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New health study paints ugly picture of Rutland population



The results of a health community assessment in Rutland County drew a crowd of health professionals and nonprofit organizations on Monday at Heritage Family Credit Union in Rutland.

Cassandra Hotaling / Rutland Herald
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By Brent Curtis Staff Writer - Published: June 30, 2009

Compared to the rest of the state, Rutland County is unhealthy, out of shape and has more than its fair share of bad habits, according to a new countywide health assessment.

The new study, coordinated by the James T. Bowse Health Trust, was presented Monday to a roomful of health care professionals and human service agencies who gathered at the Heritage Family Credit Union building on West Street in Rutland.

The study, the fourth of its kind since 1996, found a number of unhealthy trends in the Rutland area, according to Sarah Narkewicz, coordinator of the Trust.

Relying on responses from 500 surveys, 40 data sources and six focus groups made up of 46 local leaders, researchers found deficiencies in the region's socioeconomics, lifestyles, access to health care and environment that placed Rutland consistently below state averages.

For example, under socioeconomics, Narkewicz said "Rutland County residents are older, less educated, lower income and will become increasingly older and therefore more vulnerable and disabled than Vermonters as a whole."

Viewed statistically, the percent of Rutland County's population aged 65 and over will exceed 20 percent by 2016 compared to projections of 18 percent statewide; the ratio of adult smokers was 22.8 percent in 2006 compared to a statewide average of 19.6 percent; and youth smoking rates — while declining everywhere — dipped to 18 percent in 2007 in Rutland while statewide the average was 16 percent.

Obesity was another problem attributed to socioeconomics in the region, where Narkewicz said the risk for heart disease, stroke and other diseases are higher in Rutland than elsewhere.

"It's linked to a culture where everything is automated and fast food is easy to get," Narkewicz said.

County residents also have a harder time gaining access to health care due to lack of insurance, transportation and doctor shortages, she said, and there is an inadequate supply of affordable housing.

"People can't be healthy if they don't have a strong roof over their heads," she said.

On the plus side, Rutland's air is clean, its cities and towns enjoy a strong sense of community, it is home to a hospital and federally qualified health centers and has seen a decrease in death rates for heart disease and stroke.

To reverse the unhealthy conditions in the county, Narkewicz said her group and community members came up with 60 ideas for encouraging healthy lifestyles, improving access to health care and human services, reducing substance abuse, expanding community-based elder care and implementing programming for young adults.

The ideas included suggestions such as expanding case management for senior citizens at risk and for high-risk populations of drug and alcohol users, changing the culture of illegal and prescription drug and alcohol use, creating community care teams for chronic health conditions, expanding free medical clinics and dental programs, increase workplace exercise programs and bolstering the number of adults covered by health insurance.

Copies of the health assessment will be posted on the Rutland Regional Medical Center's Web site, www.rrmc.org, and will be available at the hospital and the Rutland Free Library. Narkewicz said she will also e-mail copies upon request. Her e-mail is snarkewicz@rrmc.org.

brent.curtis@rutlandherald.com








READER COMMENTS


Nationalized healthcare will fix everything, over time. With limited resources to apply to healthcare you will get two of three attributes: cost, quality or access. Pick your two. The current system has unlimited access, good quality but high cost. Nationalized healthcare will give us lower cost (we hope) but will suffer in either quality or access. My hunch is access will suffer, initially. So, the folks who are obese, smoke or are substance abusers will do themselves in and the system will not provide unlimited care to extend their lives. I have relatives in Canada where access is a real problem, and so rationing is a reality.

One writer makes the insighful observation, that unfortunately the generational aspect may not be impacted.
-- Posted by Wendy Wilton on Fri, Jul 3, 2009, 11:16 am EST

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I've been told on here before that I am an old dog. I know, I know, but an old, healthy dog. And happily, getting older all the time.

Those of you my age, at least 60, remember when McDonalds was the family who lived up the street. You remember when walking to school actually meant walking to school and home for lunch and back to school and home at the end of the day. You remember when helping around the house meant climbing a ladder and painting the darn thing. You remember when going out to eat happened about twice a year. The other 363 days food was put on the table and you ate it or went hungry. There were no other items on the menu. In my youth, "delivery" meant the mail, not the pizza.

