Comments on: Finding the Balance – Healthcare Part II http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/ Start 'em up Mon, 19 Dec 2011 00:52:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Michelle http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/comment-page-2/#comment-1599 Michelle Thu, 05 Apr 2007 19:35:48 +0000 http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/#comment-1599 I don't know about anyone else but Nancy has me totally confused. Too bad she wasn't here to speak for herself. Because all I hear are what sound to me like contradictory situations, impressions and statements. Let me take the liberty of moving Nancy and her family to Canada. Let's also assume that the cold winters don't kill her. Without private insurance, Nancy will be footing the bill for those birth control bills. However, she won't be paying anything (that she can clearly see) for the medical care she requires. When she has her son, she will likely be able to stay in the hospital 48 hrs, assuming neither she nor the baby have any medical complications. Sleep problems? Well, she will wait to get in that clinic but I will give you 3-4 months maximum to see the sleep dr, maybe 4 months to get in the clinic (totally guessing here). I will tell you one thing that <em> won't</em> happen. Nobody will be paying a $15,000 bill. What does a family dr bill your insurance company for a regular visit? A few hundred dollars, as I understand it. Here that same dr would get around $45. Specialist dr for an office visit - around $75. Hmmmm.....wonder where all your money is being sucked up? And no, before you go there, I don't think our physicians are hurting too much financially - see the figures quoted in my post above. Those numbers are gross, of course, before the payment of overhead and such. They are also somewhat dated. I'm sorry but I am legitimately confused here. In one post I think I hear you praising public health care; in the next, I think I hear you slamming it. Anyway, let's continue with Nancy's son. No issue with HMOs and going "out of service". No paying cash up front. If she can't get into see her family doctor quick enough, she can go to a clinic (as she did in your scenario). And unfortunately the kid is just as likely to get misdiagnosed here too. But she will make it to the specialist without pissing off her pediatrician. I had a long discussion with a friend today about all these labels - social democrat, socialist, communist, facist, conservative, moderate conservative .... After I pegged down definitions, I decided that I am likely a social democrat (which at least some here are probably well aware of) - in my opinion, health, education and social welfare require government assistance and intervention. But I think private insurance has its place too. As as adjunct which needs to be kept in check. I think I probably come off as more anti-capitalism than I really am. But I think that much as I wrote in my "A Little to the Right Please" post, I push back against anything I perceive as being too extreme in one direction or another. The discerning readers here on TFD and at Lex's being, for the most part, more conservative than I likely bring out what some perceive as my "socialist" leanings. Oh yeah, after pinning down those elusive (to me) labels, I hereby declare that they should all be chucked. Out. Because too often I find they are used as an unfair and ultimately unhelpful shield, something to hide behind. <em>"That's socialist. Can't have anything to do what that". "Damm facist!"</em> Frankly, I think they are cop-outs. Just another form of ad hominem. In my opinion. Thanks for joining the discussion, Babs. But I really am somewhat confused. In other words, no, I really can't see what you are trying to say. Could you clarify? I don’t know about anyone else but Nancy has me totally confused. Too bad she wasn’t here to speak for herself. Because all I hear are what sound to me like contradictory situations, impressions and statements.

Let me take the liberty of moving Nancy and her family to Canada. Let’s also assume that the cold winters don’t kill her. Without private insurance, Nancy will be footing the bill for those birth control bills. However, she won’t be paying anything (that she can clearly see) for the medical care she requires.

When she has her son, she will likely be able to stay in the hospital 48 hrs, assuming neither she nor the baby have any medical complications.

Sleep problems? Well, she will wait to get in that clinic but I will give you 3-4 months maximum to see the sleep dr, maybe 4 months to get in the clinic (totally guessing here). I will tell you one thing that won’t happen. Nobody will be paying a $15,000 bill. What does a family dr bill your insurance company for a regular visit? A few hundred dollars, as I understand it. Here that same dr would get around $45. Specialist dr for an office visit – around $75.

Hmmmm…..wonder where all your money is being sucked up? And no, before you go there, I don’t think our physicians are hurting too much financially – see the figures quoted in my post above. Those numbers are gross, of course, before the payment of overhead and such. They are also somewhat dated.

