[threadbear]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', 'T')he wiki article on Canadian health care is revealing.

2.2 doctors per 1,000 people. Average in 1st world is 3.

Several great stories about famous Canadians who came to the U.S. and paid out of pocket because they couldn't get the care in Canada, including a liberal politician who was ardently against a two-tier system. Until she needed breast surgery, then all of her liberal ideology went out the window and she used her wealth to go to another country to get her surgery.

Classic example.

Average wait time for MRI is off the charts.

[eastbay]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('thuja', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('cube', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('thuja', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', '
')

Truckers in the USA are very unorganized and will not be able to conduct an effective strike any time soon. They are (lol) 'independent-minded' and think they are not in need of a representative organization.

[cube]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('thuja', '.')..
I'm not saying they wuld be effective- or be appreciated by the American public. I'm just saying it doesn't take much- a few disgruntled out of work truckers with an axe to grind. I remember way back in my hippie protesty days when I was a young lad a group of us marched onto the Freeway to protest US involvement with the Guatemalan government- shut it down for about 3-4 hours if I remember correctly. And that was about 20-30 grumpy hippies. Do you really think this couldn't happen in the States?

I'd say its more possible...

[thuja]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('cube', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('thuja', '.')..
I'm not saying they wuld be effective- or be appreciated by the American public. I'm just saying it doesn't take much- a few disgruntled out of work truckers with an axe to grind. I remember way back in my hippie protesty days when I was a young lad a group of us marched onto the Freeway to protest US involvement with the Guatemalan government- shut it down for about 3-4 hours if I remember correctly. And that was about 20-30 grumpy hippies. Do you really think this couldn't happen in the States?

I'd say its more possible...

[patience]

cube,
Agreed, that capitalism rules in the US. I wonder how long that will endure when the effects of PO hit hard? There is a great deal of feeling of entitlement here, too, that is, feeling entitled to have the life each of us has at present. When PO starts to take away the benefits of cheap energy, everyone will lose something, to various degrees. Those in the lower economic stratums will lose basic necessities first. Then, I think they will scream for the govt to "do something", as now, with fuel costs rising, truckers want subsidies, and everybody whines at the gas pump.

So far, people are simply trying to adapt and meet the costs of fuel by reducing driving and other purchases. From what I hear, that is fast approaching critical mass. Petty crime is rising out here in rural areas. Mostly, it seems to be the poor who can't make ends meet.

By election time this year, I'd expect the liar who promises the most relief to the poor and (so called) middle class to win the day. If I'm right, then it starts us down the road to more handouts/socialism.

As budget constaints hit hard, from reduced tax take, and interest on current govt debt, the handouts get to be fewer and less effective. We have a BIG problem.

edit: To address the topic, It looks like $5+ gas will make life a lot harder for a great number of people. The poorest will panic.

[isgota]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrBill', '
')Sometimes you have to see the hubris for what it is, and realize that it is unrealistic expectations and not genuine economic hard times. There is a good reason why Spain (and Portugal) were so poor prior to joining the EU and getting access to a larger public trough.

As a European resident and taxpayer as well as a concerned citizen Spanish water policies are an absolute environmental disgrace, and the amount of corruption surrounding land speculation and development in Spain would make an Italian blush. If Scandinavians want to criticize that in jest or in ernst then I think they have a perfect right as EU citizens.

[mos6507]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('thuja', '
')But my guess is that truckers would ask for subsidization by the Gubmint for fuel. And they might deserve it. If we want food, fuel and goods transported, we better insure that truckers earn enough to accomplish that. This ain't the airlines...this is basic life support.

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('threadbear', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Cashmere', 'T')he wiki article on Canadian health care is revealing.

2.2 doctors per 1,000 people. Average in 1st world is 3.

Several great stories about famous Canadians who came to the U.S. and paid out of pocket because they couldn't get the care in Canada, including a liberal politician who was ardently against a two-tier system. Until she needed breast surgery, then all of her liberal ideology went out the window and she used her wealth to go to another country to get her surgery.

Classic example.

Average wait time for MRI is off the charts.

[Byron100]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Heineken', '
')
Naturally, as someone with no health insurance, I fully agree with Threadbear.

The current system is hopelessly corrupt and dysfunctional. Most health care workers agree with that (I worked as a pharmacy journal editor for many years and got the inside scoop, believe me). The current system can hardly be held forth as an example of the marvels of the free market. For one thing, it completely bypasses 40 million or 50 million Americans! I guess they just don't count, right? Well, lose your job and suddenly you're one of them.

Only relatively high employment has kept the US health care "system" afloat. Rising unemployment would knock the last leg from underneath the rickety structure.

We are already taxed, quite heavily. That tax money is misallocated on "defense" companies, a bloated imperial military, and 750 military bases, many with masseurs and swimming pools, which operate on highly socialist principles.

The hypocrisy of "leaders" who oppose universal health care transgresses loathesomeness into ludicrousness. All they are doing is protecting the insurance industry, which keeps them in office.

[Heineken]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Byron100', 'Y')es, I have private health insurance. But it costs me so much per year, and has such poor coverage, it's really not much of an "insurance" plan at all.

[Byron100]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')s MonteQuest says, "Connect the dots."

[Heineken]

I think "it's" practically here, Byron.

That's been the pattern recently with all the bad things: they're moving faster and they're worse than anticipated even by many doomers, including myself.

Tonight they were practically saying "peak oil" on the NBC nightly news. The most real report I've seen to date. That and so many other things are signs of how dire our predicament is.

[DantesPeak]

To summarize a long post I made: the US economy is operating as if is about $70. Outside of your corner gasoline station, most of the energy price increases in the last two years haven't yet reached the consumer level.

To say nothing bad has happened yet is like the story about a person jumping off the Empire State Building - when the person reached the 80th floor level he thinks - this is not so bad.

[Heineken]

I've (frustratedly) made the same point several times, Dante.

The economy has a long and complex digestive tract. What goes in one end doesn't immediately come out the other.

[MrBill]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('isgota', 'A')nd I'm agree with you about the corruption and housing speculation, it is a real shame and we are going to have hard times about it... But "water policies an absolute environmental disgrace"? What are you talking about? The Ebro river transfer? That was stopped 4 years ago by the new Government, so I'm afraid these are old news.

Best regards.