ETHICS AND MORALITY- HEALTH CARE. PT 2.

I would like to emphasize something I alluded to in part 1.  Too often, the health care debate gets mired in details that have little to do with the reality that must be faced. Initially, at least, HEALTH CARE BEING APPLIED UNIVERSALLY TO AN ENTIRE POPULATION OF ANY GIVEN COUNTRY IS A MORAL DECISION, NOT AN ECONOMIC ONE.

 

Like other state run social programs in the U.S, Universal Health Care is not designed to turn a profit. Its' goal is to provide affordable medical insurance that will not cripple an individual or families ability to provide for other basic necessities.  This idea stems from the primarily 20th century concept that government has an obligation to provide for, to a certain extent, the basic needs of a portion of the population that cannot do so on its' own.  However, unlike current social programs, Universal Health Care in the U.S differs from other social programs in one major aspect- ELIGIBILITY.

 

As it stands today in the U.S, there are three main groups that have medical insurance.

• Those who have high enough incomes that make attaining quality health care plans a non-issue.
• Private health care plans that are partially or wholly subsidized by an employer.
• Individuals and families with an income that falls below a certain level, which is set by the federal government.

 

These above groups leave out a substantial portion of the population in the U.S.

This segment of society is the real reason that Universal Health Care, or "Obamacare" is being instituted.  The middle class is the target group that will benefit the most, because they do not lie at either end of the financial spectrum in terms of income.  Since paying health insurance premiums will be done on a sliding scale basis, all Americans will be covered in a way that does not end in financial hardship.

See pt. 3 in a future issue.

Date-7/20/2013.

ETHICS AND MORALITY. HEALTH CARE. PT 1.

HEALTH CARE-  PT 1.

I am not going to begin this regular feature by providing a definition that will no doubt bore most readers. In the future, I will define such words, but I would rather open up with a practical article. 

The theme, " When does personal belief conflict with the best interests of society as a whole." 

The subject- Health Care.

Providing Health Insurance to every person residing in the U.S and its' territories, is not an economic question. 

If the federal government creates a program to provide minimal guaranteed medical coverage, 

funding must be there to support those who cannot afford traditional private plans. 

This is the Heart of the matter, and the dilemmas we must face are;

• Do we, as a society, have an obligation to provide minimal affordable medical care to all.
• That many people will, through taxation, provide a service that will be of direct benefit to others and not them personally.
• That in the question of the right or wrong of a given situation, choosing a moral stand is;

              1) The responsibility of the individual who is a member of society.

              2) The obligation of the governing body in society, which is a collection

              of individuals.

To illustrate what I mean, here is an example.  Let us say an individual decides all questions of morality will be answered from a Doctrine based upon the teachings of a given faith.  Now such decisions have two distinct implications;

• Is the individual going to decide the morality of any given situation solely by religious instruction and nothing else. If not, they have invalidated their own moral code, for it is not universally applied. It contradicts any assertion that the doctrine of their faith, regarding morality, is to be accepted absolutely.
• Does the individual wish to establish this system of morality for all of society, and punish any deviations.

 If society is populated by a majority of such citizens, what will be the outcome?

See pt.2 in a future issue.

Date- 6\16\2013.

THE MYSTERIOUS WORLD. THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE. CASE #1. USS CYCLOPS. PT 3.

THE CYCLOPS-  Is an Example of Paranormal Researchers Ignoring Obvious explanations for the Disappearance, making it seem like the U.S. NAVY and other Official Sources are Completely Baffled in explaining what happened. 

However, as with many other "MISSING SHIPS AND PLANES," the Answer is probably not just a Single Reason.  Various Factors, sometimes not apparent at the Time, may have Influenced the Tragic Outcome.

