Please note this Senate action was a committee vote, so there still is more work to do to obtain alternatives to insurance companies offerings only.
The Single Payer insurance option failed to garner enough votes to pass in the Senate Tuesday, 9/28/09 Bloomberg News reports. Two Democrats with Max Baucus, the Senate Finance Committee Chairman, scuttled two amendments to establish an insurance "public option" plan as competition with the many private insurers we have now.
Further specific information is available by clicking on the link above to the Bloomberg site. Of special interest is an amendment impacting lawmakers, aides and all other federal employees regarding the source of their insurance, but that doesn't take effect until after 2013.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Individual Action Needed in Health Care Debate
Individual actions can still make a difference in the health care debate.
This thought is the focus of my Letter to the Editor (click on the link) appearing in both the print and online editions in the current Saturday, September 26, 2009 local bi-weekly newspaper, The Claremont Courier.
There is another significant article in The Courier,in an opinion piece “My Side of the line” “Can a blog help sell newspapers?” by Peter Weinberger, Editor and Publisher for which I’ve provided a link above. His article could be the subject for a whole other blog post here, but for now I just want to say this.
I’m very proud of our local newspaper. Our city is fortunate that Mr. Weinberger left an east coast news position in recent years to assume the responsibility for our newspaper when his parent owners retired. I like his progressive attitude and foresight in embracing the Internet and paper print editions. As you’ll note in his article he relates a story that demonstrates how a blogger benefited magazine subscriptions for The Atlantic. All bloggers and newspaper aficionados want to read what he says and think about how we can be mutually supportive for everyone’s benefit including non-bloggers and those who don't use the Internet.
My Letter to the Editor expresses concern about the current health care debates in Congress. I reference Ronni Bennett’s recent post “The Baucus Health Care Reform Bill” urging readers to access that post and blog for future up to date information on the progressive evolution of any health care reform bill(s.) Importantly, readers are urged to actively pursue their Congresspersons to express their views so all may receive health care and strongly urge them to meaningful action.
I conclude my letter by directing comments specifically to my Republican Representative, David Dreier. He has failed to recognize or at least acknowledge that a large number of constituents he represents in our community want a health care plan for all our citizens. There are many other views he has about a health care plan that are not representative of what I and many citizens regard as necessary components of any plan adopted.
Following are some questions which I believe he and all who are truly weighing health care issues in their minds might want to think about. I’ve provided my responses.
What do we believe in with regard to our fellow persons?
Is basic health care a right or a privilege?
HEALTH CARE SHOULD BE A RIGHT
Should health care be available to all or just some individuals?
HEALTH CARE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ALL CITIZENS.
Is health care for profit more cost effective than non-profit health care?
HEALTH CARE FOR PROFIT IS TYPICALLY LESS COST EFFECTIVE THAN NON-PROFIT HEALTH CARE.
How does the cost of our health care compare to that of many other nations?
PRETTY LOW, SINCE WE RANK 2nd IN DOLLARS SPENT ON HEALTH CARE AS A PERCENTAGE OF GPD WHICH IS EXCESSIVELY MORE THAN OTHER COUNTRIES PROVIDING A HIGHER LEVEL OF QUALITY CARE FOR ALL OF THEIR CITIZENS. Click here for these World Health Organization rankings.
How does the quality of our health care compare to that of many other nations?
IF PREVENTABLE DEATHS ARE ANY INDICATION WE RANK PRETTY POORLY – 14th AMONG SELECTED COUNTRIES WITH FRANCE lst, JAPAN AND AUSTRALIA TIED FOR 2nd, SPAIN AND ITALY TIED FOR 3rd, CANADA 4th.
Click here for these World Health Organization rankings.
Why can’t we have a single payer system and cut out so many middle people siphoning off the health care dollar between the patient and the caregiver?
BECAUSE SO MANY LIES AND SCARE TACTICS HAVE BEEN USED BY OPPONENTS ON BEHALF OF INSURANCE AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES TOO MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THEM AND FAIL TO LEARN THE FACTS.
Why should we settle for less than the single payer system we know to be best?
WE SHOULDN’T. EVERYONE NEEDS TO STRONGLY MAKE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN TO THEIR CONGRESSPERSONS – REPEATEDLY.
Do we need the hodge podge of insurance companies providing our health care when their primary goal is to make money?
NO, COST SAVINGS ARE OFTEN ACHIEVED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES AT PATIENT SERVICES EXPENSE, NOT CUTS IN ADMINISTRATIVE PERKS, SALARIES, LOBBYIST FEES AND ACTIVITIES.
Do our current health insurance companies engage in denials of service?
YES, BUT WHY AREN’T MANY INSURANCE COMPANY DENIALS DESCRIBED APPROPRIATELY AS THEY ARE – RATIONING ….. FOR THE COMPANY PROFIT!
Does the government pay some insurance plans more Medicare dollars than they pay others for the same regular Medicare coverage?
YES, WITH THE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM WHICH MAKES EXCESSIVE OVER-PAYMENTS TO THESE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
Click here for more about this health reform.
Is canceling that program a cost-cutting measure that should be enacted immediately? Y E S !!!
