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RECENT LETTERS, REVIEWS AND PRESS
A sampling of reader reaction to recent Suddenly Senior columns...
WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER GOING TO CHINA NEXT YEAR
Today's China is safe, friendly, and fascinating. With the 08/08/08 Olympics coming up, there’s never been a better time to visit. Frank and Carolyn look back on what Frank calls their "Spoiled Rotten in China" tour. READ FULL STORY HERE
MOST MAIL AGAINST THE COLUMN WAS ALONG THESE LINES...
I am sure you experienced the best of China, but remember the worst is very bad and I think promoting a country that is so far from civil liberties and equal rights is wrong. That's not even considering the imports that they ship to us that are contaminated, the struggle our country's workers are having getting living wages because China doesn't provide their citizens that benefit and encourages our businesses to ship our manufacturing there. I think we can do much better when it comes to finding fascinating places to travel! Dolly, Newport, Oregon
ONE LAPTOP PER ELDERLY PERSON?
Angela Gunn
TECH SPACE
USA TODAY
Jan. 11, 2008
I agree with some of the commenters at the (London) Times that India Knight's a little condescending in spots, but she makes some great points in her recent column on Olive Archer, a British woman who recently died after five years in a nursing home with no visitors and no known family -- the Brits are calling Ms Archer a real-life Eleanor Rigby and asking how to deal with a perceived epidemic of social isolation.
Knight reaches an interesting conclusion: Why not a One Laptop Per Child-type program for elders -- simple, easy-to-use, age-adapted machines that encourage social networking and human connection, albeit through a screen? (If you've visited a senior center lately, you know that screens are a major source of human "contact" -- but those are television screens. Not good.) There are a growing number of senior-oriented sites out there already, as we see on great sites like Suddenly Senior; I wonder what it would take to get a whole lot of inexpensive, thoughtfully designed connectivity tools to our burgeoning elder population?
RECENT MAIL TO SUDDENLY SENIOR...
As a lifelong Republican who voted for Mr. Bush twice, when I read this article about advantage plans costing a unbelievable 54 billion dollars, taken away from the regular medicare plan, my blood boiled.
This stubborn, foolish, no dangerous man in the White House needs to be impeached and now. His stance on this issue clearly favors the good old insurance companies, only a total idiot would deny that.
I am in regular Medicare and I deeply resent these Advantage plans. That money should go into Medicare, not the bottom line of the insurance companies. I would switch to an Advantage plan, but knowing the insurance industry as well as I do, it is only a matter of time before it will be good bye Advantage plans. Then you may not be able to go back to Medicare and end up with no insurance at all.
This is a nightmare. We have NO government in D.C. except of course when stem cell research, abortion or the likes of the Shiavo debacle are involved,, boy do they move then!
This all reminds so much of Germany in the late 2Os. Thirty parties were each fighting for their own agendas, bickering, politics were the end all in the Reichstag and the result was Adolf and 5O million lives lost..........Sound familiar?
Thanks for letting me take so much of your time but I have never been as angry as I am today. Tom Wayne
Are there no sane people in Washington? Can nothing be done to stop our delusionary leader? Certainly the Democrats should be able to muster enough backbone, and votes to overcome Bush's vetoes? We're hurtling off a cliff, and nothing can been done to prevent it? Ann Garrett
Senior Dimensions is a Medicare Advantage Plan here in Nevada and has been very successful competing against AARP's United HealthCare. Now AARP's United is trying to buy them out. The local AMA usis protesting this buyout as it will have an adverse effect on the local physicians. Even the governor has asked the Feds to intervene but there is little hope there. This will make United a monopoly in Nevada. Bad News. Denise Kelley
Isn't it amazing how AARP chews on both sides of their mental mouth? AARP is the primary institution which prompted the present Medicare/Medicade fiasco. AARP STILL pushes insurance companies because AARP is now one of the largest insurance providers in this nation and the present membership of AARP cannot see the forrest for the trees. AND... they continue to support an orgination which continues to downtrod senior citizens. Ignorant seniors who fail to "shop around" cannot see that the pitance amount of money AARP [claims] to save seniors, really isn't a savings at all.
