…President Bush is finding it harder and harder to rally support from within his own party for major initiatives.…with Social Security restructuring and many other ideas from his speech a year ago still bogged down, a raft of new programs may be the last thing the GOP troops want to hear…Edgy about a burgeoning ethics scandal…, Republicans are focusing on midterm elections in November that could return control of Congress to Democrats…Some Republicans are joining Democrats in questioning his use of the National Security Agency for spying, as part of the terrorism fight, within the United States.
According to said Ed Goeas, a Republican pollster and strategist,
“Running away from the president makes the situation worse…In a nonpresidential year, many independents don’t vote. And when you have both parties basically at parity, it’s a matter of intensity on who comes out on top in those elections.”
And, as posted in a number of diaries, many peole who depend on rx’s have been unable to get them under Medicare D, as a reliable program (Medicaid) was “replaced” by Medicare D(isaster). And, Waxman, and the previous diary raised questions that need to be answered about the legislative process re: Medicare D(isaster).
However, according to Sarah Binder, a political scientist at GWU,
“Clearly members of Congress’ eyes are on the 2006 elections, and getting there with the least difficulty possible. But that’s not necessarily what’s on the top of Bush’s radar screen, at least for the speech…the president in his approaches to Congress in his State of the Union addresses is that he doesn’t ever seem to be worried about the ‘state of Congress,’ or the ‘state of his party’ in Congress.”
Points to consider:
- The is still an amount of loyalty to gwb among repubs;
- Concerns are being voiced in MSM/RWCM re: the midterms;
- Medicare D(isaster);
- The Invasion of Iraq;
- The uncertainty about the economy and jobs;
- Increasing health care costs;
- gwb sinking lower and lower in the polls;
and,
Republicans are battered daily by Democrats accusing them of mismanagement and wallowing in a “culture of corruption.”
The last was reinfprced by Henry Waxman, yesterday, when referring to the 2003 Congress:
“corruption, incompetence, and an ideology that favors private profits over public programs all played a role.”
Really want to know what others think.
I signed up today for a Google News Alert on Medicare Plan D. So far I’ve received two emails with links to articles and not one article has anything positive to say about this fiasco. Some of the titles are:
MEDICARE plan gives Hoosiers a headache
CONFUSION over new Medicare plan common (from NM)
MEDICARE PLAN: WHAT A HEADACHE! (from NJ)
Will check into that one! Thanks!!
Here’s what I think.
Give “we the people” the same health care and pharmacy benefits that they give themselves. Meaning “themselves” the people who supposedly SERVE we the people.
Great diaries on this subject, thank you so much!
Give “we the people” the same health care and pharmacy benefits that they give themselves.
Who do they think actually pays for their “everything-covered” insurance?
Time to go SINGLE-PAYER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Very true!
It’s so ass backwards. We pay for something we don’t get.
We the employer are making sure the employee gets benefits we don’t get. Ludicrous.
We the employer are making sure the employee gets benefits we don’t get.
I can’t say I like the idea of any attempt to overhaul any large program in an election year. I think it will just be an opportunity for both parties to play drama queen with the likelihood that the whole process would turn out to be a 5 act tragedy for everyone getting medicare.
I don’t like the fact that I uncertain as to whether or not I will be getting my rx’s, also, I am disgusted by having to pay an increase in co-pays and having premiums deducted from SSD/I when I have to exist on $600.00 a month. Come to think of it, why the hell should elected officials live on more than that?
BTW, want to trade places?
I take it this means you think I am wrong that what we will get is grandstanding without any real improvement for the people getting medicare (which includes mother) and the politicians will make an honest attempt to make things better. I, then, that you are right and I am wrong.
link
and
another one
I can’t say I like the idea of any attempt to overhaul any large program in an election year.
Think any of these people give a damn what you like????
It would nice if you actually read what I said. I never said that I didn’t think that it should be overhauled I said that I didn’t believe that any action taken in an election year would be done for the good of the people who need medicare. I don’t believe that a republican-controlled congress in an election year will make any attempt to make things better for people in need. I think they will make things worse just like they are even now happily cutting assistance to people desperately in need.
You can disagree with my belief but don’t try to turn into anything other than what I said.
I have heard that “Wait until after the mid=terms” crap from so many people…Don’t you realize that there are people who CAN’T wait? Or do you think they should drop dead before the midterms?