I’m sorry but I am legitimately confused here. In one post I think I hear you praising public health care; in the next, I think I hear you slamming it.

Anyway, let’s continue with Nancy’s son. No issue with HMOs and going “out of service”. No paying cash up front. If she can’t get into see her family doctor quick enough, she can go to a clinic (as she did in your scenario). And unfortunately the kid is just as likely to get misdiagnosed here too. But she will make it to the specialist without pissing off her pediatrician.

I had a long discussion with a friend today about all these labels – social democrat, socialist, communist, facist, conservative, moderate conservative …. After I pegged down definitions, I decided that I am likely a social democrat (which at least some here are probably well aware of) – in my opinion, health, education and social welfare require government assistance and intervention. But I think private insurance has its place too. As as adjunct which needs to be kept in check.

I think I probably come off as more anti-capitalism than I really am. But I think that much as I wrote in my “A Little to the Right Please” post, I push back against anything I perceive as being too extreme in one direction or another. The discerning readers here on TFD and at Lex’s being, for the most part, more conservative than I likely bring out what some perceive as my “socialist” leanings.

Oh yeah, after pinning down those elusive (to me) labels, I hereby declare that they should all be chucked. Out. Because too often I find they are used as an unfair and ultimately unhelpful shield, something to hide behind. “That’s socialist. Can’t have anything to do what that”. “Damm facist!” Frankly, I think they are cop-outs. Just another form of ad hominem. In my opinion.

Thanks for joining the discussion, Babs. But I really am somewhat confused. In other words, no, I really can’t see what you are trying to say. Could you clarify?

]]> By: Babs http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/comment-page-2/#comment-1598 Babs Thu, 05 Apr 2007 18:34:16 +0000 http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/#comment-1598 Back it up 15 years. Nancy's son is sick... He is terribly sick. He has a head cold that won't quit. Nancy tries all the over the counter remedies. Finally, she calls her Dr. The Dr. is unavailable for 3 days... She takes the kid into the clinic, twice... They tell her it is pink eye. She tries to hang on for a couple of days. Finally, the kid's right eardrum bursts. She calls into the clinic. The Dr. is finally available. She tells the Dr. that her son needs to see an ear/nose/throat guy, the situation is serious. The Dr. points out to Nancy that she is an HMO patient and she can't authorize going out of the service... Nancy gets a lead on a local ENT guy. She calls the office and tells them she will pay cash to have her son seen... Her son is seen. He has a raging virus in his head. The ENT guy sends the kid next door to a pediatric opthamologist as his eye is involved. Nancy tells the staff again she will pay cash... Long story short, after the bills settle, the primary pediatician calls up pissed... Why did you do this, Nancy? Why did I do this? Ah, because I love my son and, BTW, you are fired... Anyone that has the financial means to override socialist health care will. Anyone that pushes socialist health care is either a fool or, they know they can buy their way out of it. Back it up 15 years. Nancy’s son is sick… He is terribly sick. He has a head cold that won’t quit. Nancy tries all the over the counter remedies. Finally, she calls her Dr. The Dr. is unavailable for 3 days… She takes the kid into the clinic, twice… They tell her it is pink eye. She tries to hang on for a couple of days. Finally, the kid’s right eardrum bursts. She calls into the clinic. The Dr. is finally available. She tells the Dr. that her son needs to see an ear/nose/throat guy, the situation is serious. The Dr. points out to Nancy that she is an HMO patient and she can’t authorize going out of the service…
Nancy gets a lead on a local ENT guy. She calls the office and tells them she will pay cash to have her son seen…
Her son is seen. He has a raging virus in his head. The ENT guy sends the kid next door to a pediatric opthamologist as his eye is involved. Nancy tells the staff again she will pay cash…
Long story short, after the bills settle, the primary pediatician calls up pissed… Why did you do this, Nancy?
Why did I do this? Ah, because I love my son and, BTW, you are fired…

Anyone that has the financial means to override socialist health care will. Anyone that pushes socialist health care is either a fool or, they know they can buy their way out of it.

