Damn Good Dog!

(Ta)Kota "Bear" Cohen  (1996-2012)

Our family lost a valued member last night as Lisa's dog, Kota, left for his journey to doggy-heaven. 

Born to unknown parents in Aspen, Colorado in the Summer of 1996, Kota and the rest of his litter were found by the side of a road.  Shortly thereafter, Lisa and her roommate adopted 2 of the 6 week old puppies.  Kaya was the frisky brown dog, Takota (Native American term for "good friend to all") the shy white ball of fur.  He was so shy initially that Lisa nearly had 2nd thoughts about keeping him.  But Kota came around and soon became Lisa's constant companion.  Living in Aspen, Kota was trained off the leash and got most of his early mentoring on how to be a mountain dog from Rogue, an amazing 3 legged mountain dog belonging to Lisa's friend Brian.  It didn't take long before shopkeepers in Aspen got to know Kota as he accompanied Lisa everywhere.

And I mean EVERYWHERE!  Kota was a true mountain dog and hiker as he completed forty 14,000 foot peaks in the mountains of Colorado..  He wanted to hike all 54 of the 14er's, but conditions and his advancing age began to slow him down.  However, he was always ready for a hike, a camping trip, a romp in the snow or a stroll in a stream.  One of his favorite activities was to follow Lisa up a ski slope and run and slide down the entire slope. 

In 1998, we got the privilege of keeping Kota with us in Florida while Lisa was in Africa for 11 months.  Kota became "my" dog as he followed me everywhere, slept by my bedside and accompanied me on many walks, runs and car rides.  I was so convinced that he was mine, that I told Lisa that Kota would not want to go back with her when she returned.  I learned that you should never underestimate Kota's memory or loyalty, as he immediately dissed me for Lisa upon her return.  In 2001, Kota again returned to Florida while Lisa was in Guatemala for a couple of months and visited often...most notably in 2002-2004 to mentor young Bella in how to be a loyal pooch.  Their romps in the ocean were epic!

So, what made Kota special?  He was one of the smartest dogs I have ever seen and seemed to understand whatever you were telling him.  His intuitiveness into one's psyche and his loyalty and protectiveness of Lisa were remarkable.  I knew that as long as Kota was with Lisa on her many mountain adventures, I really didn't have to worry about her - if he ever needed to pull a Lassie-like rescue mission, I am confident he would have pulled it off!  In 2002, as I attempted my first 14er, Kota spent most of the day running back down the mountain to check on me as I lagged behind Lisa's pace.  When he would see that I was okay, he would run back up the slope to join Lisa, only to check on me again many times more.

The last year has not been easy for Kota.  At nearly 16 years old, his arthritic legs and back didn't always get him where he wanted to go. The spirit was willing but the body could only do so much.  I know he dreamt often of the days he ran up and down the mountains, chased prairie dogs, squirrels and other wildlife, swam in the streams and hiked the trails...his sleeping smile gave him away!  But, he fought until the end...always getting excited when Lisa came home from work and really trying to be brave in the face of his pain.  He will be missed by Lisa and many others whose life he touched in so many ways. I will miss him and his indomitable spirit.  Rest In Peace, Kota!  You deserve it.

Damn Good Dog!


And The Journey continues.......

Just The Facts Please

Contrary to popular belief, I really don't mind when others disagree with my views. That is what makes for spirited discourse and I really enjoy the give and take. What I do mind, though, is when people spew opinions based on falsehoods and distortions of the facts. I find that a lot of people don't take the time to understand the nuances of an issue, but only listen to the talking heads on television or on the Internet to get their "facts."

In a recent study conducted by Fairleigh Dickenson University, viewers that only listen to Fox News for foreign and domestic news were less informed and misinformed more than all other news consumers. To be fair, MSNBC viewers scored only slightly higher. Those consumers that only listen to NPR or The Sunday Morning News shows or The Daily Show with Jon Stewart proved to be the best informed news consumers. This isn't the first study that has found that Fox News viewers are more misinformed in comparison to others. Last year, a study from The University of Maryland found that Fox News viewers were more likely to believe false information about politics.