Now what are you going to do, figure out the demographics to determine if doing so would “benefit” the dems?
It would be nice if you would actually think about what your words really mean!
I’m not a democrat and I don’t give a fuck what would help the democrats. I know what my words mean — they mean exactly what I said — I don’t trust a republican controlled congress to do anything good. If it turns out I’m wrong that would be excellent but there’s a lot more history saying I’m right and they will screw people over every chance they get.
Not a democrat either. But, I remember reading something to the effect that gwb is a considered by some to be a lame-duck….if I find it again, I’ll post it in an open thread.
(And, I have always been a history nut–discovered some amazing/suprsisng info recently.)
Also, as stated earlier, I am so damn sick of hearing that wait ’til after the midterms shit–it makes me nuts. Its almost as bad as that the dems need Delay in office so they can win more seats.
IMO, if they can’t do that on their own they don’t deserve to win! (Makes me want to barf!!!)
But, another point to consider, and, I don’t believe that I have ever explained it before:
The things that make this different from other bs that this admin has pulled or tried to is the fact that all of the Medicare D crap re: people not getting their rx’s is coming out in MSM/RWCM, BEFORE IT IS HITTING THE BLOGS!
That last paragraph tells me that there are a hell of a lot of people who are taking a lot of heat for this. And, although it has been suggested to use the “ride it out and things will be ok” bs, as opposed to Iraq, is the frequency.
Face it, almost everyone has a senior citizen or a person w/a disability that has been affected by it, although the obstacles that people with disabilities are facing have not been accurately recorded by MSM/RWCM. (Actually, in some of the diaries, chocolate ink and I have been talking about our experiences w/Medicare D–come to think of it, that is a record of this crap…)
Back to my original point–people are taking notice and are being somewhat informed, although the info in MSM/RWCM is not the best.
And, back to the post that really set me off–something has to be done about Medicare D NOW, not after the midterms. Whether it is going back to Medicaid, or just saying, “Fuck it–while we’ve got the attention of those affected by it, go for single payer.” (Guess which camp I’m in?)
I really think that enough dems will go for it, especially the 16 who voted for the Medicare D.
So, why don’t we all check out how our congresscritter(s) voted, and let them all, especially the 16 traitors, know how pissed off we are?
Truce?
Sure.
And I’ll work on trying not to be pessimist about the ability of this congress to do something good on medicare specifically and health care in general and push for some good action. OTOH, I’ll also be watching for bad legislation as well and push back on that.
Great on all counts!!
BTW, In honor of my wingnut congresscritter
Check it out!!!!
It was an election year that gave us this disastrous plan. I too have no faith that washington could get its act together enough to do anything major healthcare legislation in an election year that wouldn’t be a complete disaster — unfortunately for the many people who will be terribly affected.
I think it will be easier when the first death wave hits, if Americans will go ahead and get used to the idea now, instead of using euphemisms like “terribly affected.”
It may sound harsh, but it will be better for you psychologically if you prepare yourself to apply the adjective “unfortunate” to being late for work because you have to call remains disposal to pick up another one blocking the driveway.
I used “terribly affected” as shorthand. I’m aware that people will die. Others will not die but will become crippled. Others will have mental problems that could be avoided with the proper medication – perhaps leading them to kill themselves or others. I’m not avoiding the consequences. Just trying to write a shorter comment.
Jeez.
And I don’t have a driveway.
I am saying that in the coming months, there will be many very dramatic changes in the way Americans live. Some, but not all will be a direct or indirect result of the Medicare Population Reduction Program.
There is no easy way to prepare yourself, even people who live in gated communities will be affected. Quite a few will be affected by having to move from their gated communities due to lack of sufficient funds.
But the worst preparation is none, or worse than none, clinging to security blankets of magical thinking or unrealistic and romantic expectations of politicians who do not work for you, do not and are not intended to represent you, and will not be galloping up on a white horse to save you.
This advice may not apply to you personally. You may have taken all necessary steps to prepare yourself for your new way of life.
For those who have not, one thing I would suggest is that you talk to people from countries like Haiti or Uganda. They can offer some very practical coping (and survival) tips.
Those with the resources to do so, especially those with children, may find it more prudent to talk with representatives of the airline industry, or if they do not already have a relationship with a travel agent, consider establishing one.