]]> By: Babs http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/comment-page-2/#comment-1597 Babs Thu, 05 Apr 2007 18:10:34 +0000 http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/#comment-1597 Fast forward. Nancy is now50 years old and having a lot of trouble sleeping. She makes an appointment to see a sleep Dr. It is a 6 month wait. She is told she needs to go into a sleep clinic, another 4 month wait. She finally makes it into the sleep clinic. The people there are very nice and hook her up to recieve beams from Mars. She tries to sleep. Getting out of the sleep clinic she is told it will be a three week wait for the results. After three weeks, she calls the clinic. She is told that it will be another month or two before her results are available. Meanwhile, her insurance company is charged $15,000 dollars for her stay in the sleep clinic! She calls the insurance company and tells them not to pay the bill as no diagnosis has been forthcoming... They tell her that is not possible... She calls the sleep clinic back and demands results. She is told her notes are in "transcription" and she has to wait. After a whole bunch of huffing and puffing, Nancy finally gets a diagnosis. Severe sleep apnea. She is then told that the insurance approved company needs to be contacted and, they need to approve the recommended course of treatment. Does anyone here get my point? We are so tied up in red tape that people are suffering at a terrible rate. Why is that? Do you really think that public health clinics would be any worse than this? I don't. The funny thing is the panacea that people see with single payer health care. Why do you think public health care would be better than private? Private health care sucks.... just in case you didn't know. Fast forward. Nancy is now50 years old and having a lot of trouble sleeping. She makes an appointment to see a sleep Dr. It is a 6 month wait. She is told she needs to go into a sleep clinic, another 4 month wait. She finally makes it into the sleep clinic. The people there are very nice and hook her up to recieve beams from Mars. She tries to sleep. Getting out of the sleep clinic she is told it will be a three week wait for the results.
After three weeks, she calls the clinic. She is told that it will be another month or two before her results are available. Meanwhile, her insurance company is charged $15,000 dollars for her stay in the sleep clinic! She calls the insurance company and tells them not to pay the bill as no diagnosis has been forthcoming…
They tell her that is not possible…
She calls the sleep clinic back and demands results. She is told her notes are in “transcription” and she has to wait.
After a whole bunch of huffing and puffing, Nancy finally gets a diagnosis. Severe sleep apnea. She is then told that the insurance approved company needs to be contacted and, they need to approve the recommended course of treatment.
Does anyone here get my point? We are so tied up in red tape that people are suffering at a terrible rate. Why is that? Do you really think that public health clinics would be any worse than this? I don’t.
The funny thing is the panacea that people see with single payer health care. Why do you think public health care would be better than private? Private health care sucks…. just in case you didn’t know.

