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can4christ
February 3rd, 2008, 01:12 AM
Well, for quite some time now the US has had socialized education (Not sure why that is not argued against so much ...). A few years ago, the US placed 19th among industrialized nations in math and science. This past Fall we were 25th. So much for socialized education although that is not the whole problem because many of the nations that are ahead of the US are socialist also. There is more to it. On the other hand, as I was saying in part last July in this same thread, there are many, many Americans without healthcare insurance. Mostly people that have a job with healthcare argue for privitized healthcare, as bad as it currently is and folks with no job and no healthcare or, as is becoming more common, with a job and no healthcare, argue for the nationalized. When they are faced with a sick child or spouse, they won't hear those opposed that already have health insurance and those with health insurance don't want to see it nationalized.

Maybe it needs to be a hybrid system. Those that have healthcare either through an employer or because they have the means to buy their own can stay with the privatized care they have and those with out insurance supplied by an employer or no means to purchase their own could go with a voluntary nationalized system. That way, those that are a part of the privatized system can enjoy the superior care they receive and those that have to use the nationalized system will at least have something even if inferior.

Issachar




I have said for years to get rid of government schools or at least go back to locally controlled schools. The biggest problem with schools is they are "free" and parents don't have an incentive to encourage their kids. The parents are the problem, no matter how much money we throw at education it will not get better until the family gets better.

All through my son's school days, I witnessed the same 8-10 parents that were actually involved. Most were more concerned with their kids clothing, shoes, popularity and sports. When my son was in 2nd grade I volunteered once a week to let the kids read to me because their mom and or dad wouldn't take 10 minutes and listen to them. Every year it was the same thing.

I alway supplemented my son's government education with home studies. I saw it as my responsibility.

As far as health insurance it should stay in the private sector. We currently have no health coverage and I would rather pay for it myself. My husband had 4 surgeries 1991-1992 with no coverage and we survived, it took 10 years to pay it off. You always pay your house payment first along with basic living expenses. Medical bills will wait, it takes years of not paying before they even try to sue you.

When you actually pay for it yourself you can bargain with them. That $20.00 aspirin becomes $1.00 and so on. My husband almost died as it was, I can't imagine how it would have turned out if things were socialized/rationed.

OnceWasLost
February 3rd, 2008, 01:21 AM
I have said for years to get rid of government schools or at least go back to locally controlled schools. The biggest problem with schools is they are "free" and parents don't have an incentive to encourage their kids. The parents are the problem, no matter how much money we throw at education it will not get better until the family gets better.

All through my son's school days, I witnessed the same 8-10 parents that were actually involved. Most were more concerned with their kids clothing, shoes, popularity and sports. When my son was in 2nd grade I volunteered once a week to let the kids read to me because their mom and or dad wouldn't take 10 minutes and listen to them. Every year it was the same thing.

I alway supplemented my son's government education with home studies. I saw it as my responsibility.

As far as health insurance it should stay in the private sector. We currently have no health coverage and I would rather pay for it myself. My husband had 4 surgeries 1991-1992 with no coverage and we survived, it took 10 years to pay it off. You always pay your house payment first along with basic living expenses. Medical bills will wait, it takes years of not paying before they even try to sue you.

When you actually pay for it yourself you can bargain with them. That $20.00 aspirin becomes $1.00 and so on. My husband almost died as it was, I can't imagine how it would have turned out if things were socialized/rationed.

So glad to here it worked out. After all that it refreshing to see your outlook and I totally concur on private being preferable. Thanks for the first hand account

My father was being treated by the V.A. for his heart disease years ago, and though we were happy he was able to see a doctor, we saw it was not great care. He died at 64 from heart failure. It left an indelible impression on me as to what a government system would look like. I can only hope it never comes to that.

can4christ
February 3rd, 2008, 11:05 AM
So glad to here it worked out. After all that it refreshing to see your outlook and I totally concur on private being preferable. Thanks for the first hand account

My father was being treated by the V.A. for his heart disease years ago, and though we were happy he was able to see a doctor, we saw it was not great care. He died at 64 from heart failure. It left an indelible impression on me as to what a government system would look like. I can only hope it never comes to that.




My dad is currently being treated by the VA for cancer and diabetes and the medications they prescribe have to be bought at the VA pharmacy for much more than Wal-Mart's $4.00 generic list.

Our personal doctor won't take Medicaid or Medicare because he would have to charge more. The government sets the price and he would have to charge people on private insurance as well as cash paying patients the same rate as the government sets, which is much higher.

OnceWasLost
February 3rd, 2008, 01:24 PM
My dad is currently being treated by the VA for cancer and diabetes and the medications they prescribe have to be bought at the VA pharmacy for much more than Wal-Mart's $4.00 generic list.

Our personal doctor won't take Medicaid or Medicare because he would have to charge more. The government sets the price and he would have to charge people on private insurance as well as cash paying patients the same rate as the government sets, which is much higher.

:tsk

OnceWasLost
February 4th, 2008, 01:04 PM
I don't know if that was just tongue in cheek, but we don't have a dictatorship, and at least we don't have a complete nationalist candidate.

A neo isolationist, but that's about it. :rolleyes

Onelostsock
February 4th, 2008, 01:07 PM
Decidedly not tongue-in-cheek.

OnceWasLost
February 4th, 2008, 02:31 PM
Well, when we get a nationalist dictator like the ones you mentioned I will take notice, until then it's just a move towards European style socialism as I see it :hat

Onelostsock
February 4th, 2008, 02:41 PM
Do you have any evidence of anything other than a slide backwards to the gilded age? Cause I don't see it. Wish I could.

OnceWasLost
February 4th, 2008, 02:59 PM
Do you have any evidence of anything other than a slide backwards to the gilded age? Cause I don't see it. Wish I could.

Really? a Dictator? a Nationalist? Like Germany and Italy circa WWII? I don't see it. Dissidents aren't killed, and last I checked there are two major parties and some fringe ones to boot. Is the opposition imprisoned or dead? We are sliding dangerously toward socialism IMO, but are not in the same time zone as fascism.

I think that when we use inaccurate labels we hurt our cause. It makes it easy for our enemies to marginalize us as out of touch. Just my opinion of course.

frodo82801
February 6th, 2008, 10:31 AM
http://media.townhall.com/Townhall/Car/b/GM080206G-Hillary_Ma.jpg