Until the seniors stand together against AARP, the present insurance scams will continue with the blessings of AARP. Lowell Byrd
Target has a $4 dollar list on most medications. Wal-Mart the same thing Publix gives free antibiotics. Costco also has a discount "LIST" and you don't have to be a member to use the drug department. It so happens that they charge the least of all the drug stores on medications. If one adds on the samples the doctors give the patients the need for the insurance is not necessary as without the payments and do-nut whole they are way ahead of the game. I know as this is what I do and I save a bundle. Before I order any med I call and see if it is on any of the lists if not I order it from Costco. (It also pays to call around sometimes a med is less because the individual might be using a mfr. that charges less). Gilda Kay
Glad you guys went to China. You deserve it, and I am envious. I will again, as I think I did last year, award you my "Contribution to Society" award for all your efforts. At 84 I'm coping well enough to get by and have a file of "Frank's stuff" in case I run into something beyond my comprehension. And you're appropriately cynical about the various vultures circling us aging seniors. Keep it up and enjoy being appreciated. Bruce Gillis
I read your column when I get to the point of exasperation. I know that most of everything you write has basis and wish the people at the top could see the future.
Please tell me I am way off base and that the system is going to right itself. Please tell me the people at the top aren't that stupid to let our country fail for the sake of money or power. What ever happened to Honor, Integrety, Caring, Rules? Please tell me I don't see what I see comming. Thanks for the ear. Lennod
I see too, every day in most every way. Business runs America, and until we can stop the system where business pays for candidate to run for office, nothing will change.
See http://www.suddenlysenior.com/cleanelections.html
Maybe you can explain to me how, in a year that the price of gasoline has jumped 50%, meat and produce prices have increased 20-40%, the insurance companies in Florida have gouged us for a 50-100% increase in homeowner's policies, as well as another 20-50% increase on our vehicle policies, plus reducing our coverage, that the Social Security payment increase was all of 2.3%, supposedly based on the Consumer Price Index. As my house is paid for, all of my meager income goes to support my wife and myself by the above expenditures, plus utilities, medical expenses and taxes. I guarantee that my cost of living exceeded 2.3% by more than a factor of ten. Lee Martines
See http://www.suddenlysenior.com/SocSecTrusteesCOLA.html
I suspect that the USA is one of the few western nations that do not have a national medicare, our system in Canada is far from perfect but a few years ago I fell down my stairs at home, I could not get up and my wife called the ambulance, I was taken to hospital, xrayed, operated on [steel pin inserted in my right femur] and within three months I was playing tennis again. The cost to me, I had to pay for the ambulance to the hospital. A national health service for the USA is long overdue. J R Harwood Brantford Ontario
In my book, libertarianism is the closest thing to anarchy. The slick, unscrupulos and unprincipaled make out like bandits and the average joe or josephine has no protection from their rapacious. conniving ways. It's almost that bad now. Smaller government! How can we possibly manage a gigantic country like the USA without a large government? As it is, with 50 states having different rules and regulations on nearly everything tt is a jungle. California has 58 counties and some states have even more, all with slightly different rules and regulations. Talk about anarchy ! ! ! Go into supermarket, drugstore or "health food" store and you will see shelves full of nonprescription remedies, ten or a dozen for every ailment imaginable, all with different ingredients and different amounts of the ingredients, all untested and unregulated. It's a VERY lucrative business or there wldn't be so many doing .
Not long ago a number of these nostrums were analyzed and it was found that some of them had more of some ingredients listed, less of other ingreients listed, and some had none of the ingredients listed. 'We need MORE regulation in many cases, not less. The main reason health care is so expensive in this country is because of the lack of control and oversight which wld prevent the terrible ripoffs that occur constantly. But the big coporations that are providing all of this have control over congress and make it impossible for any change which would cut into their profits. One big blunder that Hoven made is his statement that only CITIZENS shd get healthcare. So what about the millions of legal residents who have to wait FIVE YEARS before they can apply for citizenship? Walt Hansen in San Diego
Don't trust the FDA, AMA or the government on vaccines. In fact you can't trust them on anything! They prefer to keep people sick in the name of profits. Its all profits for them and you don't know what harm these vaccines are really doing to the body over time. You never hear about cures anymore. Its always give money for research, what they don't tell you is that it's research for more and more drugs and NOT for cures. They lost too much money when polio was cured and they vowed to not do that again.
