On Saturday 11 March 2006 01:38, Net Llama! wrote: > On 03/10/2006 09:02 PM, Collins Richey wrote: > > On 3/10/06, Ken Moffat <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >> Michael Scottaline wrote: > >> >It's a disgrace that our health care system forces such choices > >> > >> Indeed, considering that the US spends twice as much per capita on > >> health care as other western industrialized countries. It has become our > >> purpose to provide profits. Health care should be nationalized, > >> Medicare for all ... but the politicians will never defy the insurance > >> industry. Too much palm greasing going on there. > > > > I'm replying to General, where this belongs, before anyone complains. > > > > I think you have a rather simplistic viewpoint. It's not defying the > > insurance industry, but defying the majority of us that don't see > > socialized medicine a la Canda or Europe as a valid answer to health > > problems. > > Which majority would this be? The US health care system is an atrocious > embarrassment, and a failure. Somehow I don't think you're going to get > those who have no health insurance in the US to feel otherwise, nor > anyone who is shelling out money for health insurance.
It's always amusing to catch these spin-offs, since I have my Linux-Users mail autofiled for perusing and the low-traffic General stuff ends up in my inbox. It's kinda like walking down the street past my favorite pub and watching a small bar-fight roll into the street ;) I think the point that I'm hearing is that the American health care system is no cakewalk, regardless of who you are. But that hasn't inclined anyone to convince anyone else that the other systems are indeed any better (or even as good). I have to agree that most things the government touches turn into a mess. The way it appears to me is that the government attempts to take over care-giving efforts and often the people *working* those efforts get stuck in the big squeeze. You can't actually get involved and "police" the efforts for abuse because that is either too much work for a government worker, or you are legitimately concerned about accusations of discrimination of some sort. Most of these types of situations, as well as the government culture, tend to lead to a controlled apathy which turns care-giving efforts into work-a-day situations. And the organizations which are actually *interested* in giving are either doing it themselves with the help of private funding or not doing it at all because they believe the government should. And that's just the welfare system. The telecom industry is another weird industry regulated by the government, which has taken a very nasty turn. Not only are the regulation costs coming out of your pockets as consumers (ever look at a phone bill?) but currently we have conglommed back into AT&T. At least this time around we're dealing with a full set of parents: Ma and Pa Bell. (Go Verizon! woot!) I will not drudge us through the ugliness which is the public schoolsystem. And then apply what we've learned to the healthcare system. Personally I hate how the Insurance companies run our lives. I hate that the doctors and hospitals and drug companies charge *truly outrageous* amounts, and that they know they can because the Insurance companies milk employers and employees alike. I am all for a healthcare revolution... but not by a government most interested in power and money and re-election to the detriment of their constituents. There are three sides of our government: *) Elected officials, many of which would kill their own mother if they thought it would get them re-elected. *) Bureaucracy, underneath the elected officials. These are the ones which are "there long after the politicians are gone" and are the ones who get more holidays than you or I and tend to loath existence more than they loath you. *) The Judicial branch of government which simply runs amok and these days seem to think we ought to be part of the EU rather than the US. Such a mess. I'm not sure I'd be opposed to deporting all who have ever held office and filling the positions anew. There are some wonderful people in office, don't get me wrong (I actually truly love my local Representative). Perhaps they would be able to save the souls of their co-conspirators before it's too late. But I do not believe we will last much longer as a country in our current state. The nice thing about our country is that things often change. I hope things get better, not worse. Perhaps the pendulum will once again swing a bit back towards local governing and lessen the grip of this our centralized government... but I suppose it will take voters actually taking interest in the local folk rather than just the presidency. And then, perhaps it will be less of a "my guy must win" and rather a "we the people must win" Man, do I know how to digress? :) _______________________________________________ [email protected] Unsub/Pause/Etc : http://mail.linux-sxs.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/general
