North Carolina Man Desperately Commits a Crime in attempt to get Prison Health Care

*****************************************
When I look at this man I don't see a Criminal I see a Desperate Sick Man who is trying to Survive and possibly save his Life. His eyes are sad showing a life that has suffered and is struggling. Many news stations were telling his story, but they kept focusing on his alleged "Crime" , and making accusations or even joking questioning his Sanity. Not one station reported his situation for the Crisis it is. And Truthfully maybe it is a Crime that we don't have Health care for All at this point, for if we did he would not have had to choose the Path he chose.....

Let's Learn more about this man and what led to his "Crime". Richard James Verome is 59 years old. He worked for Coca Cola for over 17 years as a Delivery Driver taking care of his customers. Three years ago he was laid off, and since then he has struggled to find work and keep a roof over his head. He finally found part time work at a convenience store. But the long hours standing and the lifting led to Health problems. His back was developing disc problems and he was experiencing arthritis and problems with his left foot. But when he noticed a protuberance growing on his chest, he realized that this growth may be severe, even life threatening. But for the past 3 years there had been no Health care for any of these issues, and this new issue made him realize that he needed Some Kind of Healthcare.

James Verome had never had complaints or problems at his work. He worked hard. He has no Criminal History or history of concern or even any stability issues. He was just a Middle aged man who was laid off after a Long History with one company and like Millions of Americans was not able to find New Employment. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs since 2007 and No One has mentioned that they need Health care, that when they are unemployed there is no money to purchase Expensive Cobra, so they go without. And Mr Verome's life became one such life, he worked at the Convenience Store, the only job he could find and he lived at the Hampton Inn. There were small meals and much stress. He struggled with his back and Disc problems, and with a sore left foot, but he kept working trying to hold his life together. But then the Growth on his chest appeared.

So he did the Unthinkable, he Chose his ONLY option. He decided in a logical way to Choose Prison as his Health care Provider. He gave away possessions even. Then Last Thursday he quietly went to the RBC Bank and said that he was robbing them for one dollar, he had no gun , but he carefully said he did, hoping that would give him a maximum sentence so he could get health care. He rationalized that he could at least be in prison until then he could get Medicare. He had sought Care from Social Services and all he qualified for was limited food assistance, but no other kind of care or help. So maybe we can see he was left with no options and no help. So this summer as his Life Savings dwindled away after living on them for 3 years, he made the worst kind of choices that a man has to make to survive.

Mr.Verone is not alone in his struggle or desperate situation. 51 Million Americans are still UnInsured, Millions more UnderInsured and of the current UnEmployed No News Media ever reports how many are actually UnInsured, but estimates are starting at 9 Million. Add to this 49 Million are on Food Stamps, highest ever. And still 45,000 Americans are dying per year with Health Care. Why would anyone want to be part of those Statistics, for those mere numbers tell a Nightmare of a Story for Millions of Americans. It is easier to understand, what Mr.Verone did was Desperate, but these are indeed Desperate Times.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"In an interview with WNCN-TV, first broadcast Sunday, Richard James Verone said he has no medical insurance, but has an undiagnosed growth on his chest, two ruptured disks in his back and a problem with his foot.The 59-year-old has no job and no money, so he said he decided to rob a bank in a bid to get medical care.Last Thursday he walked into a branch of the RBC Bank in Gastonia, N.C. and handed a teller a note which asked for one dollar -- then he sat in a chair waiting for the police to arrive.

"I wanted to make it known that this wasn't for monetary reasons, but for medical reasons," he said in his interview from behind bars. "If it is called manipulation, then out of necessity because I need medical care then I guess I am manipulating the courts to get medical care," he said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"At some point, Americans need to grow up and accept that providing single-payer, government-paid health care for the entire country is not only mandatory — it is the only morally acceptable choice." From John Thorpe of Benzinga.Com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"An institution or reform movement that is not selfish, must originate in the recognition of some evil that is adding to the sum of human suffering, or diminishing the sum of happiness." Clara Barton
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It is important to recognize that there is Suffering around us, and it is being contributed to by Larger Circumstances and Greed and Ignorance. And that Mr.Verone is not a criminal and not greedy, he is just a man trying to Survive Desperate Times.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Sources on Mr.Verome's Desperate Crime:
(1) Gaston Gazette has more details about his life and the actual crime.

(2) SFGate asks some really hard questions what led a 59 yr old man to such an act......

(3) FOX Atlanta posted the Interview that they got from him behind bars.