Why do health care change opponents seem to ignore the fact a vast majority of Medicare recipients and Veterans express satisfaction with their insurance coverage if these government run medical care programs are as inefficient as some politicians misrepresent?
AGAIN, BECAUSE THE OPPONENTS CHOOSE TO PREVARICATE AND IGNORE THE FACTS.
Are there abuses in these programs? YES. CONSTANT ONGOING PURSUIT OF THOSE WHO ABUSE THE SYSTEM IS NECESSARY AND SHOULD OCCUR IN EVERY PRIVATE BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT OPERATION AND ALL OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITH A FINANCIAL COMPONENT.
Why can’t Medicare negotiate uniform drug prices with the pharmaceutical companies for all of the needed medicines instead of the currently excessively expensive system?
A STRONG POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT:
…DRUG COMPANY MONIES DONATED TO OUR CONGRESS PERSONS POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS
…JOBS PROVIDED BY SOME OF THESE SAME COMPANIES TO EMPLOYEES AFTER THEY LEAVE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT
… MAY TEND TO INFLUENCE THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN AN OATH TO ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CONSTITUENTS THEY REPRESENT TO DO OTHERWISE.
…WE WOULD BE WISE TO RESEARCH THE DONATION LISTS OF OUR CONGRESSPERSONS FOR JUST SUCH INFORMATION.
Health care issues continue to be very pertinent as our Congress attempts to determine what options will be included in the final plan recommendation to the President. Many possibilities still are in flux.
Bi-partisanship between the major two political parties appears to be a fantasy. Some Representatives and Senators are entrenched with ideological positions that don’t reflect our world today. Others may have sincere motivations to justify their views.
Then there are those who have made it very clear their primary goal is to oppose meaningful change simply to thwart any possible progress that might reflect positively on their political opponents. This latter group are the ones whose names we should all note and remember come next election time. They have no value in our political system. In fact, they are a singularly destructive force detrimental to the good of the American people.
Progress and change are often not easy and can take many long years to achieve on some issues. Those of us who have lived through most of the twentieth century know that truth first hand. Those who are familiar with history through the ages know this truth all too well. We know within ourselves it is moral, ethical, and just that all human beings have health care. Now it is up to each of us to put forth whatever effort we can to make health care for all in this great nation of ours become a reality in 2009.
This thought is the focus of my Letter to the Editor (click on the link) appearing in both the print and online editions in the current Saturday, September 26, 2009 local bi-weekly newspaper, The Claremont Courier.
There is another significant article in The Courier,in an opinion piece “My Side of the line” “Can a blog help sell newspapers?” by Peter Weinberger, Editor and Publisher for which I’ve provided a link above. His article could be the subject for a whole other blog post here, but for now I just want to say this.
I’m very proud of our local newspaper. Our city is fortunate that Mr. Weinberger left an east coast news position in recent years to assume the responsibility for our newspaper when his parent owners retired. I like his progressive attitude and foresight in embracing the Internet and paper print editions. As you’ll note in his article he relates a story that demonstrates how a blogger benefited magazine subscriptions for The Atlantic. All bloggers and newspaper aficionados want to read what he says and think about how we can be mutually supportive for everyone’s benefit including non-bloggers and those who don't use the Internet.
My Letter to the Editor expresses concern about the current health care debates in Congress. I reference Ronni Bennett’s recent post “The Baucus Health Care Reform Bill” urging readers to access that post and blog for future up to date information on the progressive evolution of any health care reform bill(s.) Importantly, readers are urged to actively pursue their Congresspersons to express their views so all may receive health care and strongly urge them to meaningful action.
I conclude my letter by directing comments specifically to my Republican Representative, David Dreier. He has failed to recognize or at least acknowledge that a large number of constituents he represents in our community want a health care plan for all our citizens. There are many other views he has about a health care plan that are not representative of what I and many citizens regard as necessary components of any plan adopted.
Following are some questions which I believe he and all who are truly weighing health care issues in their minds might want to think about. I’ve provided my responses.
What do we believe in with regard to our fellow persons?
Is basic health care a right or a privilege?
HEALTH CARE SHOULD BE A RIGHT
Should health care be available to all or just some individuals?
HEALTH CARE SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ALL CITIZENS.
Is health care for profit more cost effective than non-profit health care?
HEALTH CARE FOR PROFIT IS TYPICALLY LESS COST EFFECTIVE THAN NON-PROFIT HEALTH CARE.
How does the cost of our health care compare to that of many other nations?
PRETTY LOW, SINCE WE RANK 2nd IN DOLLARS SPENT ON HEALTH CARE AS A PERCENTAGE OF GPD WHICH IS EXCESSIVELY MORE THAN OTHER COUNTRIES PROVIDING A HIGHER LEVEL OF QUALITY CARE FOR ALL OF THEIR CITIZENS. Click here for these World Health Organization rankings.
How does the quality of our health care compare to that of many other nations?
IF PREVENTABLE DEATHS ARE ANY INDICATION WE RANK PRETTY POORLY – 14th AMONG SELECTED COUNTRIES WITH FRANCE lst, JAPAN AND AUSTRALIA TIED FOR 2nd, SPAIN AND ITALY TIED FOR 3rd, CANADA 4th.
Click here for these World Health Organization rankings.
