Posted by drmikevasovski on 06/02/09
Last updated 11/07/09

Went to Augusta, Georgia last night and spoke to their C4L/Ron Paul Meetup and renewed friendships with some people whom we worked together with in the Presidential campaign. Augusta is just across the Savannah River from Aiken County, South Carolina. Made some new friends also. Shared ideas on just about all the topics important to us now and got feedback from attendees on 2 issues, undocumented workers and abortion. The elected official races coming up in 2010 and before are not just for local citizens but for fellow patriots from all over the country. We need to stick together and network as other groups have. Peace and liberty, -mike

9-15-09 Spoke last night at my county's Medical Society meeting about my campaign and what I'm up to running. Went well, picked up close to $3000 in donations and added two young volunteers to the staff. Also, yesterday opened a campaign headquarters. This last weekend, did a three stop run up to the furthest parts of the district on Saturday. If you are not a friend on facebook, please add me so you can see the pictures. Peace and liberty, -mike

11-7-09  Hello and thanks for reading this update. Since the last entry I have been promoting my campaign for US  Congress in every possible way. Building coallitions, developing name recognition and seeking financial help, have all occupied nearly every waking moment. Learning about the process of becoming elected has not been neglected. We have attended a candidates course in Washington DC last month and am currently doing the same on a local level in Anderson, SC. We've added to young recently graduated attorneys to the campaign staff and one is in the process of updating the website to make it more user friendly both for visitors and myself. For the time being, please use facebook as the primary tool to stay in touch with me and to see visually what we are doing. Also would welcome emails at drmikevasovski@msn.com and calls to cell 803-295-7464. Today it's off to another festival in Aiken, SC and Anderson, SC. Peace and liberty,-mike

Posted 06/04/09 Elysiumboy Billericay, United Kingdom

I hope they are getting busier and busier. We have European and local elections here today and I'm hoping Britain can send a message that they have had enough, but if the Conservatives win then I'll be spending the last of my savings on a good stock of food because they are either clueless what to do or in denial as to what has to happen - the system has to fail so that we can build it better. I wouldn't wish my circumstances on anybody, but if people have to go back to the bottom to climb up again then so be it. It's all about beds and lying in them Mike and we are all due a massive shake up.

Posted 06/15/09 Bill Greene Braselton, GA

Dr. Vasovski, what were you comments on those two issues?

Posted by drmikevasovski on 05/10/09

Memo to Media: Populism is a rebellion against corporate power--It's not just stupid, raw anger.

So begins an article in Alternet.org that reinforces the idea that history does not repeat itself but the patterns  do. Also it highlights how important it is to have as in depth a knowledge base as possible of history so perhaps we can solve current problems by not repeating mistakes.  As you read this article, pick out all the instances where we in the Campaign for Liberty movement are trying to do the same things that were done over 100 years ago and for the same reasons, mainly liberation from control by big business through their control of our government.

The tactics are similar. They had their "power house orators" and formed alliances to spread their message. They used the media they had available at the time, a large speakers bureau. We rely on the Internet.

There is no perfect political system and Populism is no exception. Reading this article, makes one slightly uneasy as populism takes steps leaning towards socialism and progressivism. There is however common ground in that this theory holds that the ultimate enemy is corporatism/soft fascism. We need to retake our government as is said so often and it appears that this will be a long fight and will have to be repeated again and again. We were given a Republic if we can keep it.

Posted 05/13/09 Elysiumboy Billericay, United Kingdom

National Socialised Populism - that's an impressive term I haven't heard since, reading about WWII and one certain aggressive nation. The government is buying percentages of corporations - Nationalising! The talk of New World Orders from the current management's speech in Berlin sound about as socialist as you can get! However, Hitler achieved the art of populism (that is he twisted it so that it looked like the people were getting what they wanted), but it took many years to devise and execute. We have to always be careful of people in high power with ideals about new worlds because they have a tendency to force what they believe is right. It is an open view of many politicians that you don't always bring out rules that the people want, but it's for their greater good (who's greater good is that then?) Many liked what Hitler had to say, but they didn't like how he intended bringing it about - the way current governments like to bring Hitler's world of error less citizens by fining them into being so conscious they will not think of anything else, but rules! It's a militaristic style of life where obeying rules becomes more important than enjoying yourself; not that far away then!