(4) Do Reread this Option Post/Editorial May 2009 from Senator Teddy Kennedy HCR post about WHY we need Single Payer Healthcare and Why Health care is A Right for all Americans, not a privelege .

(5) John Thorpe's Post on Benzinga.com

Estimates of 50 Million up to 129 Million Have Pre-Existing Conditions ( Wapo) About Soon to be released DHHS Study...

(Photo : RAM Free Health Clinic in LA 2008 : This photo symbolizes the Thousands that have had to line up for access to any Free Needed Health Care.... )
So late Monday Night it came across the wires that up to 129 Million People have Health Conditions that can be considered Pre-Existing Conditions by Insurance Companies. DHHS is to release this Study this week...... The Washington Post snuck it out while we were sleeping, like leaving a Toad on my pillow. Waking it and finding it and yelling out, "Ouch". This number as shocking as it is also shows Why Health Care Reform, even in it's most basic form, must begin now as these Numbers Unfold.
From the Article::
((( Or WHO you may ask qualifys as a Pre-Existing Condition? )))
" The study found that one-fifth to one-half of non-elderly people in the United States have ailments that trigger rejection or higher prices in the individual insurance market. They range from cancer to chronic illnesses such as heart disease, asthma and high blood pressure."

And here's More to Consider:::

"The study found that one-fifth to one-half of non-elderly people in the United States have ailments that trigger rejection or higher prices in the individual insurance market. They range from cancer to chronic illnesses such as heart disease, asthma and high blood pressure.

The smaller estimate, by Health and Human Services Department researchers, is based on the number of Americans whose medical problems would make them eligible for states' high-risk pools - special coverage for people denied insurance because of their medical history. The researchers arrived at the larger figure by adding in other ailments that major insurers consider a basis to charge customers higher prices or to exclude coverage for some of the care they need."

***The Important sentence to note, DHHS arrived at that figure when adding in data from Insurance Companies, Major Insurers.****

Other Toads from the HCR Battle that are already Known Facts.....

According to Harvard Studies in 2007/2008 More than 45,000 die per year with NO Health Insurance and No Health Care. (Please do share the Sept 2009 Harvard Study)

It was estimated that at least 51 Million have No Health Insurance and No Health Care and that Wretched Number was estimated before The Huge Economic Collapse and millions more lost jobs and homes ...and Insurance.

More than 42% of ALL Bankruptcies of People Losing Homes are directly related to Medical Debt. (Studies say 42-62% depending on which study is used).People literally losing it all for their Health. And once they are have suffered Financial Damage, they then go on to be considered a Credit Risk, so then they can not qualify for Health Insurance either.

The bottom line is that all along, all during the Health Care Battle of the past two years there were so many of us saying that alot more People than the Estimated 30 Million proposed during the Health Care Reform era have Pre-Existing Conditions. Millions have been denied Care and Insurance and Cancelled.

Now as the HCR goes into effect it is being implemented State by State to provide changes to Care Provision. Yet each State is handling certain issues differently. Each state is setting up the High Risk Pools. Yet in many states High Risk Pools are determined by Insurance Companies setting the new parameters and the Costs and the Plans of Care. So once again they are controlling the Access of Care , for the very people they already denied,cancelled or over Charged.

And as interesting as this Study is supposed to be, WHY would Sebelius wait until the last Final Hours before the Republican Vote to repeal HCR ??? I am left with more questions than answers.... ( as of 1PM it is still not Publicly Available.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
((Enigma Footnote:::: Personal little story regarding Being Cancelled. I was cancelled in early 2006, I was cancelled after a Doctor ordered BRCA blood work due to Family History : Breast Cancer. I was cancelled because I supposedly did not properly disclose all family History to said company, even though I am pretty sure I did. So low and behold in August I called the State to inquire as to the High Risk Pool. And within Days the High Risk Provider called me back. Ironically the Company that has the Contract is the same Company that Cancelled me. I was paying 440/month in 2006 ( which yes is VERY high for a single mom....) And they "offered" me Insurance this past August " $1150 /month, not including deductibles and Capped Care.....blah blah blah...."At come point during that Conversation I hung up the phone before I heaved it....Everyone who comes to this Blog knows for over 2 years I blogged we have a Health Care Crisis in this Country. $1150 is too much, it is more than Rent and Heat Combined...It is Highway Robbery....And if you like you are welcome to read about my Life as a UnInsured Nurse No Healthcare and No Insurance and M.S,......just my story, one of Millions.))

