March 13, 2005

Health Care

In debates in comments of various posts, I challenged our latest French troll, who said he was leaving this site and never coming back (I guess his village called and wanted its idiot back) to provide links for his contentions. To his credit, he did.

To prove that France was superior to the United States (BWAHAHAHAHA!) at least in the area of health care (Remember this is the country where a bunch of old people died of heat stroke while in hospitals and nursing homes in 2003. On the other hand, 2003 was a very good year for French Bordeaux. A twofer.) he provided this link.

Now I'll admit, I was taken aback here. The United States ranks behind Canada and France? How could this be? After all, Bill Clinton, who could have gone anywhere in the world last year to have a quadruple bypass, chose to stay in the United States. Why didn't he go to France or Canada?

Christopher Reeve could have afforded to have had his medical needs taken care of anywhere in the world. Why did he choose to stay in the United States?

And why do Canadians routinely cross the borders into the United States for routine tests and treatments, therefore eschewing the 29th best health care system in the world? That one is easy. As in most countries where health care is "free", services are rationed and there are long waiting lists.

The answers to these questions are easy. The United States has the best doctors, the best hospitals and the best medical schools in the world.

But, I hear you exclaim, why is the United States ranked 37th in the world? Because the data used for the ratings only takes into account one thing: life expectancy. That is not a valid measurement of a health care system.

Now if my little French troll had said that Americans were fat, I would have agreed with him. I, myself, am fifteen pounds overweight. That's why I have been pissed off about being sick. I have not been able to get to the gym and start working out again.

We have a fat epidemic in this country. Being overweight leads to heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, and other complications. You can have the best health care system in the world (as we do) but if you don't take care of yourself, your life expectancy will drop.

Our hectic lifestyle has led to eating too much fast food and not getting enough exercise. Our children spend too much time playing video games when they should be out exercising.

He was also nice enough to give a link to another site that was supposed to provide proof that France has a better economy than the Unites States. Here are the figures that count.

Per capita GDP (in USD, adjusted for PPP)

2002 France: 27,300 USA: 36,200


Average annual growth rate in real GDP (since 1990)

2002 France: 1.8 USA: 3.0


Inflation rate

France: 2.2 USA: 2.3

The French would love to have our GDP and growth rate. Our unemployment rate is half of theirs. They tout their 35 hour work week and other lavish benefits, but that is the trade off that has led to their high unemployment. French workers (and Germans) cost more than United States workers. Once hired, they are next to impossible to fire, so French companies try to run with the bare minimum of employees.

As an aside, isn't it neat that the French transport workers are striking at the same time the International Olympic Committee is in Paris checking out whether Paris should host the 2012 Olympics?

Another factor in our life expectency is how hard we work. Look at our per capita GDP compared to France. We work harder and we are more productive. Hard work can lead to stress which can cause health problems. That is the price we pay for having the number one economy in the world.

I'm sure our love affair with the automobile and the fatalities associated with driving figure in there also.

Last, but not least, we have the inner city casualties associated with our insane War on Drugs. These are mostly casualties among black men. Take out those numbers and our life expectancy figures go much higher.

I am a T12/L1 paraplegic and I receive excellent care. After back surgery, I rehabbed at Shepherd Center. a world class facility in dealing with spinal cord injuries. Not only does Shepherd do physical therapy, they also do therapeutic recreation. My ski and dive trips were both Shepherd events.

With the long waiting lists in Canada (and I expect France and Germany) I am happy with the timely and reponsive care I get here in the United States.

As I said in the beginning, Bill Clinton could have afforded heart surgery any where in the world. He didn't choose France. He didn't choose Canada. He chose the United States.

He knew where the best health care was.



Posted by denny at March 13, 2005 05:28 PM  
Comments

why did euro disney cancel the nightly fireworks?

because the french kept surrendering every night!!

Posted by: other brother daryl on March 13, 2005 06:50 PM

Its a fact that we are behind some countries in life expectancy, but we are also a mixed ethnic group. when our individual ethnic groups are seperated and compared to our countries of origion, we come out ahead almost every time.
http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html Gives information about every nation from GDP to life expectancy. Compare the stats on Birth rate, median age and life expectancy.

Posted by: Jeremy on March 13, 2005 09:03 PM

How would Fwance's Monetary numbers look if they actually had to pay for a Military? Another benefit of Fwance that the Fwog didn't mention: America has protected his Ass for the last 50 years. Cost to Fwance in Fwancs: 0.

