Patting the wrists, rolling the eyes.

[Say_hello_for_me]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
Again, I cite the December 2004 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine regarding quality at the VA hospitals.

Signed,

Replaced Cassandra Texan

I'll email the Chicago Manual of Style for an opinion if necessary, but shouldn't that --Cassandra-- go in quotes and/or parantheses?

As in, Replaced ("Cassandra") Texan?

Can I get a ruling here?

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Spanky
How do you stop the National Health Care system from turning into the DMV?

Wait, wait, I know. Trick question right?

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Wait, wait, I know. Trick question right?

Right. Your grandmother's healthcare is at the DMV level.

Another trick question for everyone: Who the fuck do you think is the single largest payor in the United States?

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
Right. Your grandmother's healthcare is at the DMV level.

Another trick question for everyone: Who the fuck do you think is the single largest payor in the United States?

Bill gates, in a good year?

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by Spanky
This is so ridiculous. What really makes me angry is when the scientists on the evolutionary side say that they won't stoop down to their level and join in the debate. I hate that attitude. We live in the real world, and unless you want future voters who are going to be deciding your political leadership ten years from now to get a decent educated you have to get into the arena and fight. Boycotting the debate, or refusing to enter the discussion, just cedes the game to the opposition. The price of liberty is eternal vigilance, and these bozos need to get in their an fight.

I think the scientists feel the real debate about this took place about 150 years ago. Should they be required to appear at "Earth - Flat or Not?" debates?

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
Again, I cite the December 2004 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine regarding quality at the VA hospitals.

Signed,

Replaced Cassandra Texan

Hmmm.... must have missed that the first time around. Can it be read during a single dump? That's kind of my standard for magazines.

Seriously -- I know a little about how good VA hospitals are. Hell, my father was a doctor at a VA hospital for innumerable years. But he was also a doctor for people who had their care paid for in other ways, many of whom failed to use that benefit intelligently -- instead, they would rush in for 'emergencies' that were really chronic conditions grown much worse for neglect. (As a kid I would take messages like "I'm calling because I've been coughing blood for four days." Um, maybe you should have called three days ago?)

Any large program is subject to abuse, misuse, and sloppy management. That is at least as true of privately funded programs as of publicly funded ones (cue the Rs to start screaming in hysteria about how I'm a commie. After all, Enron was a government company, as was Columbia HCA, and after all it was really Clinton's fault. Or FDR's.) I was pointing out one issue -- more specifically, I was taking what Spanky identified as an issue and suggesting that the real issue was the converse.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
Right. Your grandmother's healthcare is at the DMV level.

Not yet, but it would be if it were nationalized.

Tell me, what does the government do better than the private sector?

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by Shape Shifter
I think the scientists feel the real debate about this took place about 150 years ago. Should they be required to appear at "Earth - Flat or Not?" debates?

Not required. But if psycho-christians start pushing to teach that the earth is flat in our public schools, then I really hope that they will show.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Not yet, but it would be if it were nationalized.

Tell me, what does the government do better than the private sector?

I used to think the military stuff, but I hear a lot of that is outsourced now.

[Sidd Finch]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Not yet, but it would be if it were nationalized.

Tell me, what does the government do better than the private sector?

Hoo-boy. Here we go again.

How'd you get to work today? Nice roads the government built, huh?

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Not yet, but it would be if it were nationalized.

Tell me, what does the government do better than the private sector?

Your grandmother's healthcare is nationalized, and it has been since 1965.

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Sidd Finch
Hoo-boy. Here we go again.

How'd you get to work today? Nice roads the government built, huh?

Do you really think the government does that better and more efficiently than the private sector could? I guess those Bay Bridge cost overruns don't count.

[Shape Shifter]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Do you really think the government does that better and more efficiently than the private sector could? I guess those Bay Bridge cost overruns don't count.

Maybe we could outsource Congressional lawmaking capacity. They don't seem to be very efficient lately.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Do you really think the government does that better and more efficiently than the private sector could? I guess those Bay Bridge cost overruns don't count.

Cost containment, bulk purchasing, outcomes management. A larger patient population spreads the risk AND larger data points provide for greater opportunities for evidenced based medicine and epidemeologcial studies. Centralized medical records that are easier to manage and locate and link back to community clinics for follow up care.

Sidd (and club) this article talks about the Annals of Internal Medicine article as well as the VA healthcare system in general..

[Not Bob]

Originally posted by sgtclub
Not yet, but it would be if it were nationalized.

Tell me, what does the government do better than the private sector?

Lots of things. A non-exclusive list: I was much happier with my electric service when I lived in a town that had a municipal power authority provide the juice. Ambulance service here is better than it was when the city contracted with private contractors. Real cops are better than rent-a-cops. The Fed seems to be doing a better job of preventing financial collapse than Mister Morgan did (but it was nice of him to loan us the gold when he did). The FDA seems a lot better at making food safe than the invisible hand did (see The Jungle). I also kinda like Central Park better than Grammercy Park.