Keep the suckers coming back for long term use of drugs. Millions are spent by the drug mobsters for TV ads to get more people on drugs. When will it stop? Only when people wise up! Why do they go after "Natural/alternative" therapies, yet continue to keep drugs on the market when the drug has killed thousands. It is because the FDA, AMA are subsidized by the drug companies. The pharmaceutical industry runs this government and elected politicians of all parties, citizens must take hold of their health and start listening to the alternative doctors and stop being the meek sheep the government wants! Ellie Martin
I enjoy your emails and your articles but I wish to comment on the one about China. I am sure the natural beauty of China is beautiful, its people friendly, and that you were catered to by many. What you did not mention is the pollution is Beijing, and the lack of religious freedom for Christians. You also did not mention the abuse of Chinese workers who are treated unfairly, work in sweat shops and children also work long hours in the same sweat shops.
You also did not mention China exporting dog food that has poisened many American's animals. You did not mention the food and pharmaceutical products that are exported and are unsafe for Americans.
Our American children are exposed to lead in the toys manufactured there and the Chinese worker who work in these factories are at risk and it is unhealthy for them as well. Communist China does not take care of its own citizens, so it is not surprising that they do not care about Americans. I like reading your columns but I feel I must tell you the effect this column had on me. Praising the Chinese is not something I want to read about unless you tell the full story about China, the good and the bad. I feel very sorry for poor Chinese citizen and their children.
Yes, China is beautiful and its people are. But the government does not take care of its people, and abuse of animals is rampant. They take the skin off of dogs while the dog is alive and then export their fur not disclosing that it is the fur of dogs. Hoping to read about your other travels that I will appreciate more than this one. Mary K.
Mary, thanks for writing. I believe you’re right for the most part. But I did find many, many Christian churches in our travels there. And freedom of religion is in their constitution.
About the rest, there’s no excuse. But just as you have exploitation in China, you have it here in America. In my opinion, our government does not take care of many of its people. But that doesn’t stop me from traveling to see America, the most beautiful country in the world. Frank
THANKS FOR SHARING NINE YEARS OF SUDDENLY SENIOR
A peek at Thanksgiving in the 1940s, a look at how we celebrate today, and gratitude for how Suddenly Senior has changed our lives. READ FULL STORY HERE
Just remember you will not be alone in spirit on Thanksgiving, I looked it up on the Internet, and it tells me that Thanksgiving Day in 2007 - is November 22. So on November 22 - around your lunchtime that will be near to midnight here - I will stay up, light a candle and think of you both and wish you a lovely meal and thank you for the many years of sharing you and Carolyn have given to me and to others. You have made aging so much brighter and kept me and others very well informed on the pleasures and pains of every day life. Take care, both of you - I send to you both bouquets of flowers in my heart and lots of love and thank you for your sharing and caring. Your Australian friend, Gail Shawh
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As always, our readers and we enjoy your column, but your Thanksgiving column is extra special. Even though we won't come out until after Thanksgiving, I'm going to run it in our December issue anyway because it is such an "upper." That's the problem with having a monthly newspaper. I can only run one of your columns a month and our readers miss three other good ones, but what the heck! Such is the life of a newspaper editor and I don't want them to miss this Thanksgiving column.
It somehow slipped past me this summer that Carolyn now has multiple myeloma until I clicked on one of her columns one day in which she wrote about it. We are deeply grieved to hear of her illness, but admire her spunk in grabbing "the bull by the horns," so to speak, and dealing with it with such spirit, honestly and courage.
You want you to know that both of you have become such a fun part of out newspaper family here at the good old Valley Mess, and that we all send our best wishes and all the good thoughts we can direct towards Florida to you and Carolyn.
Keep those columns coming and we also hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving.
