Socialized Medicine?

By the time I came home last night the healthcare bill had passed in the House by a vote of 219 to 212. Was I shocked? Yes. Am I upset that it passed? I can't tell at this point. There are definitely pros and cons to each side of the healthcare debate, but it is important to know the basics before you begin to judge the bill itself.

The taboo public option was not part of the bill that just passed in Congress, which was a major reason why the Republicans opposed healthcare in the first place. What the bill did include was that most Americans will now be required to have health insurance or be forced to pay a fine.

"Well, I'm all for lowering my insurance premiums, insuring more people, and more emphasis on women's health. So, I'm for it," said Katie Gaughran, a 25 year old resident of Brooklyn, New York. "I think it should have included a public option, but as is, I think it has the potential to do a lot of good, and I'm not really sure why everyone is freaking out about it."

Personal out-of-pocket expenses will now be capped, and insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny people coverage due to pre-existing conditions.

This plan is costing roughly $940 billion and is said to extend health insurance to 32 million Americans who are currently without insurance.

"It [healthcare bill] was shoved so far down the American publics throat that our colons hurt," said Michael Lembo, a 21 year old senior from Stony Brook University.

The positives of this bill, on paper, are massive. There is just one thing we all need to remember, this is a $940 billion bill that is now going to be implemented during a recession. Does this fact make me cynical? Of course it does.

But, I will not let my cynicism get the best of me. I am willing to give this bill a chance, and am willing to wait to see if it truly does change the pace and course of the corrupt insurance companies that presently drive the healthcare industry in this country.

"It's being cast as a Democratic victory, but as a liberal, to me it is the other side that won. Huge majorities in both chambers and we can't get universal healthcare? Can't get public option?" said Michael Heinz, a 20 year old resident of East Setauket, New York.

Before everyone starts screaming and wailing over this bill, they need to realize that the bill needs to be implemented first. The implementation is key, because remember, communism looked great on paper, but once implemented, changed the course of the world in an awful way.

(Image courtesy of www.jupitarimages.com)

Texting While Driving..

I’m driving slightly over the speed limit on the Northern State, blaring some classic Ke$ha tunes on my way to Adelphi University. My phone’s ‘text’ ringtone goes off, and I swiftly glance at my iPhone as it rests on passenger seat adjacent to me.

As I let the phone sit there, and as the reminder alert rings, I cringe and squirm wondering who has sent me a message. The suspense was killing me, or at least annoying me to the point where I was barely focusing on the road. To respond or not to respond, that is the question?

Well, to the shock and awe of all of you reading this, I will admit, that I am guilty of responding. I know its wrong; I know I shouldn’t be doing it. But, for some reason, I feel that I am invincible, and I feel there is no way that while texting and driving, I could somehow swerve off the road into the divider, or into another car.

After conversing with students across Adelphi’s campus about this issue, many say that they have rules about texting while driving; for example, they only participate in the activity if they are at a red light, or at a stop sign. They also claimed that they would stop texting if someone who was in their car with them asked them to stop.

But, seeing that we make rules about texting while driving, we are technically rationalizing something that we shouldn’t be doing in the first place. We shouldn’t be engaging in a pastime that is taking our attention and focus off of the road, or off of the 3,000 to 4,000 pound piece of machinery that we are maneuvering.

While snooping around the Internet, researching this topic, I found a website called txtresponsibly.org, with their mission being, “to raise awareness of the dangers of texting while driving and to prevent harmful injury or death caused by the act of texting recklessly.”

On this website you have the ability to take an oath that you “will not read, write or send messages using any handheld device while driving…” Only 102 people have signed the oath thus far, but I know that there are so many more people out there that text while they drive. These same people also know, and understand, that it needs to stop.

I just became the 103rd person to sign the oath. No, I didn’t sign it to be preachy, or to convert all of you who are reading this. I signed it for me, to ensure my safety and the safety of those commuting with me and around me. I signed the oath to make sure my entire focus is on the road ahead of me, and not on the text waiting for me.

(Image Courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net)

Why Adelphi Doesn't Have a Football Team..

For Adelphi University students, it’s the age-old question, why isn’t there a Panthers football team? University athletes for many years have excelled at a number of sports, including soccer, baseball and lacrosse just to name a few, even during the years when a football team existed here on campus.

Adelphi University’s first football team existed from 1947 through the 1953 season. It started up again as a club basis in 1965, became a half-varsity sport in 1968 and was discontinued in 1971.

Reasons for both discontinuations were due to a lack of financial support; the athletic department spent $75,000 annually in order to keep the program running. Rivals included Bloomsburg State College, Long Island University, Hofstra University, Bridgeport University, and Farmingdale State College, the first three respectively still having active football programs.

According the University’s athletic director Robert Hartwell, a number of circumstances would go into starting up the football team again. There would be a potential Title IX, a law enacted in 1972 banning sex discrimination in schools.

“Our campus is over 75% female. And to add another male sport would certainly continue to skew the numbers. It's a constant struggle to stay compliant now and we haven't dropped any men's sports, but we have add volleyball (1992), women's lacrosse (2001), women's bowling (2006) and field hockey (2008) as a way of trying to stay on top of our enrollment,” said Suzette McQueen, the athletic director at Adelphi.

Specialized needs for a team would have to go into effect if Adelphi were to reinstate the football program. A new football team would require a practice field and a spectator stadium; as of now, the University does not have enough facilities for such things. Two large locker rooms for team members, and a huge training room and a staff would also be entailed. A doctor would have to be present at all home games, and for away games. As well, two to three coaches must travel with the team to away games.

In 1988, after alumni and the student government at Adelphi brought up questions, and after expressed interest from high school football players that were talking to Hofstra University and C.W. Post, a study was created and researched to find what the benefits would be, if any, if the football program was to be reestablished on campus.

The study found that for the program to be created again, financial support would have to be elicited from students, alumni and faculty members. The final tally of expenses for a team would average around $142,000 dollars per year (keep in mind, this number was from 1988).

The study even polled students on campus, finding that 93% felt football would add prestige to the university, and that they were in favor of adding a program at that moment in time.

“The students were all very supportive and believe it would unify the student body and gave them something to look forward to in the fall,” wrote Michael Choate, the author of the research materials.

Another question looming currently is whether or not a football team would completely change the face of Adelphi athletics, and whether or not it would be able to bring in the amount of excitement and fans that students assume that it would.

“My question to you is why do we need [a football team]? So people could tailgate? I don't know how popular football is at other DII schools in the area, like C.W. Post, who actually competes in the Pennsylvania conference. We compete for so much of our audience being in the New York market with nine pro sports teams, numerous colleges, tons of high school sports, arts and entertainment, etc. Not sure if you would really draw in a lot of fans,” said McQueen.