Coincidence?

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Forget about the Constitution, it's not a practical power of the feds either, as demonstrated by how they've ruined it.

You're right-- the diversified public systems that improved America aren't the same as today's mostly p.c. Borg system. Welcome to the collective.

In the end it all comes down to the parents. If you depend on the gov't, you'll be, well, dependent.

But, it's a great business model--they produce their own consumers.

-- Cheers, James Arthur

Yes... Heck, we've had artifically high sugar prices in this country ever since 1812.

I agree in principle, and I am all for getting back to "reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic" in general. But look at how much consternation issues such as whether or not the theory of evolution is taught today -- it seems like a major distraction to any real reform. Granted, I suppose I'd personally take issue with some of the environmental "science" that some folks might like to teach as well...

---Joel

OK, but public education in the U.S., while certainly far more localized than after the establishment of the DoE, has been going on almost as long as the country has been around. (E.g., here's a link that Google found:

Not explictly enumerated, sure... they probably invoked that "general welfare" clause or similar to justify it, as has been done with so many other federal programs i the post-WWII era. :-)

---Joel

But *NOT* as a function of the federal government. There is a *huge* difference.

Sure. "Who cares about the Constitution?"

:-)

It is an *illegal* function of the federal government. I'd rather people not forget that it is.

Yep.

Is it any wonder that ~50% of the population is on welfare?

And vote their own salary.

Remember to have your liberals spayed or neutered...

em

So, why are hospitals reporting zero profits if they don't care what anything costs? Where do they hide the $10,000 a day per bed paid by insurance companies?

"Pickens said hospitals operate on a profit margin for 3 percent to 4 percent so they have little wiggle room."

-Bill

Right next to the deadbeat's bed.

Very little. Many lose, particularly in areas with a lot of deadbeats.

blem

No, I meant the PEOPLE don't care what anything costs. They typically don't even ask.

My Mom's a nurse. SHE doesn't know either. No one thinks they're spending their own money, so THEY don't care.

-- Happy Easter!

James

Doesn't matter. They won't tell you. I tried, but everyone told me not to worry about it since "the insurance pays it".

Doctors are no different. Once the silly bastard ordered a bunch of tests that weren't really needed. I got the bill for $750 (hadn't reached my deductible on out-patent care). I wasn't working at the time, so it really did matter.

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Actually, the doctors at the VA are pretty good people. I had minor surgery and was scheduled for a followup which I suspected would involve just changing a bandage. So, I told the doctor I would have make a $50 copayment to change a bandage, and maybe the followup wasn't needed. He was good about it and remarked he wasn't aware I wasn't fully covered, and gave me his cell phone number so I could call if I had problems, and he would see me in the hallway at no charge. Nice guy.

-Bill

problem

Most of the doctors were quite nice, just totally clueless about costs. No one on their staff could even give me an idea about costs, or point me to anyone who could. Even my insurance wouldn't talk about money until it was owed. The above problem was unexpected. I'd had many blood tests before (weekly) and no big bills until the doctor went hunting for something that wasn't there. If I had any clue there was that cost involved I would have told the doc to skip it (I already passed on at least one of the useless tests).

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Yes, it's hard to itemize the stuff. I have a statement from Blue Shield (when I had the insurance) that lists a miscellaneous expense of $58,845.52. I might break it down if I read through 50 pages of charges. Oh, here's one for $3092.26 for room and board. I think that was for 6 days, so It must have been only $515 a day with room service and many shots of morphine. But the meals and coffee were good. They even brought me a couple newspapers to read. I remember one night the nurse asked if I needed more pain relief, and I immediately accepted.

-Bill

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No one said anything about itemization.

problem

All my last VA doctor did was complain about spending over four hours a day driving to and from the clinic. He completely ignored the half a square foot of skin missing on my lower legs at both visits. I managed to be transferred to brand new VA clinic recently, and have see the podiatrist twice in two weeks, since the wound clinic hasn't opened yet. They gave me a supply of Mepilex® Border 6" * 6" dressings and I was on antibiotics for 10 days, The wounds have finally closed, after ten months of draining into m shoes every day.

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Tell them about Dagny. A little romance never hurt the gal appeal.

Yep. Nice looking young lady.

And two sex scenes...

The shrew wife

and...

"true romance" ;-) ...Jim Thompson

I talked her into going but we're both hacking too much to go to the movies. Next weekend.

urs

Sorry to hear that. Did you direct the doctor's attention to your problems while he was complaining about his? Was the outcome normal, or did it take more time than expected?

-Bill