Every industrialized nation, with whom we compete in the world economy, has some form of universal health care. Are they all wrong? There is so much misinformation out there about the single payer option. Canada is often used as an example of the problems with a single payer, yet no one dies in Canada due to a lack of health insurance. But over a hundred a day die here from a lack of health insurance. In response to the myth about rationing of health care, Public Citizen points out that our health care is already rationed by private health insurance companies. By eliminating their administrative costs and profits we could be saving billions and billions of dollars.

Why can’t we have a system that takes profit out of the health care? Let us begin at the beginning. This is a concept I first wrote about years ago, insuring children from birth. Howard Dean instituted this type of program in Vermont with the understanding that not only do you raise healthier children but they are less of a burden on society later on. The children have improved eyesight and hearing, do better in school, are less likely to go to prison.

The ramifications are obvious to most of us. Our country is in dire straits and we need money. That money is already being given away to the very profitable health industries. I’m still hoping for the day, so vivid in my mind, that the president will consult will all the people on this issue and health care reform will be true reform.

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The post I’m Over 100, and I’m Still Fighting for Health Care Reform appeared first on The Faster Times.

The most common response from people of all ages to my age is AMAZEMENT. I am amazed myself. One, zero, three. These are just numbers. I am still me. I can’t do as much as I used to but I am still me. I am hanging in there because of what I still need to do and continue to share my point of view about the wrong direction we are taking to solve our problems, especially health care.How did you do it? They want to know the secret. They want tips. I really don’t know. I just did it. My sister Louise died at 102 and sister Francis died at 98. Not only do I have good genes but I have a great primary care physician, Dr. Ashby, who continues to treat me like a human being. Always has.

People often respond to my age by telling me about their acquaintance or relative who is over 100. So many compare me to them. There are more centenarians than ever before. The White House used to send out birthday cards when you reached 100. Not any more. Too many folks are living that long. Although my daughter says you can still request a 100th birthday greeting from the White House.

Being 103 is a gift and a curse. Getting older is not easy. I eat very slowly and it is hard to chew. I walk with a walker, my hearing has gone and my eyesight is failing. I am not my own boss anymore. And my money is being depleted. But I am in a retirement community that will always take care of me. So I am lucky for that.You get a lot of attention at my age. Everyone wants to know how I am doing. I’m often praised and honored. Each birthday is a big deal.

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To introduce myself: I am Eugenie Cormier Ahders. My friends call me Genie. I was born on the docks in the Lower East side of New York City. My father was a longshoreman from Canada. I was born in 1907, the youngest of 6 children-5 girls and 1 boy. My brother, a military man, fought against Pancho Villa in Mexico and was badly injured during World War 1. He died years later from his disability. My 4 older sisters are also deceased. I have two daughters. My “kids” are 75 and 80 years old. My husband died in 1979. A few years after his death I moved to a Quaker continuing care retirement community outside Philadelphia.

I graduated from St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn with plans to start work as a teacher. It was 1928. The Depression- the real one. There were no teaching positions. NYC was full of graduates wearing their degrees and no jobs. There wasn’t much of anything. There were no government programs and you had to figure it out on your own. You had to survive. My oldest sister was already teaching and she and my clever mother got us through. I had to find something to do. I found my niche in retail in the thirties as the department stores started to expand, and I stayed in that field for 30 years.I have lived through U.S. Presidents #26 through #44. I had hoped after Medicare was passed that I would see the expansion of Medicare for all Americans. I am still waiting. How much longer can I wait?

The post My “Kids” are 75 and 80 Years Old – Welcome to Life After 100 appeared first on The Faster Times.