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Forums10
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 59
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 59 |
Jack, whenever I am asked about a constitutional interpretation my response is always this. If you were to ask James Madison, Thomas Jefferson or John Adams, what would they say. I am pretty sure they would say no to your question. To dip a little further into a couple other questions the federal government already uses its bargaining power to set medicare rates and costs are still high. As to the cost of malpractise the lawsuits and insurance premiums only scratch the surface of the effect. Since doctors know they are subject to be sued on a whim they will commonly order batteries of tests, ct scans and mri's even when unnecesary as an additional form of self protection. This practice can dramatically increase the cost of a visit to a physician. This is not universal, thankfully. I know doctors that are confidant enough in their ability as diagnosticians they forgo all but the necessary tests. I also know doctors who's prime concern seems to limitation of liability. After all they aren't directly paying the bill. The numbers you showed above on infant mortality are so close that I don't believe health care quality is the difference. In this country being pregnant is about the easiest way to get free health care anyway. I would look at sociological and sosietal causes as the difference. According to the last figures from the CDC we have experienced a 66% increase in illnesses and deaths caused by methadone use alone. Maybe our next discussion should be about US drug policy. Peter
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,250
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,250 |
Not so ol'chap, the social system is milked for all it's worth. She comes off the dole, and becomes the future baby-making machine(queen bee) for the crib. Our welfare system is the money pit and we're not getting much in the way of return for our dollars spent.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350 |
Canadian corporations with full-to-the ears profits and treasuries got billions in federal research and development grants whose effect on the country's productivity was worse than zero---it went down. We probably have different words to describe using taxes to line the pockets of CEOs and shareholders, but in Canada we call them corporate welfare bums. As for the babies, Canada is in big-time trouble if we don't get more of them---fast.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,155
Member
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OP
Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,155 |
If you were to ask James Madison, Thomas Jefferson or John Adams, what would they say. They'd say who needs help paying for a few leeches, or a barber to bleed you? Jefferson owned slaves, of course, and strongly opposed establishment of a standing army. It's hard to debate with someone whose social development stopped in the 18th century. ..the federal government already uses its bargaining power to set medicare rates and costs are still high. But not as high as privately funded health care. However, Big Pharma lobbyist$ got the new Medicare Part D to ban the gov't from bargaining with Rx drug companies - which is one reason why Americans are paying much more for American-made Rx drugs than anyone else in the world. As to the cost of malpractise the lawsuits and insurance premiums only scratch the surface of the effect. Since doctors know they are subject to be sued on a whim they will commonly order batteries of tests, ct scans and mri's even when unnecesary as an additional form of self protection. And the Democrats, who are heavily funded by the trial lawyers, resist any attempts at tort reform which would limit the size of malpractice awards. 'Populist' Dem John Edwards funded his campaign with millions raked off as a trial lawyer in class action suits. The numbers you showed above on infant mortality are so close that I don't believe health care quality is the difference. Infant mortality is a commonly used indicator of health care quality. The US compares poorly with OECD nations that have universal health care. If the US, at 6.4 deaths/1000 births in 2005, had achieved the rates of Germany, Spain or France, more than 8,000 American infant deaths would have been avoided in that one year. That's a pretty significant difference!
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 625
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 625 |
As for the babies, Canada is in big-time trouble if we don't get more of them---fast. King, This reminds me of a story. Some of our dear friends on Vancouver Island are a Frank and Lonnie, a couple in their late forties who have never had children. We were at dinner with them recently (with our 12 year old son who adores Frank, who first taught him to fish). Frank and I were discussing various things, including Canada's population (about 33 million), land mass, oil reserves and such. We were discussing Canada's very slight population growth which is still slowing and almost appears to be to the point of diminishing. Anyway, I asked Frank why he thought Canadians were commonly not having children. I expected a long discussion. He looked up and, with his deep voiced Canadian accent, said: "Hedonism." I about choked on my food. I still think it is a classic one word answer. Best Regards, Jake
R. Craig Clark jakearoo(at)cox.net
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350 |
I don't know whether it's a classic, Jakeroo, but it is a correct one. Regards, King
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 659
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 659 |
I know that our infant mortality rate is higher than some, but I also wonder why. Is it simply because we do not have universal health care? Or can it be attributed to other legitmate reasons?
