Introduction
This study will explain why health care deficits in the U.S is a social problem and discuss who is affected and how it is tackled by the government and other related entities in the context of historical ideologies, who reinforce individualism and self-reliance as one of the core believes of American citizens. Finally, the paper will expose how this problematic issue could be connected to social justice; more than 46 million of U.S. citizens with lack of health insurance. This paper attempts to demonstrate it standpoints by touching upon some specific examples of Medicaid and how this empowers or affects women simply because they are the major users of this program.

  ‘’I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.‘’ Martin Luther King, Jr.


The U.S. Health system has always represented a complicated aspect in America and it has also generated controversy through out this country’s history. Many people around the United States have failed in receiving health care treatment. In comparison with other high-developed countries in the world, a great quantity of people have been neglected to be subjects of intervention based on some extreme circumstances such as underinsured, uninsured, discrimination because of preexisting medical or psychiatric conditions (Legerski 2012). These complications could harm families’ pockets to the extent in which they easily could be left on bankruptcy due to the constant skyrocketing prices and inflation within the U.S. health care industry . In short, the main problem related to health care in the United States is that most of the people cannot afford healthcare and the government cannot provide it either. Not every problem that exists within society represents a social problem; sometimes problems are regarded as particular difficulties confronted by individuals. However, it is important to note that when there is the same individual issue massively repeated and simultaneously it is most likely to encounter a social problem, in this case, health care is a clear example. For instance, we know that health is an organic component of any society; if the population of a community is troubling about their wellbeing is very likely that the society as a whole is going to pay the price by decreasing it level of productivity, increasing their levels of mortality, therefore, not having enough young population to lead and sustain the country’s development. In this context, women are especially in need of medical intervention, more than men during their lifetime in the United States. For instance, women are the largest victims of HIV/AIDS in the country. More than 266,000 adults living with AIDS in the US rely on Medicaid for their health care, most of them are women. HIV positive women are more likely than HIV positive men to be covered by Medicaid insurance for economic reasons; also, women need medical intervention throughout maternity, the federal government requires states to cover pregnancy-related and 60 days of postpartum care services for women with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level. Additionally, they are the ones who generally need assistance for family planning issues; finally, women have the highest life expectancy, in other words, women live longer than men, have higher rates of chronic health problems and lower incomes. They also comprise 70% of the nursing home population and receive 2/3 of home health care services (Hopkins 1999). According to the first phase of Jimenez’s policy analysis framework it is important to make clear some historical facts that underlined the core of the social problems (Jimenez 2010) Therefore is critical to note that U.S has never enjoyed insurance or universal health care as part of its safety net, people had to take care of their own according to the political principles of this country. Traditionally, Democrats or liberals in the United States call for a single payer system with universal coverage supported by taxes; on the other hand, Republicans or conservatives argued for minimal government intervention, supported market oriented reforms that neglected universal coverage, and emphasized Cost control, indeed, this is the most preponderant value that has underlies and domain the American health care policies because it is seem only as another market component. Interestingly, the U.S health care system and the U.S health insurance industry have developed simultaneously. In the 20th century, an industrialist called Henry Kaiser developed a complex system of clinics, hospital with pre-paid physicians this fact will later on inspired policy makers and health investors replicated this models all around U.S but also the institutionalization of the insurance system through Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) (Owen 2009). During the great depression American Federalism evolved from a system featuring a limited role for the federal government to a stronger more cooperative with all levels of government Social Security Act (1935) established many programs that settled basis for the future conformation of Medicaid and Medicare. Since the opening of MEDICARE and MEDICARE under Lyndon Johnson’s administration, the insurance companies developed a ‘’selective contracting’’ measures to select their clients. Unfortunately, since that same period until today the rampant inflation rates continue to rise. President Truman to Congress a federal insurance program to be founded by federal taxes. The plan was abandoned after the American Medical Association (AMA) demonstrated strong opposition because it supposed a strong involvement from the federal state (Grott, 2006). However it is interesting to note that even with strong allegation denouncing government intromission in health issues, the National Institute of Health (governmental institution) became the principal supporter of biomedical research, out pacing industry and private foundations since 1950 (Carol, 2009). In 1965 amendments were made of Social Security Act establishing health insurance for the aged in form of Medicare and grants for medical assistance