Posted 05/14/09 4Stanzas Aiken, SC

A very interesting article. Thanks for posting it. What I came away with was a feeling that the populist movement at the time was strongly influenced by the budding promises of communist rhetoric. Many of the things they called for in the Populist plank smack of central planning and control. The graduated income tax and loss of state representation by direct voting of senators are two examples. This time around, the entrenched corporate system seems to be butting heads against a populist movement with a different philosophical bent. Now, having seen the deleterious effects of totalitarianism abroad and having been enlightened by the works of great minds within the libertarian movement concerning both social and economic reasoning, the new populist movement seems less inclined to opt for demands of a central nature. While I suspect that, in order to form a willing coalition broad enough, we will have to concede certain points, there is basis for believing that decentralization may result. A key point made in the article revolves around the importance of maintaining a movement without it being co-opted. William Jennings Bryan, forever preserved as the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz, seems suspect in his altruistic endeavors as the Populist candidate since, years later, he was instrumental in the passage of the Federal Reserve Act. This time around, we should look for people who demur the internal desire to rule; people who support the constitutional tenets designed to protect our rights and property. We must not allow ourselves to be sidetracked or infiltrated by those interested in our defeat.

Posted by drmikevasovski on 04/26/09
Last updated 08/07/09

Your greatest fear? Public speaking  (Written 4-26-09)

Google "greatest fear list" and you can't even press the enter/return key before the drop down selection box shows public speaking as choice number 2. No need to recount the percentages or funny lines about rather being in the casket than giving the eulogy. Fact of life is, there are certain jobs that require clear, concise, persuasive and convincing speeches, talks or presentations. Sitting in the audience, we can smell the fear in those who are uncomfortable up there. Just this past Friday in my medical office, a parent, brought her college age son in for an examination after he completely passed out while giving a talk in his speech class. He recounted how nervous he felt and that he could tell he was going to pass out but couldn't stop it from happening.

Addressing this unfortunate but unharmed individual's problem that day was not what I wanted to do given that 6 hours later; I too would be standing before a large audience, giving a speech declaring my candidacy for Congress before the county Republican Convention in my home town! In case you are wondering why he passed out, I suspect he "locked" (extended fully) his knees and held them that way for the duration he was standing there. That is the mechanism that causes soldiers to pass out when they are standing at rigid attention in formation and not allowed to move their legs or shift their weight.

This isolated event aside, some of the other, unpleasant feelings/symptoms that many people experience while speaking also have a physiologic explanation and can be lessened or eliminated completely with a three step process. As time goes on and the number of speeches you have done increases you may find that you are relying on one of the three steps to a greater or lesser degree or maybe eliminating the last one altogether.

Here is what I call the "3 P's". First, prepare. Unless you are gifted with an incredible memory from which you can recall every fact, formulate clear sentences and organize those sentences into a speech; you will have to prepare to one degree or another. At the CPAC 2009 meeting in Washington, the Campaign for Liberty had a separate evening event at which Bruce Fein spoke. He gave a very complex but understandable lecture apparently without notes and completely from memory. It's always best to be over rather than under prepared. So, as I struggle mightily with, don't procrastinate until the last minute, but do your homework ahead of time. You'll have to, because step 2 requires it.

My son lives and works in Hollywood in the film business as a cameraman. He has told us of the multiple "takes" that are required by some performers to get a scene right. In a way, they are practicing their performances and getting feedback from the camera and film. Practice, the second of the 3 P's helps you visualize yourself in front of the audience, develop a cadence and rhythm to what you want to say and most importantly, will help lessen anxiety.

