tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post8982525403713084355..comments2023-11-03T11:37:04.473+00:00Comments on nothing new under the sun: Sickobyron smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-32661922387096078442012-10-11T13:51:52.936+01:002012-10-11T13:51:52.936+01:00The drugs don't work: drug trials, big pharma ...<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/sep/21/drugs-industry-scandal-ben-goldacre" rel="nofollow">The drugs don't work</a>: drug trials, big pharma and the corruption of medical science.byron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-71027546664502675432007-09-06T02:07:00.000+01:002007-09-06T02:07:00.000+01:00I was going to allow you the last word and still w...I was going to allow you the last word and still will, but since you've asked me to read that statement and comment on it, I will.<BR/><BR/>On the surface, I can agree with everything it says. It's what it doesn't say that I'd like to know. And knowing the WEA's theological murkiness (IMHO), I'd probably end up disagreeing with the direction it wants to take. <BR/><BR/>Some things I'd like to askndefalcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07895785216188194281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-318062043073057602007-09-05T08:46:00.000+01:002007-09-05T08:46:00.000+01:00Moffitt - twelve points.Moffitt - <A HREF="http://nothing-new-under-the-sun.blogspot.com/2006/09/pics-and-points.html" REL="nofollow">twelve points</A>.byron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-74814723725876911762007-09-05T07:36:00.000+01:002007-09-05T07:36:00.000+01:00Florence, ItalyFlorence, ItalyMatthew Moffitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00546422699620482793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-19166553924776612262007-09-04T00:49:00.000+01:002007-09-04T00:49:00.000+01:00ndefalco - Thanks for your further thoughts. I'd l...ndefalco - Thanks for your further thoughts. I'd love to answer them in greater detail when I get a chance. At the moment, however, I'd love for you to read this short document: <A HREF="http://www.christiantoday.com/article/wea.a.statement.on.evangelical.social.engagement/12713.htm" REL="nofollow">the World Evangelical Alliance's statement on social engagement</A> as published in Christianity byron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-72016049959157563132007-09-03T02:33:00.000+01:002007-09-03T02:33:00.000+01:00Two more things and I promise I'm done:1. Why don'...Two more things and I promise I'm done:<BR/><BR/>1. Why don't all those in favor of a taxpayer funded healthcare system volunteer to be taxed to fund said system and let those who don't want to choose not? If not, then why are anti-choice in this matter?<BR/><BR/>2. When Jesus explicitly told his followers to take care of poor individuals do you think he had in mind government enforcement or ndefalcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07895785216188194281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-80381596970157379902007-09-03T02:30:00.000+01:002007-09-03T02:30:00.000+01:00my one and only response part 2So, as you can see,...my one and only response part 2<BR/><BR/>So, as you can see, the common good of health care can and does trump individual liberty (by making you pay taxes to a system you do not agree with).<BR/><BR/>You also said: "Fair taxation: what is your suggestion?"<BR/><BR/>A national sales tax. Get rid of all forms of corporate and residential income tax. ESPECIALLY the withholding income tax system. <BRndefalcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07895785216188194281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-30188292954145277432007-09-03T02:08:00.000+01:002007-09-03T02:08:00.000+01:00"The common good is more important than individual..."The common good is more important than individual freedom (of course, I believe that healthy political freedoms contribute to the common good, but this is why I value them). Freedom is a relative, rather than an absolute, good. And certain kinds of freedom are more important than others."<BR/><BR/>I'll try and make my one and only response to your response brief. I'll let you have the last word.ndefalcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07895785216188194281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-73686615968628901122007-08-26T13:22:00.000+01:002007-08-26T13:22:00.000+01:00ndefalco - thanks for your thought-provoking respo...ndefalco - thanks for your thought-provoking responses!<BR/><BR/><I>Because of this incredible power, we must do what we can to limit the government in what it can do. ... Always protect individual liberty.</I><BR/>Why is this? I'm not sure I follow the logic. This would only be absolutely true if individual freedom is the highest good and government power always a bad thing. I agree that byron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-48260113144023786812007-08-26T05:43:00.000+01:002007-08-26T05:43:00.000+01:00One more thing to think about:The poor who we keep...One more thing to think about:<BR/><BR/>The poor who we keep speaking of as being the primary beneficiaries of public healthcare are individuals. They are not "the poor".