[Biofuel] Bloody outrage
My Encounter with [Insert Scary Music] ... Socialized Medicine! My foot had been sore for a couple of weeks and it wasn’t getting better. I usually would ignore that, but we were about to leave on a two-week vacation with my wife Joy’s parents to celebrate both of our big anniversaries (their 50th and our 10th). Then I have to fly to Singapore for the World Vision triennial conference. So I wouldn’t be back home for many weeks and my Washington, D.C., health care provider (over the phone) strongly urged me to see a doctor in London before we left. http://go.sojo.net/ct/LdqJeuM1xzC5/ Get a free issue of /Sojourners/ http://go.sojo.net/ct/LdqJeuM1xzC5/ I realized then that I was about to have my first encounter with SOCIALIZED MEDICINE! Now it’s one thing to advocate health care reform in America and even to be politically sympathetic to the idea of a single-payer government-supported system like they have in most of the world’s developed and civilized countries (such as Canada, Germany, and Great Britain). But it was another thing to actually go to the emergency room (or ER, but in the U.K. they call it Accident and Emergency) of a hospital in the British National Health Service. After all, I had heard the horror stories—long waits in incompetent, dirty, and substandard medical facilities; bad doctors and faulty diagnoses; and, of course, incredible bureaucracies like everything in socialist systems. Rush Limbaugh and every other conservative pundit have warned us all in America about the horrific practices of British socialized medicine. So I prepared myself. I brought a big novel to read, along with my eyeglasses, a bottle of water (no telling what they would not have in socialized medicine), and emotionally steeled myself for the ordeal. Ann Stevens, the Anglican vicar with whom we stay in London (she’s my son Luke’s godmother and Joy’s old pal) took me to St. George’s hospital, dropped me off at A and E, and wished me luck at 9 a.m. Hoping I would be home that night for dinner, I took a deep breath, walked across the street, and made my way into socialized medicine. The waiting room was actually quite peaceful and not crowded, I noticed, as I walked up to reception. The woman at the reception desk smiled. I didn’t expect that. Can I help you? Yes, I replied, you see, I am an American—I guess you can tell—and I’m visiting family here—my wife is British—and we’re staying with our friend the vicar, and I have a sore foot, which I normally wouldn’t worry about but we’re going away for several weeks on vacation, and I called my health care provider in the U.S., and they told me to come in here and thought I should get an X-ray or something. (I wondered for a moment if it would help to tell them that I was a friend of the prime minister, but decided not.) What do you need from me? I asked hesitantly. Just your name and address, she replied with another smile. Oh ... Okay. She told me it would be about 10 minutes to see the nurse. Yeah right, I thought to myself. I settled into the waiting room chair, looked around at all the people who didn’t seem to be in any distress, and opened my book for a good long read. It was five minutes before the nurse called me in to a little office adjacent to the waiting area, which seemed to be an intake room. She was pleasant and professional as she asked me what was wrong, and how long I had felt the soreness. She gently examined my foot and then told me I would be called in to see a doctor in about 10 minutes. Sure thing, I thought. So I went back out to the waiting room and settled in again to read my novel. It was five minutes before a young woman appeared and called my name, Mr. Wallis? She was a young Asian doctor named Dr. Gillian Kyei. She was also very pleasant and professional, taking time to ask me lots of questions about how I might have hurt my foot, etc. She examined the injured foot carefully, told me that it didn’t necessarily look broken, but that we should get an X-ray to make sure. I waited in her examining room for a couple of minutes while she called down to the X-ray department to say that I was on the way. Then she came back and escorted me herself. When I got to X-ray, I checked in by just saying my name and took a seat in the waiting area. Finally, I was going to get to read my book! But five minutes later, the technician came out to bring me in. She took her time with me, taking several different angles of my foot. When I was done, she sent me back to my young doctor, with another smile. This time the wait was a full 10 minutes because, I later learned, Dr. Kyei was reading the results of my X-ray, which had already been sent to her computer. She showed me what looked to her like a fracture of my fourth metatarsal bone, but said she wanted to consult with the orthopedic specialist. I waited about 10 minutes more while she did that and so got a few more pages read. Dr. Kyei then came
