Should rape/love-making be compared to the slave/immigrant experience?

Sometimes I read a newspaper article in the Opinion section, and while I might not always agree the writer’s viewpoint, it is rare that I feel so compelled to respond- this time, however, is one of those occasions demanding a swift call for clarity on my part. In the Tacoma News Tribune, Sunday March 12, 2017 edition, Section 6B, featured an editorial by syndicated Miami Herald syndicated columnist Leonard Pitt’s reaction to Dr. Ben Carson’s speech before his HUD staffers, in which he compared the experiences of African slaves brought to America as those of European immigrants. While it would be relatively easy to excoriate the former Neurosurgeon for having such a blatantly irresponsible lack of historical perspective, my attention was instead drawn away from that absurdity to one of an even greater magnitude of concern. Mr. Pitts attempt to deconstruct the ridiculousness of the HUD Secretary’s statements was undermined, in my opinion, by his own bizarre and strangely hypothetical narrative of a woman being raped.

After setting up the scene in rather explicit, graphic detail, sparing nothing to the imagination, he writes that the rapist “violently makes to her” –what?? Continuing on, “After all, the basic mechanics of love-making and rape are the same: sexual intercourse. Now, I get what Mr. Pitts was trying to do in this story, and I am sure that he doesn’t think this way on a personal level, but on a professional level I think he should have left this part out. Dr. Carson does a pretty good job of shooting himself in the foot just about every time he opens his mouth to say something in the public sphere; therefore he doesn’t need any outside help to make him look even more of an embarrassment. That being said, I think anytime you chose to use the example of ‘rape’ in public or private conversation, you have to be very, very careful. This reminds me of a former Texas gubernatorial candidate who was scheduled to speak at a campaign rally, and the typically expected sunny day turned out to be overcast with some gray clouds. However, this good ol’ boy politician was unaware while he was standing at the podium before he was to address the crowd, that his mic was inadvertently turned on, and he was recorded saying: The weather is like being raped; nothing you can do but sit back and take it.” Needless to say he lost by a landslide at the polls, and after that his future political career was toast.

Case in point: There is no moral equivalent or comparable social experience between rape/love-making and being a slave/immigrant.  It seems that within the context of the article, Leonard Pitts needs to learn a few things, too.

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

March 15, 2017

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

Mental Health is a state of the body and not necessarily the mind

The solution to a problem is not always how much money is spent on treatment because if that were the case, then most of society’s ills would be cured by now. In The Tacoma Weekly, March 3, 2017 issue, the front-page storyline was “Bill Could Help with Mental Health, Addiction Funding.” The article mentioned about U.S. Representative Derek Kilmer’s effort in co-sponsoring a bill to help allocate money to fund communities to better provide mental health and drug and/or alcohol abuse services. Part of this legislation is to provide loans to hospitals and mental health agencies to provide psychiatric and addiction facilities and services. On page 5, Multicare and CHI Franciscan are working on a 40 million dollar plan to build a 120-bed facility at Allenmore Hospital that is scheduled sometime in 2018.  All this sounds well and good as far as intention, but isn’t this approach just more of the same as in the example of ‘insanity’- doing the same thing but expecting a different result?

There is such an urgent need to do something about combatting the spiraling trend of mental impairment from substance abuse or a life crisis or traumatic event that leads to homelessness and a spike in property-related crimes; not to mention mental disability leading to anti-social behaviors and learning disabilities in children as well as adults. This in turn causes more law enforcement resources to be used to combat theft, vandalism, burglaries, juvenile delinquency /truancy (??). This repetitious cycle of more beds, psychiatric therapy/counseling and prescription drugs (Prozac, Zoloft, Ritalin [ADHD], etc.) are somewhat effective because the side-effects may outweigh their benefits. However, back in 1987, Carl C. Pfeiffer published an interesting book by the title, “Nutrition and Mental Health” in which he establishes a causal link between nutritional deficiencies or imbalances and mental behavior. Dr. Pfeiffer conducted research on patients suffering from schizophrenia (“manic-depressive psychosis”) and found that this condition was due to blood levels of the brain chemical ‘histamines’ (derived from testing high “basophil” count in white blood cells).