<BR/><BR/>Some of these individuals whom I've met qualify for medicare. They also qualify for the $5,000 credit limit that they maxed out on their VISA card. They also have qualified for cable tv, cell phones, x-boxes, and the ndefalcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07895785216188194281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-17846890457876685192007-08-26T05:34:00.000+01:002007-08-26T05:34:00.000+01:00Here are some practical issues to consider:Hilary ...Here are some practical issues to consider:<BR/><BR/>Hilary Clinton wants tax payers to foot the healthcare bill. How will she do this? By taxing the whole country fairly? Well... not at first.<BR/><BR/>She's said only those in upper tax brackets (herself excluded) will foot the bill. This means anyone making over $250,000.<BR/><BR/>Problem is, rich people don't have all this money lying around ndefalcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07895785216188194281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-21308597981870748762007-08-26T05:23:00.000+01:002007-08-26T05:23:00.000+01:00Here are some ethical concerns to think about as w...Here are some ethical concerns to think about as well:<BR/><BR/>1. State-sponsored abortions. If you are not a big believer in abortions than you would never choose to send your money to an abortion doctor. With tax-payer funded healthcare, you'd be forced to.<BR/><BR/>Actually, you could switch abortion out with any number of ethically questionable procedures and it the problem still stands. At ndefalcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07895785216188194281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-10254422580604136632007-08-26T05:09:00.000+01:002007-08-26T05:09:00.000+01:00Byron, I think you have to start at a philosophica...Byron, I think you have to start at a philosophical level before asking pragmatic or ethical questions. Think about this: The governmnent, through power of police/military enforcement, forces its citizens to pay taxes. They have no choice. They MUST pay. Because of this incredible power, we must do what we can to limit the government in what it can do. <BR/><BR/>Here are some guiding principles ndefalcohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07895785216188194281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-12611228458395019272007-08-22T13:20:00.000+01:002007-08-22T13:20:00.000+01:00Not sure about UK's funding / equity. I think thei...Not sure about UK's funding / equity. I think their system is more similar to ours (more public hospitals) than to the US.<BR/><BR/>With regard to professional standards, UK hospitals are about<BR/>20 years behind Australia. I worked in the UK as a nurse for a year in 2005 and my sisters as doctors, in both private and public hospitals. My sister said "it was like working in a warzone. No one Honoriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11116329525486366153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-82021655136401148152007-08-22T08:02:00.000+01:002007-08-22T08:02:00.000+01:00Thanks Honoria, that's really useful.Australia and...Thanks Honoria, that's really useful.<BR/><I>Australia and Canada came out on top in terms of equity and equal access.</I><BR/>Do you remember where the UK came?<BR/><BR/><I>Sicko</I> addresses Hillary's attempt. I wonder whether the idea is now buried or whether it might get back on the agenda if she gets in?byron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-48256500673181031822007-08-22T07:51:00.000+01:002007-08-22T07:51:00.000+01:00When I studied Health Promotion, we compared the w...When I studied Health Promotion, we compared the world's major health care systems. Australia and Canada came out on top in terms of equity and equal access. <BR/><BR/>Most US hospitals are user-pay, which have the right to turn people away if they don't have private insurance. So US employment contracts often include health cover as an incentive. Years (?) ago, Hilary Clinton proposed an Honoriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11116329525486366153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-91445877126943288582007-08-22T05:36:00.000+01:002007-08-22T05:36:00.000+01:00Craig: Yes - that's part of what I meant by incent...Craig: Yes - that's part of what I meant by incentives to have private insurance. But is that the kind of system we want to have? I think I would rather pay more tax to have a public system, since I would be helping those who can't afford it, rather than just covering my own back. But maybe I haven't understood something.<BR/><BR/>Carlie - Yes, as the system currently stands, I understand that byron smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17938334606675769903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-19994048697272865602007-08-21T13:03:00.000+01:002007-08-21T13:03:00.000+01:00I have private healthy insurance because it is che...I have private healthy insurance because it is cheaper than the tax hit you cop if you *don't* have it...Craig Schwarzehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11156017639962303656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28189019.post-85412813154918527612007-08-21T10:04:00.000+01:002007-08-21T10:04:00.000+01:00I used to work in admin in a major Sydney hospital...I used to work in admin in a major Sydney hospital and it was part of my job to talk to inpatients who had insurance - basically to convince them to use it, so that the hospital could get more money and make the Medicare budget stretch a bit further. It made sense at the time that if people had health insurance they should use it and therefore help the people who couldn't afford it, but I hadn't Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com