How the Presidential election will affect DENTISTRY

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No...Very little at the most. What a lot of people don't get is that the democrats and republicans have two completely different outlooks of how our healthcare system, in general, should look like. If Kerry is elected, he's not going to get the votes in congress to make any significant changes, and the same applies for Bush. It's a dual standoff that will be in stalemate for a very long time
 
Will it have any effect on healthcare and dentistry? Absolutely.

Will it have any immediate effect? Like coodoo said, probably not. But it certainly could, and it would be unfortuante to claim that it couldn't.

Political views aside, I don't know that I'm too comfortable having an elected official in the White House who makes his bucks, in part, off suing healthcare providers.

If dentistry follows the trend of medicine, then our profession will be facing stronger and stronger pressure to cave in to HMOs and other forms of payment in the upcoming years.

In these senses, this election will play a hand in our futures. In any definite and specific sense, I think it's much too distant and too early to tell.
 
1. Bush wants a cap on "suffering " claims in lawsuits, which helps us in the unlikely effect you get in a suit. This will definately lower malpractice fees and more importantly, make lawsuits less "appealing" since the benefit is reduced.
2. The republicans generally lower taxes for our tax bracket. Some of us will be in that top 1% .
3. Bush small business package/ stimulus will make it very appealing for us graduating soon to start our own practice. This is what had me sold!
The rest of the BS dosn't really affect me.
 
kerrydds06 said:
2. The republicans generally lower taxes for our tax bracket. Some of us will be in that top 1% .
3. Bush small business package/ stimulus will make it very appealing for us graduating soon to start our own practice. .
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These 2 points are 110% true for us dental people. Remember currently one of Pres. Bush's tax incentives for small business has it that you can write off upto $100,000 of business purchases(big ticket items) like equipment, renovations/construction, and even a company car as long as it has a groos vehicle weight of over 6,000 lbs (can you say Escalade, Hummer, Suburban). It's simple you spend the money on your business upto $100,000 a year and you then go get that same amount deducted from your taxable income. Plus, the upper tax brackets have come down too!

Mind you some folks will think of this as capitalist greed, but just the lower tax bracket is great, afterall you'll be making too much to deduct you student loan interest like folks that make less can, so this will help you.

I won't even talk about what John Edwards was doing to make his $$ before he became a Senator either 😱
 
Dr. Jeff,
What's wrong with capitalist greed? You work hard you reap the benefits. You spend a lifetime in school (which most people are not willing to do) then you roll the dice and start a business knowing all the risk involved after all that hard work. This is the American dream, and if you don't like it move to Cuba, China, N. Korea or whereever else. This is why I immigrated TO the US with NOTHING, joined the Navy worked my butt off as an enlisted DT, studied hard, got into dental school and then I have to risk it all in 2 years to start a practice. Don't applogise for being capitalist, I don't care if others judge me. I'm in a better position to help others because of my capitalist greed. I can afford to be a more generous philanthropist. You don't see many people on welfare giving to others, (Don't get me started on Welfare).
Anyway, back to this thread, why is my first point not true?
"These 2 points are 110% true for us dental people."
 
kerrydds06 said:
Dr. Jeff,
What's wrong with capitalist greed? You work hard you reap the benefits. You spend a lifetime in school (which most people are not willing to do) then you roll the dice and start a business knowing all the risk involved after all that hard work. This is the American dream, and if you don't like it move to Cuba, China, N. Korea or whereever else. This is why I immigrated TO the US with NOTHING, joined the Navy worked my butt off as an enlisted DT, studied hard, got into dental school and then I have to risk it all in 2 years to start a practice. Don't applogise for being capitalist, I don't care if others judge me. I'm in a better position to help others because of my capitalist greed. I can afford to be a more generous philanthropist. You don't see many people on welfare giving to others, (Don't get me started on Welfare).
Anyway, back to this thread, why is my first point not true?
"These 2 points are 110% true for us dental people."
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There tend to be a few folks here that initially feel guilty about making a very good living, believe me, I've never apologized to a patient for the fees I charge, and frankly feel very comfortable charging what I do. As you so correctly put it, all those years of school and time and effort I put in to get to where I am are more than enough reason to justify why we earned those high end tax breaks that the Dem's want to take away 😡 😱
 
This is a break-off thread from the original one. Please keep it focused on dentistry and items of importance to those running practices. All other posts will be deleted without notice.
 
