tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post6299017655491491783..comments2024-02-26T00:59:26.907-08:00Comments on Ana the Imp: “You are no Longer a Human Being.” Anastasia F-Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-24489879368696995522013-02-13T16:06:11.524-08:002013-02-13T16:06:11.524-08:00The rest of the world, well, most of it, is right ...The rest of the world, well, most of it, is right which is wrong. :-) Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-44850083725031068282013-02-12T16:47:48.426-08:002013-02-12T16:47:48.426-08:00The reason that there is so much confusion in the ...The reason that there is so much confusion in the UK is that they have yet to come to the conclusion that they drive on the wrong side of the road.anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02931330128135957439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-4861756623629538202013-02-12T16:07:12.415-08:002013-02-12T16:07:12.415-08:00Yes, there is always politics with a small p. But...Yes, there is always politics with a small p. But here the Politics are always writ large. Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-39491124688305208872013-02-11T16:24:11.958-08:002013-02-11T16:24:11.958-08:00The American Medical Association, and the U.S. Foo...The American Medical Association, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration contain a great deal of politics even though socialized medicine in not universal here in the U.S.anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02931330128135957439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-18257976816429539532013-02-11T15:42:10.206-08:002013-02-11T15:42:10.206-08:00Indeed, Anthony, it's an issue everywhere. Wh...Indeed, Anthony, it's an issue everywhere. Where there are doctors there will be serious errors of judgement. There is something different here, though. There is politics. Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-71807496339311928132013-02-11T15:38:07.554-08:002013-02-11T15:38:07.554-08:00It is indeed staggering, Seymour. This country ex...It is indeed staggering, Seymour. This country excels in one thing: evasive public inquiries. Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-13245821422895117512013-02-11T15:37:13.115-08:002013-02-11T15:37:13.115-08:00Medical error malpractice is an issue here as well...Medical error malpractice is an issue here as well, mistakes, ignorance, indifference, medication issues, from prenatal care to geriatrics.anthonyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02931330128135957439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-85868723877908727492013-02-11T15:37:06.708-08:002013-02-11T15:37:06.708-08:00Good quote. Thanks for adding. It's the pref...Good quote. Thanks for adding. It's the prefect epigram for Obama's November victory. Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-15021187367946322422013-02-11T15:34:29.183-08:002013-02-11T15:34:29.183-08:00Antisthenes, I've been looking at possible alt...Antisthenes, I've been looking at possible alternatives and the French system looks quite promising as does that of Singapore. The English system badly needs reform but - given the various factors you have alluded to - even raising the issue is tantamount to political suicide. People have been frightened away from the alternatives even when they see that the present system is frightful. Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-65039006939273037552013-02-11T15:29:34.288-08:002013-02-11T15:29:34.288-08:00Calvin, yes, the situation is quite horrific. Calvin, yes, the situation is quite horrific. Anastasia F-Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01284602529524462457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-12155470177657127892013-02-11T08:15:27.672-08:002013-02-11T08:15:27.672-08:00It's staggering. The widespread moral and prof...It's staggering. The widespread moral and professional corruption, that not only sustained this "cultural failure" but is also now letting off those who were in charge of it, needs to be absolutely cleaned out of this country.Seymour Clufleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18346292043731203341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-10151718823031554552013-02-11T07:41:08.016-08:002013-02-11T07:41:08.016-08:00In my previous comment I was perhaps being disinge...In my previous comment I was perhaps being disingenuous by not referring to Ludwig Von Mises who to some extent I plagiarised as he said this some years ago and I quote “A system in which a majority of the population is dependent on the government [public sector employment and welfare beneficiaries] leads to an unstable political and economic situation, since a majority of the population then has a vested interest in increasing the power of government to redistribute wealth." I apologise for the omission.<br />Antistheneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10120647617145756102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-39236715307461060482013-02-11T07:22:29.753-08:002013-02-11T07:22:29.753-08:00I for many years have been warning about the dysfu...I for many years have been warning about the dysfunctional and not fit for purpose NHS which fell on deaf ears of course. Up to 2004 I was of a recipient of medical support under the auspices of the NHS and received treatment from time to time. Sometimes it was excellent especially in the earlier years but as time progressed it became pretty dismal and in the end appalling. In 2004 I moved to France and I came under their healthcare system and what a difference I found and I can only describe it as excellent. The reason for the differences can be explained by how provision and funding is organised. The NHS is virtually totally free and completely state controlled and run the French system is a mixture of private and state provision and funding. The one offers no choice that leads to lack of accountability and to no incentive to give value for money or to be efficient. The French system does the very opposite. Given that the French are as socialist minded as the Brits perhaps more so and rather protectionist and anticompetitive setting up a system that involves competition and an element of self-reliance is quite surprising. However they have perhaps seeing the flaws inherent in the British system, it is not a perfect system by any means but probably the best that can be achieved without it going totally private. In the USA I understand provision is even better but it is not universally available although Obamacare is supposed to see to that. No doubt Obamacare will give universality but it may bankrupt the country in the process as health already accounts for 17% of GDP. The root of all our ills as I have mentioned in a previous comment is socialism it is eating away at our economy, society and democracy. It is not that many of socialist aims are undesirable such as wealth redistribution, equality and justice for all but the manner and fervour that they use to achieving them. Socialism only works when their is sufficient wealth to pay for it something that was exceedingly overlooked by the left. Having for years overburdened the state with socialist policies and practices the state now finds that to maintain the status quo it has to borrow and print and create staggering amounts of debt quite unsustainable of course and we will eventually all pay the price for it and already are but not as badly as what is to come. Under current conditions the sensible thing to do now would be to reduce our public spending to affordable levels by the reduction of the size and functions of the state. The need is to privatise or semi privatise much of the public sector such as the NHS which would have the added advantage that it would improve it immeasurably. To do so however would be political suicide because the left by acting irresponsibly or perhaps even by design have engendered an entitlement culture. Now society is dominated by a section that is state dependent who have a vested interest to maintain the power and size of the state so that the state will continue with the wholesale redistribution of wealth. What we have is a receipt for disaster an unsustainable system that no one will or can address and remedy so in the end it will not be just the NHS that declines beyond redemption but all of society as well.Antistheneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10120647617145756102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413130168723738166.post-3269394961858444972013-02-10T16:45:30.411-08:002013-02-10T16:45:30.411-08:00Here is something I posted on MyT about this issue...Here is something I posted on MyT about this issue:<br /><br />Medical practice at every level has a strong risk of death and permanent harm to vulnerable people already suffering sickness or injury.<br /><br />Conservative estimates published in the Journal of the American Medical Association and the New England Medical Journal based on surveys of US hospitals assessed 100,000 - 120,000 deaths per year in the US from medical mistakes - not including malpractice or deliberate negligence! In addition: 500,000 to 1.5 million injuries inflicted by medics per year.<br /><br />In the UK, the numbers are smaller, but still horrific. <br /><br />http://www.whale.to/a/dean.html<br /><br />If such homicide numbers were attributed to terrorists or criminals or automobiles or personal weapons or any consumer product then governments would collapse and national crusades be launched.<br /><br />Somehow, the medical industry has managed to shield itself from accountability better than any other group in society. But by allowing this industry to continue without accountability, we place ourselves at greater personal risk than we would by allowing drunk drivers, terrorists, and criminals all together to run riot.<br /><br />Even Murder Inc. has more concern for its clients than the medical and pharmaceutical professions.Calvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10640148105202971907noreply@blogger.com