Way back last year, when we were worrying about Medicare Part D, Advantage Plans, the end of the economic world as we know it and, of course, a minor distraction called “THE Holidays,” I decided to distract us all by suggesting that we (America) ought to just do away with Alzheimer’s Disease – And I wasn’t kidding.
Given our national track record for beating horrible diseases when we put our collective minds to it, I thought then (and still do) that this is doable: To finally eliminate one of the most terrifying and devastating afflictions knocking around the planet – One that takes a devastating toll from the patient, certainly, but from caregivers, families and the entire health care and long-term care systems, as well – One that twists what ought to be a lovely journey into Elderhood into a frightening, day-by-day roll of the dice.
Sure, we’re all going to “go” someday and someway – But not THAT way.
Well, within days of my pronouncement, Congress passed, and the President signed, the “National Alzheimer’s Project Act,” which creates a coordinated national strategy to do away with something that has a nasty habit of doing away with us. Are we “there” yet? No. It still has to be funded (feel free to advocate) and the work – The miracle! – Still has to be accomplished, but now there’s hope, where there was no hope before.
Thank you. I’ll be issuing a call for a national chocolate chip cookie stimulus shortly.
Now, or rather, Again – Here we go again, because the “Bad Guys” are back; well, actually, they never left.
Yup, SCAM: This time you might be contacted, via phone, e-mail or letter, by some low-life posing as some manner of governmental agency rep (like, Department of Health & Human Services, or whatever). They’ll spit-out a name and a fake employee ID, and then tell you that you’ll receive “government grant money” as an incentive for paying your taxes on time. All you’ll have to do is provide them with personal and/or financial information, like your Social Security number or bank account number, or maybe even send them a check or wire transfer to cover a “processing fee.”
Sure, the message varies, but that’s the basic drift; now, think about it: Are the Feds really going to send you money for sending them money? Probably not, so hang up, hit DELETE or shred it! If you’re not sure, take five minutes to call a friend and a run it by them, to help you get out of the “…heat of the moment.” Could that be embarrassing? Maybe, but not as embarrassing as being played for an idiot by the Bad Guys, then having to call the same friend for a loan to pay for the dog food.
And speaking of receiving crap from folks that you never asked to receive crap from, you can cut down on the number of pre-screened offers for credit and insurance, by “opting out.” You can do this by calling 1-888-567-8688 or going to www.optoutprescreen.com and saying so. These are operated by the major consumer reporting companies, and you’ll be asked for your name, home phone, date of birth and Social Security number, so be ready for that.
And, of course, there’s always the good old “Do Not Call Registry,” which is designed to reduce the number of telemarketing calls you get at home at dinner time. You can do that by going to www.donotcall.gov or calling 1-888-382-1222. You should see a decrease within a month or so, and both of these (Do Not Call and Opt Out) should last about five years.
Yes, I have done them. Are they perfect? No. Did they eliminate all the garbage? No. Has my evening mealtime magically become sacrosanct, leaving me awash in peace and quiet? No, but there’s a heck-of-a-lot less than there used to be; in my world, less crap is good.
Thinking that you’re on a roll? OK, you can go to www.the-dma.org/consumers/offmailinglist.html or write to the Direct Marketing Association, Mail Preference Service, PO Box 643, Carmel, NY, 10512, to reduce the amount of direct mail marketing you get from national companies.
Really trying to get off the radar? OK, if you go to www.dmaconsumers.org/offemaillist.html you have a fighting chance of reducing the number of unsolicited commercial e-mails you get.
Again, are these perfect? No. Will they help, if “help” means less stuff assaulting your senses and invading your life? Yes.
One more, on the third day of February, 2011? OK, try this:
Beginning on March 1, 2013, all federal benefits will go “electronic,” which means either direct deposit into a bank account or (Ready?) a “Direct Express® Debit MasterCard® card and, Yes: Paper checks will go away – Forever.
“Federal benefits” includes Social Security, VA, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Railroad Retirement Board, and more; so, if you’re currently getting a paper check from the Feds, you’re going to have to switch to one of the above by March 1, 2013. And why am I giving you a two-year warning? Because I have an incipient “mean streak,” that’s why!
Not really; the fact is that anyone (which means EVERYone) applying for “federal benefits” on or after May 1, 2011 (that’s this year, if you’re feeling disoriented) is going to have to choose direct deposit or the magic card, so if you’re going to become “one of us” on May Day, the check will NOT be in the mail.
Finally, Valentine’s Day is exactly 11 days from today, and that’s why we call this “Help Line.”
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