ItsGavinC said:
This is a break-off thread from the original one. Please keep it focused on dentistry and items of importance to those running practices. All other posts will be deleted without notice.
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Are there any more specific points in kerry's or bush's campaign that directly relate to healthcare policy or small business that are relevant to us?

Website maybe?
 
DrTacoElf said:
Are there any more specific points in kerry's or bush's campaign that directly relate to healthcare policy or small business that are relevant to us?

Website maybe?
Click to expand...

I don't know, that's why I hope we get some good info here without delving into traditional political bashing.

I'm in as much need of the knowledge as anybody else. At the very minimum, if the candidate I'm not voting for wins, I'd like to understand what he is trying to accomplish with his platform in regards to issues that affect dentistry.
 
I think Dubya will be good for dentists, but not good for dental care. He will give tax cuts to those who make the most money (and thus don't need them). I also think that he will make it harder for people to sue their dentists and helathcare providers (even when the lawsuits are warranted), which will make it easier to practice. I think the patriot act would grow even more invasive than it already has, and allow easier access to patients medical records. I also think he will make it easier for small businesses to get started up with tax breaks (this isn't bad, but it doesn't directly benefit patient care). I don't think Kerry is any better, it is just that he will be less worse than Dubya.
 
Whether Bush or Kerry wins will determine whose face appears on the magzines in the patient waiting area.

That. Is. It.

(and if you didn't think this thread would devolve into a political flamewar, you're either naive, or new to the internet)

/political junkie
 
boboli_chef said:
Whether Bush or Kerry wins will determine whose face appears on the magzines in the patient waiting area.
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For the most part this is true. I just think that W is more of an "embodiment of evil" than Kerry.
 
edkNARF said:
For the most part this is true. I just think that W is more of an "embodiment of evil" than Kerry.
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One of the plusses of our much-maligned two party system is that both sides generally try to "play to the middle". That is, nobody can greatly advance an extremist agenda, barring unusual circumstances. Since either side is trying to capture the same segment of voters, it makes sense that their positions will not differ radically on the issues with the most widespread impact.

Oh, and on the Kerry tax thing, his position was to roll back Bush's tax cuts on incomes in excess of $200,000/yr. See the "Primary Care Med vs. General Dentistry" thread on incomes (specifically the lengthy post regarding small businesses) for why this would have only a trifling impact on dentists.
 
kerrydds06 said:
1. Bush wants a cap on "suffering " claims in lawsuits, which helps us in the unlikely effect you get in a suit. This will definately lower malpractice fees and more importantly, make lawsuits less "appealing" since the benefit is reduced.
2. The republicans generally lower taxes for our tax bracket. Some of us will be in that top 1% .
3. Bush small business package/ stimulus will make it very appealing for us graduating soon to start our own practice. This is what had me sold!
The rest of the BS dosn't really affect me.
Click to expand...
I don't know many doctors or dentist who are voting for Kerry. Your entire platform can't be, "I just don't like Bush, he is evil". What's your platform? Bush has done a lot for doctors with capping the amount they can be sued and thus lowering malpractice skyrocketing out the roof. Caused for one by Kerry's running mate.

Just read this...

http://www.washingtontimes.com/national/20040816-011234-1949r.htm
 
ItsGavinC said:
This is a break-off thread from the original one. Please keep it focused on dentistry and items of importance to those running practices. All other posts will be deleted without notice.
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Nazi-moderator strikes again!

What's wrong with dental students speaking about politics on a dental board. In a way it is dental related because they were discussing the justification of our living and fees in respects to taxation and public opinion. Loosen up a little this is getting a bit obnoxious.
 
DcS said:
Nazi-moderator strikes again!

What's wrong with dental students speaking about politics on a dental board. In a way it is dental related because they were discussing the justification of our living and fees in respects to taxation and public opinion. Loosen up a little this is getting a bit obnoxious.
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You've just restated the exact same thing I posted. Anything dental related is perfectly fine and there isn't anything wrong with discussing it.

The previous thread was a 100% flame war between two individuals.

Let's keep this discussion rolling!
 