Old habits die hard. I'm glad I grew up when I did. I have never been interested in fast food warmed up in some concrete building by the side of the highway. Also no interest in video games, 24/7 cable television, or a phone that rings in my pocket when I'm fishing on the lake. I try to avoid "activities" that could cause my butt to grow wider.

I know that people 40 and under probably look at me and wonder where I came from. Well, that's allright with me. At 60 years of age I am 6 feet tall and weigh 165 pounds, blood pressure is 115/80, cholesterol is good and not medicated. I walk five miles a day and ride my bicycle 15 miles, weather permitting. I don't feel like I'm "exercising" or "working out". I'm just doing what I've always done. That's what we all do--just what we've always done.

Interesting article, but another one telling us that the horse is out of the corral.
-- Posted by SC Boy on Fri, Jul 3, 2009, 5:50 am EST

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look i am not saying all on the system works the system but i bet that the vast amount does. see this is what is the matter with this country you have people out there always feeling sorry for them and that is what they are hoping for. i am sorry i do not feel sorry for them they are so used to everyone else doing for them they don't do for themselves it is like a child if you always do everything feed them and give them things when they point instead . asking well that child will not feed themselves even at the age of 5 if you don't make them speak in order to get something then they will not ask only point this country has to get back to making people accountable for their actions . i have grown kids now but when they were small i never took any kind of welfare i worked if i could not find a job i would put an ad in the paper and did ironing and did people's laundry i delivered news papers i did what ever i had to to feed my family . and by the way you can get the cheap hamburg drain the fat i rinse mine in a colander then put bake in the fry pan there is ways chicken legs take the skin off like i said stop making excuses for them .
-- Posted by jackie fowler on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, 5:25 pm EST

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AMEN JACKIE FOWLER...someone needed to point this out
-- Posted by Samuel Krans on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, 2:43 pm EST

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Just Sayin' if all this busy work is happening at the schools and is meant to intercede with struggling students, why are they failing for a third year in a row? To all the rest, Mississipians are fatter in a nationwide study.
-- Posted by Curious gt on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, 2:15 pm EST

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Not that I have a dog in this fight, but I think its prudent to mention that Rutland is a low income town. With that status, you get people who have to buy food or get food at food shelves which go farthest- that means starches and fats. A bag of fresh spinach is $3., a box of instant mac and cheese is .60. Pepsi is cheaper than milk. Fatty hamburger is $1.89 a lb, 90% burger is $3.79. Even chicken- legs with skin and bones- .89 a lb, boneless skinless breast, $3.59 a lb. And that is if people have facilities and capablities of cooking that food. Some folks just can't. Poor food choices lead to poor health. A bag of potato chips is not the same as a bag of potatoes. Common knowledge to many, but not all.

So before you cast judgements on these people, realize that economics and life history play a big part. That and the fact that every other commercial on tv is for some processed food, or fast food restaurant, or sort of food item.
-- Posted by Colleen Wright on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, 10:43 am EST

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Brevity and punctuation are our friends, Jackie.
-- Posted by the truth on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, 10:19 am EST