I never claimed you were yelling at me. What you were doing was making assumptions about me and what I thought or knew. And not responding at all to the comment I made.
If you want to give advice to the general public, start a new line in the thread then there won’t be a misunderstanding like this.
did not make any assumptions about you. I used the expression “in your driveway” as a figure of speech. It was not my intention to accuse you personally of driveway possession.
Heh. Well thank goodness. I don’t want people to think that I’m a driveway kind of gal.
(But you did assume that I was using words as a euphamism when I just didn’t want to list out the terrible things that could happen since it was clear everyone already knew what they were. )
Enough. Back to important things!
it triggered some stuff I meant to say in an earlier comment but the phone rang and between going down to the refrigerator to get it and answer it and coming back, I forgot.
Your post gave me yet another idea!
When you make it big with this idea, remember me. If however, no one likes the idea — I was not connected.
See post upthread–Wondering if we’re more alike than it appears–got to do something!!!!
…The White House has said it does not want Congress to reconsider any aspects of the law…
nerdified link
Let’s examine why:
Lost the link, but in another of your Medicare diaries I posted a link to a story about Washington’s plan to launch a sort of PR initiative to explain how successful the program is and will be, and debunk rumors of problems.
This program was passed by a bipartisan and pragmatic group of politicians, on behalf of the multi-billion dollar medical treatment and insurance industries.
The bottom line, which is what America is all about, is that it is not feasible to continue to subsidize medical treatment for an increasing number of aging individuals that are no longer producing profit. Add to this the increasing number of individuals who constitute surplus labor pool units, and are no longer producing profit, and even when they were, the profit they were producing is no way comparable to the retail value of their medications alone, let alone any treatment.
In addition to being bad business propositions on their face, basically throwing money down a black hole that is never going to produce any return, these programs divert monies from the increasing costs of America’s primary industry, arms and “military actions” which do produce very handsome profits for the key industries involved.
Just as Wal-Mart has begun an initiative to phase out its older, plumper and sicker employees in favor of younger and healthier units, on a larger scale this initiative is also being implemented in the nation as a whole.
There are simply too many people who are not producing profit for anybody. Not an employer, not a nursing home parent company (and even there, in too many cases, that profit is very thin). Many are not even generating a stream for prison-related industries. And these are, for the most part, either elderly people or people with chronic illness that would rule out their utility as expendable assets in the expanding crusade theatres.
In short, a gradual but vigorous program of population reduction is necessary in order to redirect funds into ventures that will produce a return to the intended beneficiaries.
In his State of the Union message, Bush will stress the importance of employers who wish to stay profitable transitioning from providing part or all of the costs of tradtional insurance plans and HMOs to their workers to Health Savings Accounts, which are more profitable for both employer and insurance company.
While framing this attractively may seem challenging to staffers of some politicians, they can count on the full resources of the medical and insurance industries, as well as the Federal government, to help them explain these dovetailing plans in a way that can be readily understood by a population that is both receptive and loyal to both politicians and administration.
Americans will be empowered to make their own choices and fund their own medical needs with their own money, without depending on either government or insurance companies for a handout.
Some Americans will have the honor of making hard decisions and sacrifices, but Americans are independent and generous people who have always put freedom first, and not just their own freedom, but the freedom of the people of Iraq, of Afghanistan, and what better way to honor those brave Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice than to in their own way, proudly catch the flag that fallen hero dropped, and share in his sacrifice, share in the Resolve of the American people to Prevail in this Very Different War.
Now I see what you are saying re: population reduction and economics. Just as (it was Family Man) who said in a comment to this diary
Yeah, but the whole point is that the info is slowly coming out and there is a chance that this one could be changed to benefit those who it was supposed to. In one diary, you referred to me as a “Medicare Insurgent”–like I said, I am flatterred by that. But, there are times in this life when a person realizes the possibility of a limited future, as you have repeatedly described. I am really believing that this one can be beat, but that doesn’t mean it’ll be easy. I can either submit to this shit quietly, or not.
As long as I can write, I will be. I remember after my car accident (that could have been a lot worse, but I was not hurt), I got home and laid on the couch. My cat jumped on top of me and the following thought kept running thru my head, “I was meant to be here.” Think I had pretty much the same thought after my tbi, but, it was so vague/I was so out of it, I can’t describe it.