Likely a wash. Professionals such as dentists would be caught in the middle. Kerry would tend to increase taxes on high wagers in order to provide economic subsidies to low wagers. Bush will lean towards promoting the economic interests of the large global corporations which continue to put downward pressure on high wagers.
 
ItsGavinC said:
You've just restated the exact same thing I posted. Anything dental related is perfectly fine and there isn't anything wrong with discussing it.

The previous thread was a 100% flame war between two individuals.

Let's keep this discussion rolling!
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i'm not a moderator here...and this is not my website, so i don't really have a say...

but speaking for myself, it is rather disappointing that a moderator that had already annointed one canidate as "superior" over the other...would edit out "dissenting" views from a political "discussion"


sorry if i was not more clear previously..
what we DO is dentistry...
...that is not who we are. (at least i hope that's not how people think)

we are americans..we do not live in a little "dental bubble"
vote for the candidate that bests reflects your values and beliefs....vote the person that you trust leading our country for the next 4 years.

dentistry, is a "cottage" industry (abiet a multibillion dollar one)
..our dental life has traditionally not been affected by the party controlling the white house. there is nothing is either platform that specifically addresses dentistry...
if i am wrong...please clue me in.





maybe if the title of this thread was changed to "George W. lovefest", them simpletons like myself would not get confused.
 
toothcaries said:
i'm not a moderator here...and this is not my website, so i don't really have a say...

but speaking for myself, it is rather disappointing that a moderator that had already annointed one canidate as "superior" over the other...would edit out "dissenting" views from a political "discussion"
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I'm not sure why you insist on bringing this up, so I'll clarify it one final time.

1) I can have an opinion just like anybody else. Remember, I'm a volunteer here. My personal views aren't the views of SDN. I believe Bush is better for small-business and healthcare. You don't. No big deal and I certainly don't think any less of you for that.

2) I didn't edit out dissenting views. No posts were edited. No posts were deleted. The thread was simply closed (and the OP himself agreed that it ought to be closed). That is a big difference.

3) You (and others) insisted on having an ongoing flame war. That clearly violates the forums user agreement and won't stand in any thread, on any forum, with any moderator.

4) If you have any other concerns, please contact me via PM so we don't take away from these threads.

Now back to our regularly scheduled program... 😀
 
edkNARF said:
I think Dubya will be good for dentists, but not good for dental care. He will give tax cuts to those who make the most money (and thus don't need them). I also think that he will make it harder for people to sue their dentists and helathcare providers (even when the lawsuits are warranted), which will make it easier to practice. I think the patriot act would grow even more invasive than it already has, and allow easier access to patients medical records. I also think he will make it easier for small businesses to get started up with tax breaks (this isn't bad, but it doesn't directly benefit patient care). I don't think Kerry is any better, it is just that he will be less worse than Dubya.
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I think your points are excellent ones. Running a business and providing excellent patient care are two entirely different things, that's for sure.

I don't think the Patriot Act will have any implications in the area of patient records, though. HIPPAA pretty much has that one nailed shut as of now.
🙁
 
While all of you talk about your tax cut, benefit, starting business, etc.....Why don't you stop and think about your patients, and the community that you will practice in for a second? Unless you will practice in 90210 area, isn't it a little bit more realistic to think about oral health disparity, access, and the wealth of your community as a whole?

Let say you will graduate, practice, but all of your patients are poor, half of the community's population is out of job, who will pay you? Who bothers to go to dentist while they don't even have enough to eat and no roof on their heads?

Is anyone here bothered when you see too many people who can't afford to see dentist? Or is it just a nice thing to say on your dental school application? and that all belongs to the past?
 
tinker bell said:
Let say you will graduate, practice, but all of your patients are poor, half of the community's population is out of job, who will pay you? Who bothers to go to dentist while they don't even have enough to eat and no roof on their heads?
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Exaggerate much? The things that would have to happen for the doomsday scenario you're describing here go way, WAY beyond the President's ability to influence the economy. That much should be a no-brainer to anyone reading this.
 
tinker bell said:
Unless you will practice in 90210 area, isn't it a little bit more realistic to think about oral health disparity, access, and the wealth of your community as a whole?
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Well, on that note, Bush has built more community health centers than any other president in history. He's also requested $1.8 billion to continue to fund these centers. Obviously that doesn't go as far as we may think it does, but I do appreciate the fact that he's put forth the effort.

