The U.S. Is Failing in Infant Mortality, Starting at One Month Old
Many more babies die in the United States than you might think. In 2014, more than 23,000 infants died in their first year of life, or about six for every 1,000 born. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 25 other industrialized nations do better than the United States at keeping babies alive.
One of the component’s of Oliver’s weekly show is an in-depth investigation into the social, political and commercial issues troubling America. His most recent installment was on the debt buying and collection business. It has a ridiculously low bar of entry–“Last Week Tonight” incorporated such a company online in Mississippi for only $50. In many states, there is no license required to collect debts.
Among the most disturbing tactics of these debt-buying firms is to sue individual debtors–even if they have already had their debt dismissed through bankruptcy or barred by the statute of limitations. Those companies bet the defendants won’t show up in court, allowing them to win by default. These debt-buying firms can then legally garnish the debtors’ wages to satisfy the judgment.
https://www.propublica.org/article/who-makes-sure-hospital-mergers-do-no-harm-almost-nobody
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https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/muhammad-alis-15-quotes-wisdom-entrepreneurs-everyone-schroeder
“Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them – a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.”
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/elephant-room-telling-your-story-samir-goel
Personally I don’t tell my story through words but rather through doing. At this point I’m used to being one of a handful (if not the only person) in the room with my ethnicity and often the youngest person in many conversations (although both those trends are changing). Action is the best tool I have to combat the inevitable assumptions that come with that. Its hard to dismiss anyone that can provide real value to you. Before you have a chance to form judgements I’ll figure out how I can help you. The skills I’ve had to hone are understanding people and creating a new narrative that can help us both.
“Never Events are egregious and they truly should never happen, but at the very least if they do happen, we expect hospitals to take the most humane and ethical approach,” said Leah Binder, president and CEO of Leapfrog. “Unfortunately, many hospitals still won’t commit to doing the right thing, including apologizing to the patient or family and not charging for the event. We should see 100% of hospitals with the Leapfrog policy.”
