Author: Aletha Cress Oglesby, M.D.

As a family physician, I explore the HEART of HEALTH in my work, recreation, community, and through writing. My blog, Watercress Words, informs and inspires us to live in health. I believe we can turn our health challenges into healthy opportunities. When we do, we can share the HEART of health with our families, communities, and the world. Come explore and share with me.

Whose healthcare plan will you choose in 2020?

At least in the memory of anyone alive today, we have never seen a presidential campaign quite like this one, maybe never in United States’ history.

In less than 100 days registered voters in the United States will elect their next President, possibly sooner if you plan to vote absentee or by mail.

Votes will choose from among several candidates-

  • Incumbent president, Donald J. Trump- Republican
  • Former Vice President, Joe Biden-Democrat

And a long list of third party and independent candidates, who may or may not be on the ballot in your state-

  • Jo Jorgenson-Liberarian
  • Howie Hawkins-Green Party
  • Don Blankenship-Constitution Party
  • Kanye West-Birthday Party

Campaign 2020

American presidential campaigns are always contentious, involving often widely different views on

  • the economy
  • taxes/Social Security
  • national security/defense
  • immigration
  • foreign policy
  • jobs/employment
  • education
  • crime/violence/guns
  • healthcare

And this year new issues make this campaign even more raucous than usual with debate on

  • widespread protests
  • rioting/looting
  • misuse of force by police
  • racism/reparations/justice
  • recession/jobs loss
  • evictions/food insecurity
  • business shutdowns
  • school closures
  • public health restrictions
  • overwhelmed hospitals
  • disease and deaths due to COVID-19

At least in the memory of anyone alive today, we have never seen a presidential campaign quite like this one, maybe never in United States’ history.

The candidates speak-

Earlier this year I reviewed the official websites of the Republican and the Democratic political parties and wrote posts summarizing their proposals for healthcare.

Then I visited the campaign websites of the two major party candidates for President of the United States, first reviewing their healthcare stances in general and then their views on the COVID-19 pandemic specifically.

This post contains links to all of those posts so you can easily review them as you carefully consider how you will vote this year. As I said before, I encourage you to read the entire original documents yourself, especially as there may be updates.

Through this blog I do not endorse any particular candidate; if it seems otherwise, that is unintentional and accidental.

Here is a reminder of the structure of the United States Federal government as created by the Constitution
3 BRANCHES OF U.S. GOVERNMENT
3 BRANCHES OF U.S. GOVERNMENT, FROM usa.gov, public domain

The Parties’ Platforms on Healthcare

Healthcare in the 2024 Democratic Platform: Key Points Revealed

The Democratic National Convention concluded with Vice President Kamala Harris nominated for President and Governor Tim Walz for Vice President. The new Party Platform focuses on healthcare, urging protection and expansion of affordable care and Medicaid, as well as tackling issues like gun violence and improving mental health care. Numerous policies and initiatives are detailed,…

Healthcare in the 2024 GOP Platform: Key Points Revealed

The Republican National Convention concluded by nominating Donald Trump as their candidate for the 2024 presidential election, along with a shorter party platform. The platform, “Make America Great Again,” includes 20 promises, with only two related to healthcare. Health topics are dispersed throughout the document. This post offers a brief review.

The President Candidates’ Healthcare Positions and Policies

Donald Trump’s Healthcare Achievements 2016-2020

This post reviews healthcare during Donald Trump’s first presidential term, detailing his achievements from 2016 to 2020 and the political climate surrounding healthcare policies. It discusses the impact of the ACA, Trump’s various healthcare initiatives, and his reelection in 2024 against Kamala Harris after Biden dropped out.

President Joe Biden’s Plan for Healthcare-a review

In 2021, Joseph Biden became the 46th US President, succeeding Donald Trump. In his 2023 State of the Union Address, he addressed healthcare, proposing reforms like Medicare expansion and lower drug costs. His campaign focuses on affordable, quality healthcare, pharmaceutical regulation, reproductive rights, mental health support, and personalized community health plans, with future plans for…

The President Candidates’ COVID-19 pandemic response

Donald Trump’s Actions to Combat the Coronavirus

In 2024, Donald Trump won reelection against Kamala Harris after Joe Biden withdrew. The post recounts Trump’s actions during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting his administration’s emergency declarations, funding requests, and measures to combat the virus. It emphasizes Trump’s leadership in healthcare response and economic relief for Americans affected by the pandemic.