Re: [Biofuel] Bloody outrage
- Original Message - From: Mike Weaver [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Friday, August 17, 2007 5:05 am Subject: [Biofuel] Bloody outrage To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org My Encounter with [Insert Scary Music] ... Socialized Medicine! Gasp! snip I was back at Ann’s in just over an hour from when I left—with my letter, my boot, and my tale of smiling, pleasant, and efficient health care workers. And somehow I began to believe that back in America we weren’t being given the whole truth. And guess what? Ann tells me that David Beckham and Wayne Rooney, the biggest British soccer (football) stars, have had metatarsal bone fractures, just like mine. In about six weeks, I too will be back on the field, thanks to socialized medicine! I've lived under both systems, and there is NO WAY that I would ever desire to return to America's free market medicine. The system in the US works well if you have a lot of money, a category I have never fit into, and therefore did not have a good experience with health care in my own country, but here in Canada, when I have a medical issue I simply go to my family physician. Rush Limbaugh and the other ranting lunatics have it wrong, as usual . . . robert luis rabello ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Bloody outrage
Hi Mike and all, Folks in America can't have everything. There have to be priorities. You can have the most expensive military in the world chasing ghosts or you can have national healthcare. Now in Uruguay I pay some pretty heavy taxes but everyone has healthcare. My prescriptions are U$5.00 each. They cost 10 times that in the states but at least there I can get frisked by airport security and photographed by a multitude of hidden cameras for my taxes. Now that's value. :- Tom Irwin Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger Download today it's FREE! ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Bloody outrage
So stay in Uruguay! -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tom Irwin Sent: Friday, August 17, 2007 7:25 AM To: biofuel@sustainablelists.org Subject: Re: [Biofuel] Bloody outrage Hi Mike and all, Folks in America can't have everything. There have to be priorities. You can have the most expensive military in the world chasing ghosts or you can have national healthcare. Now in Uruguay I pay some pretty heavy taxes but everyone has healthcare. My prescriptions are U$5.00 each. They cost 10 times that in the states but at least there I can get frisked by airport security and photographed by a multitude of hidden cameras for my taxes. Now that's value. :- Tom Irwin _ Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger http://g.msn.com/8HMBEN/2731??PS=47575 Download today it's FREE! ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Bloody outrage
Hi Mike, all. Glad your experience was Ok. I'm in the UK a few years ago my dad had a nasty stroke, he waited on an ambulance trolley in AE for 7 hrs for a bed in a ward, he devoted his working life to the NHS as a brilliant ophthalmologist! I do have to say that sometimes our NHS may not be perfect all the time, but we are damn lucky to have it. I've used AE a good few times I'm glad it's there - I can't imagine living with the US system, it seems so elitist. The US spends trillions of $'s warmongering yet it can't provide healthcare for all, a basic human right it purports to promote. No offence to you at all Mike, but I'm glad I'm British ( there are a lot of things British that I'm not proud of) I wouldn't like the way the US behaves in the world on our collective conscience. Best regards Malcolm -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Weaver Sent: 16 August 2007 15:05 To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Subject: [Biofuel] Bloody outrage My Encounter with [Insert Scary Music] ... Socialized Medicine! ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Bloody outrage
Bush says we can have both the most expensive military in the world AND huge tax cuts for the wealthiest. So there. swalms wrote: So stay in Uruguay! -Original Message- *From:* [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] *On Behalf Of *Tom Irwin *Sent:* Friday, August 17, 2007 7:25 AM *To:* biofuel@sustainablelists.org *Subject:* Re: [Biofuel] Bloody outrage Hi Mike and all, Folks in America can't have everything. There have to be priorities. You can have the most expensive military in the world chasing ghosts or you can have national healthcare. Now in Uruguay I pay some pretty heavy taxes but everyone has healthcare. My prescriptions are U$5.00 each. They cost 10 times that in the states but at least there I can get frisked by airport security and photographed by a multitude of hidden cameras for my taxes. Now that's value. :- Tom Irwin Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger http://g.msn.com/8HMBEN/2731??PS=47575 Download today it's FREE! ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Bloody outrage