to the poor in the form of Medicaid (Grott, 2006). The Johnson administration had profound on the scope of the federal role in social programs. Unfortunately, during the Nixon Administration, emphasis was placed on moving away from the categorical and grant-in-aid of the Johnson era this was called new federalism and Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement policies were written to gain the support of the medical establishment. Private physicians made enormous sum of profit under the fee-for-free methods of payment. By the time Reagan was elected two reaction from congress emerged: An anti-regulatory pro competitive sentiment; and, movement towards decentralization of existing planning and regulatory programs 1983 reflected the new, new federalism under Reagan that was characterized by retrenchment and cost containment for public programs (Gorey, 1999). Once more, an inconsistency between liberals and conservatives was clear when Clinton administration brought many controversies to this matter again, when he somehow promised a health care reform that almost promised universal health care. Since the creation of the United States as a Federal State there has been factors and actors that applause the idea of a weak government who provide more ‘’liberty’’ to its citizens. People who are under any welfare program are stigmatized because they violate the value of self-reliance promoted by the founder fathers of America. Currently, many lobbyists are working against a strong government who takes care of health care issues. Conservative think tanks such as CATO, the Heritage Foundation, and American Enterprise Institute not also promoted the Health Policy Consensus Group which maximize influence on the federal government in regards to health care (Carol, 2009). Medicaid is critical to women because it provides low-income women of all ages with access to important health services including acute care, physician and hospital care and family planning care and as we mentioned before women are the majority of the adult Medicaid population. Currently, Medicaid provides health coverage to more than 50 million children, families, and pregnant women, the elderly, and people with disabilities; however, the bill passed this year will indirectly target youth because they now will be ensured under their parents health care plans. All States provide Medicaid to infants and children under age 6 with family incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level. Obama-care expands the program to cover over 20 million additional individuals (Hopkins, 1999). However, many criticize this implementation because it implicates more capital spending by the government to people who ‘’might’’ have the possibility to pay. Obviously, expanding Medicaid in the way I’ve described would be very
expensive. Nevertheless, better coordination of patient care would also help make
a dent in Medicaid’s administrative costs, which constitute about 5
percent of the program’s total costs because in some cases expanding
access to care actually reduces costs in the long-run expenses (Welch, 2005). Concretely, this paper poses four alternatives to ameliorate this social problem. The first alternative is encouraging more coordination so the waste of administrative capital could be avoided. According to Grott, one of the main characteristics of American health care system is fragmentation (Grott, 2006), which implies disjointed activities and exists at multiple levels. At the functional level, fragmentation may occur in the areas of financial management, human resources administration at levels of health provider and clinical service. Also, health department especially local level department do not have strong articulation with other social programs. Secondly, the federal government does not control prices and cannot stop the inflation. Federal investment on health contradicts the laissez-faire paradigm acclaimed by many in the U.S. in fact the government is the biggest buyer of health services and research sponsor, however, even though all this intromission in this matter it has not been able to control and regulate prices that harm people’s pocket and the government itself. Thirdly, partnership with other social programs is crucial to ensure social empowerment of people. For instance, adequate housing availability, employment opportunities, transportation services, and access to education influences one’s health and wellbeing therefore this entire plethora of social benefits have to be pursued jointly. Last but not least, the military U.S budget outrageously surpass $159 billions including the maintaining of some 900 bases abroad . Clearly some of this capital should be invested domestically on Americans who need health services. Social Justice according to Jillian Jimenez In the final analysis, after briefly examining the U.S. health care system, its characteristics and the social problem that it entailed, and the burden this represents for Americans it is important to revise the concept of social justice. I consider that Jimenez’s concept of social justice can better explain and be linked to health care issues in America. Jimenez sees social justice as a fair distribution of goods, services rights and duties in this vain he thinks that not just privileged few would have a say on how fundamental necessities and freedom are shared (Jimenez, 2010). Therefore, everybody would have access to basic rights such a health. In this sense, social justice should not be limited to prejudice prevention of those who use free health care services, is also important to take into account factors such as who are the actors who are involved upon delivering ‘’social justice’’ and what are their believes. In this regard, Reason and David (Reason & Davis, 2005) interestingly use two aspects within this concept to explain better it nature and also it dynamic. One is distributive justice, basically who decide about the policies, and equitable justice meaning the fair distribution of goods distributed.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zl5MWqu3pE