Damn Pissant Psuedo Ally. Would sell their Mother to Iran before defending their beloved EU against Terrorism. Why you let the Fwench post on your site is beyond me.

Posted by: BurbankErnie on March 13, 2005 10:54 PM

I let the Frog post so the rest of us can spank his little pansy ass.

Posted by: denny on March 14, 2005 12:05 AM

It is probably true the USA has the best heatlh care but I think to validate that remark you must add "for a price". Average affordable healthcare in the USA is where doctors cut off the wrong tit and use a magic marker saying which part to keep or chop off. If you do not have the best healthcare insurance or if you cannot afford a "good" doctor I think USA healthcare is not what it used to be and in fact not safe in numerous cases. I had finger surgery in Bangkok to repair ligaments and I paid 2000 dollars cash. I also have BUPA Blue Cross insurance in Thailand I paid 500 dollars a year for and one time had pnuemonia and was seen by 3 specialists, had a private room with cable tv and a balcony and only paid ten dollars after coverage. I would like to see USA medical coverage compete with that. I used to think the downside overseas was not much english spoken but now in the USA it is habla espanyo

Posted by: Kevin on March 14, 2005 01:46 AM

No u're wrong will say smart Denny..
Why?
"Because I say so: my site my rule. In my world, I'm always roght and America has no failure. It's the best -and only - place to live in"

But I agree with u Kevin.. and so do much of US citizen.

Posted by: M16 on March 14, 2005 06:39 AM

Hey old shit!
Have a look at this one!
Cool isn't it? :)

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1037626,00.html

Posted by: ouele ouele on March 14, 2005 10:06 AM

What?
So u like our cars and products.. and our airplanes..?

:)

Thanks guys!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,150115,00.html

Unfortunately, seems we don't like yours.. even if the dol. is low...
kisses
Too bad..

Posted by: ouele ouele on March 14, 2005 10:23 AM

I like this one:
"The soaring trade deficit must be financed by foreigners willing to hold U.S. dollars in exchange for the products they sell to the United States. The concern has been that the trade deficit at some point could rise so far that foreigners become reluctant to hold dollar-denominated assets such as stocks and bonds."

So.. what have done foreigners for us today?

And this one:

"The struggling U.S. textile industry fears that the lifting of these restraints will result in the loss of thousands more U.S. jobs and result in China dominating the global textile trade. U.S. manufacturers are asking the administration for increased protection against a surge in Chinese imports."

Man.. we are on the same rocking boat! :)

"After China, the United States recorded a record $6.15 billion deficit with Canada, the country's biggest trading partner, and a $6.21 billion deficit with Japan. The deficit with the 25-nation European Union was $8.1 billion, down from a December deficit of $10.3 billion."

Ouch!

"The country exported $4.74 billion in various food products in January. However, imports of food products totaled $5.55 billion, giving the country a deficit of $81 million in food, a category it used to dominate in world trade."

Nooooo!!!???

and the best:

"The administration argues that the deficits reflect stronger growth in the United States, which has pushed up demand while economic growth has lagged in Europe and Japan."

Haahahaha... good to laugh for a while.. Administration..said.. so it's right!! :)

But

"Such a development could send stock prices plunging and U.S. interest rates soaring. The mere prospect of such a change has been enough to send the dollar tumbling in recent weeks, following remarks by officials in South Korea and Japan that at some point they might consider holding less in dollar reserves."

kisses

Posted by: ouele ouele on March 14, 2005 10:29 AM

Church shooting..
Courthouse shooting..

Few guns and no brain: these shit are an american speciality.. But whaw guys, u did it well this time!
Columbine, wacko


and please, go invade Iran-for democraty of course ! :) .. because of this one:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,150182,00.html

here are few lines

"GM's U.S. sales of SUVs and pickup trucks declined 9 percent last month, while Ford's sales in the same segment slipped 8 percent. Overall, both the automakers lost U.S. market share again in February.

However, Joseph Barker, manager of North American sales analysis at CSM Worldwide, said it was too early to say if the fuel price spike was responsible for the lackluster SUV and truck sales.

"I wouldn't read too much into the first two month of this year," he said.

While sales of GM and Ford trucks slipped in February, Toyota Motor Corp. (search) and other Asian automakers reported increased sales in the segment.