Joe Biden’s Plan to Combat Coronavirus (COVID-19)

President Joe Biden announced the impending end of the public health emergency due to the significant drop in COVID-19 deaths. The response to the pandemic involved various federal agencies led by the Department of Health and Human Services, as outlined in Biden’s 7-point plan. The plan addressed testing, healthcare, economic support, global response, and climate…

Exploring the HEART of campaign 2020

On Facebook, I share healthcare related posts from Mr. Trump’s and Mr. Biden’s pages, with updates daily.

Celebrate WOMAN SUFFRAGE: 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, August 18

If there are other presidential candidates on the ballot in your state, review their websites or social media pages. Voting and running for public office are valuable rights; participating in the process is a privilege and responsibility.

a group of lapel buttons, red, white and blue, saying VOTE

This photo and the cover photo of the White House are from the media site Lightstock.com, an affiliate which pays this blog a commission for purchases made from this link

Dr. Aletha

How you can bless OneChild

If you already sponsor a child elsewhere, or support other charitable causes, please continue. But if you aren’t, or are able to take on something else, I recommend OneChild without reservation. Check out their website and see if OneChild can be a blessing to you.

The Christmas Gift Fund

The Christmas Gift Fund allows the OneChild Hope Center staff to purchase a gift for each child in the program. For many of these children living in the depths of poverty, it may be the only present they receive this Christmas. So that every child receives a gift, all donations are combined and distributed equally to children registered in our program.

  • $35 will help provide a gift for 1 child.
  • $70 will help provide a gift for 2 children.
  • $105 will help provide a gift for 3 children.
You can bless a child this Christmas at this link.
How Jesus blessed children
One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so he could lay his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering him.
 
 
But Jesus said, 
 
“Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.”
 
And he placed his hands on their heads and blessed them before he left.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Volunteer trips outside the U.S.A gives me the chance to treat needy people without charge
making friends with children during his trip back
Kids always love bubbles
A student nurse distributing new shoes to children
young team members sing and act for kids.
 
 
 
 
Holy Bible, New Living Translation copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois, 60188. All rights reserved.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
 
 
 

 

How I bless children

My husband and I have had the privilege of blessing children here in the United States and on travels to other countries. In the collage above I’ve shared photos of us in VietNam, Mexico, and El Salvador serving on volunteer medical teams.

But we also bless children without even leaving our house. Through monthly financial support we have helped children in India, Mexico, Honduras, and now Ethiopia go to school, get medical care, and receive regular meals through an international organization named ONECHILD.

Like many similar organizations, OneChild, has seen a decrease in donations this year due to the financial hardship that the pandemic caused. But the children’s needs have not decreased and neither has the organization’s commitment to taking care of them.

“We advocate for children in poverty and they are paying (and will pay) a huge price for the economic and social policy decisions being made in the US. It’s our job to speak up on their behalf.”

Scott C. Todd, PhD, President of OneChild

 How you can bless OneChild

For a monthly commitment of $39 U.S. you can help a needy child. If you’ve been wondering what you can do to help in this crisis, you can start making a lasting difference in the life of a child and family. If at any time you need to stop, OneChild will understand and still appreciate the investment you made to support their work.

OneChild doesn’t stop with receiving your donation. You receive a photo of your sponsored child and regular updates written by the child; you may get drawings, and pictures of their family and activities. The featured image at the top of this post is one side of a postcard sent in response to a letter I sent my child.

If you already sponsor a child elsewhere, or support other charitable causes, please continue. But if you aren’t, or are able to take on something else, I recommend OneChild without reservation. Check out their website and see if OneChild can be a blessing to you.

HOPE CENTER TOUR

sharing the HEART of faith, hope, and love

 

Dr. Aletha

 

1 Corinthians 13:13, photo from the Lightstock.com collection (affiliate link)

 

 

 

 

 

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Another post for you to enjoy
complimentary medical clinic

Sharing the HEART of health in Panama

I have volunteered on several teams with CompassionLink, an organization that serves to provide

HEALTH RESTORED-HOPE SUSTAINED.