11 employee, truck driver,construction worker, roofer, maid, restaurant worker or clothing and/or department store sales person (just to name a few professions) is guaranteed automatic raises and free, or close to free health care plus a guaranteed pension for life.
That old argument of police work is a dangerous profession and a policeman might be shot is a lame argument. Christ, there are more people that work in a 7-11, or any convenience store that are shot and killed in a year than police. It is much more dangerous to be a 7-11 clerk than a police officer. Then there's the argument: "It's hard work" Hard work? Let one of those policeman or fireman try to put a roof on houses eight hours or more a day, or ruin and break their knees as a carpet layer working all day does. It's a fact, there are more people killed in construction jobs that police or firemen so, my point: - these public sector workers should not be treated any differently than any other profession. They should be laid off and fired and have their salaries cut like everyone else.
If the person doesn't want to accept the job for a stated annual salary minus all the guaranteed benefits then they should seek a job elsewhere. Based on all studies and literature I've seen there will be thousands of applicants standing in line for the job of policeman or fireman. If you doubt that information just look at how many applicants show up for a police or fire position when there are only 10 or 20 positions offered. I have personally seen thousands of applicants come in from all over the country and stand in line to apply for a police or fire job.
I would even suggest to the cities across the nation to file for bankruptcy and bust all of the union contracts. Then start over again from scratch. The cities should only offer an annual salary and a 401(k) pension plan. Again, you would see thousands standing in line to get the job.
It is about time these greedy public employee unions work for the same wages and only receive the same benefits as those in the private sector. Folks, most every city, county and state public employee retirement and pension plan is billions in debt. We taxpayers are on the hook for that debt. That is one reason we keep getting hit for additional taxes. We are paying for the public employees pension, retirement and health care. That's not right. Personally, I would only like to pay for my own families needs and health care and not pay for another families outrageous retirement and health care for the rest of their lives. Wouldn't you? -And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
_______________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by e-mail at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Israel Can Contol Their "Illegal Aliens", Why Can't America do the Same?
THE DOCTOR IS IN
_______________
LAS VEGAS - Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
Kudos to Israel. Israels parliament approved harsh new penalties on ILLEGAL MIGRANTS and Israelis who help them in order to stanch the flood of illegals seeking sanctuary in Israel.
The bill allows the illegal person to be sent to prison for an unlimited time without trial. Those Israelis that help the illegal could face up to 15 years in prison. Hooray!!
The Africans and other illegals have been trickling into Israel through it's southern porous border. The number of illegals has surged over the years as the word of jobs spread The Israeli government estimates that 50,000 Africans - the majority from Sudan and Eritrea - have illegally entered Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the illegal invasion : "a national scourge." Netanyahu's spokesman, Mark Regev called the legislation part of a multi-tiered strategy to deal with the challenge of "illegal immigration." The Prime Minister has repatriated hundreds of the illegals and indicated that he would continue the repatriation process.
The Israel Cabinet voted to finance a $160 million program to finish building a 150-mile border fence and expand detention facilities to hold thousands of new illegal arrivals. Employers who hire "illegal aliens" now face very still fines of up to $18,000. My opinion, - that's a really good move by the Israeli government. As each employer is fined I suspect that other employers will get the message.
One of the lawmakers, Amnon Cohen, said he sponsored the bill "to defend Israeli society." He went on to say that when these illegals steal a wallet from a person, or steals from a store, or steals a bicycle, if the government does not put a stop to it those thefts and robberies and other crimes will not stop. Many of the lawmakers and Israelis believe that the "illegal aliens" are an economic and social burden and feel that the mounting numbers of illegals in Israel will dilute Israel's Jewish character. Personally, I tend to agree.
Netanyahu said that if Israel does not put a stop to the illegal alien infiltration "all of Israel's social systems will collapse."
One of my views is: If Israel can pass such legislation to control their "illegal alien/migrant" problem, why can't the lawmakers in America pass the same type of laws to get a handle on our "illegal alien" problem. Christ, like Israel, our Southern border is porous and has been for decades and we have millions of illegals invading our country on a daily basis. Again, like Israel we should have a physical fence running the entire length of our Southern border. Like Israel, we should stiffen fines on employers that hire the illegal alien. $18,000 per alien sounds fair to me. The prison term of up to 15 years will also deter the American employer from hiring illegal aliens. They clearly will have second thoughts about employing an illegal if they know they will spend years in prison.
Why shouldn't we Americans be allowed to "defend American society", like Israel. That is common sense. And finally, like Prime Minister Netanyahu says, "all of Israels social systems will collapse." He's right on target because our social systems here in America have been going down that road for years.
