As I write this column, it seems apparent that changes in U.S. health care by the Congress will be small and not make much of an impact to the key problems of increasing cost and the millions of people who can’t afford minimal health care.

Among the 23 richest countries, the United States ranks last in longevity yet we pay more for health care per capita than any other country. I’m sure most readers will have read many columns and accounts about who is to blame and what problems may result if certain changes are made.

To me, it is clear that any change in U.S. Health care must start from the bottom up (the people) and not the top down (U.S. Government and Congress).

To state it simply, all of us need to be more proactive in maintaining our own health and not rely heavily on doctors and health care for a “fix.”

In education, there is a great emphasis on making our students more proactive and involved in their learning, so the students don't lay back and wait for the teachers to deliver the learning. This passive outlook causes people to complain about others and not ask themselves “What can I do for myself?”

The media reinforces this blame culture day after day, as they tell us who are the “bad guys” and “good guys” on every issue. In this way, the listeners are absolved from any responsibility in the issue; it's always some body else’s fault.

But this country doesn't consist of just good people and bad people; the big national issues that we face have grown year after year because of a lack of will to make tough choices.

Most national issues are complex or grey and can’t be solved quickly as the issues in the movies or on fictional television shows. Patience is needed more than any other characteristic, not the anger, sarcasm or ridicule shown on television.

What can any individual do to maintain their health? First, our sedentary way of life is a real problem, causing many of us to gain weight. Of course, there are those of us who have limited mobility so going to a gym or jogging is not an option. The sad truth is that as we get older, we need fewer calories to maintain our weight.

Also, if we can’t move around easily, fewer calories are required. The simple option to reduce our caloric intake is to eliminate calorie dense food and fluids and replace them with foods and drinks of lower calories.

Over the past three years, I have slowly eliminated a number of foods and liquids in an effort to keep my weight about the same level.

These include soda (pop), bottled ice tea (nearly as much sugar as soda), Fig Newton's, ice cream, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch and cookies. Some of these foods I have on occasion but I never buy these foods at the grocery store. I now have a can of low salt soup for most of my lunches at school.

I have the same breakfast each morning, my own concoction of oatmeal, wheat bran and ground up flaxseed with soy milk, some yogurt and a banana followed by a cup of decaf coffee. I am sure to have plenty of fiber each day; in the evening, I usually have an apple and an orange.

I have a barrel-like body, so I gain fat in the middle, putting myself more at risk for cardiac problems than those who are like pears, depositing their fat below the waist.

I also follow a rather lengthy twice a day procedure for my teeth including flossing, irrigation, brushing and mouth wash. I do stretches on my twice a day dog walks and stomach exercises in bed both in the evening and morning.

If most of us would work on our food intake, activity level and bodily maintenance as much as we work on the appearance of our cars, shrubs and yard, we may be able to detect any health problems early and remedy them.

Ignoring problems and not taking action (in the hope that they will go away by themselves) could lead to a worsening problem that may necessitate extended and expensive health care.

In the eastern 6 a.m. dawn, the brilliant planet Venus will be near the star Regulus (of Leo) for the next few days. This Tuesday, Sept. 22, marks the first day of fall as the sun's direct rays cross the equator moving South.

The evening moon will grow to half full this Friday evening, September 25th. On the next evening, the Cumberland Astronomy Club will have their telescopes out for the public in Frostburg’s recreational complex, near the Soccer fields.

Continuing at the Frostburg State Planetarium is “White-Blue Ball and Pale Dot”, the Earth and moon as seen from other planets. Our free public programs are at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. each Sunday. The Planetarium is Tawes 302, near the large Performing Arts Center and the Compton Science Center. Questions or comments from readers? Call(301)687-7799 or rdoyle@frostburg.edu.