Why can’t we have a single payer system and cut out so many middle people siphoning off the health care dollar between the patient and the caregiver?
BECAUSE SO MANY LIES AND SCARE TACTICS HAVE BEEN USED BY OPPONENTS ON BEHALF OF INSURANCE AND PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES TOO MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THEM AND FAIL TO LEARN THE FACTS.
Why should we settle for less than the single payer system we know to be best?
WE SHOULDN’T. EVERYONE NEEDS TO STRONGLY MAKE THEIR VIEWS KNOWN TO THEIR CONGRESSPERSONS – REPEATEDLY.
Do we need the hodge podge of insurance companies providing our health care when their primary goal is to make money?
NO, COST SAVINGS ARE OFTEN ACHIEVED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES AT PATIENT SERVICES EXPENSE, NOT CUTS IN ADMINISTRATIVE PERKS, SALARIES, LOBBYIST FEES AND ACTIVITIES.
Do our current health insurance companies engage in denials of service?
YES, BUT WHY AREN’T MANY INSURANCE COMPANY DENIALS DESCRIBED APPROPRIATELY AS THEY ARE – RATIONING ….. FOR THE COMPANY PROFIT!
Does the government pay some insurance plans more Medicare dollars than they pay others for the same regular Medicare coverage?
YES, WITH THE ADVANTAGE PROGRAM WHICH MAKES EXCESSIVE OVER-PAYMENTS TO THESE INSURANCE COMPANIES.
Click here for more about this health reform.
Is canceling that program a cost-cutting measure that should be enacted immediately? Y E S !!!
Why do health care change opponents seem to ignore the fact a vast majority of Medicare recipients and Veterans express satisfaction with their insurance coverage if these government run medical care programs are as inefficient as some politicians misrepresent?
AGAIN, BECAUSE THE OPPONENTS CHOOSE TO PREVARICATE AND IGNORE THE FACTS.
Are there abuses in these programs? YES. CONSTANT ONGOING PURSUIT OF THOSE WHO ABUSE THE SYSTEM IS NECESSARY AND SHOULD OCCUR IN EVERY PRIVATE BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT OPERATION AND ALL OTHER ORGANIZATIONS WITH A FINANCIAL COMPONENT.
Why can’t Medicare negotiate uniform drug prices with the pharmaceutical companies for all of the needed medicines instead of the currently excessively expensive system?
A STRONG POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT:
…DRUG COMPANY MONIES DONATED TO OUR CONGRESS PERSONS POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS
…JOBS PROVIDED BY SOME OF THESE SAME COMPANIES TO EMPLOYEES AFTER THEY LEAVE GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT
… MAY TEND TO INFLUENCE THOSE WHO HAVE TAKEN AN OATH TO ACT IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CONSTITUENTS THEY REPRESENT TO DO OTHERWISE.
…WE WOULD BE WISE TO RESEARCH THE DONATION LISTS OF OUR CONGRESSPERSONS FOR JUST SUCH INFORMATION.
Health care issues continue to be very pertinent as our Congress attempts to determine what options will be included in the final plan recommendation to the President. Many possibilities still are in flux.
Bi-partisanship between the major two political parties appears to be a fantasy. Some Representatives and Senators are entrenched with ideological positions that don’t reflect our world today. Others may have sincere motivations to justify their views.
Then there are those who have made it very clear their primary goal is to oppose meaningful change simply to thwart any possible progress that might reflect positively on their political opponents. This latter group are the ones whose names we should all note and remember come next election time. They have no value in our political system. In fact, they are a singularly destructive force detrimental to the good of the American people.
Progress and change are often not easy and can take many long years to achieve on some issues. Those of us who have lived through most of the twentieth century know that truth first hand. Those who are familiar with history through the ages know this truth all too well. We know within ourselves it is moral, ethical, and just that all human beings have health care. Now it is up to each of us to put forth whatever effort we can to make health care for all in this great nation of ours become a reality in 2009.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Route 66, Music, Memories
Historic U.S. Highway Route 66 in San Bernardino, California is having a 20th year anniversary "Rendezvous" celebration this weekend. Good food, contests, and entertainment are on the agenda. The event is limited to 1,900 vehicle entrants of "pre-1974 classics, customs, hot rods and any year Corvette." The participants have an assigned parking space during this 4-day event where aficionados can engage in technical car talk and fans can simply marvel at the colors, sheen and styles. Drivers are also invited to cruise the 35 blocks of downtown where up to an expected 500,000 spectators will be admiring their vehicles.
The promotion for this event caught my attention as I've noted what seems to be an increasing interest and nostalgia for "The Mother Road"(map link) which runs from "Chicago to L.A." as a famed song lyric goes. I travel portions of this road regularly since it runs through my home area of Southern California where a long segment is called Foothill Boulevard.
My husband in his single days back in the '50's drove that route with his bachelor buddies on a whirlwind summer round trip vacation from the Midwest to the West Coast. Their adventure stories were always filled with humor and accounts of the unexpected. They had very little money to start and none by the time they returned home. What's a trip for young single male college students without meeting some like-minded adventurous college girls with whom to play car tag across some of the miles, especially if there's time to work in a side trip to Las Vegas.