]]> By: Babs http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/comment-page-2/#comment-1596 Babs Thu, 05 Apr 2007 17:50:41 +0000 http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/#comment-1596 Nancy is a 21 year old unmarried cocktail waitress who also goes to school part time at Red Rocks Community College in Golden Colorado. Her birth control pills are causing uncontrolled bleeding due to a homonal imbalance... She went to a public health center, the same place that prescribed the pills for $10/yr, as she didn't have private health insurance, and was seen by a gynocologist on a sliding scale. The fee she was asked to pay for her health care was affordable to her and, was also subsidized by the gov't... Just one step short of having some kind of surgery to stop the bleeding, Nancy stopped bleeding. The Dr.s at the health clinic re-regulated her on the pills and, she hasn't had a bleeding episode since. Nancy paid several hundred dollars for this although it would have cost thousands of dollars through private health care. She has gone on to live a healthy life and bear two live born children... She has also contributed tens of thousands of dollars to the federal tax coffers. Nancy has been very grateful for this federal safety net and thinks this is probably the best way to deal with health care in the United States. She understands that the health care she recieved in the 70's, with the sliding scale and the opportunity of public clinics, is now antiquated. 9 years later, Nancy bore her first born son in a public hospital as an indigent as she and her husband were full time college students. It cost her and her husband less than $500 to have this baby (never mind that Nancy was kicked out of the hospital less than 24 hours after giving birth). But, Nancy and her husband did pay what was asked of them. Nancy wonders why some people think they should get health care "for free". Nancy read an article in the LA Times in about 1995 in which the reporter interviewed people that owned condos in the Huntington Beach area and also had full time jobs that did not have health insurance. Nancy marveled at the statements of these people. Basically they said, we are healthy, we don't need health insurance and don't want to pay for it. We would rather pay for condos and cars... Nancy wonders why the same type of health care that helped her so much has fallen out of favor. Nancy is a 21 year old unmarried cocktail waitress who also goes to school part time at Red Rocks Community College in Golden Colorado. Her birth control pills are causing uncontrolled bleeding due to a homonal imbalance… She went to a public health center, the same place that prescribed the pills for $10/yr, as she didn’t have private health insurance, and was seen by a gynocologist on a sliding scale. The fee she was asked to pay for her health care was affordable to her and, was also subsidized by the gov’t…
Just one step short of having some kind of surgery to stop the bleeding, Nancy stopped bleeding. The Dr.s at the health clinic re-regulated her on the pills and, she hasn’t had a bleeding episode since.
Nancy paid several hundred dollars for this although it would have cost thousands of dollars through private health care.
She has gone on to live a healthy life and bear two live born children… She has also contributed tens of thousands of dollars to the federal tax coffers.
Nancy has been very grateful for this federal safety net and thinks this is probably the best way to deal with health care in the United States. She understands that the health care she recieved in the 70′s, with the sliding scale and the opportunity of public clinics, is now antiquated.
9 years later, Nancy bore her first born son in a public hospital as an indigent as she and her husband were full time college students. It cost her and her husband less than $500 to have this baby (never mind that Nancy was kicked out of the hospital less than 24 hours after giving birth). But, Nancy and her husband did pay what was asked of them.
Nancy wonders why some people think they should get health care “for free”.
Nancy read an article in the LA Times in about 1995 in which the reporter interviewed people that owned condos in the Huntington Beach area and also had full time jobs that did not have health insurance. Nancy marveled at the statements of these people. Basically they said, we are healthy, we don’t need health insurance and don’t want to pay for it. We would rather pay for condos and cars…
Nancy wonders why the same type of health care that helped her so much has fallen out of favor.

]]> By: unkawill http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/comment-page-2/#comment-1389 unkawill Thu, 29 Mar 2007 23:28:50 +0000 http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/#comment-1389 I own everything RAH ever published, Just got done with "Time enough for Love" two weeks ago for the fourth time. I have an extensive library of Sci-Fi, Biographies, History,all Sherlock Holmes, Clancy, DuBois, Griffin, and I hope one day to add our host to my collection. Right now I am trying to slog through Madison's Bio. It's as good as a twelve pack before bed as far going to sleep. Five minutes top's and I'm out! I own everything RAH ever published, Just got done with “Time enough for Love” two weeks ago for the fourth time. I have an extensive library of Sci-Fi, Biographies, History,all Sherlock Holmes, Clancy, DuBois, Griffin, and I hope one day to add our host to my collection.

Right now I am trying to slog through Madison’s Bio. It’s as good as a twelve pack before bed as far going to sleep.

Five minutes top’s and I’m out!

]]> By: Pixelkiller http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/comment-page-2/#comment-1382 Pixelkiller Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:53:47 +0000 http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/#comment-1382 Michelle; Either you manage it or it manages you, (and it doesn't even know your there). I think you're probably correct, unfortunately. Our fearless leaders will continue to muddle through until there ain't a muddle left in sight. If they wont lead and can't follow, they should at least get the hell out of the way! so many don't realize or refuse to even look, but we are all in the same leaky boat so we all better bail. That 2 inches of jack Danials was wonderful last night. Maybe I'll begin a tad earlier today. The bike's in the garage, my shoes are already off, what can happen? Michelle;
Either you manage it or it manages you, (and it doesn’t even know your there).
I think you’re probably correct, unfortunately. Our fearless leaders will continue to muddle through until there ain’t a muddle left in sight. If they wont lead and can’t follow, they should at least get the hell out of the way! so many don’t realize or refuse to even look, but we are all in the same leaky boat so we all better bail.
That 2 inches of jack Danials was wonderful last night. Maybe I’ll begin a tad earlier today. The bike’s in the garage, my shoes are already off, what can happen?

