We saw a woman in a powered wheelchair at a park, limited use of her arms, she couldn't manage to light her cigarette. She appeared very ill. My husband helped her. We are non-smkoers. Smoke bothers us, however, this poor woman probably has not much to look forward to and smoking may be one of her only enjoyments. Could not begrudge her of that.

I do want to say this though, it can hurt people. My mom died of lung ca caused by smoking, and the emotional pain I feel is like no other. My son misses her terribly. He was 5 at the time, and not really afraid of the process, even crawled into her hospital bed that was set up in my parents home. I'm not saying this to make you feel bad, it's just another perspective. It can cause a great deal of pain for people.

wanted to add this to answer the question, what's wrong people who smoke....

there's nothing wrong with the people who smoke, I loved, and still love my mom regardless.

while Pharmaceutical companies earn 50 billion, the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005, now supposed to start in January 2007, will save the government another 50 billion or so over the next 5 years http://www.heritage.org/Research/Budget/wm...

while outpatient imaging (x-ray)centers will suffer reimbursement cuts of 25%. This may lead to many imaging centers going out of business, or offering fewer services. This will force patients to seek services in hospital settings where they will wait hours, and hours and hours for their x-ray tests, after waiting hours and hours and hours in doctor office and hospital ER rooms. For the outpatient imaging centers that can manage to stay in business, what will that mean to the patient?

http://www.rsna.org/Publications/rsnanews/...

an excerpt from the web page article:

"Farnsworth and Cooper said they envision other consequences for patient care as well, including less frequent equipment upgrades, reductions in staff and increased demand, which could result in longer wait-times for patients. But most troubling, they said, are the difficult economic decisions outpatient practices will have to make regarding the procedures they offer."

So here again, our seniors as well as others will suffer. How will the outpatient imaging services be able to keep up the best standards through upgrading equipment, if there is no money to spend? Economically speaking, how can any business go back wards and survive? While every other thing goes up, Gasoline, groceries, utilities, and that's ok, healthcare reimbursement goes down.

Moving on, what will this mean to x-ray professionals who provide these services, they will be downsized, those remaining will have more work dumped on them, less benefits (for example: health insurance, how ironic)or cutting of benefits, and there will be little compensation for the extra work, IF ANY, because God forbid the people signing the employees paychecks should suffer any loss in salary/investment, due to this act.

So the gov't can save billions over the next 5 years...while spending trillions to fight a war.

I think I'm going to have to start this in another thread.

Just read this article.

http://www.harvardmagazine.com/on-line/010...

And, just wondering what you think can be done, and is it even possible, to save the middle class? You don't need to read the article to answer.

Supposed gang activity here where I live, in NE PA. The market really sucks here, if you work here or near here and want to live here.

We should not complain about anything, because we’re lucky to have a home (for now, and so what if the bank really owns 80% of it) We have not had to put groceries on a credit card, yet Seen others doing it. We live a very modest lifestyle. Everything we do is family orientated and mostly free. We aren’t saving, and he has no disability insurance, none provide by work, and can’t afford to pick up a plan on our own. He has to invest in his own 401K, they don’t put anything in it. His investment is minimal, because that’s all we can afford. We have a car loan, again, a modest car, and we put him through college together, so we have student loans. No other debt. So tell me, why he, who has a college degree, and 20 years experience in his line of work, actually making what appears to be a decent wage, and myself , with a 2 year certificate degree are living on the edge of destruction? Because in one years time, as the gas prices escalated, everything went up, and now we just about can manage. We make too much money to qualify for anything, and because a quarter of the pay are taxes (which ironically go out to help others in need, and for those not in need at all. ) For weeks we have tried to figure out what changes we could make. I thought of going back to work, but no openings in day care, waiting lists galore, and it costs so much, it would not be worth it after I paid taxes, gas, and daycare. Previously, I did work, while my parents watched the kids, but my mother passed away, and my dad can’t handle it on his own. I’m looking for a night time or weekend job. he’s trying to find a different job, maybe pick up another part time job. but until then, if then, what?

Of all years, his company is not giving a cost of living raise. They won’t cooperate with him picking up a car pool.

We’re not alone. Others are finding it difficult to afford decent housing, no heath care coverage, can’t afford to heat their homes in winter. Middle Class.

So I thought, just don't sit and complain, be proactive. I'm home during the day for now maybe I can do something. I called my local representatives office, and was told there isn't anything I could do. I even volunteered my time and skills for free to do whatever, and was turned away. I have written to officials, on a variety of issues, I just get an automated response. So does it really matter?

Right now we’re making it. But I’m scared. So, the plan of action if the gas prices go up, next step is getting rid of the internet, then cable, then long distance (which btw all are the basic cheapest plans) After that, we would sell the home, which will probably be when the bubble bursts and we‘ll not be able to pay off the mortgage, and move back to a rental or move in with my dad and wait it out. This sounds so sad.

When the gas hits $5.00 gallon, will we all just go ahead and keep pumping so we can get to work, and I guess just starve and freeze? Lose all that we worked for?

I’m new here….just looking for things I can do to make a difference.