Brave New Films Film on Healthcare Crisis....On Insurance Cancelling people with Cancer

LINK to twitter: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4TsaHmtgfA

75% of Americans Support a Public Option ( Jane Hamsher video)

Gun Violence is now being encouraged for the Town Hall Meetings....by using Twitter...

Many of us have been talking....this New turn is not shocking...violence is a tactic these Neanderthals would embrace and encourage..be careful out there..go in Groups to meetings and Take Cameras and Phones- it may save lives...LOTS of cameras...( and yeah as a Nurse when I go to these meetings I am taking a First Aid Kit..)

UP IN SMOKE...A letter to Mr.Bush and the MSM about Our Children's Need for Health Insurance

*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
Dear Mr.Bush,
We know you care about issues that make You look "good", or exploit your sense of Righteousness. We know that you say you hear Voices from God giving you Guidance ( aka the Voices In Your Head or the whisper of Jim Beam).We know that you like those photo opportunities with children, like the little white TBall Players they drag to the Whitehouse Every Spring. Or let us not forget the Children of Human Shield Elementary In Florida that you were reading the Goat Book on Sept 11,2001. My you cared so much about them that you stayed a full 7 minutes after our Country had been Attacked and you even made your first heartfelt ( pantspissing /witless) speech to the masses, in front of those same poor photo-op children .We know that you care so much about children that you susposedly say you gave up The Drink when your own Children were small, as you like to tell large crowds with short memories.We know that you don't give a shit about the current known 9 MILLION Uninsured Children in this Country, or the 20 million working class families that have those children. We know that if the Parents are uninsured that is their fault for not being responsible, that is what you said last week when you were in Cleveland. ( That was the very same speech you were busy terramongering and fearmongering, in case you forget, you said the Terrorists were coming to get Our CHildren.)

[[ See the Funny Thing is that after that "Speech" , I even then thought So OUR Children are not worth Protecting or Taking Care of , but Mr.Bush wants us to be very scared of Someone Else Hurting Them. We know that Mr.Bush didn't want us to think HE is the Bogeyman trying to hurt OUR Children. But now we know that In all of His alcohol addled Imperial Wisdom he plans to VETO a Bill that would provide Coverage for the Children of this Country, MILLIONS of Children. There are short little below-the-fold articles in the Sunday papers, but god-forbid NO Big Embarrassing stories on such an issue, hence I don't even have any links for you.]]

And Mr.Bush , We Know that you have Friends, and that Your Friends NEED Your Help, more than Our Children. That's right, I mean we know it would be so Unfair for the Cigarette Companies to suffer because of you wanting to help Our Children get the Health Care Coverage They Need and Deserve.We know that 2nd hand Smoke only causes Asthma and Lung Cancer, but Joe Camel taught us how much they too love the Children.We know that taxing Cigarette companies in the end would have horrible painful effects for the Cigarette Companies, and that you could not watch such suffering. (Your "empathy" for Scooter taught us that just this month). We know that you know you ONLY Veto Bills that affect Life, so we know you will Kill this Bill that would have saved Millions of Lives. We know the faces of these Children will not haunt your sleep, because the Dead and Dying will not comfort your delusional dreams of grandeur.

What would you do Mr.Bush if Millions of Parents and Moms and Dads came to DC and said that We Know Our Children Matter ? And that we don't want them Dead HERE or in Iraq ? Because Mr.Bush, we are Parents and we are Sick and Tired of you taking Care of Your Big Corporate Friends and Killing and Hurting the Children of the United States and the World. 9 Million Children Matter. And we know that when you sign That Veto, that their chances for a stable Healthy Future will merely go Up in Smoke, Every Child Left Behind. 9 Million Children.

We Know when You sign the Veto for Health Insurance for 9 Million Children we may as well start buying cemetary plots for those Children , OUR CHILDREN. So see those photos, we will save them for their Obituary articles. maybe you could just start choosing which children Live and which die, just look at the photos and Choose. You are the Great Decider, so go ahead and Choose, after all they are just Children. ( They will never know that you signed their Lives away).

ADDENDUM: A short note to the MSM, instead of covering Paris Hiltons Skinny Ass Jail Term, or some other drivel start Covering what matters. CNN Shame on you for deriding Micheal Moore for attempting to investigate and bring light to Our Health Care Crisis that is effecting more than 47 million people. He was Right, you FUBARED the Iraq War Coverage From DAY One, and you even have failed Basic Human Stories at Home. Do Something Right, Cover a story that Effects Our Greatest Resource. Our Greatest Resource in this World is NOT Corporate Interests or OIL, it is OUR CHILDREN.