There are some, no matter how knowledgeable, prepared or practiced they are, just can't overcome the NORMAL physiology of their bodies. Their hearts will race, stomachs churn or they will seize up when in front of people. These symptoms come from our adrenergic ("adrenaline") nervous systems. I live and practice medicine near a Department of Energy nuclear facility in South Carolina and several times a year, I see patients who are PhD's in nuclear physics and extremely bright people. They have spent their lives learning their business and come to me asking for help getting through oral presentations they have to give to administrators of various nuclear agencies. Their futures and career advancement literally depend on these presentations. To them, I offer and have used successfully a mild medication used to control rapid heart beating or tachycardia. Its generic name is Propranolol, the third P. It partially blocks the effect of adrenaline on organs such as the heart and prevents the unpleasant speeding up and skipping that some people feel under stress. It also lessens the sweating and rapid breathing. It does not make a person dopey or drowsy. I use it myself every time I have to speak in public and so far have not had any negative feedback from those to whom it has been prescribed. It was first used in this scenario by the British to quell anxiety related symptoms in piano concert competitions. It is a prescription only medication but has been around for over 20 years and is indicated for the control of rapid or irregular heart beating by the Food and Drug Administration.

Getting in front of an audience is what I expected would be the greatest hurdle in my candidacy for Congress. So far it has not. But so far I have not had the reception that Congressman Gresham Barrett received at the Tea Party in Greenville, South Carolina. If you have not seen it on Youtube yet and have to give a speech, I would advise not watching it. Otherwise, search Gresham Barrett Tea Party, and see what awaits those who voted for the first bailout bill.

Update 8-7-09  Yesterday evening I spoke again to our local GOP at a monthly meeting. It went great. Mind was clear, voice strong and by my perception, it was well recieved. Our new campaign manager, Chris Skeen, was in the audience and he felt it went well also. Chris is someone who will tell me like it is and that goes for both positive and negative feedback. In the way of reinforcing everything mentioned earlier, this brief but intense speech, was well planned out and practiced repeatedly before delivery. Don't cut corners or become lazy, advice I have to keep in mind myself. Do not let an aversion to public speaking be the stumbling block that prevents you from running for office or getting up in front of an audience to support a candidate you like.

Chris, the campaign manager, has returned recently from Washington where he attended the RNC campaign managers school. A full week of very long days being trained by the pros. We are implementing the ideas he picked up there and will gladly share what we learned with liberty minded candidates.

Posted 04/26/09 Elaine Prairie City, OR

A word of encouragement to those who cannot speak before an audience---the way to overcome this is to just DO IT, then Do It Again, etc! I used to almost hyperventilate each time I had to read something before a group, but I made myself do it, and 'prepare ahead' is good advice. The first few times I testified at a congressman's appearance I could barely read my prepared statement. At our local Tea Party, I was the organizer, and I actually was able to do an impromptu interview with the radio and newspaper, and didn't do too bad! So----Just DO IT!! It gets better---I promise!

Posted 04/26/09 Break your chains Byron, GA

Audience vibes can have a big effect as well. Let's face it, sometimes the audience just isn't being a very good . . . audience. I don't speak to people well, but one thing that helps me is to get the audience to engage in the talking. (This may not be possible, for say, school assignments when YOU are the one getting the grade, and the teacher wants YOU to give the presentation.) But if your talking to a small-medium sized group, if possible, stop every now and then and see what someone has to say. If they agree with you, even better. If they disagree, find out where you do agree and then develop a consensus. Regarding speaking in politics, I think what the people are starving for, whether the realize it or not, is someone to speak *for* them, not *to* them. We have too many "leaders" and not nearly enough "representatives". The only way to speak for someone is to find out what they have to say. Good work putting this together.

Posted 04/26/09 Break your chains Byron, GA

Oh, this is my second-greatest fear, by the way. Number 1? Women.

Posted 04/26/09 kathypate Augusta, GA

Hi Mike. I thought your speech at the Republican Convention was Great! I wish i had a chance to see your speech at the Aiken Tea Party.

