The Observation Deck

Are you caterwauling again Will, you graciously ceded to me.

I knew you couldn't stand it.

I'm not going to argue with you. When you need help let me know. I will help you.

Too many "I've got mine" people are in for a bigger surprise than October 1st really soon.

One more thing Will, look into tax write offs for the "private systems" and read the annual reports of hospitals and universities in the area.

Find out what Hill-Burton is and why it was established. Have fun.

Every doctor I have talked to that has a private practice is afraid of socialized medicine. One of my doctors told me recently that he had received his 3rd cut this year from Medicare. He now loses $35 per Medicare patient that he sees, he could deny them and force cash like some others have, but he doesn't have the heart. If more people start getting on similar programs how will he stay in business or give equal care? Maybe he will have a private insurance line and a government - one you get best care, on the other you get basic care.

Will makes an excellent point about private health care being paid by the government - ie taxes from people who make a lot more money then the people getting the care (interesting that most receiving the care dislike the rich that actually pay for their service)

One of the main problems that I have seen is liability insurance.

One of my doctors pays $30,000 a MONTH in liability insurance.

We need to control the lawyers. They make everything more expensive.

We need national health care. You will truly never understand what you don't have until you have it.

I agree with you on one thing Ryan we need to control some lawsuits. I won't say all because many are with merit. But controlling lawsuits is part of the solution. As for government programs perhaps medicaid is different than medicare because there are dental practices out there that cater to medicaid patients, and if they were losing money on every patient they certainly couldn't stay in business. As for doctor my children's pediatrician serves a lot of medicaid patients and once again if they were losing money on each patient they wouldn't stay in business either.

Ms Kinsella:

I never ceded anything to you. I said I wouldn't debate you; I said it because you seem frequently confused, and I felt that debating you would be akin to bayonetting the wounded. You apparently labor under the delusion that any post on this forum is aimed directly at you. Nothing could be farther from the truth; I almost always disregard your increasingly venal postings, as you rarely offer any facts or reasoning.

A wise man once said its better to be quiet and be thought a fool, than to speak up and remove all doubt. I'm probably not the only person who has suggested you consider that, and I probably won't be the last.

Not being wealthy, I don't consider myself to represent an I've got mine attitude. I do feel, as my family taught me, that one should work very hard to get what one needs, and to avoid what we once called welfare, and save for your retirement. Feeling that way, I think the number of us who are perfectly satisfied to remain endlessly on various government programs is weakening our country. I once worked with a man who said he was going to buy all the luxuries he needed and spend all his money before retiring, then go on welfare to cover his living expenses. I hope he was joking, but both he and I knew his plan would work.

Mr. Brown, did it ever occur to you that some people on welfare would rather not receive assistance? Many of the people getting assistance are disabled or elderly or even the working poor. Sure there are people that take advantage but don't we as a good nation need to help those less fortunate. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I hope you are never in the position of needing help.

Doctor Quentin Young gave an interesting take on this in one of Studs Terkel's interview books. He said lawyers bridge the communication gap between patients and doctors. The communication gap rose through over-specialization in medicine, and the new distances of suburban sprawl and giant centralized hospitals.

of course becoming a lawyer is one of the surest paths of upward mobility in america. it is even easier than becoming a medical doctor.

I worked for 30 years Will.

I'm 59 years old. I've raised three kids on my own.

I read 14 books every two weeks.

But you just carry on oh wise one.

You know your delusions of adequacy are pretentious, undeserved and show you to be a foolish person.

I read 14 books every two weeks.

speaking of books, could I get "The Cat in The Hat" back... thanks

As soon as you're ready for me to give you "Fingersmith" and the new Al Franken Steven - step it young man.

Stephen Eisel wrote:

I read 14 books every two weeks.

speaking of books, could I get "The Cat in The Hat" back... thanks

Stephen

errrrr ahhhh I have it still.


page 13 makes me giggle.


.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Stephen Eisel wrote:

I read 14 books every two weeks.

speaking of books, could I get "The Cat in The Hat" back... thanks

Stephen

errrrr ahhhh I have it still.


page 13 makes me giggle.


.

That now explains why you like the triangle coach so much

Stephen Eisel wrote:That now explains why you like the triangle coach so much

That coat makes me look smart, and the book proves it.

Well the 15 pages I can read.




.

Jim O'Bryan wrote:

Stephen Eisel wrote:That now explains why you like the triangle coach so much

That coat makes me look smart, and the book proves it.

Well the 15 pages I can read.




.

You look so hawt in that coat....

Are you boys having fun with photoshop?