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when you have 3 generations getting welfare and out off that no one could find a job in sixty yrs that should tell us something look if someone is getting everything handed to them and their kids grow up seeing their parent sitting home everyday and have boyfriends living with them and their parent has a new car flat screen TVs and can just lay around then you are going to have kids knowing how to use the system as well but for some reason the so called government and all the social groups well they ask them what they feel like being on welfare and of course they say how embarrassed they are and how people don't understand how they feel so bad because they don't have to be on it okay hello do you really thing that they are going to say how much they love it don't think so young girls are having babies because they know they can move out of their house and do their own thing and if any of you think that these people on the system is living on just that income take a reality pill okay they can have their boyfriends living with them and any income they have is not included it is free and clear so some one bringing in say 300 a week well that is money that they can go on vac with it is the same as every year around Oct these people don't pay their rent so they take that money and buy Xmas gifts then they go down and get all the Xmas gifts that people give it ends up that their kids have three times the Xmas that a working family have oh by the way in Jan they go down to the welfare dept and they get a check to pay for their last 3 months they didn't pay of course i was told by someone that works in the welfare office that oh but they can only do this once a yr HELLO they only want to do it once a yr as far as all the social groups well they are not going to get them better it is called job security the state and the groups complain and say how they have to get people healthy get real it is a way for them to keep their job a get money if the people on welfare want to live on it then i think they should be out sweeping the sidewalks cleaning up parks washing store windows picking up trash on the side of the roads what about going to the malls and cleaning up their parking lots there is plenty of things they can do to help earn that money and at the same time they would be getting exercise plus the law has to change if a person has a live in partner then they should be paying for her not welfare he should also be paying for any kind of birth control the medicaid system should not be paying for it we are not having relations with them they are if they go on the system and say they have 2 children if they have another one after being on the system we should not have to pay for that one ins only we should not be paying for doctor visits or delivery that should be up to her and the father not us
-- Posted by jackie fowler on Thu, Jul 2, 2009, 8:23 am EST

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WOW Teri!!! Speaking of the 1950's, have you even ventured out of that decade long enough to see the innovative things that schools are doing in the name of educational reform? I see the Response to Intervention model happening in many of the schools. This is a proactive, tiered intervention process that intervenes early for those students struggling with learning. I am seeing collaborative planning time set aside for general educators and special educators to meet consistently and plan differentiated lessons that address all learner needs (including gifted). I see the Rutland city schools using the co-teach model that allows students who have disabilities to stay in the regular classroom where the Vermont Standards are being taught while having the extra support of a second teacher in that room.
-- Posted by just sayin on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 10:12 pm EST

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will-
I'm from Ct... and yeah- the schools here don't even remotely compete. some maybe.. but over-all.. not even close.

and I work with at-risk.. because they need it. My preference is the highly gifted.

did you know the students who get A's are NOT the smartest kids? the truly gifted are far more likely to Drop out, Do Drugs, or Die ( suicide).. the ave age for gifted suicide is 15.. and it is the highest of all the demographic populations- higher than the gay kids.

what does that say about how society treats its best and brightest?

When it comes to education.. I very much know what i am talking about. The kids go to schools in this area. they then go to local colleges.. and go back to those same local schools. most teachers have not spent ample time outside the region in other schools. most teachers have no experience of anything * other* than public school philosophy and pedagogy...

how is that going to open a different paradigm.. when there are only 2 styles of learners that become " successful" teachers.. and both of those learning styles like control. and teach predominantly to their own learning style.. which then puts the onus of success/ failure on the student.. so he/she starts at a disadvantage.. and often stays there for their entire academic career.

this is a BIG soap box, and a discussion too large to happen in this forum.. and I * KNOW* the educational system is never going to change. because the personality type that becomes a teacher, and becomes an administrator.. does not change.. and the teachers who teach the teachers.. do not change.. it is a self perpetuating, downward spiral. it is sadly outmoded, from the 1950's,...
-- Posted by Teri J. Dluznieski on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 9:53 pm EST

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considering your focus in education was "at risk" learners I could see how you might be biased.

I also know plenty of kids who fit into the criteria you have mentioned, however, this is a problem with any area. There will always be remedial students. There will always be test corruption. The point is, in my opinion and from our primary and high school test results, Vermont isn't that bad.
-- Posted by will gormly on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 1:11 pm EST

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will gormly

where I get the idea of our schools poorly serving most students..
a masters degree in education.. kids I have spoken to plenty.. what I have seen experienced etc.. and having been in schools not in this area...

not to mention the finagling of tests scores that does not accurately reflect the failing to meet benchmarks ( who is included, what IEP students tests don't get counted etc..:)...

also- just look around and go talk to the kids.. esp the ones who end up ' in the system'...

and- further.. when the local colleges need to offer " remedial english" for the incoming freshman!!! I think right there is a pretty decent reflection of the skills that students are graduating with.. and these are the college bound kids..

btw- UCONN had an interesting program for the marginal students who wanted to attend. They spent the summer in the basic classes, English and math.. etc.. IF they could pass those and test at admission level standards, they were allowed to matriculate... gave borderline students an opportunity to get into college... WITHOUT lowering their academic standards...
-- Posted by Teri J. Dluznieski on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 12:07 pm EST

