Booklady,

I'm reading a book now called "Glasnot: An Anthology of Russian Literature Under Gorbachev". I received this book while taking a course in Russian culture at Oakand University. In it are a bunch of short stories that describe the life of ordinary Russians under communist rule. It is, to say the least, frightening. This is not Americans writing about the U.S.S.R., this is Russian authors. What I find most hideous, is what a person, under the Communist Utopia, has to do to get anything beyond the necessities of life, for example a new winter coat...with or without buttons, whatever the committe decides. Or maybe, just the buttons...

I just don't think people like Ignacio or Martin will ever get it through their heads how much better capitalism is than socialism. I repeat, for the sake of humanity, I hope there is never and end to greed or, more specifically, an end to a system that relies on an individuals self-interest. You say you are for individual rights Ignacio! When does a socialist system guarantee these?

Desert Dweller,

I'm sure you are greatful that the greedy medical students that repaired your hand, cared enough about themselves and their studies to return your hand to operation. Do you really care if they were motivated by money?!?!?! I know you would rather have them operate on your hand than for them to be over in some third world country 'saving the world'. Oops, enough ranting.

I can't believe you most of the time either Ignacio. But I like you better for it.

Yes, it's true, I'm convinced Ignacio is a misunderstood closet capitalist. That's why we like him so much!!!

So, desert dweller, did you pay that $48,000 medical bill yourself with your Bush-recommended medical savings account?---how many years would it take you to save up that much money? Or, do you have health insurance unlike how many million Americans? By the way, are you traveling to Canada to get your flu shot this year? Better not, you know, medicines from Canada are unsafe....sure glad Bush is keeping us so safe.

Unfortunately there WERE chemical weapons at one time in Iraq. Ask the people of Halabja (a Kurdish town of 8000 decimated by these horrible weapons). The weapons were also used on Iranian targets. Not that this makes the current situation any better, but a lot of people prior to the invasion thought that Saddam had held onto his wMDs. Even many people who opposed the US action thought the weapons were hidden somewhere...

Yes, but everybody else thought the opposite, and we were right. Does that say something about USA media's info?

And there HAD BEEN WMD in Irak, everybody knows that. The USA gave them and encouraged them to use them against Iranians? Are you going to blame them for doing their dirty job under their command?

But what the war was about, after the Al-Quaeda incredible excuse, was that they had THEN (when the invasion was made) WMD, which was false, which had been flase for more than 10 years, which the international community considered false, and the UN inspectors and the UN found no proofs and believed false.

No excuses to that evil act.

I think the problem with Iraq was there was only 3 alternatives
a) Invade and get rid of Saddam (although there should have been a better plan to re-build the country afterwards)
b) Keep Saddam in power. Maintain the sanctions already in place which allegedly have resulted in half a million dead Iraqi children.
c) Keep Saddam in power. Lift the sanctions. Allow Saddam to become strong again.
Unfortunately all those who attack option a) have not come up with a different alternative to b) or c). It's no good saying "Oh we should use a time-machine to stop support for Saddam in the 1980s".
If there was a better alternative to b) or c) I've yet to hear it - and would be very grateful to do so.

Aidance,

Whether Desert Dweller paid the $48,000 out of his own pocket or had health insurance coverage doesn't matter. Health coverage is one of the things we work for here.

Your type feels that it's old Gazpacho's job to pay for Desert Dweller's mishap, because, in order to have his operation, someone has to pay for it. If you're so worried about someone elses medical bills, you go to work and spend your own money paying it for them, but kindly leave me out of it. I'm tired of you Kerry supporters thinking the rest of us have to pay for your upkeep.

Aidance,

Actually there are things that are associated with the medical savings account that make it very appealing, and in fact, it will work, if you look at the avenues available.

My wife and I will save over $3,000 in "out of pocket" medical expenses during the 2005 calendar year, as compared to what we would pay for "better insurance," even after we satisfy all deductibles. Why? Because the cost of "better coverage" actually is so excessive that it actually costs nearly twice as much as a higher deductable policy, with a savings plan, earmarked for that specific need.

Because of the deductibles, and the cost of things like eyewear, and dental coverage, the amount saved pyramids.

Of course that doesn't work for someone who expects everything for free, but after all, they are one of the key problems with the system as it stands. People who get everything handed to them on a platter, then decide that they "won't make doctor appointments," and just use emergency rooms for all their needs. The people who won't find the best prices available on medications, because "someone else is paying for it."

The problem is, for those of us who "pay for the services," we pay more because of these excesses, and to be honest, the burden on us now is far greater than what it should be.

As far as socialized medicine in the US, we already have it. It's called welfare and medical assistance at the indigent level, and the only people that really are being burned by the system are those who are paying too much for medical insurance because of the abusers who are getting it all for free.

Wolf

Wolf, as usual you are correct. The beauty of the medical spending accounts, in addition to awareness about true health cost, is that it allows you to keep your money if you do not use it in a particular year. If you do not use the money you set aside in Flexible spending accounts you lose it at the end of the year.

Quote "If you're so worried about someone elses medical bills, you go to work and spend your own money paying it for them, but kindly leave me out of it."
Gee, Gazpacho, thanks for the suggestion that I go to work. I've been wondering what I'm supposed to do after my alarm goes off every morning at 5am. By the way, you and all of us already pay it for "them"--all the uninsured people who access health care at emergency rooms, free of charge to them, because they can't afford to go to the doctor. The whole system needs an overhaul, but I doubt either Kerry or Bush would accomplish much in this regard. Each side probably has something valuable to offer, but with special interests being protected by both the right and the left, no compromises seem possible. Until the political culture changes, expect more of the same.
Wolf, we have one more huge example of socialized medicine--Medicare. I've often wondered why that can't be adapted for us all. Maybe it would put too many insurance companies out of business. Probably a lot of doctors, too, since they have to absorb the costs that Medicare won't re-inburse. On the other hand, if their insurance premiums weren 't so high....These are complex problems requiring multi-lateral solutions, reaching "across the aisle"....we need leadership that values consideration of many points of view. Is that possible?