U.S. sales of the full-size Toyota Tundra pickup truck, which has a gas-guzzling V-8 engine, rose nearly 49 percent last month, while Nissan Motor Co. (search) chalked up a similar rise in sales of its Titan pickup truck.

The Asian automakers' reputation for quality may have helped them buck the industry trend."

hey pal! did u know that Nissan was mostly owned by ... Renault, the first French car builders? Thanks for us!
renault has never done more benefits this years!

"Unfortunately for GM and Ford, there are lot of exciting products right now out there in the marketplace," he said. "


Seems USA looks more and more like Europe!
Hey boys, that real life! wake up! :)

Posted by: ouele ouele on March 14, 2005 10:46 AM

USA.. a free market?

check this one:

http://www.heritage.org/Research/TradeandForeignAid/bg1815.cfm

here's the teaser:

"If there is one thing about America that inspires the rest of the world, it is its level of economic freedom. Or at least it used to. According to the just-released 2005 Index of Economic Freedom, published jointly by The Heritage Foundation and The Wall Street Journal, the United States is no longer among the world’s 10 freest economies. In fact, the United States is becoming uncompetitive in economic freedom."

Posted by: ouele ouele on March 14, 2005 10:52 AM

The unfortunate habit of Americans is that we eat too much.

The unfortunate habit of the French is that they breathe.

Posted by: homebru on March 14, 2005 11:20 AM

dipshit dipsht - I thought you had given up posting at this site? I will address your inane comments later after I have explored your links and see if they actually support your contentions, since many of them turn out to support my contentions.

Posted by: denny on March 14, 2005 01:14 PM

Kevin - You are correct that our health care is the best, but is costly. I have written about that before. One of the reasons is the high malpractice premiums that our doctors must pay because of ambulance chasing lawyers. Our doctors must also practice defensive medicine and perform many unnecessary tests and procedures to cover their asses in the event of a lawsuit.

Posted by: denny on March 14, 2005 01:18 PM

M16 - Are you one of the frogs that asshole asshole promised to send me or are you asshole asshole? Yep! My site, my rules and I'm always right and America is the best place to live.

Posted by: denny on March 14, 2005 01:25 PM

Buttwipe buttwipe - Thanks for the link on immigration. What's your point? I agree. Our immigration policies are a joke. Did I ever write that they aren't? Our borders are porous and our gummint is ignoring the problem. Try to keep your comments on topic. This was a post on health care. I will address every comment you made in this thread but will delete every comment after that that does not stay on topic.

Posted by: denny on March 14, 2005 01:31 PM

dipstick dipstick - Thanks for thanking us for fueling your economy. Once again you agree with me. Our trade deficit favors you. Of course we don't buy French cars. We want cars that actually run. Airbus is gummint subsidized. Boeing isn't. Too bad you guys are afraid to play on a level playing field.

"The administration argues that the deficits reflect stronger growth in the United States, which has pushed up demand while economic growth has lagged in Europe and Japan."

US growth rate 3.0% France 1.8%

Glad you once again posted a link supporting me.

Posted by: denny on March 14, 2005 01:36 PM

buttmunch buttmunch - Nissan owned by Renault. Fortunately the Nissans we buy are not built in France! We like cars that run. Many Nissans we buy are built in the United States.

Posted by: denny on March 14, 2005 01:40 PM

dickhead dickhead - Thanks for posting the article on economic freedom. Did you see France anywhere in the top ten? I didn't think so.

"To regain its leadership in this important area, America must cut taxes, cut government expenditures, eliminate non-tar­iff barriers to trade, and further deregulate some sectors of the economy."

America has lower taxes than France.

The American economy is less regulated than France. How many state run industries are there in the United States? 0

How many state run industries are there in France? More than in the US.

Once again you support my contention that the United States has a freer and better economy than France.

Growth rate. USA 3.0% France 1.8%

Per capita GNP USA $36K France $27K.

Keep digging. You keep supporting my points.

Posted by: denny on March 14, 2005 01:47 PM

Touche, Denny!! I work for Honda and our sales are up. Hondas, designed and made in the USA from US material and labor.
Healthcare in the US is high, as you say, because of the ambulance chasers and high malpractice insurance doctors have to pay, but living as close as I do to the Canadian border, we see a lot of Canucks here for treatment! Only 6 weeks ago I was diagnosed with cancer; so far, my surgeries and treatments have been spectacular, all done in the USA!!

Posted by: Michele on March 14, 2005 02:17 PM

I am shame to b french. we are a nation of cowards.