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Hmmmm, Could it have anything to do with the fact that Rutland county once held the record for most bars per capita over any other place in the country? Or the lack of restaurants that don't fry or smother everything on gravy?
And with the new breed of scuzbags walking around, I feel the need to carry a gun just to go for a walk with piece of mind.
-- Posted by None None on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 10:59 am EST

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As much as the school administration and politicos promote the local school system as excellent, the federal report card calls them "failed," to meet many of the Vt. exempt slimdowned benchmarks set by the gov for three years in a row, with 50% of our funding coming from Gold Towns, what are we doing wrong? As for Jim, we have a large population of disabled who cannot get off their rumps and who would hire them. We also have many people who move here only for the very generous welfare & medicare options. I know someone who moved here, waited the 6 mos or so residency and got their needed knee replacements and then moved out like the wind with mission accomplish, many of these characters never leave. If your complaining that Rutland has an above average burden of broke down elderly and disabled, it seems to be the case in every county other than Chittenden. The County is struggling to attract businesses to this area and DOC still releases ex-cons every day who are mandated to fine jobs while we have 10% unemployment. Whose zooming who? Until the reps you elect become enlightened or reincarnated there will be no change in the effects of declining jobs in this area. It's also true and what the report emphasis is the lower quality of services than Chittenden and many other communities to deal with substance abuse, mental health, and retraining. As with everything else in this community non-profits who control these services are dummied down and control the less than desirable services needed for their own self interests because they are less than qualified to run them. I haven't read the report, but it seems to call for more financial investments in those areas that are deficient, but doesn't call for any action on improved quality of services thru restructuring, consolidation, and oversite, therefore, just throwing good money down the drain.
-- Posted by Curious gt on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 9:54 am EST

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Have Mr. Searles and Mr. Chapleau noted the condition of the sidewalks in the residential neighborhoods of Rutland City? They are nothing less than disgusting.

One glaring example: try ambulating safely along the so-called sidewalk abutting the Middle School Playground on Church Street.

Will Rutland City taxpayers share the cost with Rutland City in the repair of sidewalks adjoining their homes? NOT!!! And I don't blame the taxpayers one darn bit.

Walk in the neighborhoods of Rutland City at your own risk. Make sure you keep your eyes to the ground.
-- Posted by Concerned About Rutland on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 6:44 am EST

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You are right on David! This community doesn't promote walking. The first step should be to shut down The Bus. People would be more likely to walk if the 30-40 "green" bus's stop circling the city with nobody on them. If we stop burning diesel fuel just for the sake of having The Bus, air quallity would improve and more people would be able to walk.
-- Posted by ANDREW CHAPLEAU on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 6:12 am EST

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Is Rutland (city or town) a community that promotes walking to any significant degree comparable to the extent that automobile driving is promoted??

heck no.
.
.
-- Posted by David Searles on Wed, Jul 1, 2009, 2:36 am EST

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Rutland County is a working class community...no matter how hard the out of staters try to change it.
"Rutland County residents are older, less educated, lower income and will become increasingly older and therefore more vulnerable and disabled than Vermonters as a whole."
The residents are older because when you work your whole life at a manual labor job you normally don't save up enough money to move elsewhere. They are less educated because education is not a requirement to work such jobs. They are more vulnerable to disability because they spend their lives working their hands to the bone to squeak out a modest living and just plain tire themselves out.
-- Posted by Samuel Krans on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 3:59 pm EST

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Perhaps it would be prudent to withold comment on this health assessment until such time as each reader has reviewed the document at issue here.

The library is closed for repair and abatement of water damage(shame on the local politicians, both current and former that allowed the conditions at the library to worsen)so the document is NOT available there and the on-line version is in the hands of the Bowse web master. Call Ms. Narkewicz and I am certain she will e-mail all interested parties a copy of the report.