He was fascinated by the changing countryside from Ohio's green flat land with rolling hills with which he was familiar, to the long stretches of summer brown landscapes emerging west of the Mississippi. Then on to some western desert area with never-ending vast blue skies. The land of towering date palms began to emerge evolving into miles and miles of citrus tree orchards and finally sandy beaches reaching out into the Pacific Ocean. Long periods of steady trade-off relief driving kept them on the road a lot. Still, he could never quite understand how one buddy could be content to sleep so much between departure points and destinations with so much new and different to be experienced.
Two of these travelers were musicians but all were well-acquainted and appreciative of a tune written in 1947 by Bobby Troup and first recorded that year by Nat King Cole. Here's a later YouTube video performance of Nat and his quartet:
Years later The Manhattan Transfer popular vocal quartet's recording became one of their signature tunes as in this YouTube video:
When we met and wed years later, even before and after we moved West, we took extensive driving trips that included some side jaunts on still existing segments of the original Route 66. Freeways and new highways have long since bypassed some of the old road's communities. Many landmark motels and businesses have long since closed. Some establishments have survived. There is a resurgence of old and new businesses along existing Route 66 with new travelers joining those who come to reminisce. Signs are increasing in number announcing the location's recognition of this significant highway in the historical lore of our country from another time.
The promotion for this event caught my attention as I've noted what seems to be an increasing interest and nostalgia for "The Mother Road"(map link) which runs from "Chicago to L.A." as a famed song lyric goes. I travel portions of this road regularly since it runs through my home area of Southern California where a long segment is called Foothill Boulevard.
My husband in his single days back in the '50's drove that route with his bachelor buddies on a whirlwind summer round trip vacation from the Midwest to the West Coast. Their adventure stories were always filled with humor and accounts of the unexpected. They had very little money to start and none by the time they returned home. What's a trip for young single male college students without meeting some like-minded adventurous college girls with whom to play car tag across some of the miles, especially if there's time to work in a side trip to Las Vegas.
He was fascinated by the changing countryside from Ohio's green flat land with rolling hills with which he was familiar, to the long stretches of summer brown landscapes emerging west of the Mississippi. Then on to some western desert area with never-ending vast blue skies. The land of towering date palms began to emerge evolving into miles and miles of citrus tree orchards and finally sandy beaches reaching out into the Pacific Ocean. Long periods of steady trade-off relief driving kept them on the road a lot. Still, he could never quite understand how one buddy could be content to sleep so much between departure points and destinations with so much new and different to be experienced.
Two of these travelers were musicians but all were well-acquainted and appreciative of a tune written in 1947 by Bobby Troup and first recorded that year by Nat King Cole. Here's a later YouTube video performance of Nat and his quartet:
Years later The Manhattan Transfer popular vocal quartet's recording became one of their signature tunes as in this YouTube video:
When we met and wed years later, even before and after we moved West, we took extensive driving trips that included some side jaunts on still existing segments of the original Route 66. Freeways and new highways have long since bypassed some of the old road's communities. Many landmark motels and businesses have long since closed. Some establishments have survived. There is a resurgence of old and new businesses along existing Route 66 with new travelers joining those who come to reminisce. Signs are increasing in number announcing the location's recognition of this significant highway in the historical lore of our country from another time.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Julie Wilson Supperclub Chanteuse
Supperclub Diva Julie Wilson was the first chanteuse I had the pleasure of enjoying in person. These were the days in the mid to late '50's when nite clubs with live entertainment consisting of bands and singers were prevalent. Everyone dressed up, guys in suits or tuxedos and women in what were considered classic sophisticated sexy cocktail dresses or longer floor length gowns with fancy high heel shoes. Women usually had a "little black dress" sometimes low cut in the front, sleeveless, body clinging, to wear in the evening for just such a glamorous occasion. A pearl necklace or maybe some rhinestone jewelery would suffice in place of diamonds for those of us with lesser means.
Here's a look at what one such dress of that era looked like, referred to here as a "Marilyn-dress." I don't recall any of us thinking of Marilyn Monroe in conjunction with wearing this dress as this name implies so think it's likely a recent name concoction. I didn't know anyone who aspired to be that Marilyn as most of us thought she wasn't too bright and a little shallow if all she had to offer was a sexy appearance. Some men may have thought differently. This dress would have fit me just fine except the waist and hip sizes are each two inches too large. Inevitably seems my girl pals were small and petite so while I knew I looked good, I actually thought I was too big. Well ..... I couldn't fit into that dress today and it wouldn't be too big anywhere.
In those late '50's I was living in a midwest Great Lakes state small town to which I had moved earlier from a southern state further west so I welcomed learning all I could about this new area. A new friend told me about a supperclub called Danny Deeds Maramor that her older boyfriend had often described to her. She said she thought it would be fun to go there. He was a traveling sales manager for whom she had once worked but was out of town again as he often seemed to be, returning only on occasional weekends. This was "the club" where name entertainers from New York to Chicago and Los Angeles were booked to perform, but was located in a metropolitan city a distant two hours away.
