Disaster relief:
Having lived through Katrina on the gulf coast, I have to say this is probably the political issue with the most impact in my personal life right now. The govt really dropped the ball on this one, and I live in Mississippi, which really had their shit together compared to the crescent city. Man, if we could get a do-over on anything it would be the week leading up to that fucking storm.
Sagrei - where you at? I'm in Biloxi, but I work for Acadian.
Healthcare & 911 reform:
As a 911 provider, this issue has the second highest impact on me. We transport SO MANY patients with no insurance, and our company is an ESOP company - the employees own the stock and when the company profits, we profit. When we transport someone and aren't going to get paid, that ends up costing me, personally. That's my retirement, when I have to retire with a blown back from picking up obese people (our crew is rated for 150 lbs each - the two of us are expected to be able to pick up a 300 lb person without assistance) . It seems cold to boil it down to money, but someone has to put diesel, equipment, supplies and medics in the ambulances and your tax dollar (those of you who pay taxes - thank you) just does not cut it.
911 abuse -
I hate it that people use 911 as a taxi, because they can't get their lazy fucking friends or family to drive them to the doctor for something that started bothering them two weeks ago. This happens a lot.
I hate it that people use the emergency room as their primary healthcare provider because they have no insurance and know that an emergency room cannot turn them away. They do not have family doctors. They do not go to clinics for minor complaints.
I hate people who drive and talk on their cell phones. For that matter I hate it that they make cars sound proof these days. Yes its relaxing.. plase don't let our ambulance disturb your blissful driving experience. I wish they would let us transmit our sirens on cell phone & radio frequencies within short range of the ambulance.
I hate houses with no numbers on them. I hate people who steal street signs. I do not have your city memorized. I use a map. I rely on street signs for a fast response. I hate people who expose me to TB because they can't be bothered taking their meds.
In spite of all this hate, I love my job. Last year, I was making $7 an hour as an EMT. I can't live off that. I'm going back to school in a couple weeks so I can make better money as a paramedic.
As for the 911 dispatchers, when you call 911, especially from a cell phone, you may be transferred between multiple dispatchers before someone is able to help you. Locally, cell phone calls usually go to the sherriff's office, from there information is dispatched to the highway patrol, local FD first responders, local LE, you may speak to EMS emergency dispatchers too. They are human, and there is a limited number of them. The dispatcher may have been talking to someone else calling about the same joker who was also
driving while talking on a cell phone, maybe didn't know where they were, possibly had poor information and didn't want to give a call back number because they didn't want to get involved. This dispatcher is also trying to collect iformation so she can dispatch first responders, FD rescue, law enforcement - possibly from multiple jurisdictions, hazmat, traffic control and EMS. Our sheriff's office has
one dispatcher who takes calls. An average rollover on the interstate generates 10-15 calls to 911 from passers-by, some of whom just want to know why traffic is stopped.
If you ever wondered - less than 5% of 911 calls are immediate life-threatening emergencies. I can look up the source of that if you want, it was in a 2005 EMT textbook at our station.
Enough of that.
I wish they would take don't ask / don't tell and re-apply it to people's religious beliefs. I would rather hear about a gay orgy than your religious beliefs, whatever they may be. Please keep them to yourself.
This war was all about revenge from the start. George Bush is a prat.
I would like to see Michael Vick fed live to his own pit bulls.
Anyway, that's my $.01. I can't afford $.02