So I opened up the Editorial Section of the Atlanta Urinal and Constipation and besides the Monday liberal blather by Molly Ivins there was also liberal blather by Ellen Goodman.
Molly was ranting about how happy she was that Ashcroft was leaving the Justice Department. After all he had destroyed the 1st Amendment, to hear her tell it. Funny, she is still able to write her bullshit. Now if he had gone after the 2nd Amendment, that would have been OK with Molly.
She also had to get in the fact (not once, but twice) that he had been defeated by a dead man. The reason he was defeated by Carnahan is that out of respect for Carnahan, who died a week before the election in a plane crash, he quit campaigning.
And of course, what good column on Ashcroft bashing would be complete without laughing at him for covering up the nude statues at the Justice Department. There was a reason for that as Jonah Goldberg revealed last week. The Ashcroft bashing press was always trying to get pictures of Ashcroft with the nude statues in the pictures to make him look funny.
Now on to Ellen Goodman. She's still ranting about the flu vaccine problem and was trying to make the case that if we had a national health care program this wouldn't happen. As a typical liberal, who never lets facts get in the way of a good argument, she didn't bother to point out that gummint was the problem.
I've written about this before. The main reason we only have two companies producing flu vaccine is because of Hillary Clinton back in the early 90's deciding that every child should be vaccinated and the gummint was gonna do it. Since Hillary is a good little socialist, she doesn't think that companies should make money on vaccines. As such, the gummint mandated a small profit. As a result, many companies got out of the business.
Elen thinks this is terrible. Like most liberals, she doesn't think companies should make profits.
The entire debacle comes from the fact that preventing the flu isn't as profitable as, say, treating erectile dysfunction. The major American drug companies, who continuously tell us that their profits are for our benefit, don't do flu vaccines anymore.
Someone needs to explain some basic facts to Ellen. In a capitalistic society, companies exist to make profits. If they make profits, they can hire people. They can also do research to make better products. If they cannot make a profit, they will lay people off. They may also go out of business.
Why should a company go into a line of business where they may lose money?
Americans have long been told that national health care would mean long lines, rationing and second-class medicine. Despite spending more of our gross national product on health care than any other country, we rank 29th in life expectancy, right between Slovenia and Portugal. And what do we have? Long lines and rationing. Not to mention lotteries, and a shot in the arm for Canadian tourism.
Long lines and rationing for flu vaccines. Howza 'bout stuff like hip replacements? Guess where Canadians go for them? People who wait for a hip replacement in Canada wind up never walking again. Canadians have long lines and rationing for common medical procedures readily available here. That's a shot in the arm for United States tourism. And Ellen, if you think Solvenia and Portugal have such a good health care system you are welcome to go there for your medical needs.
The flu vaccine problem was caused by the gummint, just like many other problems in our health care system. Only a liberal would think that the gummint can solve those problems.
Posted by denny at November 15, 2004 09:48 PMThe other cool part of the equation is that the very vaccines that now provide almost no profit margin can be the basis of multi-billion dollar lawsuits that put the few vaccine makers still in business out of business. You gotta love it...
Posted by: Zhang Fei on November 15, 2004 10:29 PMAt least Molly is interesting because she is totally insane. Ellen is just boring. Old, stale, 1973 feminist boring. And she won't even respond to the raging screeds I e-mail her once a month or so. The old gash.
Posted by: Velociman on November 15, 2004 11:17 PMThe reason we are 29th in life expectancy is that we are too f**ing fat and have heart attacks walking to the 19th hole. It has nothing to do with the quality of healthcare.
And I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm not having the government tell me (no, make that CONTROL) what I do or do not eat, smoke, etc.
If I want to live long and prosper then it's my choice. If I want to have burgers and fries, or lobster, or nice big piece of juicy half-dead cow, then it's my choice. If I kick the bucket early then I only have myself to blame.
To reiterate, we are NOT 29th because we don't have flu vaccines!!!
Posted by: Stephen J Whiteley on November 16, 2004 08:21 AMStephen J Whiteley
Well said
Kill it and Grill it
a quote by Ted Nugent
I dont think Solvenia has a McDonalds or Burger King on every corner maybe they have alot of Subway's.
Posted by: Greg DiCroce on November 16, 2004 12:10 PMC'mon, Denny. Ya gotta admit, Ashcroft wanting to cover nude statues...that's just downright silly.
And as far as public health goes, ask any epidemiologist... it's not just life expectancy that's poor, but public health in general. Every health indicator in the US places us similarly.
We have the best medical technology, yes. But it's only available to those with the money to pay for it. I think that the arguement at hand is -- best medical technology for the few, or coverage for the majority? Necessity for hip replacements is not a public health indicator. Nor is brain or heart surgery.
A common assumption is that if we were all covered, then the technology would dissapear. I'm not so sure that would be the case, though. Consider Shands Hospital, in Florida. One of the finest hospitals in the Southeastern US. Why? Because it's a teaching hospital. UF Med. students pay top dollar to ensure that the best medical technology is available to them. The US would more than likely continue to maintain the finest medical procedures developed from such schools'/hospitals' research.
But, who knows, maybe not. It's not like we'll find out now, anyhow. Why the AJC wants to continue crying over the election (that's really what this is about) is beyond me.
Posted by: Jimmy on November 16, 2004 12:47 PMHey Stephen, is it then my choice to say I don't want to subsidize your health care through high insurance premiums charged to my employer and me? No, I guess those of us who choose to live healthy don't get that choice.
We're all getting fucked with that attitude my friend.
Posted by: Erik on November 16, 2004 09:53 PMUnfortunately, Erik, you have completely missed the point. Which explains your last statement there.
Oh, my "friend", quit blaming others for the problems you have.
Think about it another way, what is it that we all need? If we all need it, then shouldn't the government provide it for us equally?
Posted by: Stephen J Whiteley on November 17, 2004 08:42 AMStephen, get ready to be called a Commie.
Posted by: Jimmy on November 17, 2004 10:22 AMStephen - You were right on the mark with you first comment. You should have quit while you were ahead
Think about it another way, what is it that we all need? If we all need it, then shouldn't the government provide it for us equally?
That is socialism my friend. You are now advocating socialized medicine which has been a failure everywhere it has been tried. It is not the gummint's job to provide for us all equally. That is equality of results rather than equality of opportunity.
Posted by: Denny Wilson on November 17, 2004 10:35 AMSorry: Sarcasm...the point gets lost without the verbal inflection. My writing skills need improving (too much computer code and not enough written expression).
Is it my fault the computer can't write what I mean :). Um, ignore that as well.
Blaming others for the problems I have? Huh?
I'm just bitching about some fat ass slob causing health insurance premiums to be so high. Have you ever seen the figures on health costs associated with obesity, not to mention productivity? It's the attitude that people like you have that sucks! I'm not advocating for government intervention either, maybe just some personal responsibility.
My feelings are completely separate from politics, government, etc...
Commie.
Posted by: Erik on November 17, 2004 02:37 PM