This condensation in the Rutland Herald provides insufficient information for any informed judgement about Rutland County's health status.
-- Posted by Concerned About Rutland on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 3:57 pm EST

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I am not sure brain drain is solely a response to the economy. not denying it by any means- but.. the other half of that.. is the lack of high benchmarks for education here. the conformity teaching aspect of public education that does not foster creativity, entrepreneurialism ( spelling?).. etc.. rather.. they are caught teaching to the standardized test, and grasping for the additional funds that accompany special ed ( which in turn means medicating our kids- many of whom are not genuinely educationally deficient.. but rather, poor nutrition, upbringing, etc- many complex factors at work, but the solution is to drug them into complacent obedience). Also- we do not hold back * nearly enough* of our borderline students at a young age ( wouldn't want to look incompetent- let the kid be the next teachers problem to solve... just keep passing them through.


these kids grow up to have nominal belief in their abilities.. very poor academic and professional ( employable traits- accountability, responsibility etc).. and become a further drain on the social services of the community.

-- Posted by Teri J. Dluznieski on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 11:22 am EST


I dont know what point you are trying to make here. Vermont is continually ranked as the smartest state in the union, and I would say, from a personal perspective, that our state also has some of the most creative and entrepreneurial people in the country.
-- Posted by will gormly on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 3:43 pm EST

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None None - it's only Natural Selection if the [self-induced] death occurs prior to sexual maturity and subsequent sexual activity.

Duh.

-NN#5
-- Posted by None None on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 2:45 pm EST

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Please continue the dialogue and remember we need new fresh Ideas as the old ones havn't worked. Not only do we need health care reform, but also a new social contract which also involves globle warming.
-- Posted by James Davis on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 2:16 pm EST

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Teri, 96.8% of employees in Vermont are employed by small businesses. The small businesses of Vermont are the most caring and giving people I have ever run across. They like to give and want to give. They however like to give and want to give to the causes they want to give to. They don't want to send money to Montpelier in order for Montpelier to redistribute it all to people who don't want to get off their duffs. My company gives money in the way of sponsoring two different little league baseball teams, we also give to one of our local colleges. We gave very generous amounts to the Cancer Society. There are 18,937 small businesses in Vermont. Imagine the giving power. Now to be frank with you when the Legislature does what this Legislature is doing small business people get guarded with their wallet. They have a small client base and when increased taxes, electric, etc keep going up it drives their giving spirit down. They worry about their business not the charities. This creates a big problem for those charities that have built up their own client base of people that need the service or program. Vermonters are very generous we don't need Montpelier to do it for us. We need them to leave us alone and allow us to take care of our communities. There are very few big corporations in Vermont. Right off hand I can't think of any big Corporation in Vermont that does not give generously as well. We need Legislators who will support Vermonts business community. The current group as you will see when the voting records finally come out are way off base.
-- Posted by Jim Eckhardt on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 12:30 pm EST

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In other news, the sun tends to rise in the East, water tends to freeze below 32 degrees, jumping out of a plane without a parachute may be hazardous to your health and fat, lazy and stupid is no way to go through life, son.

Thanks, James T. Bowse Health Trust. Please also convey the community's gratitude to your new CEO: Captain Obvious.
-- Posted by That Guy on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 12:22 pm EST

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Jim-

thanks for the well-thought out response.

on 1 and 2- while I am not an economist.. I do try to be well informed and well-read. and this is information I have come across in more than one place. I wish I could cite the source for you. sorry. I imagine some quick searching online could verify this data.

on the business climate.. I think I would agree with you.. but with a caveat. Businesses need to be good citizens. I personally think that stripping corporations of their legal status of " person-hood" which was a capitalization of the 18th(?) amendment, following the abolition of slavery. The end product is huge entities that create so many " dummy corporations" and have the massive financial resources to capitalise on loopholes- and NO ONE is ever accountable.. since there is no physical person.. just a construct called the corporation.. in the end.. this is NOT a level playing field for small business.. in the end.. this probably hurts small business significantly, since rules and laws that obstruct wanton corporations.. stifle the small businesses which keep money in the local economy.. hire more local employees.. take better care of them.. as employers and mentors.. ( I can think of several in rutland).. etc..