 Works Cited

 Carol, Owen L. "Consumer-Driven Health Care: Answer To Global Competition or Threat to Social Social Justice.’’ National Association of Social Workers, 2009: 307-315. Gorey, Kevin. "What is Wrong With The U.S. Health Care System?: It Does Not Effectively Exist For One of Every Five Americans." The Milbank Quarterly , 1999: 401-406. Grott, Catherine J. "The Development Of The U.S. Health Care System And The Contemporary Role Of Public Health Department." JHHSA, december 2006: 336-358. Hopkins, Janice. "U.S Survey Reveals Deficits In Women's Health Care." British Medical Journal (ProQuest Central), May 1999. Jimenez, Jillian. Social Policy And Social Change. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications, 2010. Justice." Social Work (National Association Of Social Workers) 54, no. 4 (October 2009): 307-315. Legerski, Elizabeth. "The Cost Of Instability: The Effects Of Family, Work, and Welfare Change On Low-Income Women's Health." Sociological Forum (Eastern Sociaological Society) 27, no. 3 (September 2012): 641-657. Owen, Carol L. "Consumer-Driven Health Care: Answer To Global Competition or Threat to Social Justice." Social Work (National Association Of Social Workers) 54, no. 4 (October 2009): 307-315. Skinner, v Jonathan. "Understanding Prices and Quantities In The U.S. Health Care System." Journal Of Health Politics, Policy and Law (Duke University Press) 36, no. 4 (August 2011). Reason, Robert, and Travis Davis. "Antecedents, Precursors, and Concurrent Concepts In The Development Attitudes And Actions." New Directions For Student Services, summer 2005: 5-15 Welch, Edward M. "Plain Talk About Health Care." America 192, no. 6 (February 2005): 8-10.

Distinto cliche espiritual.....mismo efecto!

Podrá sonar cliché, pero nos han enseñado que Dios es un ser tan grande y lleno de poder "indescriptible" tan ajeno a nosotros mismos. A partir de esta premisa, muchos lo sentimos distante, fuera y a la vez tan lejos, tan abstracto y sobre todo tan deshumanizado. Que tal tomarse un momento con una pequeña intención de pensar un poco distinto? Bueno, no es nada del otro mundo, pero, seria lindo que pararas, reflexionaras y fueras testigo de tu propia respiración. Personalmente, no hay nada más sencillo que me haga sentir la cercanía de dios en mi vida...por supuesto, entiendase mi vida como parte microscópica de la infinita y divina creación natural que mi dios y tu dios,independientemente el nombre con que lo nombras, nos manifiesta. Es lindo "minimizar" a ese dios altivo para demostrarnos sus infinitas bondades. Divino, divino y sencillo. P

La propuesta del jamás

Sí sí sí!!!!

Esta como otras tantas e infinitas noches,

estas presente,

he buscado por muchas horas

poemas o canciones que puedan congelarte,

porque ahora resignadamente me doy cuenta que es la única manera de no seguirte perdiendo.

En mi brevisíma memoria, sólo queda espacio para recordarte,

en mi minusculo corazón sólo queda asilo para albergarte,

en mis asperas manos sólo quedan las interminables ganas de tocarte.

Ven una última noche y demostrame que vos como yo

pensamos intermitentemente en el imponsible de un adiós.

Te doy una canción (int. S.R)

Cómo gasto papeles recordándote,
cómo me haces hablar en el silencio,
cómo no te me quitas de las ganas
aunque nadie me ve nunca contigo.
Y cómo pasa el tiempo que de pronto son años
sin pasar tú por mí, detenida. (1)

Te doy una canción si abro una puerta (2)
y de las sombras sales tú.
Te doy una canción de madrugada,
cuando más quiero tu luz. (3)
Te doy una canción cuando apareces
el misterio del amor,
y si no lo apareces no me importa:
yo te doy una canción.

Si miro un poco afuera me detengo:
la ciudad se derrumba y yo cantando,
la gente que me odia y que me quiere
no me va a perdonar que me distraiga.
Creen que lo digo todo, que me juego la vida,
porque no te conocen ni te sienten.

Te doy una canción y hago un discurso
sobre mi derecho a hablar.
Te doy una canción con mis dos manos,
con las mismas de matar.
Te doy una canción y digo: “Patria”,
y sigo hablando para ti.
Te doy una canción como un disparo,
como un libro, una palabra, una guerrilla:
como doy el amor.

FUCKED NIGHT

I fucking love this fucking song, its the fucking BEST!!!!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EG81f3wGuwE&feature=related

absolutamente NADA

Bueno...ehhh es bastante extranio,resulta que acabo de terminar semana de parciales pero esta vez fue bastante bastante cansado tres examenes seguidos (perdon los signos de interrogacion mi teclado esta medio agringado) jajajaj de todas maneras nadie leera esta nota ... en fin esta noche despues de esas largas jornadas no puedo dormir,una especie de insomnio post-parciales bastante estupido lo se.
En fin escribo sin sentido porque quiero enganiar a la mente para que se vaya a descansar no he parado de pensar pensar pensar y eso en vez de cansarme me mantiene despierta.
Despues de escribir tantas cosas sin ningun remoto fin me retiro a la lucha de seguir intentando quedar dormida por gracia natural o voluntad divina en ultima instancia me parece milagroso que vivamos anios sin darnos cuenta que largo es el dia .....
Paola Bichara (desvelada)

A esto le denomino yo TERRORISMO

En el décimo día de la ofensiva contra Hamas y el tercero de la invasión terrestre, el ejército israelí dividió la Franja de Gaza y ahora asedia a Ciudad de Gaza, la principal población de la zona.