Of course, not all people have the same metabolism and as is the case, high histamine levels are present in individuals with MDP and in others it is the exact opposite. Another contributing factor is low levels of Zinc, based on the presence of “pyrroles” found in urine, indicative of low serum immunoglobulin A. Some of the symptoms of this condition are mental retardation, amnesia, and having learning disabilities. It has also been found that drug addicts have high histamine levels. I think one of the first things to do is to reclassify mental illness as a disease of the body based upon the accumulation of toxic substances instead of based on a function of the mind or socio-cultural factors. This would require an “orthomolecular” approach based on knowledge of ‘integrative’ medicine that treats the whole person, and includes proper nutritional supplementation that heals and detoxifies the body at the cellular level. This is not a one-step cookie cutter solution, but rather part of a holistic approach that combines exercise, proper diet, healthy living, managing stress and making the right lifestyle choices for optimum health and happiness. The old saying, “If it ain’t broke then don’t try to fix it” doesn’t apply in this case because the mental health system has been broke for a long, long time-more bed space, higher Psychiatrists’ fees and keeping people hooked on prescription drugs for the rest of their lives is no real solution at all.

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

March 11, 2017

robertrandle51@yahoo.com

Some helpful tips about enrolling in Medicare

When a person approaches retirement age a flood of information suddenly and unexpectedly starts appearing in the mailbox, as well as unsolicited calls from insurance companies and independent brokers regarding the best Medicare plan on the market. This is even more relentless than AARP membership offers that end up in the mailbox among other junk mail flyers. Since I have already enrolled in Medicare I felt it might be useful to share my experience with those who already are enrolled in a Medicare plan or are about to at some point in the future. The first thing I recommend is to order the free booklet, “MEDICARE & YOU” from the Department of Health & Human Services Medicaid & Medicare Services at 1-800-633-4227. The booklet will show what services are covered under Medicare as well as some of the Medicare Advantage plans that are available in the state in which you live.

Now here is what you need to know: If you decide to enroll in a Medicare Advantage Plan (MAP) you will have to pay a monthly premium under this plan in addition to having a Medicare Plan B premium deducted from your Social Security (p. 17).  Now here is the real eye-opener: A Medicare Advantage Plan (HMO, PPO, etc.) is offered by “private companies” that are Medicare-approved by the U.S. Department of HHS and the administration of these services are set by government rules. If you elect a Medicare Advantage Plan (MAP) you get Medicare Part A (Hospital) and Part B (Doctor’s) coverage but it is “NOT ORIGINAL MEDICARE” as administered by the federal government. Additionally, it is not a supplemental plan because when you enroll in a MAP you are essentially dis-enrolled or “NOT” covered under ‘Original Medicare” and as such, you have to meet different deductibles, co-insurance/co-payment limits, and whatever else.

Perhaps the only real ‘Advantage’ in a MAP is that you have a yearly out-of-pocket maximum limit (p. 69), whereas under ‘Original Medicare’ there is no upper limit for annual out-of-pocket costs (p. 64). As with anything of value it is good to get as much information as possible before you choose the best plan for your needs. Contact MEDICARE and ask the representative to give you the cost of your annual deductible for Original Medicare part A (Hospital) and also for part B (Doctor) charges. The one thing that I found puzzling is that if I enroll in a MAP and pay premiums then why part B payments still are being deducted when I am no longer covered under Original Medicare, but when I asked this question all the person on the line did was continue to repeat that I have to have parts A and B to enroll in a MAP; which to me was not a real answer but rather the usual- you know what I mean.

Interestingly, there are no “Medigap” plans listed in the book (at least, for WA State) but quite a few Medicare Advantage plans, and Medigap is actually a supplemental plan because when you enroll in one you are still covered under Original Medicare, too. The thing is though; the premiums are usually quite a bit higher in some cases than either a MAP or Original Medicare but the annual deductibles are a lot lower in most (??) cases. When considering either plan outside Original Medicare try to find out if the annual out-of-pocket costs include deductibles, co-payments, co-insurance and/or other fees to determine if you are getting the most bang for your buck. This is your body and health needs and it doesn’t take a Rocket Scientist, having a representative or independent agent from one of these agencies contacting you, or attending a workshop to choose a plan; the good thing about all of this is you can always change your mind if you learn something else is better, and opt-out within the enrollment period. At the very worst, you can just wait another year and try another plan or remain in Original Medicare.

Robert Randle

776 Commerce St Apt 701

Tacoma, WA 98402

March 1, 2017

robertrandle51@yahoo.com