Juneau That Ain't Right

Interesting...Sarah Palin steps down as Alaskan Governor in July. Then, in October, CNN reports that Alaska is catching up to the rest of the country on recession. Wow, did Palin actually have a good economic effect on the state? And without her, Alaska is on an economic downturn? Hmm...naaahhh!

True Healthcare Reform Might Take a.....Weil?

Not sure how many of you caught Larry King's interview with Dr. Andrew Weil, renowned pioneer of Integrative Medicine, from last month. If you haven't seen it, it's worth checking out.

Dr. Weil, in my opinion, is the only one who truly has the right idea about healthcare reform. In his interview with Larry King, his dialogue allows the viewer to step away from the media-favored angles on this topic and to consider a different school-of-thought. While the focus of political discussions has primarily been on reducing costs and expanding coverage, there has been very little discussion on making America a healthier nation, as Weil points out. His take on the current system is that we don't have a "healthcare" system. Instead, we have a "disease management" system. Focusing on prevention would drive down the costs and make us a healthier nation.

A few of his standout viewpoints are:

• Banning consumer advertising of pharmaceutical products
• Educating children on healthier lifestyles
  
• Encouraging doctors to sit down with patients to discuss preventive measures and ways to live a healthier lifestyle.
• Making healthy food more affordable.

Dr. Weil believes that medicine should be a bit more focused on dietary changes, exercise, mind-body techniques, and herbs. I found it particularly thought-provoking when Weil asserted that when at a doctor visit, a patient would not think it was a "legitimate medical transaction" if he or she didn't receive a prescription. It certainly makes you think, doesn't it? Check it out.