]]> By: Michelle http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/comment-page-2/#comment-1372 Michelle Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:16:06 +0000 http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/#comment-1372 Ah, Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction magazine........ I was a subscriber for a long time :) As for healthcare....bah, I'm done with this subject (she says hopefully). "Managed crash", huh? Good luck with that BTW Ah, Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction magazine…….. I was a subscriber for a long time :)

As for healthcare….bah, I’m done with this subject (she says hopefully).
“Managed crash”, huh? Good luck with that BTW

]]> By: Pixelkiller http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/comment-page-2/#comment-1370 Pixelkiller Thu, 29 Mar 2007 16:06:47 +0000 http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/#comment-1370 Unkawill; I grew up with Heinline also, but no, "Pixelkiller" did not come from there. (That's a story for some other time). As a Heinlein fan, you remember his series of stories on "Future History". You also remember, no doubt, Issac Azimov? He came into my life a little later with his Robot stories. Mostly I came to appreciate Azimov when he wrote Science Fact articles in a pulp called Analog Magazine. A fellow named Cambell was editor back then. Cambell's editorials every month opened my eyes to how people really are and the way things work. Cambell gave lots of SiFi writers their start. Sorry, I have digressed. What I failed to say, or just left unsaid, was that after the crash, there will be chaos and misery first and then rebuilding. I'm on the lookout for someone, anyone, who can manage a "managed crash". (The foundation Trilogy?) We will rebuild properly if we remember the "Law". If we persist in wishfull thinking, we won't. Good luck to us all..... Unkawill;
I grew up with Heinline also, but no, “Pixelkiller” did not come from there. (That’s a story for some other time). As a Heinlein fan, you remember his series of stories on “Future History”. You also remember, no doubt, Issac Azimov? He came into my life a little later with his Robot stories. Mostly I came to appreciate Azimov when he wrote Science Fact articles in a pulp called Analog Magazine. A fellow named Cambell was editor back then. Cambell’s editorials every month opened my eyes to how people really are and the way things work. Cambell gave lots of SiFi writers their start. Sorry, I have digressed.
What I failed to say, or just left unsaid, was that after the crash, there will be chaos and misery first and then rebuilding. I’m on the lookout for someone, anyone, who can manage a “managed crash”. (The foundation Trilogy?) We will rebuild properly if we remember the “Law”. If we persist in wishfull thinking, we won’t.
Good luck to us all…..

]]> By: unkawill http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/comment-page-2/#comment-1347 unkawill Thu, 29 Mar 2007 02:48:11 +0000 http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/#comment-1347 Pixel killer, Is your Nom-de-Blog related in any way to my favorite childhood/ early teen author Robert A. Heinlein? In the body of your comments you state: "Eureka! I got it”, said God. And so it came to pass in the fullness of the 7th day, the first law, “There shall be no free lunch”." IIRC he coined the phrase, or should I say acronym "TANSTAAFL"-- There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. I agree with you overall, It's not going to be pretty when it all comes crashing down. It's going to be chaos for all long time till it all shakes out. As far as the name Pixel, Heinlein had a cat by that name as a minor character in several of his books. Pixel killer, Is your Nom-de-Blog related in any way to my favorite childhood/ early teen author Robert A. Heinlein?

In the body of your comments you state: “Eureka! I got it”, said God. And so it came to pass in the fullness of the 7th day, the first law, “There shall be no free lunch”.”

IIRC he coined the phrase, or should I say acronym “TANSTAAFL”– There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch.

I agree with you overall, It’s not going to be pretty when it all comes crashing down.

It’s going to be chaos for all long time till it all shakes out.

As far as the name Pixel, Heinlein had a cat by that name as a minor character in several of his books.

