Is it getting hot on the porch, come check and see? | Filed under General
It was busy yesterday with all the coming and going on the front porch, we only had a few problems. The afternoon brought heavy rains including hail with tornado watches to the area, FTS was not fond of the rocking chair I offered him and Karen drank Mike’s lemonade again. You were just given a little fact and a little fiction, we did some unpleasant weather here but all is well in my little corner of Rural Georgia. Over the next several days, I will continue to make a few changes here as I move to find my way to being a better hostess. Please remember your input is welcome it is actually desired, so don’t be shy for I know most of you.
Today I hope you will understand and see more of what I hope will be going on while visit on the porch. I am very political but tend to keep things to myself until it slaps me in the face. Well folks, stick around and you will see just what I mean. I have a very dear friend on my blog roll Bob who has some very fine sites on his links, these are not just personal blogs. You can find just about anything you might be interested in somewhere on his roll if not he can find it for you. I’m not about to reveal the source of his many assistants for some things are better left as is. From time to time, I will just visit some of the sites on his links and last week I did just that.
I went over to BuzzFlash and oh my I will not even try to describe what you can find there. I do want to share with you what has me in a tizzy. I came across these headlines which lead me to look closer: Compassionate conservatism, a true oxymoron. An immigration bill that recently passed the House of Representative would punish priests, nurses and social workers who provide services to undocumented immigrants with up to five years in prison. Being a Nurse that does not set well with me so I had to go and read more which I did when I went here.
I went to school because I am a caring person and I desire to help others. There have been times I have done some volunteer work where this would have or could have impacted me. I volunteered with a dear physician friend of mine twice a month to provide medical care to immigrants as well as others who needed it but had no financial means to pay for it the care they needed. As medical personal our focus was to provide this care to those in need regardless of their immigration status. There were many times were provided urgent medical care and on an occasion or two even life-saving assistance.
If this bill should ever become law you just might see priest, ministers, social workers, physicians, and nurses going to jail for doing things to help people as we have been trained to do. Someone does not have their priorities right. I am not agreeing it is okay to open the door to immigrants, I just think there needs to be more thought into who is punished and why.
So what do you think about this, share your opinions. Don’t be shy this is one of many important issues but wait talk about those issues that you feel are near and dear to your heart as well. Remember this might be my home but I invited you in the back door which is open, come on speak up. O-kay you just want to have a little fun then go for it, what is the first thing you think of when you come here?
And now…..
Come back again you hear!
January 3rd, 2006 at 5:44 pm
My only concern about the changes you are making is how you’ll be running yourself ragged trying to reply to each blog comment. I know how your time and energy is limited. Is this something you think you’ll be able to keep up with? Please don’t tax yourself too much trying to please and appease everyone.
For those who don’t know Melissa, I call her Mel. She andI have known each other for years and are friends through thick and thin. Don’t say anything bad about her for you will tangle with me, don’t say anything about me or you tangle with her. She once gave me the greatest compliment….she said she had no sister but I was what she thought one would be like and calls me her sister. That to mean is the ultimate for she chose me as friend and sister. Mel is going through a difficult time. Just prior to Christmas she lost her mother with little to no warning. Mel you are always in my thoughts and loved very much. I so much miss you and the Girls Night Outs. *sigh*
If anyone worries about me, it is this one for she knows me and what Missy does to me. Mel I know how to pull away these days and leave the key for others to play here. I don’t feel I have to answer every comment every day. I like to but there might be days Missy has other plans
January 3rd, 2006 at 5:47 pm
Sweet and sour is how I like my lemonade, and shhh about what you smelled in there.
Thank you for your reply yesterday, you are a true friend and you do know when I’m hiding, that’s for sure.
I think every case is different with different perceptions and circumstances - and most importantly, two sides to every story. I don’t think people should be punished for something they believe in is right. Our society has become too quick to judge and I admit I have been guilty of it too.
Love & hugs!
A special order of lemonade has been placed just for you. Just no demands and be nice to Mike and stay out of hiding now unless
We all judge quickly at times but f we learn and make a change is the important thing. I do believe YOU learn from mistakes but also welcome others opinions.
January 3rd, 2006 at 6:42 pm
Sometimes I wonder. The lawmakers just pick something out of the air to try out? I have no doubt that the jails will fill up with all of these different care givers. In fact I would become a priest just to join the fun. Preist Bubba. I’ll go thumping on all those no common sense folks. Lay the word on them. Yea lay the lawmakers down. Repent you makers of law or the hand of Bubba shall smite thee. LOL. Just kidding here ok. Nobody start running. hehehee
You go Bubba —With all the good advice you share and common sense you share you could go much further with many than a priest. Yes Bubba you would you like to roar around on a bike? I do picture you on a bike in the past, am I way off base?