I’ve got to go w/the chance, even if the odds are against it. I did not beat a traumtic brain injury for nothing, and the odds are against that too.
This Medicare D(isaster) CAN be changed.
the question of who is supposed to benefit. In the case of this Medicare program, it is not the erstwhile recipients of subsidies to the cost of medicine and medical treatment who are supposed to benefit, but the insurance and pharmaceutical and medical treatment industry who is supposed to benefit, and you can be certain that they will benefit.
Think of it as an affluent individual reviewing his or her investment portfolio, and noting that some items are, as the TV commercial says “dogs.”
These are investments that are going nowhere. They are not producing a return, they are not going to produce a return, and the wise investor will get rid of them and replace them with instruments that will produce a return.
This is the case with Medicare and Medicaid. These programs are, from a business point of view, dogs. The recipients themselves are dogs. These are people who are not going to make any money for anybody, yet they continue to cost money – money that could be channeled into something that WILL make money.
I will have to disagree with Family Man that it is a question of collateral damage while the glitches get worked out. It is not about collateral damage, it is about weeding out dead wood, as outlined above, it is about getting rid of something that costs money but does not make any money.
Yours is a common error, and it is one not limited to Medicare/Medicaid. There are people who still sincerely believe that the purpose of the crusade is to provide a benefit to the expendable gunmen, to ordinary Americans, even to Iraqis.
I think this may be because people have been conditioned to think of their government as something that is there to protect them, and it is hard to confront the reality that this is simply not the case in the US.
The ‘government’ is there to provide a benefit to certain key business interests, not you. I am sorry.
I think this may be because people have been conditioned to think of their government as something that is there to protect them, and it is hard to confront the reality that this is simply not the case in the US.
I have long realized that those who are in the government are out to screw everyone that gives them $–hell look at all of the lobbying, interest groups. Look at those who are low income and keep seeing what little that they have disappear to bullshit that doesn’t work while the supposedly elected officials live high on the hog!
Actually, according to my dr., that is the problem w/a single payer system–who would run it?
He also said that whoever did would have to be totally objective, w/no grievances against anyone, as, and he specifically stated, “You can’t trust the government.”
The ‘government’ is there to provide a benefit to certain key business interests, not you.
Correct, as the government itself is a business. (Just as social services are, but that is another topic.)
I interpet your statement to read you cannot trust businesses, which is true.
And, I feel that is the common mistake that people make, they do not recognize that the government is a business.
No need to apologize, DF!!! I love your input!
may not have realized, but are now or soon will be realizing, that as you say, the government is a business.
This is not really a new idea, it is just a new variation on the classic feudal kingdom, where the purpose of the king’s rule was to garner more assets for the king and selected members of his court.
As time went on, there was some toeing the waters of the idea of government’s purpose as benefitting the people, and the people themselves as citizens as opposed to subjects or serfs, essentially the property of the king.
US itself experimented with this notion a bit, not from any altruism, but out of fear that “communism” might appleal to the hordes of desperate poor, and out of that fear came Social Security, collective bargaining, child labor laws, Medicare, etc, and now even as those programs are variously gutted, neutralized and phased out, it is a hard pill for many to accept that this is not an accident or the result of incompetence, but a simple desire on the part of rich men to have more money.
It will be especially hard on those who today enjoy some degree of affluence when a few months from now, they find themselves making some very hard choices.
For instance, a family who has a thousand dollars disposable income a month can afford to give up extras – and saving – and pay for grandma’s medicine as long as it stays at a thousand dollars.
But when grandma’s doctor prescribes another thousand dollars worth of pills, that family may find itself having to not only give up extras, but cut down and back on some necessities, and for families who have even less disposable income and grandma’s with even larger pharmacy bills, the choices will begin to rise to the Sophie level of difficulty: Grandma’s medicine, or the mortgage?
Some of the info that you gave re: social programs, I vaguely remember hearing before (when I was in college, from an econ prof), i.e., the analogy to the feudal system, one of the theories re: unizoniation, changes in legislation, and social programs, to name a few. Also, being from MI, my late father worked in for one of the Big 3, until he retired due to disability and later died of cancer. (This was approx 10 years–another long story.) And even though he was covered under a UAW contract, it was still extremely expensive.