The times were such that respectable young single women in this part of our country did not usually go out to clubs, or other venues where both genders might be unless they had a male escort. The women who did go without a male were often assumed to be of questionable character, especially in our little town, even by people who knew the young women from very respectable daytime settings. We discovered my friend who had often been in some local settings with her boyfriend was even presumed to have some nefarious purpose in mind if she showed up when he was out of town to mix with friends they both had. We concluded we could overcome that view when I expressed a willingness to join her for occasional nights out anyway. I had long since concluded I knew what I was about and believed I could easily handle any undesirable situation that came my way and did, as needed.
Then there was the day I always remember when I was tapped on the shoulder one lunch time as I gazed at a department store window display. I turned to see what appeared to be a middle-aged woman I had never seen before and did not know. She smiled and kindly shared with me that "You are such a nice girl, but your friend is not good company and I wouldn't want to see you corrupted," or words to that effect. I was so startled but she was quickly gone, having scurried back to a man I assume must have been her husband. I was only bemused by this poor well-meaning creature once I recovered from her intrusion. I trust her conscience was relieved that she had done her utmost to protect me from exploitation.
Despite all this my friend and I decided we would make the two hour drive to "the big city." Though her boyfriend wouldn't be there, she thought we could stay in the respectable downtown hotel where he stayed when in town on business. She also knew of the nearby equally respectable club that had excellent food and live musical entertainment. At that time in that part of the country people generally considered having to drive an hour or more, or even less, hardly a drive to undertake just for entertainment. But we were young and adventurous so we drove to the city one Saturday, checked into our hotel, dressed ourselves in our evening attire after applying our obligatory makeup, carried our evening wrap and gloves (the well-dressed woman didn't go anywhere without gloves even in the daytime) and sauntered purposefully over to this supperclub for dinner and entertainment.
Years later when I worked at the Columbus, Ohio television station after moving to this city, the live program I helped produce booked entertainers from the Maramor club to entertain our audience and viewers while promoting their local appearance. My husband sometimes accompanied name entertainers there who needed what are known as pickup musicians to augment their own instrumentation, including Betty Hutton
of "Annie Get Your Gun" fame. Some of those entertainers, Gordon and Sheila MacRae I recall, used to come to a nearby hotel after their show ended to unwind and listen to the piano player who was accompanied on acoustic bass by my husband, a duo.
I recall returning to that club when my husband and I were dating for an evening of dinner and listening to Mel Torme's perfect pitch singing voice. Our table was ringside, a far cry from the table practically behind a post my girlfriend and I were given my first night ever in that club.
That night my girlfriend and I did not sense that we were welcomed by the club's owner, probably for two reasons. We didn't have a reservation and two young women unescorted by a male might well be there for questionable reasons. Two males unescorted by females would have been fine, because they clearly would come only for the food and entertainment to see this provocative sexy singer.
I don't remember the dinner, though I'm sure the food was quite good. The bill, and I assume we left a tip (though tipping protocol would have been new to us,) coupled with any cover charge probably was quite expensive for us considering our working girl salaries. I don't recall my friend's reaction to the evening as she didn't share my enthusiasms for many experiences, but I thoroughly enjoyed the night. I was ever so pleased we were actually going to be entertained by one of the most sought after supperclub divas who performed in the top New York City supperclubs and other similar classy venues and in London.
Julie Wilson, a Broadway star and cabaret singer was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1924 as described in the msn.com biography. In New York she performed at the Latin Quarter and Copacabana. Here's the young Julie who appeared in an American television production of Kiss Me, Kate in 1958 singing "Always True to You (Darlin' In My Fashion")
"She starred in the London musical Bet Your Life (February 18, 1952), which ran for 361 performances and produced a cast album on the English Columbia label, and she replaced Mary Martin in the starring role in the London production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific. While remaining based in London, but commuting back to New York, she resumed her career as a nightclub singer, appearing in the Persian Room at the Plaza Hotel" according to the MSN biography.
She sings from her 1957 album "My Old Flame:"
"You Don't Know What Love Is"
This is the Julie Wilson cabaret singer I recall seeing as she sings
"I Refuse to Rock and Roll" on her 1958 live album "At the St. Regis."
Here's Julie at the open mic at the Gardenia:
Julie performing at age 85 with her trademark boas sexy as ever singing
"I'm a Bad Woman" "but I'm good company" she says.
This is Julie "...performing at the Mabel Mercer Foundation's NYC Cabaret Convention ("I Can't Give You Anything But Love", "The Man I Love"), introduced by Donald Smith, with musical director Christopher Denny at the piano" the YouTube information provides.
Producer/Director: Richard Currier (excerpt from "Put Your Hands Together") with "Bravo" from writer columnist Liz Smith as noted on YouTube:
"JULIE HAS THE LAST LAUGH!!! At 85, the "kid from Omaha" Nebraska and actor (Holt McCallany)'s mom, still tosses her famed "Red Boa" around like "nobody's business". This clip, from her Cabaret Sh..."
I really love when these now older performers, men and women, but especially women revered as sex symbols demonstrate they're still vibrant and alive.
I don't know if Julie Wilson has had any more recent appearances, but I wouldn't be surprised if she's still swinging her trademark red boa somewhere.