Even today the jails are full and so many times it is with the wrong ones.
I am so glad to see you enjoying yourself here and joining in the fun.
January 3rd, 2006 at 6:47 pm
My, oh my - for once, I am nearly speechless but not quite. Life and law is almost becoming too much like a two edged sword. I’m not sure if that’s the proper way to say what I’m thinking.
As you know, my brother died from medical neglect. He wasn’t an immigrant, he was a law abiding United States citizen in mighty need of help. He tried three times and didn’t get it.
Okay, in his case, the law protected the doctors, and the hospital. My point being, from you’ve written, now they are going to punish professionals who want to help immigrants. Well, I’m sorry to say this but is this a screwed up world or what?
What has happened to people helping people? What has happened to we are all created equal in the eyes of God? I’m not giving an opinion on immigrants as I don’t know enough to comment really. I’m simply saying, I wonder what people are thinking when they make up these ludicrous, outrageous laws.
Sorry, Vickie. Sometimes I don’t know when to keep my mouth shut especially when it comes God’s children.
Sally,you speechless never for you are like me. If we believe in something we take a stand. I often think of what happened with your brother and it was just so NOT right but they will get theirs in time.
I am with you about the bottom line of people helping people and you are one of those you find doing just that.
Nver apologize or keep your mouth shut here Sally, I want you to hollar here and I hope Ms. Wanda comes by from time to time and screams as well.
You Ms. Sally are one of a kind and I have made a promise one day this year I will be meeting you face to face. So you get ready.
January 3rd, 2006 at 6:51 pm
Happy new year Vickie!!! Hope you’re doing well! Big hugs and the best of wishes sweetie!
He is back Hot dog—Se7en, Hope you had a great time on your vacation.
For those who do not know, this one Mr. Se7en is responsible for this very nice design here. Yes the porch but not the furniture moves.
Hurry back to visit.
January 3rd, 2006 at 7:01 pm
I do know that many conservatives are compassionate and that all oxes are morons. However, politicians are politicians - and they need to be watched at all times. That’s where you and I come in…
Randy, You always have a way with words and making your point.
Question who are we watching, politicians , activities on the porch , you watching me, me watching you, you watching them or me watching them
January 3rd, 2006 at 7:32 pm
Wow, those politicians down south of the Great 49th are just about as bass-ackwards as the ones up here. LOL. . . But seriously, incarcerating a person for helping someone already in the country who is in need? Give me a break, if they were helping them to enter the country, maybe, but to help someone already there seems ridiculous. Especially as it’s usually given on a volunteer basis and isn’t taking away from those in need, such as Sally’s brother who didn’t get the help he needed through sheer neglect. Somebody needs to give their heads a shake.
Ooops, got a bit carried away. BTW: I’m with Melissa on this one, just don’t overdo it, okay? Cuz, I don’t want anything to happen to my BFFIWW. Big hugs, lotsa love and prayers as always.
Cowboy Joe You said it well and my reaction was not a nice one. It has taken me several days and a few phone calls before I settled down enough to really write it.
I will take care, I promise and check Melissa’s place out. She is my real life friend a very special one. My protector she is.
January 3rd, 2006 at 8:09 pm
That’s terrible that anyone in a public service field could go to jail for doing what they have sworn to do. My father is a retired physician, now volunteering in a homeless clinic. I have no doubt some of the patients he sees are illegals. I can’t believe he could go to jail because of it. What a travesty! Some immigrants may be illegal, but they are still people who deserve our compassion when they are in need.
Monique–My reactions actually and I have let my voice be known. I do not believe it will ever go through but there have been so many things people have thought would not that has because we just waited. I feel there is a right and a wrong way to handle the illegals but not at the risk of medical and social people…..start with those who employee them
Thanks for your thoughts and your visits here. I always love to see you.
January 3rd, 2006 at 9:09 pm
The Complimenting Commenter sent me.
I don’t think caregivers should be punished for treating anyone, regardless of their citizenship to a country.
Thank you for visiting. Each one stopping by from the Complimenting Commenter is a very special guest and I hope you will find something you like.
May this be not your first and last visit but your first of many visits. I am featured at CC as the blog to visit which is a very big honor for me.