Posted 04/27/09 christinajeffrey Spartanburg, , SC

Hi Mike. What a great service, you have provided with this first-person testimony and real advice. So many people want to be able to speak in public and are terrified. However, from my experience as a teacher, there are few young people who really experience the kind of symptoms you describe. Maybe it's because everyone in the class has to speak and the requirement is always late in the semester so that they have a comfort zone. (And I've taught all ages.) Toastmasters is like a class and I highly, highly recommend anyone in public life spending at least enough time in that organization to be certified as a "toastmaster". Just being certified gives one the same lift the Tin Woodman got from the Wizard's certificate with this exception, one actually earns the Toastmaster Certificate. I think it takes about 6 months of weekly meetings and the cost is pretty low. Just google toastmasters for a club near you.

Posted 05/06/09 4Stanzas Aiken, SC

Dr. Vasovski, Congrats, again, on your excellent speech in downtown Aiken a few Saturdays back. The inclusion of several subjects that normally go unheard in conservative circles was refreshing to say the least. It seemed that many were nonplussed when you mentioned the Federal Reserve which, among other things, requires special attention paid to it going forward. I am looking forward to your campaign and hope that it is not just a teaching tour but a successful bid at placing another doctor into office who swears fidelity to the Constitution. I do not envy you if victorious, however. Legislating is not an easy job, but there are moments in history when we must embrace the core principles that have made this nation great. The utmost of these principles is liberty; an essential ingredient the presence of which is directly proportional to the level of harmony and abundance a country experiences. At present, the federal government is overstepping its bounds through various laws designed to usurp the protections enumerated in our Constitution. Therefore, it is essential to remind those more distant politicians and policymakers that the consent of the states must be taken into accord. I can't think of a better way of doing that then by electing a Campaign for Liberty member who carries the same steely determination as another doctor with whom we are all acquainted. Respectfully, Eric Parks Aiken, SC

Posted by drmikevasovski on 04/14/09

Announcement of Campaign for Congressional District 3            April 14, 2009

 To the Greenwood, SC County Republican Party

 Thank you for allowing me the time to address you this evening.

I come before you a complete stranger mindful that you never get a second chance to make a first impression. Therefore, these comments were prepared carefully and in advance. Hopefully the words being spoken will have their desired effect and you will look back at tonight and recall that they were read from a page but spoken from the heart.

 The necessary steps have been taken by me to say publically that I seek the office of US Representative for the 3^rd Congressional District in our state. On December 2, 2008 the Federal Election Commission received the forms that allow me to form a campaign committee and accept funding for this campaign.

 The South Carolina GOP facebook website includes a discussion board entitled "2010, never too early to start". Since making the decision to run, many have offered advice and suggestions. The main suggestion from someone who did not succeed in winning this seat in 1992 was just that, start now.

That advice has been taken to heart. Interviews for a campaign director, treasurer are underway. The most important prerequisite has been obtained. I have my wife's blessing to do this. Supporting me in this huge step in life is Cindy Vasovski, my wife of 31 years. The March 2009 issue of The American Conservative reports that Governor Mark Sanford's wife was the campaign manager for his first congressional campaign and she has done so for all subsequent elections. My accomplishments in adult life to date can be directly credited to my wife's guidance and influence and this endeavor should prove no different.

We recently visited Washington DC to attend the Conservative Political Action Committees' 2009 conference. Visitors to Washington DC should make sure to see the new visitors' center at the Capitol Building. In this center are wonderful displays including a 20 minute video in which the House of Representatives is called "The Peoples' house". If elected I would become the Representative of the ten counties that comprise our district and the 750,000 people who live here. The past 22 years have given me the opportunity and privilege to get to know over 15,000 of them on a close professional basis as their physician. During those years I have gained an insight into their lives and what is required to live, work and prosper in our state.   From the small family farmer with 3 employees who raises chickens to the teacher responsible for the education of our children, they have shared with me the stresses of their lives and the consequences of the burden placed on them by a heavy handed and intrusive government.