I'm sure Kerry has a plan for health centers (or will after election), but I haven't heard of it (nor have I done any research on it).
 
Honestly, I don't think dentistry will be covered at all during the next four years. The big problem in our country (or at least one of them), is access to health insurance. Health coverage is considered a right, and not a privilige like most consider dental coverage. I don't think dental issues will be addressed until the health care crisis in this country has been addressed.

PS-In case you were wondering, I think health and dental coverage is a right to all. I hope that by the time I retire, the US will have a socialized medicne system equivalent to that of Canada, Australia, and just about every other industrialized nation in the world.
 
edkNARF said:
PS-In case you were wondering, I think health and dental coverage is a right to all. I hope that by the time I retire, the US will have a socialized medicne system equivalent to that of Canada, Australia, and just about every other industrialized nation in the world.
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Ugh. That certainly does may fix some of the present problems but it also opens an entirely new can of problems.

Who pays for socialized medicine? Why is dentistry a right? Is it still a right if people refuse to take care of themselves and return every 6 months for the dentist to redo the work that he completed only 6 months prior due to the patient's poor oral habits? How do we know patients would even see the dentist, even if it was covered by insurance? How do dentists make any money in such a system (they don't, so the number of providers actually drops and results in limited access)?

These are obviously issues that won't be addressed anytime soon by either candidate.
 
I'm not saying socialized medicine is perfect, but it is a hell of a lot better than what we have now. What you spoke of regarding patients having poor home care, and the dentist having to redo his work is really not the point. What is important is that kids get their shots, seniors can get their drugs, and people don't need to be afraid of going to the hospital without getting preauthorization, etc....
 
edkNARF said:
In case you were wondering, I think health and dental coverage is a right to all. I hope that by the time I retire, the US will have a socialized medicne system equivalent to that of Canada, Australia, and just about every other industrialized nation in the world.
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Good points Gavin.

My problem with socialize medicine is that taxpayers pay the healthcare costs of the person who smokes 4 packs a day. Should it be a RIGHT/ENTITLEMENT that this guy is assured the same level of healthcare as the individual who eats right and excercises regularly?

To say that healthcare is a right means that you feel it is on the same level as life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And, personally, I'm not sure that healthcare IS equal to those other rights! In a perfect world, with unlimited resources, I think a "socialized" healthcare system could be set up that would work for everyone. But, I don't think we can do it now. Taxpayers have to pay for the costs of healthcare. Having a socialized healthcare system doesn't encourage the guy who smokes 4 packs a day to quit. He's banking on the idea that the gov'ment will take care of him when the time comes.

Removing competition (i.e. socialization) generally decreases the quality of the service being provided--in this case, health/dental care. I'm for a free-makret, laisseiz faire (spelling), system. Let the market work out the problems!
 
Another thought for you.

How long does it take to visit the doctor when you have a problem in a place such as Canada? Some of my friends from Canada have told me that it takes forever to see a doctor, and they can't spend enough time to do much. If you need a CT scan then there is another big wait for that (more than just a couple days). Some people in Canada actually come to the US whenever they need a very delicate procedure done or if they need something quickly.

Also, Dentists in Canada are NOT part of socialized health care according to my friends. Because it isn't as dire a need as other aspects of health care or something.

Plus our desire to have the latest and greatest equipment and best doctors means that we have some of the best Medical technology available in the world. Of course someone has to pay for all this technology, and that is passed on to the consumers, but what would be there to motivate a company to make a new MRI that works better if they won't make any money for it?

Now, I know this is somewhat hearsay from my friends, but I figured I could pass on what they had told me in the past. Plus we did have a class comparing our system with socialized health care (so I mentioned what I remembered from it).

grtuck
 
grtuck said:
Another thought for you.

How long does it take to visit the doctor when you have a problem in a place such as Canada? Some of my friends from Canada have told me that it takes forever to see a doctor, and they can't spend enough time to do much. If you need a CT scan then there is another big wait for that (more than just a couple days). Some people in Canada actually come to the US whenever they need a very delicate procedure done or if they need something quickly.

Also, Dentists in Canada are NOT part of socialized health care according to my friends. Because it isn't as dire a need as other aspects of health care or something.