#1-  IMPROPER HANDLING, AND LOADING OF CARGO.-  This May have been a Factor in the Disappearance, but there is no CONSENSUS AMONG RESEARCHERS AND HISTORIANS as to what Degree.  MANGANESE ORE was a Cargo the CYCLOPS had not carried before, and the shifting and settling while in the hold may have led to HULL FAILURE, or if Improper Hatch Coverage Allowed SEAWATER TO ENTER THE STORAGE AREA, THE RESULTING SHIFT IN WEIGHT MAY HAVE CAUSED THE SHIP TO FOUNDER.

#2-  ENGINE DAMAGE AND FAILURE-  It was Reported by the Captain, LT. COMMANDER GEORGE WORLEY,  that his STARBOARD ENGINE WAS OUT, AND IN NEED OF REPAIR.  However, this was not Done Prior to the Final Voyage of the CYCLOPS.  Such a Reduction in SPEED AND MANEUVERABILITY could be CATASTROPHIC if the Ship Encountered any Unforeseen Difficulties while at Sea.

#3-  STRUCTURAL FAILURE-  As you can see from the above Photo, the CYCLOPS AND HER SISTER SHIPS HAD A VERY UNIQUE DESIGN AND PROFILE.  THE I- BAR CONSTRUCTION, WHICH RAN NEARLY THE LENGTH OF THE SHIP, COULD CAUSE THE SHIP TO BECOME UNSTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL, ESPECIALLY IN FOUL WEATHER.

#4-  ENCOUNTERING EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT WERE NOT EXPECTED,  AND THE PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE SHIP AT THE TIME, COULD HAVE RESULTED IN THE CYCLOPS BEING UNABLE TO WITHSTAND THE NATURAL FORCES THAT HIT IT DURING THE LAST VOYAGE.

These are the More Rational Explanations put forth, and there is Tangible Evidence to Support Each, at least in Terms of Partial Responsibility that may have led to the Loss of the CYCLOPS.

We will look at the MORE OUTLANDISH EXPLANATIONS IN THE NEXT SEGMENT.

Date-  5/25/2015.

THE MYSTERIOUS WORLD. THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE. CASE #1. USS CYCLOPS. PT 2.

THE DISAPPEARANCE-  The CYCLOPS was, at the Time it went Missing, being used by the U.S. NAVY as a Bulk Carrier for Cargo such as Coal.  However,  it was Transporting MANGANESE ORE during its Final Voyage, something it had not done before.

The Cyclops arrived at RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL on January, 28, 1918 with a Load of Coal. She was Re-Loaded with the Manganese Ore, and Departed on FEBRUARY, 16 , 1918. On February, 20 ,1918 the CYCLOPS entered BAHIA, and on the 22nd Cast Off for its Final Destination.

THE Destination was BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

However, the CYCLOPS changed its planned course to BARBADOS, arriving on March, 3 , 1918, and Departing for BALTIMORE the next day.

It was never seen or heard from again.

That is the Basic Story. 

HOWEVER...

If we were to leave the story at this point, which many do, we would be left with an Intriguing Mystery. How could a Ship of the U.S. NAVY just Disappear, without a REASONABLE EXPLANATION?

This Question is a Fair One, and some Proponents of the Supernatural Explanation for the Disappearance "ATTEMPT" to find an Alternative Explanation.  In this way, They can claim to be Honest and Diligent Researchers, looking at all possible ways to explain the loss of the CYCLOPS.

WRONG.

The BERMUDA TRIANGLE ENTHUSIASTS OFTEN COMMIT THE SAME TYPE OF FLAWED METHODOLOGY IN FINDING AN ANSWER FOR THE DISAPPEARANCE, THAT OTHER INVESTIGATORS OF THE PARANORMAL ARE ALSO GUILTY OF:  CHERRY PICKING POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS, AND ADDRESSING THOSE THEY CAN  EASILY REFUTE, AND IGNORING OTHERS THAT PROVIDE A MUCH MORE REASONABLE AND LIKELY EXPLANATION, WHICH CONTRADICTS THEIR CHOSEN SUPERNATURAL CAUSE.

We will look at a Couple of these in pt 3.

Date-  3/16/2015.