Top o’ da mornin’ to ya! I’m hoping your weekend was brilliant: Relaxing, joyful, and productive! Thank you Alex for a wonderful Feel Good News, and to my fellow team here at Golden Age of Gaia.
Military Policy & Human Rights: Unconditional Acceptance is the “Only Way in the 21st Century.”
As our world continues to progress, unfold, and change for the better, we will also continue to experience and witness new behaviors –witnessing world and life events we’ve never seen before. It’s my prediction that these “firsts” will increase in number, as more and more people step into being their True Selves, and as our acceptance of people’s differences keep on expanding.
One such first is Jamie Lee Henry. She is a medical doctor and major in the Army’s Medical Corps. Henry is also the first known (as far as anyone is aware at this moment) active-duty Army officer to come out as transgender, as evidenced by changing both her name and her gender, while serving in the US military.
“When Henry requested that her name and gender be officially changed in mid-March, the Army ‘actually used female pronouns in the document’ that granted the request for the change in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), she said. After receiving that in May, she then used the Army’s response to change her permanent military records in the interactive Personnel Electronic Records Management System (iPERMS), as well as in her medical records. The changes came, she said, ‘I think to the surprise of many, that it was even possible. But it’s been confirmed, it has been changed.'” (1)
The reason this is such a big deal, and among many “firsts” we will continue to witness both within the military and worldwide, is that according to the Army, such behavior, or more specifically such gender identity (known as gender dysphoria within the military), is considered unfit for military service and is grounds for dismissal. Fortunately, even the military is finally coming around to treating people with some basic sovereign human rights.
“Embracing diversity and inclusion is critical to recruiting and retaining the force of the future. Young Americans today are more diverse, open, and tolerant than past generations. If we’re going to attract the best and brightest among them to contribute to our mission of national defense, we have to ourselves be more diverse, open, and tolerant, too. It’s the only way to compete in the 21st century,” stated Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, at the Pentagon’s first-ever (there’s another “first”) Gay Pride event, Celebrating Victories that have Affirmed Freedom and Fairness, at its Arlington headquarters. (2)
2. Pentagon Pride by rserven. Daily Kos.
Healthcare Prices & Ethics: Are We Overpaying for Medical Services?
A medical study was published last week revealing that 50 hospitals in America are highly overpriced –20 hospitals in Florida. Researchers uncovered that the price gouging is not a result of living in a pricey neighborhood but rather that there is a lack of market competition and that the federal government does not monitor nor limit what healthcare can charge.
From me to you, isn’t that highly unusual? What I’ve witnessed about our government is that they seem to want to have a hand in everything, don’t they? For them NOT to oversee an entire aspect of our society is most atypical. So I figure, there must be another angle they have.
Does the 1% own the synthetic man-made psychopharmacological industry? Well, as a matter of fact, “yes, they do. Check.” Since, most people are willing to pay top-dollar for life-saving surgeries, procedures, and new ground-breaking drugs, then the owners of this system need not put a ceiling on healthcare costs, right?
Actually, with this mentality, it would be better if there was no ceiling, giving them the freedom to charge through the roof (hence, “no ceiling”), and then charge it to the insurance company. I’m seeing ways that this whole system is truly interconnected … in ways to take our money.
“Most hospital patients covered by private or government insurance don’t pay full price because insurers and programs like Medicare negotiate lower rates for their patients.”
“But the millions of Americans who don’t have insurance don’t have anyone to negotiate on their behalf. They are most likely to be charged the full hospital price. As a result, uninsured patients, who are often the most vulnerable, face skyrocketing medical bills that can lead to personal bankruptcy, damaged credit scores, or avoidance of needed medical care.”
Be sure to tune in to this article in-full, if you’d like to learn exactly which 50 hospitals around the country charge the most. If you live in any of the following states, you might want to take a closer look: Florida, New Jersey, Alabama, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
The Top 50 Hospitals That Gouge Patients the Most by Lena H Sun. Washington Post.
Across this beautiful world, We Are All One.
Gavin