BernieHund: The Political Watchdog

Who is Stan Brock?  For many he will be remembered as the co-star of Wild Kingdom.  That was some years ago.  Since then, Mr. Brock has traveled the world and finally settled in Knoxville, Tennessee.  But, his work is far from over.

Stan Brockspent 15 years as general manager of the Rupununi Development Company Dadanawa Ranch (Guyana), the world’s largest tropical cattle ranch (area 4,000 square miles, 40,000 cattle, 2,000 horses, 1,200 sheep); with extensive range management, beef marketing, and veterinary experience; was fluent in Portuguese, Spanish, and Wapishana.

And from a CBSreport by Scott Pelley, we learn more about Stan Brock.

He is the head of the organization of Remote Area Medical organization, which works to provide healthcare for the poor in Africa and South America.

Stan Brock spoke to the reporter about the life style of the native people staying there. He went to South America for the research on cattle farm and from there he came to know the people and decided to carry out a medical expedition there.

Now, living in Knoxville, Mr. Brock has taken a good hard look at American healthcare and is doing something about it here in Tennessee.

According to the CBS report very few remote area medical expeditions are carried out in United States. Stan Brock said in his interview that he was astonished to see the increasing number of people coming to attend the medical trip organized by him.  

By seeing the increasing number he was in doubt whether the medical conditions of rural area is degrading or the health care of their country is improving.   Stan Brock was very satisfied with his work as he was able to give free medical treatment to 920 people in Knoxville in a weekend. But he felt very sorry, as he was unable to provide free treatment to 400 people. 

A 60 Minutes program is upcoming. 

The show is organized for the people to know the bitter truth and the pathetic living conditions of the people staying in the remote areas.    Nevertheless the show will also highlight on brighter side of U.S. It will emphasize on the work of an U.S citizen; Stan Brock the founder of RAM, and what he has done for those poor people. The poor people should be thankful to RAM for providing such help to them and also to the 60 minutes show for bringing their living conditions in front of the common American citizens.

I’m sure many Americans are more than thankful for Stan Brock, especially those in Tennessee who are uninsured and have spent a weekend experiencing the benefits of an eye exam, a mammography, or any one of a number of other tests and examinations.

Stan Brock is certainly an asset to Tennessee and to America.  But, on the other hand, it is a sad state of affairs that any person in the United States who works for a living or is disabled or is perhaps just a “ne’er do well” cannot get healthcare treatment when it is needed.  And, for those of us in Tennessee, our hats are off to Mr. Brock.

We can pretend that people just don’t buy healthcare insurance for one reason or another.  The truth is that much of rural America, and perhaps urban America works long hours every day and at the end of the week or the month there is no money for insurance payments.  More and more Americans are relying on “I can’t afford to get sick” insurance.  And, more and more Americans are going without treatment when it is desperately needed.

I am ashamed to think that in this country of plenty, there are men, women and children who cannot see a doctor because they can’t pay for the treatment.  Republican or Democrat, rich or poor, this is America… or what is left of it.  And, it is easy to say that some 47 million Americans don’t have healthcare coverage.  There are no faces of pain in a number like 47 million.  It is a statistic that sounds big, but is meaningless.  We have become numb to the 4,085 men and women killed in Iraq.  The continuous loop of reports of dead soldiers has taken the edge off the deaths in Iraq, unless one of those soldiers is your wife or husband, or son or daughter.  If we cannot grasp the pain and agony resulting from the deaths of 4,085, how can we be expected to grasp the desperation and the needs of 47 million people?

Perhaps, with a new President and hopefully a Congress that really will work for the people, I will be willing to stand up beside Michelle Obama and say that I, too, am proud to be an American.  For now, my head hangs in shame.