Here's a look at what one such dress of that era looked like, referred to here as a "Marilyn-dress." I don't recall any of us thinking of Marilyn Monroe in conjunction with wearing this dress as this name implies so think it's likely a recent name concoction. I didn't know anyone who aspired to be that Marilyn as most of us thought she wasn't too bright and a little shallow if all she had to offer was a sexy appearance. Some men may have thought differently. This dress would have fit me just fine except the waist and hip sizes are each two inches too large. Inevitably seems my girl pals were small and petite so while I knew I looked good, I actually thought I was too big. Well ..... I couldn't fit into that dress today and it wouldn't be too big anywhere.
In those late '50's I was living in a midwest Great Lakes state small town to which I had moved earlier from a southern state further west so I welcomed learning all I could about this new area. A new friend told me about a supperclub called Danny Deeds Maramor that her older boyfriend had often described to her. She said she thought it would be fun to go there. He was a traveling sales manager for whom she had once worked but was out of town again as he often seemed to be, returning only on occasional weekends. This was "the club" where name entertainers from New York to Chicago and Los Angeles were booked to perform, but was located in a metropolitan city a distant two hours away.
The times were such that respectable young single women in this part of our country did not usually go out to clubs, or other venues where both genders might be unless they had a male escort. The women who did go without a male were often assumed to be of questionable character, especially in our little town, even by people who knew the young women from very respectable daytime settings. We discovered my friend who had often been in some local settings with her boyfriend was even presumed to have some nefarious purpose in mind if she showed up when he was out of town to mix with friends they both had. We concluded we could overcome that view when I expressed a willingness to join her for occasional nights out anyway. I had long since concluded I knew what I was about and believed I could easily handle any undesirable situation that came my way and did, as needed.
Then there was the day I always remember when I was tapped on the shoulder one lunch time as I gazed at a department store window display. I turned to see what appeared to be a middle-aged woman I had never seen before and did not know. She smiled and kindly shared with me that "You are such a nice girl, but your friend is not good company and I wouldn't want to see you corrupted," or words to that effect. I was so startled but she was quickly gone, having scurried back to a man I assume must have been her husband. I was only bemused by this poor well-meaning creature once I recovered from her intrusion. I trust her conscience was relieved that she had done her utmost to protect me from exploitation.
Despite all this my friend and I decided we would make the two hour drive to "the big city." Though her boyfriend wouldn't be there, she thought we could stay in the respectable downtown hotel where he stayed when in town on business. She also knew of the nearby equally respectable club that had excellent food and live musical entertainment. At that time in that part of the country people generally considered having to drive an hour or more, or even less, hardly a drive to undertake just for entertainment. But we were young and adventurous so we drove to the city one Saturday, checked into our hotel, dressed ourselves in our evening attire after applying our obligatory makeup, carried our evening wrap and gloves (the well-dressed woman didn't go anywhere without gloves even in the daytime) and sauntered purposefully over to this supperclub for dinner and entertainment.
Years later when I worked at the Columbus, Ohio television station after moving to this city, the live program I helped produce booked entertainers from the Maramor club to entertain our audience and viewers while promoting their local appearance. My husband sometimes accompanied name entertainers there who needed what are known as pickup musicians to augment their own instrumentation, including Betty Hutton
of "Annie Get Your Gun" fame. Some of those entertainers, Gordon and Sheila MacRae I recall, used to come to a nearby hotel after their show ended to unwind and listen to the piano player who was accompanied on acoustic bass by my husband, a duo.
I recall returning to that club when my husband and I were dating for an evening of dinner and listening to Mel Torme's perfect pitch singing voice. Our table was ringside, a far cry from the table practically behind a post my girlfriend and I were given my first night ever in that club.
That night my girlfriend and I did not sense that we were welcomed by the club's owner, probably for two reasons. We didn't have a reservation and two young women unescorted by a male might well be there for questionable reasons. Two males unescorted by females would have been fine, because they clearly would come only for the food and entertainment to see this provocative sexy singer.
I don't remember the dinner, though I'm sure the food was quite good. The bill, and I assume we left a tip (though tipping protocol would have been new to us,) coupled with any cover charge probably was quite expensive for us considering our working girl salaries. I don't recall my friend's reaction to the evening as she didn't share my enthusiasms for many experiences, but I thoroughly enjoyed the night. I was ever so pleased we were actually going to be entertained by one of the most sought after supperclub divas who performed in the top New York City supperclubs and other similar classy venues and in London.
Julie Wilson, a Broadway star and cabaret singer was born in Omaha, Nebraska in 1924 as described in the msn.com biography. In New York she performed at the Latin Quarter and Copacabana. Here's the young Julie who appeared in an American television production of Kiss Me, Kate in 1958 singing "Always True to You (Darlin' In My Fashion")
"She starred in the London musical Bet Your Life (February 18, 1952), which ran for 361 performances and produced a cast album on the English Columbia label, and she replaced Mary Martin in the starring role in the London production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific. While remaining based in London, but commuting back to New York, she resumed her career as a nightclub singer, appearing in the Persian Room at the Plaza Hotel" according to the MSN biography.
She sings from her 1957 album "My Old Flame:"
"You Don't Know What Love Is"
This is the Julie Wilson cabaret singer I recall seeing as she sings
"I Refuse to Rock and Roll" on her 1958 live album "At the St. Regis."
Here's Julie at the open mic at the Gardenia:
Julie performing at age 85 with her trademark boas sexy as ever singing
"I'm a Bad Woman" "but I'm good company" she says.