]]> By: Pixelkiller http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/comment-page-2/#comment-1342 Pixelkiller Thu, 29 Mar 2007 00:08:06 +0000 http://www.neptunuslex.com/Wiki/2007/03/21/finding-the-balance-healthcare-part-ii/#comment-1342 Ladies and Gentlemen; For one last time; I've read all the posts and I'm left with this: You are still missing the point. You are very busy and well-meaning, but you're all running around trying to tie up Gulliver. ....A thread over a pinky here, a string over a wrist there..... On the 7th day, the book says, God rested. (A job well done and all that doncha know). Well, what the book doesn't say is God had left something undone. (The sound of a hand striking the forehead), No law! So, God thought and thought. It had to be something simple and elegant. A law all the other laws, (think universe here), could come from and hang onto. "Eureka! I got it", said God. And so it came to pass in the fullness of the 7th day, the first law, "There shall be no free lunch". It seems to me, and I have a lot of milage on this old body, that all the misery in this here world, (and I've seen more than my share), starting way back from day "8", comes from ignoring/finessing/ that law. This whole "longest running conversation" is a study on what happens when you/us, or those before you/us, bought into the scheme/scam of a free lunch. (Insert here: affordable, universal, government sponsored health care). I advise you/us all again, prepare for it to collapse, because when it does, it's gonna really suck. I sorry if I brought you down, but I am reminded of something that might perhaps lift you up a little. (eh, maybe not)..... A long time ago in Hong Kong when it was still festooned with Suzy Wong Bars, I was walking down a small street when from up ahead and across, three British sailers exploded out of a restaurant door. They fell into the street and were immediately followed by a large Chinese cook dressed in white and brandishing a huge cleaver. As the sailers were picking themselves up looking to continue escaping, the Chinese cook stops at the curb and yells loud enough for everybody on the street to hear, "You, , you, , , you, suck hairy moose-cock!" All the people within earshot had stopped and were watching, but at his curse, we all broke into laughter. The cook looked around, slowly lowered his cleaver and walked back into the restaurent. The sailers, now all upright, staggerd off in search of another adventure as did I. So, I guess the point of this story is, as bad as it will appear, it too shall pass. Good luck y-all. I'm gonna pour myself 2 fingers of Jack Daniels and see if anybody came up with any news on any of the TV news shows. (I'm kidding, I'm kidding). Ladies and Gentlemen;
For one last time; I’ve read all the posts and I’m left with this: You are still missing the point. You are very busy and well-meaning, but you’re all running around trying to tie up Gulliver. ….A thread over a pinky here, a string over a wrist there…..
On the 7th day, the book says, God rested. (A job well done and all that doncha know). Well, what the book doesn’t say is God had left something undone. (The sound of a hand striking the forehead), No law! So, God thought and thought. It had to be something simple and elegant. A law all the other laws, (think universe here), could come from and hang onto. “Eureka! I got it”, said God. And so it came to pass in the fullness of the 7th day, the first law, “There shall be no free lunch”.
It seems to me, and I have a lot of milage on this old body, that all the misery in this here world, (and I’ve seen more than my share), starting way back from day “8″, comes from ignoring/finessing/ that law. This whole “longest running conversation” is a study on what happens when you/us, or those before you/us, bought into the scheme/scam of a free lunch. (Insert here: affordable, universal, government sponsored health care).
I advise you/us all again, prepare for it to collapse, because when it does, it’s gonna really suck.

I sorry if I brought you down, but I am reminded of something that might perhaps lift you up a little. (eh, maybe not)….. A long time ago in Hong Kong when it was still festooned with Suzy Wong Bars, I was walking down a small street when from up ahead and across, three British sailers exploded out of a restaurant door. They fell into the street and were immediately followed by a large Chinese cook dressed in white and brandishing a huge cleaver. As the sailers were picking themselves up looking to continue escaping, the Chinese cook stops at the curb and yells loud enough for everybody on the street to hear, “You, , you, , , you, suck hairy moose-cock!” All the people within earshot had stopped and were watching, but at his curse, we all broke into laughter. The cook looked around, slowly lowered his cleaver and walked back into the restaurent. The sailers, now all upright, staggerd off in search of another adventure as did I. So, I guess the point of this story is, as bad as it will appear, it too shall pass.
Good luck y-all. I’m gonna pour myself 2 fingers of Jack Daniels and see if anybody came up with any news on any of the TV news shows. (I’m kidding, I’m kidding).

]]>