The weight of absorbing all of these illegal aliens and allowing it to continue and giving the illegals all of the free welfare money and benefits, , free medical care and free education has already brought some states to their knees and to the brink of bankruptcy. Even after all the freebies lavished on the illegal alien here in America most still refuse to adopt English as their language which again costs Americans billions of dollars a year as we print forms and books in a number of languages other than English. Once most illegal aliens arrive in the United States they segregate and relegate themselves to their own little clique snubbing their nose at the English language and America's way of life. Basically they refuse to integrate into American society. And, that's wrong.
Yes, the Israeli's are doing the right thing., They already see the detriment that the illegal alien has on their Jewish society. They have a right to be afraid. All they have to do is look toward America's shores and see the future as their way of life and Jewish society disintegrates before their eyes because of the the illegal alien.
If our lawmakers here in the United States would use some of the same decisive actions that Israel is using to control their immigration problem, we would be a better America. - And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
_______________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by e-mail at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
_______________
LAS VEGAS - Hello America, and how is the world treating you?
Kudos to Israel. Israels parliament approved harsh new penalties on ILLEGAL MIGRANTS and Israelis who help them in order to stanch the flood of illegals seeking sanctuary in Israel.
The bill allows the illegal person to be sent to prison for an unlimited time without trial. Those Israelis that help the illegal could face up to 15 years in prison. Hooray!!
The Africans and other illegals have been trickling into Israel through it's southern porous border. The number of illegals has surged over the years as the word of jobs spread The Israeli government estimates that 50,000 Africans - the majority from Sudan and Eritrea - have illegally entered Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called the illegal invasion : "a national scourge." Netanyahu's spokesman, Mark Regev called the legislation part of a multi-tiered strategy to deal with the challenge of "illegal immigration." The Prime Minister has repatriated hundreds of the illegals and indicated that he would continue the repatriation process.
The Israel Cabinet voted to finance a $160 million program to finish building a 150-mile border fence and expand detention facilities to hold thousands of new illegal arrivals. Employers who hire "illegal aliens" now face very still fines of up to $18,000. My opinion, - that's a really good move by the Israeli government. As each employer is fined I suspect that other employers will get the message.
One of the lawmakers, Amnon Cohen, said he sponsored the bill "to defend Israeli society." He went on to say that when these illegals steal a wallet from a person, or steals from a store, or steals a bicycle, if the government does not put a stop to it those thefts and robberies and other crimes will not stop. Many of the lawmakers and Israelis believe that the "illegal aliens" are an economic and social burden and feel that the mounting numbers of illegals in Israel will dilute Israel's Jewish character. Personally, I tend to agree.
Netanyahu said that if Israel does not put a stop to the illegal alien infiltration "all of Israel's social systems will collapse."
One of my views is: If Israel can pass such legislation to control their "illegal alien/migrant" problem, why can't the lawmakers in America pass the same type of laws to get a handle on our "illegal alien" problem. Christ, like Israel, our Southern border is porous and has been for decades and we have millions of illegals invading our country on a daily basis. Again, like Israel we should have a physical fence running the entire length of our Southern border. Like Israel, we should stiffen fines on employers that hire the illegal alien. $18,000 per alien sounds fair to me. The prison term of up to 15 years will also deter the American employer from hiring illegal aliens. They clearly will have second thoughts about employing an illegal if they know they will spend years in prison.
Why shouldn't we Americans be allowed to "defend American society", like Israel. That is common sense. And finally, like Prime Minister Netanyahu says, "all of Israels social systems will collapse." He's right on target because our social systems here in America have been going down that road for years.
The weight of absorbing all of these illegal aliens and allowing it to continue and giving the illegals all of the free welfare money and benefits, , free medical care and free education has already brought some states to their knees and to the brink of bankruptcy. Even after all the freebies lavished on the illegal alien here in America most still refuse to adopt English as their language which again costs Americans billions of dollars a year as we print forms and books in a number of languages other than English. Once most illegal aliens arrive in the United States they segregate and relegate themselves to their own little clique snubbing their nose at the English language and America's way of life. Basically they refuse to integrate into American society. And, that's wrong.
Yes, the Israeli's are doing the right thing., They already see the detriment that the illegal alien has on their Jewish society. They have a right to be afraid. All they have to do is look toward America's shores and see the future as their way of life and Jewish society disintegrates before their eyes because of the the illegal alien.
If our lawmakers here in the United States would use some of the same decisive actions that Israel is using to control their immigration problem, we would be a better America. - And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.
Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
_______________________
Dr. Kuhns can be reached by e-mail at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com
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