CC is one of my mentors.
January 3rd, 2006 at 9:18 pm
“Great job” from The Complimenting Commenter. My first time here… I’m just above ya in Middle TN :)I’m not political, at all… but I think that is horribly wrong to punish those qual’ed to provide services to immigrants.
Welcome neighbor and please come back. I was not political in the past but I will say things have caused me to wake up.
Thank you for your time and comment.
January 3rd, 2006 at 9:23 pm
This is a fine idea you have!
As for your question: I learned while I was Medical POA for my dad in the nursing home that the medical industry has become just that- an industry. The powers that be that don’t do any hands-on work with patients only see it for the money they can grab. They pay themselves big salaries and make stupid policies that make it harder on nurses, aides, and patients to provide and recieve the care they need. The people in control don’t want to treat anyone they can’t profit from.
The home my dad was in was cited for 17 violations. The Administrator was a flippant brat who never set foot in the patient section of the facility. She was on a power high with herself and didn’t take the citations seriously enough, so they got closed down for a while, but not before I helped get her removed, and unfortunately not before one patient strangled on his bedrails due to insufficent nursing staff.
The nurses who cared for my dad were gems and really earned more than what they get paid. They showed compassion and took time to sit and talk w/dad to alleviate his fears (he had Alzhiemers). In my opinion it’s the business end of it all that needs their heads removed from their business ends!
Thanks for letting me sit a spell and vent, Vickie. And the tea was wonderful
Thank you Ms. Carolyn I am so glad you stopped by, enjoyed the visit and was comfortable enough to share your thoughts. You and I agree very much with all you said.
My mother suffered a stroke a few months after my father’s death and the physicians said she would need to go to a Nursing Facility as she could not live alone. I knew the care most received there and felt if she went there she would never improve but her health would slip away even more. My husband actually called and asked her if she would come live with us of which no way but when he suggested we come live with her she was all for it. All our furniture is in storeage and I am once again living in the town I said after greaduating from high school I would never return to. My mother has improved things are not easy at times but one day I will know I gave all I could.
I am so glad you were your dad’s advocate and did make certain you let the appropriate people know of your concerns and action was taken. It is sad to see that money drives so much these days and not life.
Please come back and visit and chat often, you are one I would like to know better.
January 3rd, 2006 at 10:28 pm
“Great job” from The Complimenting Commenter.
I’m still lurking around though.
Thanks for visiting Keb
Lurk away, just get comfortable and then jump right in—I’ll protect you
January 4th, 2006 at 12:11 am
It seems like these days, our politicians have gotten their noses way too deep in business that isn’t their own. I’m so tired of all the hate and prejudice that’s out there in the political circles all in the name of God and the bible.
When is America gonna catch on to this crap?
G-Man, They stick their nose in any place they think a dollar might come their way and for any service they can provide. Some have become very expensive pimps…..selling their souls to the jighest bidder
Most just set back and watch here
January 4th, 2006 at 12:54 am
Yes, I’ll be nice to Mike. Demands? Me? No, I’m a pussy cat, unless someone makes me late, then the tigress comes out. BUT here on your porch, we’re relaxed and among friends.
Now, what drink can I get for you? You’re a good hostess but I like to spoil my friends even if I’m a guest.
Oh wow you came back again and to be nice, thank you and I do believe I will just relax and let you be the hostess for a bit —-but wait
January 4th, 2006 at 1:08 am
Hi Vickie, I think the government is so screwed up, they don’t know what they want. If I was in the position to help someone, that is my right to do so, and I wouldn’t want someone to stop me, immigrant or not.Heck I am an immigrant, I came from England and i’m as good as the next guy and as deserving of aid.Cheers,
Hello Carol, I do believe you know what you are talking about when you described the government.
And why can we not help others if we want to? I think we know what is right and wrong more than THEY do.
January 4th, 2006 at 1:53 am
Hi Vicki,
Love your friendly front porch, dont mind if i do sit a spell and sip lemonaide with you.
I realize that our tax dollars only go so far. But instead of skimping on the healthcare of immigrants, how about those big ole polititians just cinch up their own belts for a change,
Last year our provincial govt. Cut back Hospital Employees Union wages 15%. Then a few months later voted themselves a nice 15% wage increase. Thet soon retracted that with the threat of a civil uproar!
Glad to see you made it at last Susan, I thought I might have to send out the search party:lol:
Please do set a spell and enjoy the lemonaide but watch out for Karen. I’ve been told she is famous for sneaking folks lemonaide.