This is Julie "...performing at the Mabel Mercer Foundation's NYC Cabaret Convention ("I Can't Give You Anything But Love", "The Man I Love"), introduced by Donald Smith, with musical director Christopher Denny at the piano" the YouTube information provides.
Producer/Director: Richard Currier (excerpt from "Put Your Hands Together") with "Bravo" from writer columnist Liz Smith as noted on YouTube:
"JULIE HAS THE LAST LAUGH!!! At 85, the "kid from Omaha" Nebraska and actor (Holt McCallany)'s mom, still tosses her famed "Red Boa" around like "nobody's business". This clip, from her Cabaret Sh..."
I really love when these now older performers, men and women, but especially women revered as sex symbols demonstrate they're still vibrant and alive.
I don't know if Julie Wilson has had any more recent appearances, but I wouldn't be surprised if she's still swinging her trademark red boa somewhere.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
American Character
A sense of justice for the strong and security for the weak succinctly paraphrases how Mark Shields, Syndicated Columnist, described the health care plan philosophic focus of President Obama’s address to the Joint Session of the U.S. Congress 9/9/09. This concept is a fundamental aspect of the American character as noted by the President who cited for this view supportive historical references including an account of how Medicare was established.
The President noted that too much government is as dangerous as too little government. The implication is that this needed health care change falls within a safe range for government involvement and would not tip that precarious balance.
There have been many lies and distortions about what health care bill changes will and will not do in an effort to scuttle the program but President Obama effectively explained the truth in each instance. He appropriately chastised those who so deliberately put forth such falsehoods. The failure of those select guilty Congresspersons to react and to instead just sit on their hands speaks volumes about their morals and humanity as others around them applauded. Voters would be wise to identify them and seek to make certain they’re never reelected to office again. That might also be a good action for constituents of Joe Wilson of South Carolina who was so disrespectful shouting out during the President’s speech. He has reportedly since apologized.
President Obama stated to all present that “…we didn’t come to fear the future, we came to shape it.” This was a strong admonishment for our Congress to finally take some action on health care reform. Considering 56 years have passed since the first healthcare bill was introduced in 1943, the fact our current system is unsustainable, the time for change is now.
The rebuttal by Dr. Chas. Boustany, Republican of Louisiana, stated this health care plan would not lower costs and quality of care would decrease. He decried this plan would result in 53 new government bureaus and 500 billion in Medicare cuts. The implication was health care rationing would be implemented under this new plan.
Well, I’m a health care worker, too, and I see how the system works. Costs are not lowering now. They’re going up and up with quality of care decreasing. If in doubt do a search on how our health care system compares with those in other countries. If, as he mentioned, any new government bureaus are needed we might well expect them to function similarly to Medicare which has proven to be quite cost effective compared with health insurance companies. Of course, if even some of those alleged bureaus could be incorporated into the Medicare system it just might be even more cost effective.
Regarding the Dr.’s reference to Medicare cuts, they have continued to be made for quite a few years now and may continue from necessity if the health care status quo continues. I think the ideal plan is a single payer plan but many lies have been told about how that would be. Consequently mindless fear has run rampant resulting in that plan no longer being an option, apparently. I didn’t hear him mention the possibility of displacing the health insurance companies as a cost saving measure. When you think about all the insurance people there are between the patient and the health care provider who take portions of the health care dollar, it’s no wonder health care costs are so high. Think of all the health care workers freed up to practice medicine and alleviate shortages -- doctors and nurses, possibly other office type workers.
I do have a very real concern that more significant Medicare cuts will occur IF a public insurance option is not in any new health care plan. The expected result with a public insurance option is that health insurance companies will have to be competitive so will finally reduce their costs somewhat. Insurance companies do have a vested interest to their shareholders, Wall St. and executive salaries to have all citizens be required to purchase insurance. You can be certain they look forward to making money on this action. Yet, what do we hear about – need to reduce payments to doctors, possibly other care providers, lower reimbursements to hospitals.
Ever since I gagged on hearing health insurance officials declare early this year they would cuts costs I’ve wondered why they haven’t done this before and exactly what costs would be cut. I know they named some cost cutting areas but with no mention of patients directly reaping the consequences through cuts in care. I suggest they’ve been doing that for years and will likely continue with their practice of cutting patient care and possibly ramping it up. Can’t we consider that to be “rationing?” Just think we’ve had rationing all along but health insurer reformer opponents would have us believe we’ll only get it if we change our current system. Are we really so poorly informed we believe them?
If we truly want to reduce health care costs, then ideas such as others have suggested in recent years would need to be adopted. The government engaging in drug price negotiations with pharmaceutical companies for large bulk purchasing would be one such cost reduction idea. Another such cut should be eliminating the bonanza flat payment that insurers receive for those who sign over their Medicare coverage to the insurer. Financial data show that payment to provide excessive profits for insurers at taxpayers expense.
American character again comes to mind. I hope it’s not greed disguised as legitimate profiteering. Why do so many business people, companies and large corporations, including health care, justify immoral actions because “it’s just business?” Haven’t they learned anything from the recent financial debacle from which we have not yet completely extricated ourselves?
