INSANITY PREVAILS

Key West is located in Monroe County. Monroe County recently passed what I consider an asinine law. County employees may not smoke. For new hires, not at all. Even at home. Urine testing (pee in the cup) required to catch violators.

Insanity. Next government will tell us how many times and when and where a husband and wife can have sex. Don’t laugh. Overpopulation is a fast growing problem. Why do you think Monsanto has all these Congress passed laws giving them protection in the development of genetically modified organisms.

Key West is now considering expanding the insanity. It was suggested at last night’s Commission meeting that the City look into what the County has done. Five commissioners were favorable. Only a look, however. It is the beginning. I see Key West once again getting involved in what is none of its business.

Insanity prevails.

Speaking of insanity, John Brown comes to mind. John Brown was an abolitionist and anti-slavery advocate in the 1850’s prior to the Civil War. He took matters into his own hands. He was fed up with the federal government’s delay in resolving the slavery issue. Brown and a bunch of his followers attempted a raid October 16, 1859 on Harper’s Ferry in Virginia. The raid failed. Brown was captured two days later. He was tried, found guilty, and hung on December 2. No 20 year Supreme Court appellate process in those days.

John Brown’s home was in North Elba, New York. Brown is buried there. I visited Brown’s home and grave.

North Elba is near Lake Placid. I was visiting a friend who had a summer home in Lake Placid. There was a cloudy deary rainy day. He took us for a ride in lieu of sitting around and drinking all day. The ride took us up a tiny narrow road to the top of a small hill. An equally small house at the top. Brown’s home. It is now a part of the New York State Park, Recreation and Historic Preservation.

The house consisted of three rooms. Two down and one up. Appeared awkward to live in. Especially when I discovered Brown had fathered twenty children between two wives. Brown and Key West’s Captain Tony have something in common. Though I believe Captain Tony had more wives.

The family slept closely. Very close. Made sense. Besides insufficient space, Lake Placid is brutally cold in the winter.

I found Brown’s grave off to the side. He lies beneath a monstrous tombstone. The words on the stone reflect what today is perceived as a heroic act by many on his part.

History tells us Brown was a nut. He was obsessed with slavery. He thought it was his God directed duty to rid the country of slavery.

It was reported in yesterday’s Key West Citizen that two Disney cruise ships will be docking in Key West for two days during Fantasy Fest. These are family type vacationers. Many children.

Some kind of screw up here. Disney was made aware of what appeared to be a booking mistake. Nevertheless, Disney is still bringing the ships into Key West.

Hurricane Gonzalo is hurtling down upon Bermuda. A 4, sometimes a 3. Bermuda getting hit bad. Sunday it was tropical storm Fay. One thousand homes still without electricity. Now a major hurricane.

Saw Dr. Mc Ivor yesterday. My heart doctor. Concerned about my swollen ankles. So am I. He has prescribed a super water pill to be taken with my normal water pill. What a way to lose weight! He has also ordered an ultra sound of both legs. One ankle is swollen more than the other. He wishes to eliminate a clot factor. I love getting old!

Bocce last night. We won only one game, the last. We killed the opposition. The two lost were close. The team we played we should have demolished. We did not. We seem to play to our opposition. When we play a good team, we are at the top of our game. A so so team, we play to their level.

My Italian friend Anna e mailed me yesterday. She was in Milan. There is an Asian-European Meeting going on. Many Middle East countries represented. Anna has spent time in the Middle East. She said the Arab women were in and out of all the best stores on Milan’s most fashionable street. They were dressed as everyone else. Not black robes and face covers for them. They were attired in the finest, happy and giddy. Buying today’s most fashionable clothes. She also mentioned their faces were perfectly made up.

Bet they cannot wear their new clothes at home.

I woke at 5 this morning. Could not get back to sleep. Decided to walk. Left the house at 6. Dark. Cool. Comfortable. A great time to walk. I need a flashlight, however. Not so I can see. So the cars can see me.

Enjoy your day!

MEDICAL REPATRIATION

 

There is a new term out there. Few have heard it. Many will as time goes on.

It is medical repatriation.

Formal sounding. Serious in its implications.

I spoke of medical repatriation on the Key West Lou Legal Hour yesterday. The term involves illegal persons and hospital bills.

The law in the United States is that a hospital is required to care for an injured or sick person till that person is “stabilized.” Not cured. Regardless of ability to pay. Until recently, hospitals have been caring for illegal persons till cured. The result was increased billing to those who had the ability to pay. An unfair but Christian like approach.

Medicaid does not pay the medical bills of those illegally in the United States.

Hospitals have begun to change the format for handling illegals. Now they hire a plane and ship these still sick persons back to their country of origin. The expense of the plane is on the hospital. It is cheaper for a hospital to go this route rather than absorb the balance of a cure bill and rehabilitation.

A recent case involves two Mexican illegals who were working. Their employer provided each with a $100,000 medical policy. The two men had an automobile accident resulting in serious brain injuries. The $100,000 per person was eaten up in less than one week. The hospital flew them back to Mexico on the eleventh day. While both were comatose, a state they had been in since the happening of the accident.

Bad business! Such conduct sets a precedent for a hospital to throw the sick out when the money runs out. I am talking about U.S. citizens who are sick and have no insurance or have insurance that has run out.

I fear that what happens to others today, will happen to us tomorrow.

I discussed the above on my tv/internet show yesterday.

Afterwards, I hurried home to write next week’s column for KONK Life. Vengeance Is Mine Sayeth The Lord. It has to do with the 19 year old Boston bomber and forgiveness. Cardinal O’Malley last week said we should forgive. I say no! Execute him! After a fair trial, of course.

From my previous writings and shows, you are aware that I am against the death penalty. My concern is that an innocent person could be put to death. The system is not perfect. However with the Boston bomber the story is different. From the videos, pictures, television and everything else, there is no question of guilt. Guilt for a horrific and heinous crime. Let him die!

The Chart Room last night was crowded and fun. Jean Thornton invited me to watch the Great Sea Battle from the porch of the Hot Tin Roof with some others. She was buying. I could not refuse such a generous offer from such a beautiful lady.

We ate and drank and watched the Conch Republic win another battle against the forces of the United States. There was no way the Conch Republic was going to lose. Four airplanes. Two bi of World War I vintage, another post World War II, and a sea plane. All dropping unfurling toilet paper rolls as bombs. Biodegradable, I might add.

The U.S. Navy had two jets flying over. No competition for the four Conch planes.

Four pirate ships made up the Conch Navy. Frankie is Admiral. The pirates were appropriately dressed.

The United States was represented by a small 14 foot power boat with a red stripe on the side. No competition. Sequestration prevented the Coast Guard cutter from participating.

The bombs fell, the pirate ship guns hosed the 14 foot power boat and threw cabbage, tomatoes and eggs at it.

The war was easily won.

Stopped at Don’s Place on the way home. Erika, Hershel, Michael, Don, and Stephanie in attendance. Erika’s brother was there. He has just returned from six years in South Korea. He taught English. He had many interesting stories to share.

The weather continues to be magnificent. Several people commented last night that yesterday had been one of Key West’s best days.

Enjoy your day!