Yes there is only so much money to go around but there needs to be more oversite to where it goes and someone needs to hold the Government responsible and that comes back to us.
January 4th, 2006 at 3:10 am
I don’t understand the whole philosophy of punishing people for doing what they’ve trained for so many years to do. And if a doctor/nurse is in the middle of treating someone who’s having a massive coronary, are they going to take the time out to ask for papers? Thats just nuts!
And I do believe it’s very true that the medical industry is no longer about people but about the industry itself and it’s bottomline. The rising costs of insurance and medical care makes it nearly impossible for the ‘average’ person to be able to cover themselves and heaven forbid if they have family too!
Ugh! This just gets me riled up! I need to clean something!
**starts picking up empty glasses**
refills anyone?
Tracey glad you made it back from your vacation, missed you. I have to agree with what you said. Money is the driving force behind so much that involves health care these days but it is not in the areas it needs to be that is for sure.
Oh boy someone to help keep things clean here actually another hostess
January 4th, 2006 at 3:12 am
Oh and p.s.~
Melissa is right…please don’t overdo it!
(((hugs)))
Thanks Trace, I’ll make you a deal–I will not overdo it if you don’t
January 4th, 2006 at 4:14 am
Thank you for visiting my place and making the nicest comments there. I just love your new front porch. I’m sure you’ll definately love it during the cool evenings of summer and fall. Best time of the year, in my opinion. Until next time, take care and enjoy that porch of your’s…
Scarlett Leann, I enjoyed my visit at your home and will be returning. Glad you enjoy the porch and the fall is my time of the year. We can enjoy some nice long chants then so make certain you come on back:)
January 4th, 2006 at 5:00 am
The CC linked and I followed.
Just my two cents… immigration is an extremely difficult issue to tackle because of its many sides. With crime you know who the bad guys are, but with illegals its not the same. With a few exceptions, these are mainly poor people trying to make it. What I hate about the issue is that politicians do not really talk about solutions, but how to score political points. Thank you for expressing yourself and showing a different point of view.
Fado, You are correct immigration is a difficult issue and I could not tackle it I just feel very strong about heath care and providing it for those who need it no matter who they might be.
Glad you stopped by from CC’s and hope you return again.
January 4th, 2006 at 6:10 am
Miss Vickie darling I’m sorry I couldn’t get here until tonight. To answer your question….the first thing I think about when I come here is the aura of shared love and laughter on that porch swing of yours. I brought another jug or 2 of iced tea and lemonade with me as I walked through your back door, enough for sharing with everyone.
You’re the star today on the C.C.’s site. That makes me smile!!
I too am thinking that you might not be able to keep up answering all the comments, just take care of you when you need to, promise us that.
And OMG don’t even get me started on the issue of not being able to help others in need just because they are immigrants….. I may not be a nurse but I’m a healer. If someone came to me in need but I knew they were an immigrant, do you think for one moment I would refuse them God’s gift of healing, and turn them away? We need to wipe the slate clean of all politicians in this world and start over again….with some compassionate people in their places who don’t have a care in the world about votes and money. God help us all…..
Miss Vickie darling, I vote YOU for President. There’s a damn good start!
It is about time you got here Jude- you missed some nice people but I know you will catch themanother time. I also know you have been pretty busy having been by CC’s and of course we have both been playing at Bob’s.
I agree with you Jude about helping someone and you are a healer no question about it –you would be right there with me. Of course with me and you on their hands they would be begging us to leave because they would have no idea what hit them so I have a feeling we would never last long if we should end up sentenced together for helping an immigrant.
Me for President well as long as you are my Vice President
It was so nice when I learned I was featured as CC’s site. I look to CC as a mentor.
January 4th, 2006 at 7:04 am
I think it’s a difficult issue. I don’t think anyone should ever be turned away when they need medical care, regardless of immigration status. But I also think the flow of illegals, which is desperately hurting the area where I live, would slow tremendously if they did not have such easy access to social services to which they should not be legally entitled. But I think that those who HIRE illegals are the place to start.
Cheryl, You are right it is a difficult issue and I think you nailed it as to where we should start with who is responsible. The one who hires them, they have taken jobs away from our citizens and given them to immigrates who are illegal.
January 4th, 2006 at 12:06 pm
Just dropped by to say “Hello”.
Hello and come again SC Next time would you ride the bike over?