In fact, God bless you both REAL GOOD, now and always. Darrel and Pat Teeters and staff The Valley Messenger, Yucaipa, CA
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While you are at it, you might be thankful for the young people who are putting their lives on the line for us. I could feel you sliding into your liberal dribble when you said we need a "compassionate leader." What could be more compassionate than defending our country and killing the people who want to kill us? Again, freedom is not free and we should thank God for the military who allow us to disagree.... peacefully. Mel Brown
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I loved it. It brought back many wonderful memories of when we would go to my grandparents or Aunt's house. I was raised during the depression, but my dad worked for a farmer so we did have food, but not much else. Our big outings were to get together with aunts, uncles, and cousins. I wouldn't trade that time in my life for anything. Leola (Lee) Curry Meraz
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Frank, I appreciate your e-mail. But none of us is forever. Have you thought about discovering and encouraging another to do the same quality writings as yours is? Jerry Lindelly
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I am new to this Zine, but enjoy it greatly and have shared it with many. I applaud your devotion, heartfelt and intelligent patter. Congratulations to you both for a great publication. I hope to still be subscribed until the end. Thanks. Moana
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Thanks for your endeavors to be our ambassadors in places around the world that some of us will never have an opportunity to see first hand. I am one of the lucky ones I have had the opportunity to travel to some of these places. Although the one thing I relish most after these trips is coming home to the good "ole," USA??? Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on days gone by and to anticipate the future and as I age (65) I have come to fear somewhat this future and what it could bring to change my life and also of the people I love. Bob Hope use to end his TV shows with thanks for the memories statement. If I could at this Holiday Season, I would like to thank everyone for the memories that has ever touched my life. I wish you the best of Holidays and especially to Carolyn as you fight this cancer did it with a vengeance. Kathleen Dolan-Boweso
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You mentioned Rudy Vallee in your last mailing and brought back a flood of old memories and a cute TRUE story.
Many years ago, here in Los Angeles, Rudy Vallee used to live off famous Mulholland Drive in Beverly Hills on a street called Pyramid Place. His was the only residence on the street, a little cul de sac. Being the egomaniac that he was, he decided to petition the Los Angeles City Council to change the name of Pyramid Place to "Rue de Vallee."
The City Council, not wanting to establish precedence, dutifully declined his request with the suggestion that he change HIS name to "Pyramid Place."
I always get a chuckle when that anecdote comes to mind. My dad was a musician and worked with Rudy back in New England in the late 1920's and 30's. They were friends up until the time Rudy died. Mike Kirsch
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Your articles are the reason I have not joined AARP! I've fought tooth and nail most of my adult life for some sort of health insurance coverage having worked at temporary, part-time and full time jobs. I had to give up every penny (which wasn't much) from my just started savings account in order to become poverty stricken enough to get MEDICAL (they lost my application for assistance twice!) to consider me eligible for benefits when I was diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer.
I finally had to take them to court to fight for my life and the right to have medical help when I didn't have insurance. AARP hasn't done a thing for me that I don't have to once again pay for from deep within my moth-ridden wallet, so, I refuse to join. I've strapped on my balls as an individual and am surely tired to have to fight for everything I rightfully deserve. There's not much to look forward to other than battling for the right to benefits that I've earned by paying my taxes, working, working, working to just get by. I don't want senior discounts from AARP to go traveling - I want assistance in remaining well and healthy in order to be able to travel. Name withheld by request
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I bypassed everything to read Suddenly Senior. The contents are overwhelming (Carolyn looks totally beautiful and young, and if I get back the money my former partner stole from me, I am going to follow in Carolyn's footsteps - she is really beautiful!)
Once again, I salute you for your topics, research, humor, & honesty.
Carolyn was brave to undergo all of that dental and cosmetic surgery, but she looks awesome - I do hope she is doing well.
Tons of good wishes and gratitude to both of you. Shirlee Dwyer
I really enjoy your column! Please explain to us readers the relationship of Medicare to HMO's. Especially how one looses Medicare benefits when you join an HMO! Forget about going for a riding cart through Medicare when you have a degenerative spinal disease and have trouble walking. Personally, I advise all HMO/Medicare people to start night school before age 55 and become their own attorney before age 65/67. Only in that way will most of the benefits be theirs. Pass the Florida bar and you have a license to steal! It can't be too difficult, most politicians are attorneys. You should also have a minor in medical Doctor, just to learn the language. Another license to steal! Thank you for reading my rant. Happy wedding anniversary. Roger W. Wincekt
Unfortunately, those folks are going to wrong hospital; when in hospitals in Maine and Texas I see signs saying that hospital cannot and will not refuse to take care of people. B/C B/S does have open enrollment every year. In so far as living paycheck to paycheck, if you observe people, they can afford junk foods, alcoholic beverages, tattoos, fancy wheels etc. on their cars, latest fashions, etc., they can afford to buy insurance. If I were poor, I would look and see what would be best for me--- buy high deductible insurance, or put 5 to 10k aside. Yes, it takes discipline and self-denial to do this, but no one ever said it would be easy. When my wife and I were first married in 1961 I was earning $55.00 a week gross. Fortunately, the pharmacy trusted me for a case of formula when our daughter was born 10 months later, but our bills were paid on time and we struggled. Others can do it.