I can relate to your example of paying for Gramdma’s medicine or the mortgage is another reason why this country needs a single payer system…and that goes back to my doctor’s question, “Who would run it?”
[Actually, the discussion continued about that, my first guess was “someone like me?” Then I realized that I do have a few grudges, so I then suggested the Medical Assistant (who always has been a Medical Assistant w/the same doctor). So, she’s going to run the single payer system!]
But, I am still going to focus on the fuck-ups in Medicare D and continue on Waxman’s efforts, and still gather info.
You give great insight, DF–as I said earlier, love you for it!
I said in a previous comment that I do not think a single payor system would be a good cultural fit for the US, and that is one of the reasons.
There is no “partner for statecraft” available. There are corporations, and there are politicians who are essentially employees of the corporations.
And there is the public, which is unable to demand medical treatment, much less administer a program to provide it, largely because a sizeable segment of that public is opposed to medical treatment as a human right, “human right” itself being something of a suspicious concept.
is almost analogous to a buyer-seller relationship, as the emphasis has been on the costs, and the responsibility of who pays and how much rather than as a human right to medical treatment.
Attitudes have to change, only thing I can come up with. And that takes time and the people who are in need of their rx’s or could be facing death don’t have the time.
Anohter thing that I jsut thought of: possiblility that the stress of Medicare D is too much for some people… Another number we’ll never know…
this. When you think of all the elderly who live alone, seldom if ever hear from family members, who when told they are not on the list, or asked for $800, will simply walk quietly away back to their little apartments and not return.
And yes, the fundamental issue is one of culture, that can only be addressed by education, and that is not an overnight process, and not feasible outside the framework of a REALLY big overhaul, which will most likely be externally imposed, and neither culture not social services, including medical care, will be the priority of the imposers, whose agenda will consist mainly of saving themselves and their children and their own countries from American bombs.
Thanks for reminding me that I need to get a repeat script for my two blood pressure drugs.
My “co-pay” for the three months’ supply will total £13 or roughly $23 – can’t wait till I’m 60 when I get them free.
There is no excuse – the British NHS scheme started three years after a war that bankrupted the nation and with an industrial base that was virtually destroyed (oh hang on, where does that remind me of?)
How is the British system actually working for you re:
choice or dr.s’, waiting time for diagnostics, limitations re: specialists, priorauthorizations re: rx’x, pre-existing conditions, and so on? Thanks!
Quick explanation first, we have a system of “General Practioners” (GP) for primary health care. They act as “gatekeepers” to specialists. Most these days are in multi-doctor health centres so they can employ nurse practitioners and other healthcare anciliaries.
You can chose your GP but most just go to the nearest practice for convenience. If I want to see a specific doctor in the practice I can book well in advance otherwise the standard maximum is 2 days to see a doctor in the practice. In urgent cases they operate a system of waiting to the end of the list so they can fit you in. A lot of minor procedures are carried out at my centre. One of the senior partners also does acupuncture sessions and they employ a chiropractor and a mental health counsellor for sessions. The practice nurse-practioner does minor things like giving innoculations, removing stiches etc. They also operate a home visiting service though they can use an agency to do this at night.
The last time I used her was when I cut my leg badly last July. Blood was pouring out and I limped to the practice as it is only a couple of hundred metres away (in the time it took, the handkerchief I had wrapped round the cut in the front of my leg had been soaked and blood was running over my foot) The nurse-practitioner put a temporary dressing on so I could get to a local hospital (two within about half an hour by bus in London) They both have a “minor injuries unit” staffed again by nurse-practioners but wuth dictirs available. They were virtually empty so I had a five or ten minute wait before they cleaned up the cut and put in stitches and a new dressing. By the way, I might have called an ambulance if the wound had been a bit worse, that would have saved the bus fares but I was trying not to hassle them as it was just after the London bombing.
There can be a wait to see the specialists at the local surgery. I have about a 5 week wait to see the dietician as we agreed a weight loss programme at my last blood pressure medication review.
The nearest we get to “pre-authorisation” is an organisation called the “National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence”. The “Health” bit was added recently so everyone still calls it after its acronym “NICE” They look at new drugs and assess whether they are cost-effective and what groups benefit most if they cost a lot. They also recommend “best practice” so for example they gave out guidelines on the treatment of depression citing the most effective treatments depending on degree of severity etc. Doctors do not have to adhere to these guidelines but if a drug is not on the (very long) approved list, the patient may have to pay the full cost. That is very unlikely though.