Posted by: ouele ouele on March 14, 2005 03:30 PM

I wish france economy free as us. i live in shithole cuntry. i bath once a munth.

hahaha

Posted by: dipshit dipshit on March 14, 2005 03:35 PM

I grew up in South Western Minnesota. It seemed we had canadians arround constantly receiving medical treatment. We were by no means the Mayo Clinic, just a small hospital with an average doctor. The canuks came down, got their treatments, paid cash. Why? faster service duh! I know quite a few doctors who have retired because their malQuack coverage (direct funding for all the DNC ambulance chasers) got too high after they turned 55. What do these healthy middle aged men and women do with their time now? They travel to foreign countries and provide surgical services for free. Many go with mercyships.
http://www.mercyships.org/About/AboutMain.cfm
FYI when they go, its not a free trip for them. They raise their own funding and pay their way to and from the ship as well as often supplying all or most of the items they need.
My exwife, a nurse, was going to go on one of their cruises. It would have cost her arround $8000 to go for three months. Don't know if she is still going, last I heard she was still trying to raise money.
So if you are wondering how medical treatment can be so cheap elsewhere, its because we pat for it here. Same is true of the meds, thats why Canadian drugs are cheaper. The Canadians do not fund research through sales. One of the doctors explained it to me a few years ago. I don't remember all of it.

Posted by: Jeremy on March 14, 2005 05:54 PM

did u kno france has lowest per capita use of soap in westen world?

Posted by: asswipe asswipe on March 15, 2005 04:32 AM

Your job ouele? Most likely a prostitute, since they are the only ones in france interested in talking to Americans.

Posted by: Jeremy on March 15, 2005 08:37 AM

jeremy, I know u 're right. i m male prostitute. it is only job i no how to du.

Posted by: dicksuker dicksuker on March 15, 2005 08:56 AM

I m pickle and am customer of dicksuker dicksuker. he is chepe. only charge on franc.

Posted by: pickle on March 15, 2005 09:16 AM

Denny,
I find it odd that you compare the US and France so subjectively. Our perspectives on unemployment, employment, and health care, standards of living...all different. To say one is better than the other...a little absurd.

Does money make us better? Does being overworked help us? As you've said, we're now a country of unhealthy, overweight, violent, workaholics. And the benefits are? Oh, that's right...good medical care and money. Well, if our culture wasn't what it is, perhaps we wouldn't need it. I'd give up out fantastic medical care or our luxeries for mediocre if 2/3 of all the young women I met were attractive.

Wouldn't it be a better comparison to gauge the happiness of each population?

Posted by: Jimmy on March 15, 2005 12:54 PM

Jimmy - Are you unhappy? I'm not. I'm very happy as are most of my rich friends who spend all of our lives exploiting poor people. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
Of course I'm subjective. I see the world through my own lens. Where would you like to live? Here, or France? If it's France, why are you still here? What is the number one country in the world that people want to emigrate to? Is it France or the United States? Hint. It's not France.
We have the strongest economy. We are still the land of opportunity. We're still on the rise. France is on the decline. Their social welfare state is imploding. Ours will too if we cannot figger out how to address Medicare and Social Security.

Posted by: denny on March 15, 2005 01:15 PM

Denny,

People emigrate to money, and the US is where it's at. It doesn't mean living in the US makes for a happier existence.

I stayed in Montpellier for a little while. It was nice. I'd live in France if I could get a decent paying job to sponsor me for a work visa. There are probably other places I'd go first, but, yeah...France seemed alright to me. I wouldn't mind a year or two, there.

Posted by: Jimmy on March 15, 2005 03:53 PM

Jimmy - I wouldn't mind a year or two in Italy, and since I made a lot of money in the evil capitalistic system of the United States, I could afford it. I could really afford living on a Greek island, but I am happier in the United States. You could probably get a subsistance job in France. Since money doesn't buy happiness why not move to France and take a low paying job? France is a nice socialistic economy.

Posted by: denny on March 15, 2005 04:33 PM

Denny,

I'm sure there's a lot of places I could go and just barely get by. And, if I were unskilled, that would seem like a great option.

However, until I can speak another language fluently, I can do the most good here, with a higher paying job. After all, power is the ability to choose the redistribution of wealth. I will not abandon my responsibility for happiness.

So, until I'm bilingual, it looks like you're stuck with me.

Posted by: Jimmy on March 15, 2005 05:39 PM
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