The LuLac Edition #951, Sept. 23rd, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: COVER OF DR. DAN KOPEN'S BOOK ON HEALTH CARE, 1964 PHILLIES CAP AND DR. DAN KOPEN (PHOTO FROM TIMES LEADER).

COMMON SENSE & HEALTH CARE

Those two words are unusual when we are talking about health care reform. After all the shouting and pointed swords at each other this summer, there seems to be at least a civil approach bubbling to the surface locally. That comes in the form of a book written by a local physician and surgeon. Daniel Kopen wrote the book “Common Sense Health Care Reform”. The book, all 80 some pages of it has some intriguing suggestions and suppositions. Dr. Kopen says that currently we have no health care system but rather we posses “a murky amalgamation of special interest groups which in aggregate provide the semblance of a dysfunctional system of health care delivery”. In his book, Dr. Kopen touches on the player’s involvement in this which range from Doctors, Insurers, Lawmakers and Drug companies. The doctor also talks about a special court that would handle medical malpractice, taking the judgments out of the hands of lay jurors and having impartial medical experts weigh in on any problems. On rationing care, the doctor tells us that the very nature of today’s health care system does just that, universal health care does not necessarily mean coverage for everything. The book is a fascinating read, informative, packed with information and required reading for anyone concerned about the direction health reform is headed. For more information on the book contact Doctor Kopen at his office in Forty Fort.

HOEFFEL LOOKS UP

Pa. 2010.com reports that Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Hoeffel has decided to seek the Democratic nomination for governor, jumping into an increasingly crowded primary field as he seeks to portray himself as a progressive standard-bearer for the party. Hoeffel, fueled by a concern that the party may be tacking right, made his decision after commissioning a poll on the race that his campaign said yielded encouraging results. While no formal announcement has been scheduled, Hoeffel, a former Congressman, is in the process of staffing up for his first statewide campaign since he lost a Senate race to Arlen Specter in 2004.
“I do intend to run,” he told pa2010.com in an exclusive interview on Sunday. “I’m going to move forward aggressively. I’m in the race and ready to ride.” The last county commissioner to make the leap from that executive level to the state wide center stage was Mark Schweiker who became Tom Ridge’s Ltn. Governor in 1994. Elected to two terms with Ridge, Schweiker assumed the office when Ridge became head of homeland security.

45 YEARS AGO: THE COLLAPSE

Sept. 23rd, ’64 Phillies.

The Reds continue their winning ways over the Phils with rookie Billy McCool besting lefty Dennis Bennett. Bennett’s record falls to 12-13. Pete Rose, Vada Pinson and the middle of the batting order give Cincinnati all it needs to defeat the Phils 6 to 4. The Phils remain in first but the Reds are closing in only back by 3 and ½ games.