World Sojourner : 3760

A now former work colleague and I went to a local Target store a few weeks ago and bought a large stuffed elephant for our work space. Now, rather than us all needing to imagine the elephant in the room for our current work, we can all just look over to him and know, he knows. The all knowing; all seeing; quiet yet consistently there – elephant. In the room.

We all have our own elephants who quietly ride with us – everywhere. In fact, mine is so prominent I may start buying him a plane ticket.

Yesterday marked a pivotal day for me and Els (now the name of my traveling partner). Since 99.9% of those of you reading this know me (thanks Facebook for keeping my readership at 10 people rather than me for proofing and Mrs. M); you know that I’m on the final approach for my current plane ride. The final landing date hasn’t been finalized or has slipped in date a couple times but it is out there.  The all knowing, always there – elephant.

Yesterday, however those timings became firmer. Turns out rather than just seeing another passenger leave the plane; I was informed that we’re getting a new captain. The reason the dates were slipping a touch is that I actually liked the current captain. The plane flies straight and it’s predictable.  These qualities have made for a pleasant journey.

A new captain changes everything for me. Consulting with Els I realized that maybe I should start looking for a parachute and … then it occurred to me … WTF – why did my dates slip anyway? Diving more into the WTF question, I realized that if I was ready to jump out of the plane just because of a new captain then why not jump right now? Or soon?

After finding out about a possible new captain, I’d revised all my criteria for exiting the plane. Does this mean my criteria aren’t really valid? The more I think about it, the more I think they are more of an excuse for not taking the risk rather than a real hurdle.

Mrs. M, Els and I need to talk through some things this weekend after I spend some quality time with Excel.  But, my thoughts have changed.  The Elephant is shouting and it’s time to do something.

You know, it is Independence Day weekend. I may have to get Els a little Stars and Stripes flag to celebrate.

Dear newspaper and magazine editors:

During your death spiral into obscurity, if you must separate articles – starting the article and then giving us a ‘go to page XY’, – please at the end of the article give us a ‘go back to page AB’ to continue reading.

Thanks,

al

A few tenants for lowering price and increasing quality:

1. price decreases with full information

2. quality increases with full information

3. the less middlemen and more direct choice normally decreases price and increases quality

4. buyers need the freedom to choose whom they buy from when given full information

Reading the current (and seems to be final) healthcare bill it seems that the Dems have managed to craft a bill that’s not helpful to anyone.  Unless the Washington Post missed some major points, the insurance exchange and allowing insurance companies to provide national policies seem to be the only real value-added activities.

Hell, even the socialist government intervention (yet probably needed moves) of making it illegal turn down people with pre-existing conditions won’t come into full effect until 2014.  Sorry folks, you’re screwed for four more years.  I do wonder how the Dems will blame the Republicans for that little provision?  Considering the GOP has been – and let me be clear – completely useless in this debate, it just seems like a stretch.

The first steps in solving this very real problem could have been written on the back of a napkin.

1. A national website showing the price of all procedures at all hospitals and clinics.  Need an MRI in 75035? Search online.

2. The same website (with 800 number for those who don’t have web access) also shows reviews and feedback ratings on the doctors, and people doing the procedures.  Five stars to one star.  Mrs. M and I won’t buy a leaf blower without checking reviews but when it comes to medical activities – it’s a big black box.

3. Insurance – if we need them – then rewards (pays more) to those practices and hospitals that hit the balance between high quality care and low price. 

4. Provide incentives for states to start their own co-ops so there are more insurance choices.  We probably need to incentivize everything from government run to something liaise-faire to see which one really works. [real answer is to start phasing out insurance so you and I can argue over prices ourselves but I’m trying to stay somewhat realistic here]

5. Market exchanges, stuff mentioned as a decent idea above

There’s probably a few more needed ingredients but the above points seem essential.  Healthcare, like car insurance, needs to be more market and less government. Sure, there’s a need at the bottom for some more assistance.  I get that and to a lesser extent agree – so why not just expand Medicaid or Medicare? 

It just seems, from first reading, that all this debate on the correct approach has delivered a camel rather than a well developed horse.  We shall see what the future holds.  Mrs. M and I have a exit strategy, do you?

Apparently, the phrase ‘Tiger Talks’ are starting to enter the US vernacular.  What’s a Tiger talk?  That’s when a girlfriend or wife, while going through their man’s PDA, has the conversation about how their fella may get hungry on the road, but they better eat at home.  The ‘Tiger Talk’ phrase pinged another phrase called ‘Tiger Teams.’

Alissa’s old company in England had these.  Tiger Teams were (I think) groups formed for special purposes for a limited duration.  While the world’s number one golfer hasn’t been linked to any, uh, team events – I can imagine the phrase could fall out of favor pretty quickly.

Will the businesses care?  Probably not.  Language is dead there.  Yesterday I heard the phrase ‘gap-it-ization’ used more than once by consultants from another firm sitting beside me on the plane.  Luckily, the deck they were developing was so poorly done I doubt anyone would actually hear their new phrase.  No, it’s when a guy comes home and tells his significant other that they’re on a ‘Tiger Team’ and it immediately leads to the ‘Tiger Talk’ that the phrase will vanish.  And quickly.

A few more thoughts on the subject just to get all of this off my chest:

• Why did Gatorade drop the Tiger drink?  The ‘G’ replaces vital nutrients lost after strenuous activity.  A little repositioning of the brand and there’s defiantly a niche market.
• I always thought when Tiger tossed around that the number18, he was talking about the number of Majors he would like to win ….