It is often written that government has become unresponsive to the people and based on Congress's voting on the original bailout bills last year that would be a reasonable assumption. Reportedly letters, emails and faxes to Congress ran as high as 90% against the bailout. However when the final voting was done, Wall Street, not Main street prevailed. Now Citibank is expected to report a profit this quarter but few of those whose mortgages are in jeopardy have been helped. I am NOT saying it is governments' duty to bail out home buyers who bought homes they can't afford, but neither is it governments' job to guarantee 100's of millions of dollars in bonuses to the very people who have been identified as having made the bad business decisions that contributed to the current financial crisis. Our Federal government is responsive, very responsive, just not the majority of the people who voted them into office.

Income taxes are expected to go up on those with high incomes starting two years from now and deductions for charitable contributions reduced to help cover the deficit. Remember though, that the real burden of taxation is yet to be born in the form of inflation that is sure to come after the creation of trillions of new dollars by the Federal Reserve. This cruel tax will hit those at the lowest end of the income spectrum the hardest. Those who live on a fixed income with no recourse to earn more will suffer the most. How many here tonight  remember 18% inflation in the early 1980's.

 Governor Sanford said "The rarest of all commodities in politics is independence. Yet what is needed most in politics is more

Independence". I take that to mean independence from special interests and the money that comes from and through those interests. However, successful elections are expensive, very expensive and 9 out of 10 winning campaigns are those who raised the most money.  Estimates start at $500,000 for the initial cost of this primary and 2 million may be spent in the end. Candidates need to ask people for support and individuals need to respond in whatever way they can. In candidate school you are taught from the get-go to ask for money. OK, I'm asking each and every one of you here tonight for a check for $17.76.

A candidate supported by sufficient small donations can be free of the bundled lobby generated special interest donations that eventually have to be acknowledged with decisions that benefit primarily those large donors. People, take back your government!

 Going into this endeavor with a positive, can-do winning mindset is imperative and I take everything, except myself, very serious. On that lighter side, during our recent trip to Washington DC, I had the chance to visit briefly with Congressman Barrett in his office at the Cannon Building. Upon seeing me, he asked in jest whether I had brought a tape measure to size up my new office.

 Now there are some whose first question is "why?" Why are you running for Congress?

"Why" is THE single most important question anyone can ask about anything and perhaps the most challenging to answer. We all remember where we were when we learned about 9-11 and many responded as I did by asking "why do they hate us?"

Why did the Republicans loose the November Presidential elections by 8.5 million votes?

Why are there 12 million undocumented workers holding jobs in the United States when the government reports that unemployment is at 7.2% and rising rapidly?

Why are American soldiers in 130 foreign countries and the boarder of South Korea is heavily guarded by 37,000 Americans while people can wade across a shallow river and walk into the United States?

Why is our monetary policy set by a private banking cartel that calls itself The Federal Reserve and cannot be audited by Congress?

These are all questions that deserve an answer, but not tonight.

Tonight, let me start with several answers to "Why I am running for Congress?"

First, To Win. In some way, that's already been accomplished.By entering this contest, I have the privilege to stand before you and share deeply held beliefs that hopefully you already share and agree with.

I am running because I have been inspired to run for Congress. Katon Dawson said in a recent debate that the Republican Party needs excited passionate inspired people who will "hang things from bridges, paint their cars and make T-shirts." Folks, I didn't paint my car, but anyone who saw it from a hundred yards away knew exactly who I supported in the last Presidential race.

 Winning, the hoped for result, is not the only goal. I want to share what I've learned and promote the principles of Constitutional government, individual liberty and peace through a noninterventionist foreign policy. During the 15 months of working for a Presidential candidate, I have done a great deal of reading, learning and recalibration of my beliefs in how government should work and what it should, and more importantly, should not do for and to the people governed. I now believe I understand the meaning of conservatism.

 Many of my patients have asked what will happen to my solo medical practice should I win. I have been able to speak directly to 2 Congressman who are physicians. Medicine and politics are not mutually exclusive. One of the gentlemen continued in an obstetric practice with a partner and delivered babies on the weekends when he was at home in Texas. I have no intentions of leaving medicine completely. However, the realities of a district with locations as distant as ours, will call for significant time on the road in the months leading up to June 2010 and I have made changes in my practice that permit more time away.

