why are lawmakers praising the 700B

[mrkbbd]

lawmakers are happy because now they can go home and campaign

[martinbaltes]

this country is on a slow road to self destruction. we have allienated ourselves from the basics of life.

[blondboinsd]

Originally Posted by DesertMotorWorks

"The United States is ranked #37 as a health system by the World Health Organization."

For being the most powerful nation on this planet, our health-care system sucks. Yeah, countries such as GB, Canada, France, etc., tax the hell out of their citizens, but the minute they walk into a hospital for any kind of help (whether it be a $1 medical expense, or a $500,000 medical expense), they literally walk out of that hospital with nary a bill to pay.

We have some of the best doctors in the world, right here in the great USofA, but anyone would be very naive to think that other countries do not rival us in regards to doctors / health-care / etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQ1lPPTPSR4

ROFL, I disagree, I think we have among the best healthcare system, if NOT the best for those who are properly insured. Due to this, any ranking would be flawed. Remember, we ranked number 1 for access to care, NUMBER 1. Thanks but no thanks. No DMV Healthcare!

[4point4eye]

Originally Posted by Wagner

If anything they should be apologizing for having to do this. But, we are now socialist so bring on the government healthcare so I can stop covering my employees

Well, let's see if Bush defies the liberal Congress and vetos the Bill... Nope - he signed...

http://money.cnn.com/2008/10/03/news...lout/index.htm?

[JCL]

Originally Posted by MrLabGuy

I kept hoping last night when Biden brought up government provided health care that Palin would ask America if they wanted their doctors visits to resemble a visit to the DMV.

You seem to equate universal health insurance with government health service delivery. I fully understand why you wouldn't want solely government service delivery (DMV model), but what does that have to do with health insurance? You have to separate the two, they are different issues.

When I read the platform of the two US candidates, they both talked about health insurance, not health services delivery.

[JCL]

Just a side comment, but why is everyone so down on your DMV? I gather that the service level leaves something to be desired, to put it politely. If so, why does the government run it in the US? Why not privatize it, like has been done in many countries (like Canada) that you regularly hold up as socialist bastions? Why do you tolerate poor service? Maybe Wagner is right, and you really are socialist at heart? Just asking.

[MrLabGuy]

Originally Posted by JCL

You seem to equate universal health insurance with government health service delivery. I fully understand why you wouldn't want solely government service delivery (DMV model), but what does that have to do with health insurance? You have to separate the two, they are different issues.

When I read the platform of the two US candidates, they both talked about health insurance, not health services delivery.

Who pays for your insurance in Canada? I suspect you wait in as long a line for health-care as we wait in line at the DMV only to get substandard service from some pee-on who does not give a damn.

[JCL]

Federal taxes pay for basic health coverage (insurance). My employer and I pay for the balance of my coverage (extended health benefits, fitness benefits, optometrist, physio, counselling, all prescription drugs, etc, etc). Not unusual here.

About 30% of services are delivered by private providers (figures from Canadian Institute for Health Information, 2007 numbers). I go to a private dentist, physio, optometrist, full medical check-ups every year, etc and use the hospital for emergencies. Some don't, and that is one of the problems in our emergency rooms, there are a line up of people with colds. They tend to have to wait.

If you go to a hospital it is likely that the services will be delivered by a public organization. The doctors don't work for the government directly, they are paid a fee for service. Last time I went to the hospital was following a bicycle accident. My wife came in on a stretcher in an ambulance. I drove myself. We waited about 5 minutes for a doctor for her, I was triaged within 5 minutes but waited an hour and a half for X-rays. More urgent patients like my wife went ahead of me. We then had to wait another three hours for two operations for her (ortho). She went into post-op, then a hospital bed the same day, in a ward with 4 beds as a semi-private was not available. She was released 7 days later. It cost us total of $75 for the ambulance user fee.

My dad was in the emergency room two weeks ago (he walked in). He waited 3 hours total. He was booked back for a procedure that happened today, in the same hospital.

Sorry if I don't fit the stereotype. I received similar service in a government hospital in the UK (15 minute wait the one time I went). I used a private hospital in Chile, although a public one was available (2-tier system).

Yes, there are plenty of horror stories, absolutely. There are also success stories. It depends what you are looking for.

Still not sure why you tolerate your DMV. Last time I went to get my driver's license renewed it took 5 minutes. It is a contract operator in the local shopping mall. To be fair, I went once and they weren't open (late at night) and had to go back the next day.

Back to the original point: Government should make the rules, and in many cases the services can be delivered by private enterprises more efficiently. Having health insurance isn't the same as having state-employed doctors, it is a scare tactic that diverts the argument.

[Quicksilver]

People rail the DMV because of the employees attitude. In some neighborhoods the attitude of the employees is bad to begin with and sometimes it's based upon the people they are serving. I have seen some people go off because they have to wait so long for service. The long wait is caused by the people working there who have a bad attitude that want to do as little as they can. That in turn makes customers angry. When people get angry, they let the employees know how they feel. That in turn calls for guards to be posted in some offices which in turn offends customers and on and on and on.

However it isn't that way at every DMV. I recently went to another DMV for a new DL and everything went smooth and the employees we're very helpful.

Originally Posted by JCL

Just a side comment, but why is everyone so down on your DMV? I gather that the service level leaves something to be desired, to put it politely. If so, why does the government run it in the US? Why not privatize it, like has been done in many countries (like Canada) that you regularly hold up as socialist bastions? Why do you tolerate poor service? Maybe Wagner is right, and you really are socialist at heart? Just asking.

[noncom23]

So Monday morning the bankers go to work and start making bad loans again. They just continue with the same crap...