Plus our desire to have the latest and greatest equipment and best doctors means that we have some of the best Medical technology available in the world. Of course someone has to pay for all this technology, and that is passed on to the consumers, but what would be there to motivate a company to make a new MRI that works better if they won't make any money for it?

Now, I know this is somewhat hearsay from my friends, but I figured I could pass on what they had told me in the past. Plus we did have a class comparing our system with socialized health care (so I mentioned what I remembered from it).

grtuck
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Well put.
 
edkNARF said:
I'm not saying socialized medicine is perfect, but it is a hell of a lot better than what we have now. What you spoke of regarding patients having poor home care, and the dentist having to redo his work is really not the point. What is important is that kids get their shots, seniors can get their drugs, and people don't need to be afraid of going to the hospital without getting preauthorization, etc....
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Just curious, have you ever lived in country with socialized mecicine for an extended period of time?

My experience with such in Great Britain (a reasonably civilized country) for a few years did nothing but make me grateful to return to the US and it's health care system...flaws and all. Not needing hospital preauthorization, for example, may seem attractive, till you realize anyone can check into a hospital and promptly be ignored (in some cases for weeks, literally). Or like having to SCHEDULE a doctor's appointment when you are sick cause the walk-in wait is usually 5-6 hours once or twice a week, and then not be able to get in for three weeks. Lot of good getting a script for an antibiotic does after 21 days in most cases (that said, everyone seems to be able to show up at a pharmacists and get an Rx for PCN without a script anyways ... maybe they all get a DEA number standard issue with their "insurance card"). I promise, after a while you pray you never get anything big because and you learn to suck it up through what you hope is little stuff so you don't have to deal with the system there.

So the whole socialized medicine isn't the silver lining on a cloud from what I've seen. Just a big, ugly storm cloud. Of course others may have a different experience. As long as I live I'll vote for whoever wants to take healthcare out of the hands of insurance, bureaucracy, and a socialistic direction.
 
edkNARF said:
Honestly, I don't think dentistry will be covered at all during the next four years. The big problem in our country (or at least one of them), is access to health insurance. Health coverage is considered a right, and not a privilige like most consider dental coverage. I don't think dental issues will be addressed until the health care crisis in this country has been addressed.

PS-In case you were wondering, I think health and dental coverage is a right to all. I hope that by the time I retire, the US will have a socialized medicne system equivalent to that of Canada, Australia, and just about every other industrialized nation in the world.
Click to expand...
Here in Australia, our healthcare system is not quite as socialized as it is in Canada. We have both private and public sectors.. and most dental care is still well within the private realm.
 
grtuck said:
Another thought for you.

Of course someone has to pay for all this technology, and that is passed on to the consumers, but what would be there to motivate a company to make a new MRI that works better if they won't make any money for it?
Click to expand...

This is the technology I work in. There is a huge demand and companies are competing with one another to make the latest and greatest scanner. No doubt 'bout it.
 
There's an angle that hasn't been brought up yet. With all this spending on defense, homeland security, etc., some things have to get reduced in the budget. A very real target is basic research funding, which DOES impact dentistry. Not only is this bad in terms of technological progress, but with less $$ available to play with, even fewer well-qualified candidates will be attracted to the clinician-scholar spots that dentistry so sorely needs. This is turn could create less passionate dental educators, which could reduce the overall quality of dental school graduates for years.

I'm expecting a decline in funds no matter who gets elected. The question is, which candidate is 'better' with regards to this issue? IMHO Kerry would be more concerned with research funding b/c: a) Bush wants ever more defense spending, and b) Kerry's represented MA for years, where the need for research spending is big
 
A little off topic, but partially related since it could happen here...

How does it work to have both private and public sectors? Does the government hire some people to work for them, and some work in a private practice? Who pays for the socialized part (taxes?)? If you don't use the socialized portion, do you have to pay for that in some way? Has there been any notice of differential care?