Remember that the Canadian insurance comes at quite a price. They pay a total of 15% sales tax, an income tax rate of 50% on not very high earnings, and costs of business must be higher as everything we buy when we go camping in Quebec is very expensive, re grocery, gas, and other day-to-day necessities. In fact, taxes are so high that so many people are tempted to work in the underground (cash) economy that the government has billboards advertising (Faire du noir est contre la loi) TRANSLATION--Making black (under the table cash work) is illegal.
Also, our Canadian friends in Texas always go to their doctors immediately on their return home from the winter visit South as if their medications change, they cannot buy out of Province insurance for 6 months. As they age, their cost of out of country insurance becomes prohibitive. If they are hospitalized here and cost will be too high, they have no choice but to be flown back by their insurance carrier to Canada and then cannot buy insurance to leave country or are forced to pay exorbitant costs for those insurances. Also, a long wait is still norm for services according to folks who visit here.
Frank, nothing is free; someone will have to pay for the government insurance, the bureaucrats who make final decisions will have no fear of losing your business, and we will be no better off.
We have a good system in this country; it could use some improvement, but does not require trashing and replacing. First thing we should do is take most medication off prescription and put them over the counter as they do in many other countries. Market forces would then lower prices. Institute tort reform so doctors can spend more time curing us and less worrying about lawsuits. Make it more simple for doctors to file claims and receive more prompt payments for services.
I know I will most probably not change your mindset on this subject, but what you wish for may not be what you really want to have. Ray Frechetteo
I just read your article about how the poor are taxed in comparison to the rich. My husband is retired and I'm disabled with M.S. We were very surprised to see our meager earnings being taxed at all. It would seem that once you are "retired" you should be done with income taxes.
We are experiencing another "blow" right now. We only make together about $3,000 a month half of which goes to our mortgage. I receive $75 a month from a disability policy. The insurance company wants to settle for $9500. I will have to pay 27.27% in tax...1/3! I am appalled that they would tax an insurance policy and at that rate! I agree with you that the rich get richer on the backs of the poor. Sadly, nothing will be done about it as the fox is guarding the hen house. Beccie Small
FOR MORE LETTERS, CLICK HERE
BRIEFME.COM's complete review of Suddenly Senior...
"SUDDENLY I'M A SENIOR"
One trips through life enjoying the good, bad and ugly of growing up.
But when did growing up actually become growing older? One day, the AARP sends you the news that you are considered a senior citizen. The restaurant hostess asks if you prefer the senior menu.
Suddenly, everyone else thinks you are a senior!
Check out Frank Kaiser's Suddenly Senior website to get the real truth of growing up and older in a society that has difficulty acknowledging and respecting older folks. Real stories through real-life experiences will touch your heart and your funny bone! You will gain a sense of humor and reality from these true tales.
SENIOR JOURNAL.COM SAYS "Tops! In Web Sites We Like"
"We recommend the Internet magazine, SuddenlySenior.com. It features wonderful humor and hope for those 50- to 99-year-olds who have become senior before their time ... Adds hilarious humor to the Web."
Diane Wagner, Editor of Vancouver,
Washington's Senior Messenger, says:
"We have looked for years for a column like Suddenly Senior. We wanted a literate, witty, sometimes biting, sometimes ironic male writer with an exterior of rumpled steel and the heart of a streetwise pussycat! We found him in Suddenly Senior's Frank Kaiser."
READ THIS NATIONAL NEWSWIRE STORY
'Suddenly Senior' Takes
Humorous Look at Seniors
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