In very crude terms, if the doctor puts a drug on a NHS Rx form, you pay a standard rate of £6.50 per item or nothing if you fall into several groups. These are mostly the young, elderly and poor (YEP) but some chronic conditions are included (cannot remember at the moment which). You can also get a “season ticket” to cover all your drugs for up to a year at a fixed up-front cost. This is particularly useful if you need a lot of different medicines. Unless you fall into one of these groups you also have to pay a standard fee for an eye examination with an opthalmologist (I get one annually free as I am over 50 and have a family history of glaucoma). Glasses and contact lenses or laser eye treatment are not covered. The YEP can get vouchers to help with the cost. Preganat women are also entitled to free dental treatment and this has a high co-pay for ordinary patients IF you can find an NHS dentist which are very difficult to find. Most operate on a private basis but the government is trying to address the shortage.
The only effective restrictions on pre-existing conditions are where these would impact on the proposed treatment. If you are suffering from a heart condition you might for example be refused treatment until you gave up smoking or you might be refused a liver transplant if you were a “wet” alcoholic.
There can be long waits for semi-elective surgery like joint operations but these are supposed to be no longer than 6 months. You used to have to use the hospital which your GP had an arrangement with but now you are supposed to get a choice of 4. In theory you can go for an operation anywhere in the country or the EU if there is an undue delay. Some health areas have arrangements with hospitals in, e.g. France to do operations. I believe the patient has to meet the cost of travel if this is taken up but aftercare is usually done locally to your home. I did have to wait for quite some time for an operation on a knee ligament but that was several years ago. Most hopitals these days have patients in 4 or 6 bed bays in “ward” clusters rather than the big open wards of dozens of beds that there used to be in the old hospitals. A few still survive. Unless you have a clinical need, you would have to pay for a private room as part of paid-for treatment program. A lot of people have private insurance to cover these so they can get this sort of “hotel” service or to choose precisely when they have an operation (this is their big selling point, the claim you do not have to go on a waiting list).
As I indicated, some things are not covered within the NHS or are difficult to access. I believe there are long waits if you want referal to the National Homeopathic Hospital for example as there are only a few centres offering this treatment. Many doctors will agree to you using herbal treatments but again you have to buy them yourself. You are also free to buy drugs “off prescription” providing they are approved for over-the-counter sale. As an example, it would be silly to ask for a prescription for low dose asprin as a heart attack prevention when you can get them for a lot less than the £6.50 you would pay as the standard fee.
One thing that is useful if you are worried about a particular symptom is a service called NHS Direct. This has both a web site and a local cost phone service which you can consult. The call centres give advice or might call your doctor or an ambulance to treat you after they have assessed a need for it. As I indicated, the ambulance service is free. They operate with paramedics who can do limited treatment to stabilise emergencies before transfer to hospital (in contrast to the old “scoop and run” system) but this is probably similar to most in the US. Rather than 911 we use 999 with the EU-wide 112 as an alternative.
Remember the service is funded out of taxation, nominally by a special levy on pay from the employer and employee. This also covers basic old age pensions (social security in US terms) and is not hypothocated (ie ring fenced in a fund) so it is not an insurance scheme as such. Availablity is usually on the basis of clinical need so there are some grey areas. Cosmetic surgery is available to restore injuries or reconstruct after say breast cancer operations. It usually would not be available for “vanity” reasons such as nose jobs unless your big nose was causing you considerable mental health problems. Similarly gender re-assignment treatment can be free but there are only a few centres and you have to do a lot of groundwork and “proving” (like living as a woman for a year) before you get hormone treatment in advanve of surgery. In case you are wondering why I know this, I used to be an auditor with a local education authority and happened to enquire what the course we were running at a hospital was all about (it was things like make-up and deportment)
Anythimg I have not covered let me know
Oh, forgot to add that the injury last July interrupted a series of aquarobics/gym sessions that I had subsidised under an NHS scheme. That was a bit fated as when I had recovered the instructor had a car accident!!
Thanks Londonbear. I know that I might think of something later. But, it is time to call it a nite, now. Thanks again.
G’nite–am in MI!