I do think that the rutland creative economy is a step in a positive direction..

check out the barefoot college.. which is an amazing concept about the poorest communities in the world.. learning how to solve their own problems.. in fact.. they note that college degrees need not apply lol:).. the community knows itself best.. and.. is far more resourceful and intelligent than given credit for.. of course.. they don't have mass media bombarding them with " help, either lol:)

and yes- getting to number 4.. that's the golden egg:)
-- Posted by Teri J. Dluznieski on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 11:47 am EST

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Teri, I am by no means mad. I don't know where you got that. I do think it is time to start over with our social services programs. I have always stated that they are out of control. I don't believe the Government or higher taxes are the answer until we hit the last resort. I don't agree with your #1 and 2. I don't know how we get to #3 and I totally agree with you on #4. This State is becoming more and more dependent on Government with every Legislative session. My answer to everything is a good business climate. It is the answer to everything. Unfortunetly our Legislators are bent on driving away the Goose and increase Government dependency with no idea on how they are going to pay for it. Mad no, very concerned yes.
-- Posted by Jim Eckhardt on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 11:22 am EST

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curious-

interesting points!

I am not sure brain drain is solely a response to the economy. not denying it by any means- but.. the other half of that.. is the lack of high benchmarks for education here. the conformity teaching aspect of public education that does not foster creativity, entrepreneurialism ( spelling?).. etc.. rather.. they are caught teaching to the standardized test, and grasping for the additional funds that accompany special ed ( which in turn means medicating our kids- many of whom are not genuinely educationally deficient.. but rather, poor nutrition, upbringing, etc- many complex factors at work, but the solution is to drug them into complacent obedience). Also- we do not hold back * nearly enough* of our borderline students at a young age ( wouldn't want to look incompetent- let the kid be the next teachers problem to solve... just keep passing them through.


these kids grow up to have nominal belief in their abilities.. very poor academic and professional ( employable traits- accountability, responsibility etc).. and become a further drain on the social services of the community.

note that the vast majority of our national leaders.. are NOT products of our public educational system!!!! so- why shouldn't our public schools be modelled after the schools THEY attend...? Isn't that the epitome of outcome based/ standards education...? also and further.. shouldn't our elected officials have to live in the same socio-economic gene-pool as the rest of the fish? does anyone believe that our retirement plans and medicare programs would be as thin.. if our politicians had only those to rely on...?


so a very complex social situation, and an unfortunate downward spiral...

how to break the cycle.. is a very tricky ordeal...

this population is indeed left with comfort-food which isn't nutritional.. and keeps them running back for more ( since the body is still starving.. ).. and they are without genuine goals-aspirations. ask almost any kid/ young adult what their goals/ dreams are.. and if they have a way to achieve them...

obesity, apathy, delinquency... under-employment.. are all symptoms of an unhealthy society/ community...


so how can we create health and well-being.. no matter how small.. ?

Where and how to begin...? The first step, planting the seed.. is the trickiest...
-- Posted by Teri J. Dluznieski on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 11:22 am EST

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In a nutshell, those who can, did (get out of here) and those who can't, stay or congregate in an area with the most social services and hospital care available. Nothing new in that, just following the state's trend of an aging population who require more services than healthy young adults. The state tax system discourages our recently educated, heavily indebted (college bills) young adults from establishing roots in any of our Vermont Communities. We are experiencing a brain drain of capable people exoding our state so they can pay their bills. What the study seems to describe are the effects of a ghettoized community, people forced to live in a community without any reasonable expectation of things changing. what they are proposing is to expand our non-profits who are tax exempt, while not addressing any issue related to excessive drug abuse, eating for comfort, and it's relationship to lack of employment opportunities, prison population being dumbed on our streets daily and state and municiple revenues at their max. Is it time for universal health care, you bet! Should we also be demanding our reps. get off their arss and stop supporting Chittenden Counties job expansion and start bringing jobs and training programs to their home county. Their conclusion is to expand all aspects of the health care industry, but where are they going to find all the need professionals to fill the gap. Medical professionals are not clamering to come to Vermont, in the meantime, our medical care specialists are also graying and leaving for cheaper pastures to retire to.
-- Posted by Curious gt on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 10:54 am EST

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Natural Selection, just like smokers. You want to be fat and lazy have at it, don't expect to live too long.
-- Posted by None None on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 9:35 am EST

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Jim..