It is no wonder that our politicians and Super Pacs are spending so much money to spread false information. We are living in a time when the more you repeat false information, the quicker it becomes "truth." Which brings me to the recent Supreme Court Decision on The Affordable Care Act. I had just about given up on any notion that The Supreme Court even pretended to do what the Founding Fathers envisioned or the Constitution outlined. First, they handed Bush the Presidency in Gore v Bush when they had no constitutional right to overturn the Florida Courts or even be involved in the case. But, politics ruled the day in that case as well as Citizens United...possibly the worse decision ANY Supreme Court has ever made. The Supreme Court is SUPPOSE to make decision based on constitutional law...not based on their political ideology. I applaud Justice Roberts for FINALLY waking up and realizing what is the role of The Supreme Court.

So, let's look at the facts concerning the Affordable Care Act....and how both Republicans and Democrats have distorted the truth. From all of the material I have studied, this Health Reform benefits the American People by:

• Letting millions of young adults stay on parents insurance until age 26
• Ends Insurance Company power to cap the amount of care a person can receive in their lifetime
• Stops Insurance Companies from cancelling coverage when someone gets sick
• Lowers the cost of care for those on Medicare and closes the "doughnut" hole on medications
• Requires insurance companies to cover preventive services like mammograms free
• Stengthen and protects Medicare by increasing penalties for fraud (Rick Scott particularly hates that provision)
• Stops Insurance Companies from denying coverage to children with pre-existing conditions
• Ends insurance companies power to jack up rates without justification
• Provides American with rebates from insurers who spend too much on CEO salaries or ads rather than on medical care (Only 20% of premiums can be spent on Administrative costs -80% on health care and quality improvements)
• Gives tax credits to small business owners so they can afford to offer quality health care to employees
• Builds and improves hundreds of community health centers
• Gives hard working Americans tax credits so they can afford insurance beginning in 2014
• End discrimination against adults with pre-existing conditions beginning in 2014
• Prevents insurance companies from charging women more than men and overcharging those who need care the most beginning in 2014
• Creates stat-based marketplaces where people can easily compare and shop for insurance beginning in 2014

Mitt Romney and the Republicans as well as President Obama and the Democrats have spent the last week "spinning" the Supreme Court decision. Romney stated that the law would "cut Medicare by $500 billion and that it adds trillions to our deficit." The CBO says the law would reduce the deficit and the $500 billion is a reduction in spending over the next 10 years..not a cut. Romney says that the law "puts the federal government between you and your doctor." The law would set minimum benefits packages, but medical services will not be government run nor does the law allow for rationing of care....in fact the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act states that the Independent Payment Advisory Board "shall NOT include any recommendation to ration health care, raise revenues or Medicare premiums or otherwise restrict benefits or modify eligibility....." Romney has said that he will overturn the Affordable Care Act on "Day One" of his presidency. But he has yet to offer any alternative solutions to the Health Care crisis that our Country faces. He has only offered sound bites and not revealed any substantive policies.

Obama has said "if you like your plan, you can keep your plan." In reality he can't promise that...just as they could before the law was enacted, employers can switch or drop plans. Now, there are substantial penalties for large businesses if they don't offer coverage, but that doesn't mean that some employers won't opt to pay the penalty. Obama has said that by August some 13 million Americans will get rebate checks from their Insurance Companies. But, in reality, most of those rebates will go to employers, not individuals. HHS says that it is more likely that 4 million people will get rebate checks. (But then again, since The Supreme Court says that Corporations ARE people, maybe the President IS right!)

I could go on ad nauseum with additional examples of distortions and half-truths from both sides of the issue, but each individual needs to educate themselves before making a hard line decision on what side of the argument they subscribe to. I, having suffered the fickleness of the Insurance Marketplace, am FOR The Affordable Care Act...in fact, I don't believe it was even carried far enough. We SHOULD have a single payer system - Medicare for ALL! Anything less than that is discriminatory against those under 65 years of age. It is time that we stop the political BS and, for once, do what is right for all citizens of our Country.

And The Journey continues...................