I am in agreement with those that feel that ghe Federal Government has no place in the health care business. Nor do I believe in many other "welfare" type subsidies to corporations, farmers or individuals.
The Founders never promised anyone a rose garden, they simply said we would all have an equal opportunity.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,350 |
The United States of America has been the most generous nation on earth, Steve, not least from opening its borders many years ago while others were closing theirs. I believe at 30 to 40 per cent, its citizens are the most-regular-church-attending country in the western world. Its generosity and social ethic is not pure altruism, nor should it be, but it knew that leadership, a beacon on the hill, is a lot more than equal opportunity.
Last edited by King Brown; 02/24/08 05:22 PM.
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Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,250
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,250 |
King, someday soon, we'll all be together in the great American Socialist Union experiment. No Maple leaf - no Stars n Stripes - just free at last si!
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Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,464 Likes: 133
Sidelock
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Sidelock
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 11,464 Likes: 133 |
...our system has problems, but you're not doing much to help us solve them. And nothing you've said to this point is of any real value at all, unless you're willing to get behind A SPECIFIC PLAN. As usual, Larry sets up a straw man ("A SPECIFIC PLAN") and then beats it to death - without providing any information on his part. According to Larry, I'm obligated to provide all sorts of details about something I never proposed ("A SPECIFIC PLAN"), while he provides nothing but vague generalities. I agree with Larry that "nothing" I've posted here - the specific data on national health care costs and performance, the links to information sources - "is of any real value at all" to anyone whose mind is firmly closed and doesn't want to be confused by facts. I only hope that forum members with open minds will benefit from greater knowledge. Sorry, Larry. I've seen your straw man arguments before. If you can contribute any legitimate facts to contradict the information I have provided and sourced, I'd be glad to discuss it. If you can contribute any worthwhile information to help us get a better understanding of the issues surrounding national health care, I'd be pleased to consider it. Otherwise, I'll just ignore the usual spluttering from the peanut gallery. Wow . . . asking for "a specific plan" is a STRAWMAN? So far, Jack, all you've given us is information surrounding the "concept" of universal health care. Infant mortality higher here than in many other countries; we pay more; etc etc. All well and good. So let's say I don't own a car. I have a horse or maybe a bicycle, and you've presented data showing why a car is a better idea. Well, since I'm not a car owner (analogy to most Americans not having any experience with universal health care), showing me that a car (universal health care) is a good idea is only the first step. But what would REALLY be helpful would be if you'd tell me WHICH CAR (which universal health care plan) is best for me (this country)? Surely, Jack, if you've done all that study, you can tell us whether Austria's plan is superior to France's or Sweden's, and why. And give us the specifics. So far, what you've done is the equivalent of telling us that a double, either sxs or OU, is superior to a pump or an auto. Well, we're non-double owners, and we're looking for specific recommendations. I don't know about others here, but I wouldn't run out and buy a double based simply on a convincing argument that it's better than a pump or auto. There are bunches of them out there, and I don't know which one to buy. HELP! Same deal with universal health care. You've already admitted it's "not universally good", and you've already told us you don't favor either Obamacare or Hillarycare. So can we now . . . please, pretty please! . . . get beyond the generalizations about why universal health care is better, and get down to the SPECIFICS of what we should look for from our politicians in a universal health care plan YOU, PERSONALLY would support. Preferably based on an example of one you think works particularly well in country X, Y, or Z. Because it would seem if we leave it to the politicians, without our being better informed . . . well, for example, we're already being offered plans by Obama and Clinton, neither of which you like. So, where's the really good deal on a car or doublegun (universal health care) we should look to, since we know from what you've told us that there are bad deals out there?
Last edited by L. Brown; 02/24/08 07:54 PM.
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