Según los corresponsales en la región, ahora es imposible el paso entre el norte y el sur. La división va desde el paso de Karni, en el centro de la frontera oriental de la Franja con Israel, hasta el mar.

También hay informaciones de que 40 tanques israelíes se mueven hacia la localidad de Khan Younis, en el sur del territorio.

Desde Gaza: diario bajo bombardeo

Mapa de la ofensiva terrestre israelí.
La corresponsal de la BBC en Medio Oriente, Katya Adler, señala que ésta sería una nueva estrategia israelí que hasta ahora centró su ofensiva en el norte del territorio palestino.

También se informó que Israel realizó unos 30 bombardeos aéreos durante la noche del domingo contra, entre otros blancos, una mezquita, túneles que llevan a Egipto y viviendas de líderes de Hamas.

Según Hamas y los testigos en la región los combates durante la noche del domingo y la mañana del lunes se concentraron en cinco áreas: el este del campo de refugiados de Jabalya, los barrios de Zaitun, la zona aledaña de lo que solía ser del asentamiento judío de Netzarim, así como en el centro de la ciudad de Gaza y en las afueras de Khan Younis.

Galería de imágenes de la nueva fase de la ofensiva

El ejército israelí confirmó una baja desde que se inició la invasión terrestre.
Los palestinos aseguran que el número de muertos ascendió a 509, la mayoría de ellos civiles, desde que se inició el operativo de Israel, el pasado 27 de diciembre. Estas cifras no han podido ser confirmadas porque el ejército israelí no ha permitido el paso de periodistas extranjeros a la Franja.

Los cohetes de Hamas, mientras tanto, han matado a cuatro personas en Israel y el ejército reconoció este lunes su primera baja mortal desde el inicio de la ofensiva. Otros 34 militares resultaron heridos desde que comenzó la incursión por tierra en la noche del sábado.

Participe: Ataques israelíes, ¿autodefensa o atrocidad?
Sin ayuda humanitaria

El periodista de la BBC en la ciudad de Gaza, Rushdi Abu Alouf, dice que los enfrentamientos entre tropas israelíes y militantes de Hamas han obstaculizado la llegada de medicinas y remedios a los hospitales, que apenas dan abasto.


Los tuvimos que poner a todos en una misma ambulancia, unos encima de otros, con tal de sacarlos
Sharon Lock, miembro del Movimiento Internacional de Solidaridad

Muchas organizaciones humanitarias se quejan de que no han podido recibir ayuda en estos momentos que tanto lo necesitan y muchos hospitales están trabajando sin suministro eléctrico.

En Egipto, los funcionarios confirmaron que el recrudecimiento de la ofensiva ha impedido el envío de ayuda humanitaria a través del paso fronterizo de Rafah.

Sharon Lock, miembro del Movimiento Internacional de Solidaridad, una organización palestina, dijo a la BBC que los médicos están trabajando bajo condiciones muy difíciles.

"Fuimos a una casa donde 4 personas estaban heridas. Uno murió con las piernas completamente destrozadas. Había dos hombres de unos treinta años y también un niño de tres años. Los tuvimos que poner a todos en una misma ambulancia, unos encima de otros, con tal de sacarlos ahí", señaló Lock.

Un portavoz del ejército israelí, Guy Spielgelman, dijo a la BBC que Hamas, y no Israel, era el culpable del sufrimiento de los civiles.


Un padre palestino llora la muerte de sus tres hijos.

"Si ellos hubieran dejado de disparar cohetes, entonces no estaríamos en esta situación", señaló.

Intentos diplomáticos

El presidente francés Nicolas Sarkozy y una delegación ministerial de la Unión Europea llegarán a la región los próximos días para intentar un cese de hostilidades.

Javier Solana, jefe de Relaciones Internacionales de la UE y miembro de la delegación, declaró que la crisis representaba un fracaso de la diplomacia.

Por su parte, Hamas planea enviar este lunes una delegación a Egipto.

Lea también: Gaza: gran esfuerzo diplomático
El presidente de la Autoridad Nacional Palestina, Mahmud Abbas, dijo que estaba haciendo todo lo posible para poner fin a lo que describió como una agresión contra el pueblo palestino.

En Nueva York, sin embargo, el Consejo de Seguridad de la ONU terminó una reunión sin llegar a un acuerdo sobre una declaración conjunta al respecto.


Fuente: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/international/newsid_7811000/7811050.stm