The "yoke" would be what?

Government control over life saving services that I would no longer have
access too without government approval.


Yep, when elective procedures are no longer elective and necessary procedures
require long waiting periods.

Removal of profit driven research (the most likely kind to get results).


I must argue the point that profit driven research is the most likely kine to
get results. Yes, profit driven research does achieve results, the research
going on at our many university hospitals is probably achieving greater results
than the profit driven organizations.

The bigger issue might be when the government runs the healthcare industry,
they must also set the salaries of those in the industry. Just how many of our
brightest and most capable future physicians would opt to the medical field if
they know that they will be forced to work for whatever the burro-craps decide
they should earn?


Getting better care for less money?

Only in the short term, long term it would be less for more - Like all other
governmnent systems. (social security, welfare, unemployment, pensions,
etc.)


How ANYONE can concieve that it will be BETTER care is beyond me. Just how
many of them would want to spend an additional 4-10 years in school,
internship, and tens of thousands of dollars to be force to work for the
government at government dictated wages. You have got to look beyond the hype
at what the long term consequences would be.

Making sure that you and your doctor manage your medical care rather than
some clerk without a medical degree pushing paper around an insurance
office?

You will replace a clerk without force of law with one that has that power

The piece of mind that what ever befalls you, your family will not have to
give up their shelter, opportunities for education and their financial
stability?

Because they will not have that choice to save me due to rationing? They
don't have that choice now because it is often forced. Which I also abhore.

There is, I suppose, a reason that the rich in Canada go to the US for
treatment but the middle class in America flock to Canada to borrow
medical
cards to get treatment they can't afford in the States and every weekend
bus
trips are organized for seniors to run across the border to get their
perscriptions filled.

I would love to hear about the card thing, but the prescription costs are a
ruse. If we go social medicine, either we will continue to subsidize them,
or their prices will rise. Either way, medical R&D will likely plummet.

I live in a fairly remote town of 7,000 only
accessable by ferry about 35 miles up the coast from Vancouver BC. In the
time since 9/11 we have seen a marked influx of American middle aged
people
moving here.

Its beautiful there, I am not surprised.


Yes, and they better look out now, after four hurricanes in Florida this year,
many more may be moving up there.

One guy I met after a brief misunderstanding as to where he
could park his 182 ( not my hanger) told me his story as to how he ended
up
here. Turns out he was employed in an oil company and worked mostly
offshore all his life. When it became time to retire he found that his
health insurance, because his wife had had bout with shingles, would cost
him $2500 a month. That pretty well ate up half his investment income and
he decided to hire a retirement consultant to explore other opportunities.
She somehow came up with our little community. We became friends and
often
our conversations drifted to how much the two medical systems differed.
He
was amazed that his wife's treatment was far better than what she had
received at home and there was zero paperwork. And the cost for the both
of
them? $ 96.00 a month. That $2400 he saves goes into our community and
he
decides who gets it rather than disappearing into some multi-national
black
hole. He flies his airplane a lot more now too. Too bad we missed taxing
him during his prime working years but you win some you lose some.


Nice anecdote, Beer and Donuts are a popular breakfast in our medical
center, both by doctors and patients, eh?

Everybody has a story and all of them would support some view or the other.
The grass always appears greener on the other side but such is not always the
case.


Bob Reed
www.kisbuild.r-a-reed-assoc.com (KIS Builders Site)
KIS Cruiser in progress...Slow but steady progress....

"Ladies and Gentlemen, take my advice,
pull down your pants and Slide on the Ice!"
(M.A.S.H. Sidney Freedman)