Capitalism, capitalism. We worship it. It is the
answer to all our dreams. But what is
capitalism?... It's nothing but a giant pyramid
scheme. Think about it. The top 10% controls 90%
of the wealth of this country. Doesn't that tell
you something? Is this fair? And please don't
give me that old line - if you work hard enough you could be rich too.
That top 10% is an elite group. An exclusive
group. And they know full well that if too many
people get in on the action their wealth will
dwindle. So the members of Congress, who are
definitely part of that elite 10%, and are
guardians of their cronies estates pass the laws
that keep the rich rich and the poor poorer. The
sad part is that the poor either cannot or will
not see this. If it wasn't so sad it would be
funny. I know so many people that totally believe
the rhetoric of the top 10%. "We can't have
another socialist program - i.e. universal
healthcare - because that means it would raise
our taxes". It just doesn't make sense to me. And
it scares me. It's scary that these top 10% have
so much control over the psyche of those less
fortunate in this country. It's like bringing
lambs to the slaughter. And we are more than
happy to go along, just as long as you don't raise our taxes.
Dan
At 09:49 PM 10/17/2009, John S. said something that elicited my response:
In most industrialized nations socialism is
alive and well. Most choose a blend of
capitalism and socialism. The US has reached a
point where the super rich are so far out of
reach of the middle class that it is
embaressing. The poor in our country are not
poor by choice. Everyone should be able to see a
doctor without going to an ER first. Over 70% of
the people in the US (mostly children)that have died from H1N1 were uninsured.
It has gotten so bad that many hospitals do not
accept uninsured people at all. They do,
however, accept government funding. Where I live
I can only go to hospitals that get county funding.
Corporations get much more welfare and taxpayer
money than do welfare recipients.
The fact that the government declared so many
banks and insurance and investment companies,
"too big to be allowed to fail", should tell you
we are socialized...for the super rich.
If you think Rush is giving advice to the
conservatives, remember, he supported Bush until
he left office and Rush is a drug abuser that
hires illegal aliens. If he made 20 million less
a year then he would be in prison.
The rich own the justice system. Do we just wait
untill they own the medical system, too. I feel
that we have a chance to do something good for
the American people if the bunch of millionaires
in Washington can come to a healthcare solution.
Remember, TARP funds would have paid for CMS for
the next ten years. The money wasted in Iraq
would have paid for every American child that wanted to go to college.
Isn't it strange how so many people in other
countries can get a power wheelchair repaired without a congressional mandate?
John
(socialist)
From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Fri, October 16, 2009 5:22:58 PM
Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Wheelchaiir repair from HELL
Who's asking for Gov't control - you? Not me nor anyone I know.
Capitalism failed?? Wait until you see what
these give-away programs will cost you.
-----Original Message-----
From: Merrill <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Fri, Oct 16, 2009 1:34 pm
Subject: FW: [QUAD-L] Wheelchaiir repair from HELL
Why are people requesting government
control? Looks more like Capitalism is a failed concept.
----------
From: bob quinn [<mailto:[email protected]?>mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, October 16, 2009 12:25 PM
To: <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected];
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Wheelchaiir repair from HELL
Socialism is a dirty word. Its a failed concept.
What the GOP calls socialism --like a public
healthcare option, for example-- is nothing of
the sort. Its just fear-mongering, which is -sadly- what they do best.
At 02:48 PM 10/16/2009, Merrill wrote:
Then right winged Republicanâs use Socialism
as a di dirty word to discredit our president.
----------
From: bob quinn [ mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, October 16, 2009 11:35 AM
To: Thomas & NoelCusack; <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Wheelchaiir repair from HELL
Profits are great! Its profiteering that is bad.
Companies that go proprietary for the sake of
profits, rather than standardizing (which means
cooperating with competitors, among other
things) for the sake of their customers, are profiteers.
As evidenced by countless standards that have
evolved in countless industries, standards are
great for customers and vendors because they
level the playing field and foster healthy
competition. They reduce *everyone's* costs,
and just make for a nicer, simpler world.
At 12:38 PM 10/16/2009, Thomas & NoelCusack wrote:
There's nothing wrong with profits. that's what
allows the business to stay in business. I have
been with a couple of mobility dealers that went
out of business because they had no profits, got
greedy and took advantage of the customers.
Locally, we have only one big mobility dealer
and what they are charging the customer for
sales and service is unholy. Yet like
cockroaches-theyll survive. The problem is that
their customers are crippled more by what they
have to pay for sales and service. Let the tv
stations realize the markups that they're
getting-you'd be shocked and saddened.
--- On Fri, 10/16/09, bob quinn
<<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]> wrote:
From: bob quinn <<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]>
Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Wheelchaiir repair from HELL
To:
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected],
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected],
<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
Date: Friday, October 16, 2009, 11:06 AM
And that speaks of another need whose time is wa-a-a-ay overdue:
Power Wheelchair Industry Standards
There's only one reason none exist yet: profits.
At 11:24 AM 10/16/2009, <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected] wrote:
Common parts are not common. Manufactures
recommend or require that all parts must be
ordered from the serial number of the chair as
design changes during any given year may
change. If a provider orders stock and it sits
on the shelf for too long, it becomes wasteful
and poor capital use. Look around at the
various electric wheelchairs the are near to you
and your friends. Do you all have the same size
batteries? How about wheels and
controllers. When you see "stock" on the shelf,
is usually a wrong order that can't be returned
for credit. I agree the techs require more
training as equipment changes each
year. Certification and annual testing is
expensive and the price is added to the cost of
repairs. Some people wait until the very very
very last minute to have service and repairs on
their equipment. Some do not have back up equipment for those emergencies.
Its also important to know what you have and how
it works. Keep in mind that the rules of
insurance, be it government or private dictate
the rules of repairs. The service tech is
merely following those rules in doing their jobs.
Keep in mind, this won't solve any problems but it does explain some of them.
Best Wishes
In a message dated 10/16/2009 10:00:42 A.M.
Central Daylight Time, <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected] writes:
When it comes to wheelchair repairs your trip to Hell is just starting.
They will never let me just tell them what the
problem is, even if itÃÆââââs
just a flat t tire (now I only use fllat-free tires).
I either have to go in or have them pick up my
chair. If my chair is at all usable I go in,
otherwise they keep it for 4-8 weeks as they get
insurance ok, order parts, etc.
We need some kind of patient rights bill for wheelchair repair shops.
Have common parts in stock.
Get insurance ok̢̮s via phone right away. t>
> <;
Have loner chairs available.
WORK WEEKENDS.
Greg
----------
After many months of the recline not working on
the chair, I finally found someone who could at
least come look at it. He spoke Spanish & a few
words of English. Had to have an
interpreter. When i called the shop I told them
what the flashing lights were saying controller
error. He & his wife came. Stayed about an
hour & all he could say was the circuit breaker
wasn't worrying. When you request someone who
can work on the computer, seems to me they should have sent one.
How do you specify the problems & make sure that
the correct repairman comes to take of all the problem?