I think you essentially just agreed with me... re assuming personal responsibility...

yes- this is a serious issue...but why are you so angry...?
-- Posted by Teri J. Dluznieski on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 9:33 am EST

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Here is an idea... Lets grow the economy and put more money in people's wallet. Then we can afford to educate ourselves and our children. While we are at it why not bring back all the health insurers Howard Dean drove out so we can have some competition again. Better yet, how about Vermonters be allowed to purchase health insurance out of state. And lastly lets stop looking to the government for all our needs. As Gerald Ford said, a government big enough to give you everything you need is big enough to take everything you have.
-- Posted by Dave Holleran on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 9:33 am EST

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Here's my two cents. Most of the people abusing these services need mental help. Let me explain. They need someone to tell them that they can do it. They need someone to force them to do it. There is very little incentive to straighten yourself out when everything is handed to you everyday by dozens of agency's. People need to have self worth. Stop blaming McDonalds, Burger King, etc. Start looking in the mirror and blaming yourself. Get a mental attitude adjustment and if you won't do it for yourself then these programs should all have wind down or cut off dates. Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom and see that no one is going to do everything for you any longer. We have spent years getting these people dependent on our social services programs with no real way of getting them off of them. Go to UmotivateU.com and get into one of his classes. We don't need more taxes or social programs we need people to start taking responsiblity for themselves. Now obviously if you reach that age or severity when you absolutely can't then we provide the safety net so no one falls thru the cracks.
-- Posted by Jim Eckhardt on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 9:28 am EST

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So 'A paulled', what's your solution? Just ignore that these are problems?
-- Posted by Joe Biker on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 8:59 am EST

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1. norway ( denmark? not sure which offhand) has the highest tax rate in the world- they also have the highest standard of living, by far.

2. economists did their own research and have shown, that contrary to expectations.. that at the times over the last 100 years, when the taxes were higher.. so was the standard of living, and the economy was actually stronger. both of these points worth checking out.

3. these socio-economic related problems still drain the entire economy, through the higher insurance premiums, higher/elevated hospital bills etc, that the rest of the economy pays to compensate. getting people healthy, benefits everyone.. as healthier people can thereby contribute back into the economy by working more, less unemployment, less welfare, etc...

4. personally, I believe that everyone also should be taking more personal responsibility. I don't believe in a scrip for every muscle twitch and dry-eye.. I don't believe in running to the hospital and/ or doctor's office for every bump and scrape- unfortunately we are becoming a very disempowered culture... and putting it all into the hands of " big brother". Does anyone have any solutions for that? I think that until that changes.. until we remember that we can and should assume responsibility for the basics of our health, well-being and place in society... none of the rest will make a huge impact. It could well become a matter of.. the more you do for someone, the less they do for themselves.... thoughts anyone?

5. while expressing discontent may vent frustration.. it also can become part of the problem. b**ch-fests ultimately aren't productive..

alternatives? suggestions? anything constructive?
-- Posted by Teri J. Dluznieski on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 8:47 am EST

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Hard to believe that some people felt the need to use a significant amount of money from a health trust to determine that Rutland is full of older, poorer, and fatter residents that the state average. All you need to do is take a 45 minute walk around town to see that. It frustrates me when an "expert" does a survey and then provides us with 60 ideas to improve the situations discovered in that survey- all of which are as obvious as the nose on our faces. Improve the health management for the elderly, provide more support for the drug users, change the culture of drug use, expand medical help and dental plans... really? Ya think??
-- Posted by just sayin on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 7:57 am EST

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The ideas included suggestions such as expanding case management for senior citizens at risk and for high-risk populations of drug and alcohol users, changing the culture of illegal and prescription drug and alcohol use, creating community care teams for chronic health conditions, expanding free medical clinics and dental programs, increase workplace exercise programs and bolstering the number of adults covered by health insurance.

In a nutshell... higher taxes, higher taxes and higher taxes. Yay!
-- Posted by A paulled on Tue, Jun 30, 2009, 7:22 am EST

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