 My life experiences, education and maturity have prepared me for this responsibility. I am old enough to know what needs to be restored, what needs to be corrected, and young enough to get it done in Washington. Family obligations are now such that the necessary time can be devoted and this new challenge can receive my full attention.

Some of the answers to "why I am seeking office?" can be found in the Republican Creed that we recite at the beginning of our meetings in Aiken and in the Republican Oath that is shown on the website home pages of the state Republican parties of 13 states.

Let's look at some of the precepts in the Creed.

It reads, "I want to take the calculated risk to dream and build, to fail and to succeed."  I want to run for Congress and it's a risk I'm ready to take.

The sixth sentence in the Creed reads, "I prefer the challenges of life to guaranteed security". Mike Vasovski is ready for the next challenge. My professional life in medicine  is reasonably secure. That security has also provided the opportunity and the means to run for Congress.

The Republican Oath reminds us that Americans should "preserve our national strength and work to extend peace, freedom and human rights throughout the world." I would add, not at the end of a gun barrel or with Hellfire missiles shot from unmanned aircraft into sovereign countries, nor in places like Abu Ghraib. Now, please do not interpret this to mean I am a pacifist. I am not. I served 6 years in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged. My father served in WWII, the Korean conflict and Vietnam. He is buried at the National Cemetery in San Antonio Texas and through his actions, taught his sons respect and duty for ones' country.

 The first two sentences in the Republican Creed are my personal favorites and I'd like to close with them.

"I do not choose to be a common man."

"It is my right to be uncommon."

The first time I recited those words, I knew I had found my political home.

Katon Dawson also said the Republican Party has "practiced a politics of subtraction" and that that needed to change.

Question is, are we ready to welcome and add uncommon people to our Party?

Are the people of South Carolina's 3^rd Congressional District ready to be represented in Congress by an uncommon person?

I hope the answers are YES and that you will join me in championing the Constitution and retaining our Republic.

I hope you will remember this speech 413 days from now on June 8^th, 2010 and cast a vote for someone who will work to maintain our hard earned liberties and freedom.

Thank you.

Posted 04/15/09 Talbert Black Jr Lexington, SC

Thanks for posting this Mike!

Posted 05/22/09 Caleb Kinley Hot Springs, AR

Very nice speech! I would've loved to be there in the crowd, listening to you speak about the Constitution and liberty. Why? Because I know 'you' mean every word you say. My prayers and hope are with you.

Posted by drmikevasovski on 04/11/09

Paper or plastic?   4-10-09

I am into the 28th year of a medical career as a general practice physician. Over those years it has become apparent that anxiety is a primary source of much that ails many of the patients and if not the sole source of their misery, it certainly contributes to and makes minor non-emotional problems seem to those who are suffering, like more than what they really are. At the end of any given day there are many prescriptions written for anti-anxiety medications like Xanax, alprazolam, Clonopin, buspirone, paroxetine and countless others. All of these as a remedy for nervousness, stress, tension, a sence of dread, panic attacks or headaches caused by involuntary muscle contractions of the neck and scalp. All, the end result of internal conflict.

Often we discover that patients have chosen to self-medicate for their anxiety related symptoms with other substances. How many times have I heard that "I smoke a cigarette to relax", "it calms my nerves doctor"? A drink that is used by many at the end of a stressful day turns into a physical dependence on alcohol with all the attendant miseries of that affliction in those with a genetic predisposition for alcoholism. All with the same end result, the person is in need of medical care for smoking related asthmatic bronchitis, emphysema, heart disease or bleeding from the intestines secondary to alcoholic liver disease, just to mention a few.