I think Mr. Rush Limbaugh knows a little more than you do about prescriptions, Mr. Smarty pants Canadian. Just how many Percocet prescriptions can you get from you family physician ? Eh? Eh? Probably none. That's why USA is #1! robert rabello wrote: - Original Message - From: Mike Weaver [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Friday, August 17, 2007 5:05 am Subject: [Biofuel] Bloody outrage To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org My Encounter with [Insert Scary Music] ... Socialized Medicine! Gasp! snip I was back at Ann’s in just over an hour from when I left—with my letter, my boot, and my tale of smiling, pleasant, and efficient health care workers. And somehow I began to believe that back in America we weren’t being given the whole truth. And guess what? Ann tells me that David Beckham and Wayne Rooney, the biggest British soccer (football) stars, have had metatarsal bone fractures, just like mine. In about six weeks, I too will be back on the field, thanks to socialized medicine! I've lived under both systems, and there is NO WAY that I would ever desire to return to America's free market medicine. The system in the US works well if you have a lot of money, a category I have never fit into, and therefore did not have a good experience with health care in my own country, but here in Canada, when I have a medical issue I simply go to my family physician. Rush Limbaugh and the other ranting lunatics have it wrong, as usual . . . robert luis rabello ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Bloody outrage
I agree - my folks were overseas for a year and the NHS saw my old man thru 2 big problems just fine. I think the US system is great...if you happen to be rich. Nobody in the US knows how the NHS or any other European system works: They always bleat: But I don't want the Government telling me which doctor to see. I always point out that that's not true anywhere there is socialized medicine; there is a thriving health insurance industry in the EU, and no policeman will arrest you for walking into Dr. Jone's office, seeing him and then paying the bill. Just like you can do here. The right has brain-washed to US to believe they'll forced into health collectives and shot if they leave. Where I live we have socialized trash pick up, for heaven's sake. But not to worry, we're catching up to the UK fast when it comes to video spying... -Mike malcolm maclure wrote: Hi Mike, all. Glad your experience was Ok. I'm in the UK a few years ago my dad had a nasty stroke, he waited on an ambulance trolley in AE for 7 hrs for a bed in a ward, he devoted his working life to the NHS as a brilliant ophthalmologist! I do have to say that sometimes our NHS may not be perfect all the time, but we are damn lucky to have it. I've used AE a good few times I'm glad it's there - I can't imagine living with the US system, it seems so elitist. The US spends trillions of $'s warmongering yet it can't provide healthcare for all, a basic human right it purports to promote. No offence to you at all Mike, but I'm glad I'm British ( there are a lot of things British that I'm not proud of) I wouldn't like the way the US behaves in the world on our collective conscience. Best regards Malcolm -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Weaver Sent: 16 August 2007 15:05 To: Biofuel@sustainablelists.org Subject: [Biofuel] Bloody outrage My Encounter with [Insert Scary Music] ... Socialized Medicine! ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/ ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
Re: [Biofuel] Bloody outrage
I have no intention of leaving. From: "swalms" [EMAIL PROTECTED]Reply-To: biofuel@sustainablelists.orgTo: biofuel@sustainablelists.orgSubject: Re: [Biofuel] Bloody outrageDate: Fri, 17 Aug 2007 07:42:14 -0700 So stay in Uruguay!Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger Download today it's FREE! ___ Biofuel mailing list Biofuel@sustainablelists.org http://sustainablelists.org/mailman/listinfo/biofuel_sustainablelists.org Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Search the combined Biofuel and Biofuels-biz list archives (50,000 messages): http://www.mail-archive.com/biofuel@sustainablelists.org/