January 4th, 2006 at 7:32 pm
I hold you in high regard Vickie, but I respectfully submit that as someone with a chronic medical condition, you might have a different take on this issue if you lived in a town like San Diego that shares a border with Mexico.
I’ve lived here for 15 years now, and I’ve watched the steady degradation of our health care, especially and particularly at Children’s Hospital.
We simply cannot afford to continue to pay for the increasing influx of illegal immigrants into this state, at least I know we can’t afford it.
Our income has been cut in half, I’m sure you understand what happens when a medical bombshell gets dropped on you.
This doesn’t prevent us from having to shell out $900 per month for insurance every month. The reason our insurance is that high is that the doctors and hospitals have to charge us so they can afford to treat the millions of uninsured illegal immigrants living in California.
But we had to go to St. Jude in order to get decent medical care. The reason that St. Jude can provide good medical care is that they’ve got a powerful private fundraising mechanism going, publicly funded institutions can’t afford to do what St. Jude does.
Part of the reason we didn’t stay in San Diego was that while Steven was on chemo, his blood counts would drop to zero, this is a “normal” consequence. Now lets say he gets a fever while he has no immune system, this is also “normal”.
In San Diego, I’d have to take him down to Children’s Hospital to sit in the E.R. for six hours alongside in an overcrowded room full of illegal immigrants with sick kids before I could get him admitted.
I probably sound like a racist bigot, but I challenge any parent with a seriously ill child to come visit the E.R. at Children’s Hospital in San Diego in the middle of the night to see what it’s like before you judge me.
Since we have insurance, nobody cuts us any slack when we have trouble paying our medical bills, but if I’d just walked across the border from Mexico, everything would be taken care of for me.
It’s not fair, it’s not reasonable, and it’s hurting my family and we are desperate for a positive solution.
I say treat the ill ones, help out their immediate needs, then send them home if they aren’t here legally and can’t pay their way.
I’m a compassionate person, really, but I just plain can’t afford this and neither can my son.
Sorry for the rant.
Thank you Kathy, for the comfort you have here in being able to voice your feelings. You are correct and I am the first to say unless you walk in someone’s shoes you have no idea how it is.
I will be the first to admit I do not know just how bad it can be with illegal immigrants as both if the areas I have delt with them in they are more of transition and migratory in nature. Picking Peaches in South Carolina and Onions in Georgia are the two I saw and had first hand experience with.
I still stand a health care provider takes an oth to provide and heal if possible so if someone presents to you for service you should do them without judgement, I chose the profession of Nursing because I had a strong desire to help heal from the time I was a child when I would play dolls and place bandaids on their injuries.
I realize there is only so much money for health care and we should take care of our own first but there needs to be things in place at the appropriate levels. My issue is health care providers take an oath to provide care it should not be our place to screen if someone is here as an illegal immigrant period. There are laws that hold us responsible for providing medical care and just what happens if we make a wrong call and do not provide the care….a big lawsuit is what happens. It is because that is not our area of expertise to determine someone’s citizenship. I would not want to ask a teacher to be a nurse as that is not their training. However if this bill becomes law and I should do what I am trained and the person is an illegal immigrant I could go to jail is that right? No.
There needs to be a right way to do things—and I do very much understand where you are coming from as well. I just see the big winner in the becoming lawyers if this becomes law.
Again, I am so glad you came by and shared your view. By the way how is Steven doing?
January 4th, 2006 at 9:53 pm
Thanks for not making me sit in the rocking chair. I’m not quite ready for it yet. Now if it’s a chaise chair with a remote and surround sound, well…
Just be forewarned: Being from Texas, I’ve had my fill of hot, humid, mosquito-filled days. If the temperature rises above 70 I’ll be inside watching the baseball game.
FTS-You know a good hostess would always make her visitors comfortable so until you are old, crippled and…..you are not going to be in the rocker. Oh and you brought up something very important music, I must make certain I cover that here on the porch.
When it is baseball season, I’ll be inside watching it with you but sorry I know we will not be for the same team…..just call me a Smoltz fan I even have a cat named that
January 5th, 2006 at 2:18 am
Hi Vickie, wow you have certainly spiked everyones interest with your front porch, I love the answers you give to comments and the whole concept, with one tiny concern, as expressed by a couple of others, that you don’t overtax yourself.
Do it to the limit while you are enjoying it, but taper off if you need too.
(((hugs)))
Thank you Peter, oh wow a hug too… we better watch out might get in trouble:) I will promise to take care of ME and not let Missy get the upper hand.