Not, sure why I am in interested in this, but for some reason it intrigues me to find out more about this 🙂

Thank you,
grtuck


Dr.Millisevert said:
Here in Australia, our healthcare system is not quite as socialized as it is in Canada. We have both private and public sectors.. and most dental care is still well within the private realm.
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One comment about private vs. socialized health care. Everything has it's price. For private health care you pay with cash. With socialized health care you can easily end up paying with time and or quality. I'm not saying that is how it has to be. You(we, the government) could pay a very large amount of money and have no lines, high doctor salaries and the best technology. Anybody have $1.4 trillion dollars? That's how much america spent on health care in 2001. For all you stat freaks that's $5,035 per person, which doesn't sound so unreasonable.

Click here for article about health care costs
 
Just wondering, is that amount of money what individuals spent, or does it include insurance companies payments to doctors?

Also, at 5k per person, does that include only people over 18, are minors too?

For example would a family of 5 (mom, dad, 3 young kids) be paying 25k a year, or how does that break down?

Thanks,
grtuck


content said:
One comment about private vs. socialized health care. Everything has it's price. For private health care you pay with cash. With socialized health care you can easily end up paying with time and or quality. I'm not saying that is how it has to be. You(we, the government) could pay a very large amount of money and have no lines, high doctor salaries and the best technology. Anybody have $1.4 trillion dollars? That's how much america spent on health care in 2001. For all you stat freaks that's $5,035 per person, which doesn't sound so unreasonable.

Click here for article about health care costs
Click to expand...
 
That figure is just a dummy figure for dummies like me. It's just $1.4 trillion divided by the population in 2001, about 285 million.
 
Regardless, $5,000 per person is a ton more than I paid for a family of five last year. In fact, I think I dished out around $800 last year for insurance, copays, etc.
 
grtuck said:
A little off topic, but partially related since it could happen here...

How does it work to have both private and public sectors? Does the government hire some people to work for them, and some work in a private practice? Who pays for the socialized part (taxes?)? If you don't use the socialized portion, do you have to pay for that in some way? Has there been any notice of differential care?

Not, sure why I am in interested in this, but for some reason it intrigues me to find out more about this 🙂

Thank you,
grtuck
Click to expand...
http://www.health.gov.au/haf/ozhealth/ozhcsyspart2.htm

Here is a link to some information regarding the delivery of healthcare in Australia. And yes we do have both public and private healthcare. Not fully socialized medicine such as Canada or the UK, but not as privatized as the US. Doctors and Dentists both do quite well financially (as before, don?t know what the reported income is.. but I from what I?ve seen I don?t think the income is much different between dentists in the US and here.)
 
kerrydds06 said:
Dr. Jeff,
What's wrong with capitalist greed? You work hard you reap the benefits. You spend a lifetime in school (which most people are not willing to do) then you roll the dice and start a business knowing all the risk involved after all that hard work. This is the American dream, and if you don't like it move to Cuba, China, N. Korea or whereever else. This is why I immigrated TO the US with NOTHING, joined the Navy worked my butt off as an enlisted DT, studied hard, got into dental school and then I have to risk it all in 2 years to start a practice. Don't applogise for being capitalist, I don't care if others judge me. I'm in a better position to help others because of my capitalist greed. I can afford to be a more generous philanthropist. You don't see many people on welfare giving to others, (Don't get me started on Welfare).
Anyway, back to this thread, why is my first point not true?
"These 2 points are 110% true for us dental people."
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Amen, Amen, Amen!

Bush/Cheney 2004!

Think about it folks, your decision now will ultimately affect how you live and how your family lives (if you decide to start one) once you're out of dental school. Fine and dandy to help people out, but Democrats like to help people out with other people's money. And they get the credit for it, not you, the taxpayer.
 
edkNARF said:
I think Dubya will be good for dentists but not good for dental care. He will give tax cuts to those who make the most money (and thus don't need them).
Click to expand...

Tell that to a family who's bringing $200K a year with BOTH parents working TWO or THREE jobs. Yeah, those filthy rich Dems (Hollywood, NY, Washington elite types who can use $100 notes as toilet paper) want to keep us from getting ahead. Let's make it so they have to pay all their income above $200K as taxes.
 
tinker bell said:
While all of you talk about your tax cut, benefit, starting business, etc.....Why don't you stop and think about your patients, and the community that you will practice in for a second? Unless you will practice in 90210 area, isn't it a little bit more realistic to think about oral health disparity, access, and the wealth of your community as a whole?