Have these business people, stock holders and congressional persons who claim to represent “the people – you and me” no compassion for the rest of us? What about the little verse most of us learned as children, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Do any of them take that seriously and practice the sentiment?
They don’t even want to give all our citizens what we’ve given them – excellent free health care coverage. Unlike many citizens, most congress people could likely pay out of pocket for their own health care. There's a cost savings for them to enact.
I think we’re long past due for obstinate ideological positions to be set aside and focus given to practical solutions to a long standing problem that is only going to become worse if no action is taken. Some bipartisan health care changes desperately need to be taken based on rational reasonable choices made with compassion. A public insurance option needs to be part of any plan offered since that seems to be the only choice left to us presently.
The President noted that too much government is as dangerous as too little government. The implication is that this needed health care change falls within a safe range for government involvement and would not tip that precarious balance.
There have been many lies and distortions about what health care bill changes will and will not do in an effort to scuttle the program but President Obama effectively explained the truth in each instance. He appropriately chastised those who so deliberately put forth such falsehoods. The failure of those select guilty Congresspersons to react and to instead just sit on their hands speaks volumes about their morals and humanity as others around them applauded. Voters would be wise to identify them and seek to make certain they’re never reelected to office again. That might also be a good action for constituents of Joe Wilson of South Carolina who was so disrespectful shouting out during the President’s speech. He has reportedly since apologized.
President Obama stated to all present that “…we didn’t come to fear the future, we came to shape it.” This was a strong admonishment for our Congress to finally take some action on health care reform. Considering 56 years have passed since the first healthcare bill was introduced in 1943, the fact our current system is unsustainable, the time for change is now.
The rebuttal by Dr. Chas. Boustany, Republican of Louisiana, stated this health care plan would not lower costs and quality of care would decrease. He decried this plan would result in 53 new government bureaus and 500 billion in Medicare cuts. The implication was health care rationing would be implemented under this new plan.
Well, I’m a health care worker, too, and I see how the system works. Costs are not lowering now. They’re going up and up with quality of care decreasing. If in doubt do a search on how our health care system compares with those in other countries. If, as he mentioned, any new government bureaus are needed we might well expect them to function similarly to Medicare which has proven to be quite cost effective compared with health insurance companies. Of course, if even some of those alleged bureaus could be incorporated into the Medicare system it just might be even more cost effective.
Regarding the Dr.’s reference to Medicare cuts, they have continued to be made for quite a few years now and may continue from necessity if the health care status quo continues. I think the ideal plan is a single payer plan but many lies have been told about how that would be. Consequently mindless fear has run rampant resulting in that plan no longer being an option, apparently. I didn’t hear him mention the possibility of displacing the health insurance companies as a cost saving measure. When you think about all the insurance people there are between the patient and the health care provider who take portions of the health care dollar, it’s no wonder health care costs are so high. Think of all the health care workers freed up to practice medicine and alleviate shortages -- doctors and nurses, possibly other office type workers.
I do have a very real concern that more significant Medicare cuts will occur IF a public insurance option is not in any new health care plan. The expected result with a public insurance option is that health insurance companies will have to be competitive so will finally reduce their costs somewhat. Insurance companies do have a vested interest to their shareholders, Wall St. and executive salaries to have all citizens be required to purchase insurance. You can be certain they look forward to making money on this action. Yet, what do we hear about – need to reduce payments to doctors, possibly other care providers, lower reimbursements to hospitals.
Ever since I gagged on hearing health insurance officials declare early this year they would cuts costs I’ve wondered why they haven’t done this before and exactly what costs would be cut. I know they named some cost cutting areas but with no mention of patients directly reaping the consequences through cuts in care. I suggest they’ve been doing that for years and will likely continue with their practice of cutting patient care and possibly ramping it up. Can’t we consider that to be “rationing?” Just think we’ve had rationing all along but health insurer reformer opponents would have us believe we’ll only get it if we change our current system. Are we really so poorly informed we believe them?
If we truly want to reduce health care costs, then ideas such as others have suggested in recent years would need to be adopted. The government engaging in drug price negotiations with pharmaceutical companies for large bulk purchasing would be one such cost reduction idea. Another such cut should be eliminating the bonanza flat payment that insurers receive for those who sign over their Medicare coverage to the insurer. Financial data show that payment to provide excessive profits for insurers at taxpayers expense.
American character again comes to mind. I hope it’s not greed disguised as legitimate profiteering. Why do so many business people, companies and large corporations, including health care, justify immoral actions because “it’s just business?” Haven’t they learned anything from the recent financial debacle from which we have not yet completely extricated ourselves?
Have these business people, stock holders and congressional persons who claim to represent “the people – you and me” no compassion for the rest of us? What about the little verse most of us learned as children, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Do any of them take that seriously and practice the sentiment?
They don’t even want to give all our citizens what we’ve given them – excellent free health care coverage. Unlike many citizens, most congress people could likely pay out of pocket for their own health care. There's a cost savings for them to enact.
I think we’re long past due for obstinate ideological positions to be set aside and focus given to practical solutions to a long standing problem that is only going to become worse if no action is taken. Some bipartisan health care changes desperately need to be taken based on rational reasonable choices made with compassion. A public insurance option needs to be part of any plan offered since that seems to be the only choice left to us presently.
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