When we encounter patients suffering with anxiety symptoms we always try to find the source. Initially, by asking questions about their past health such as a history of thyroid problems that may be related to an over-active thyroid (hyperthyroidism), there is a concerted effort made to exclude "rule out" physical sources. Once we are satisfied that those are not present (not an easy task), we delve into a persons' psychological or psychosocial background. That would include questions about prior traumatic life events that are not satisfactorily reconciled. These might lend themselves to counseling or more in depth psychiatric care.

Invariably however, the vast majority of patients end up having a garden variety generalized anxiety disorder for which there is no apparent physical or isolated psychological etiology (reason/cause). Now I've often wondered what is it about the makeup of these people that predisposes them to such misery, and it's no exaggeration to say; they really suffer.

Then one day while pondering why there wasn't more of a groundswell of people involved in the liberty/libertarian, truly free market and independence movement; it struck me like a ton of bricks. Many people don't want to be truly free of the nanny state, security blanket and dependency creating life being encouraged, marketed and sometimes forced on us as a nation. As if basic life choices weren't enough, now we have the fear induced by our own government with its color coded terrorist threat alert system. We have come to think that everything should be guaranteed, insured, secured, free of risk and that there is no need to be a free thinking individual, responsible for our choices. Everyday choices have to be made by everybody. Paper or plastic? Do you want mayo or mustard? Should I wipe from the front to the back or vice versa? These are the very people who come to see me for anxiety. They are overwhelmed with choices and options' and have run out of advisors, experts, life coaches, counselors, websites or family that will help them through one more decision.

They have had it. Without a pill, cigarette, drink or drug; they can no longer comfortably cope or enjoy day to day life. So they give up, turn on the TV; pass the time of day, remaining as uninvolved as possible. In the most extreme cases, they withdraw completely and do not leave their homes. Why would someone in this situation give any thought to politics? There's nothing that can really be done about it anyway, they rationalize. Besides, it's just another thing to read and learn and God forbid, make a choice about. Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative; the real choice is free or less free.

Freedom permits those who want to accept the responsibility that comes with informed decisions, to do so. The freedom to choose health care methods or providers, foods, wear or not wear a motorcycle helmet or use tobacco, should not be restricted. However, if you choose to ride without a helmet, your insurance company should also have the option of charging you more for personal injury protection given the cost of care in the neurosurgical intensive care unit and that predictable cost should not be shared by all. Life insurance already charges higher premiums for smokers and some health insurance companies are starting to do the same. Freedom of choice should not absolve an individual of the consequences of their choices and that includes the eventual cost to remedy known higher risk choices.

Armed with the new theory that it's too much freedom and choice that some people are uncomfortable with, I plan on exploring that area of patients' lives deeper at the next encounter with an anxious person and will report back to you in part 2 of this essay and blog on my findings.

Posted 04/11/09 celticreeler Rolla, MO

Wow, what an excellent post. My own strategy was trying to present the end-of-semester need for Ambien by warning students from the start of the term to do their homework, and not get behind, when they came to Student Health. I'll be interested to see what you conclude.

Posted 04/11/09 celticreeler Rolla, MO

Duh, "prevent", not "present".

Posted 04/13/09 LIVEOAK Weatherford, TX

An excellent post in my opinion. This is a meaty subject, and I for one, have pondered the aspects of anxiety not only observed in other's behaviors but in my own. "Anxiety is a depressive reaction to the awarness of ambiguity." If things are not as they seem, then there becomes an awareness that one may not be able to rely on the information received as being truth. Fear. In the context of "public education", I wonder how much of this "anxiety" has been perpetuated and maintained using disinformation or misinformation in our process of learning. In the context of information technology, I wonder how many people are succumbing to info-overdrive and are constantly at multi-crossroads on who and what to believe. In the context of life styles, I wonder why folks that I've known that live and work on farms and ranches seem to be more "stable" than those who are caught up in the city dwelling yuppie culture. In the context of age, I've often wondered why my grandparents never seemed to be depressed or discouraged as so many are today. Maybe they weren't aware they had an anxiety problem. In the context of finding true purpose, I wonder how many people would be without "palm sweating" anxiety if they truly knew what they were here for. Just some thoughts and observations...Thanks Doc.