Let say you will graduate, practice, but all of your patients are poor, half of the community's population is out of job, who will pay you? Who bothers to go to dentist while they don't even have enough to eat and no roof on their heads?

Is anyone here bothered when you see too many people who can't afford to see dentist? Or is it just a nice thing to say on your dental school application? and that all belongs to the past?
Click to expand...

It never was part of my past. In fact, I told the interviewer quite plainly, "It's nice to help people, and if I wasn't looking to do that, I wouldn't have gotten into healthcare. When all is said and done, however, what really matters is bringing home the bacon and providing for your family."

And no, I'm not content with just enough. Yes, I am greedy. When I think about how my immigrant ancestors came here and didn't have any special programmes to benefit from, how four generations of my family worked their arses off to get where they are, it makes me more determined to make as much money as I can and see to it that my children will be privy to the same, perhaps even better, lifestyle that I was blessed with.

Did you know that a lot of the HMOs are picking up the runoff from Medicaid (or in my experience, MediCal) and to cover costs, they're hiking YOUR co-pay when you go to the doctor or are admitted to hospital. And to top it off, we have a health system that's burdened with an unchecked influx of illegal aliens, and because you can no longer turn patients away, the ERs and urgent care centres are full, and AMERICANS (legal-immigrant and native-born) who have insurance often aren't seen for hours at a time. Naturally, someone has to pay, and something has to give. Where does it come from? The coffers of Medicaid, Medicare, and the pocketbook of the taxpayer and insurance subscriber.
 
Dr.Millisevert said:
http://www.health.gov.au/haf/ozhealth/ozhcsyspart2.htm

Here is a link to some information regarding the delivery of healthcare in Australia. And yes we do have both public and private healthcare. Not fully socialized medicine such as Canada or the UK, but not as privatized as the US. Doctors and Dentists both do quite well financially (as before, don?t know what the reported income is.. but I from what I?ve seen I don?t think the income is much different between dentists in the US and here.)
Click to expand...

The level of privatization seems to be on a par with that of the US, from what I've read. According to a friend of mine, however, while the income is also comparable, consumable goods are a good amount cheaper in Aus, but durable goods are much more expensive. Is it true that the gov't replaced income taxes with a sales/use tax?
 
I get a kick out of those high wagers who think the present Republican establishment represents their interests better than the Democrats..Wrong. Both are eager to tax high wagers for the same purpose....redistribution of income. The Dems do it by legislating so called social programs for the poor. The GOP does it by funding a huge imperial focused defense department to help sustain globalization of the labor market that results in the offshoring of high wage US jobs.

I think Fed Chairman Greenspan let the cat out of the bag at a recent congressional hearing. He believes that high wagers in the USA enjoy an unjustified premium in their incomes vs low wagers. He believes that condition can be rectified by finding the means (read high wager tax dollars) to shift large numbers of low skilled workers into the skilled worker ranks. His classic supply/demand thinking then supposes that skilled worker wages will drop and thus eliminate the unjustified income premium now enjoyed by high wagers. That is also the concept which is driving the offshoring of high wage US jobs. But, don't you doubt US corporations would be so eager to invest large sums into foreign countries if they did not believe that the US defense department would protect their interests when needed?
 
groundhog said:
I get a kick out of those high wagers who think the present Republican establishment represents their interests better than the Democrats..Wrong. Both are eager to tax high wagers for the same purpose....redistribution of income. The Dems do it by legislating so called social programs for the poor. The GOP does it by funding a huge imperial focused defense department to help sustain globalization of the labor market that results in the offshoring of high wage US jobs.

I think Fed Chairman Greenspan let the cat out of the bag at a recent congressional hearing. He believes that high wagers in the USA enjoy an unjustified premium in their incomes vs low wagers. He believes that condition can be rectified by finding the means (read high wager tax dollars) to shift large numbers of low skilled workers into the skilled worker ranks. His classic supply/demand thinking then supposes that skilled worker wages will drop and thus eliminate the unjustified income premium now enjoyed by high wagers. That is also the concept which is driving the offshoring of high wage US jobs. But, don't you doubt US corporations would be so eager to invest large sums into foreign countries if they did not believe that the US defense department would protect their interests when needed?
Click to expand...


👍
 
SkerryHealthMd.jpg
 
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