Too Late for Me to get Religion

The basic problem can be formulated about the new Tier 4 program adopted by Insurers: They slip in the program without fanfare, and no one learns of it until they are in a position where they cannot avert the impact. It would not be much better, even with advanced Planning, because of the Costs involved in the new Drugs. There is a fundamental inequity in the methodology of Payments for new Drugs, which will not be solved by a rationalized Payment system. It is Time to subscribe to a Drug Payment schedule where All using Drugs pay a constant Cost per dosage, Payments being made to a floating Fund; it paying individual Drug Makers a set fee per Drug, which has been negotiated between the Fund managers and Drug companies. Drug Royalties would have to be limited to a Percentage of Drug manufacture Cost, not to exceed an amount of 2% of the Production Cost of the Drug, and supervised by the Fund managers. Royalty Conflicts will be resolved by Drug Manufacturers filing Suits against the Fund, and the Fund alone, while the Courts are legally constrained to resolve such Cases in favor of a Percentage normalcy within the Fund for all Drugs; simply put, Drug research must be based upon percentage amount of improvement in the state of health of Recipients, where such Improvement must be Cost-effective.

Here is the other story which hit me immediately upon opening the NY Times this morning. I am of the worst of Catholics, but was a parochial school Student and a Traditionalist by nature; also having a couple Priests in the Extended (distant) family. One out of Six Catholic churches do not have a resident pastor in this Country, the Catholic schools are going the way of the Dinosaur, and We have a Pope who is old; and elected by a college of Cardinals equally as old, many of whom are already dead or retired. We are confronted by massive diocese Maintenance Costs combined with a Realtor management mentality committed to raising diocesan Operating Costs above all else, even if it means complete erosion of the ability to provide technical support for Parishioners. Many ask what could be done, thinking there are no Solutions. Such an attitude outrages this Author, as some traditional Readers realize, leading to even more outrageous proposals.

The Shortage of Priests can be averted. I would attempt a massive campaign to recruit among the middle-aged Catholics. I would grant Annulments Of Marriage to Candidates of the Priesthood with double Party consent, even if they occasionally take Time off for Grandchild visitations. I would allow Divorcee candidates for the Priesthood, suggesting the Sacred Sacrement has cultural complications. I would suggest that Retirees from previous employment could utilize their Retirement programs in place of high, necessary priestal Salary; and might even enter into self-maintenance programs for their own churches and parishes. I would recruit Retirees of Public School systems as Teachers and Instructors in Parochial Schools, through college levels. I would seek active parochial Grade School Teachers from retired Grandparents. I would actively campaign among Catholic Corporate Executives for financial commitment to maintenance of churches and Parochial Schools. I would recruit Retired and Laid-Off Labor from the Parishes as a cheap Construction and Maintenance Crews for each diocese. The great danger is to allow an old, Traditional Head of State set policy. lgl