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[RC] Smoke and Mirrors - Bruce Weary DCHi Mike--You are mixing your metaphors. The status of the health of the American people, it's health care system and the distribution of wealth are three very different topics. The life expectancy of Americans is lower than other countries largely because of how Americans manage their own health and diet, including the effects of illicit and prescription drug abuse, not necessarily because of inferior care. Our alarming incidences of cancer, heart disease and diabetes, are to a large extent, lifestyle driven. We need to improve delivery of care to make it more accessible and affordable. This is hindered largely by the tort/malpractice effect and insurance companies who are profit-driven, but who consume up to 40% or more of their revenues in administrative costs and executive compensation. Medicare only consumes about 15%, by comparison. Our primary care physicians are currently overwhelmed, underpaid (really) and becoming in short supply as a result. We spend an incredible amount of money on health care only in part because of its price. Moreso because we apparently need to consume an inordinate amount of it for the reasons I have given. More millionaires were created in the Great Depression than at any other time in our history. There was rampant inflation and 25% unemployment, and many people were greatly affected financially, yet opportunities then, as now, abounded. Many people take advantage of those opportunities on a daily basis. Others don't and simply say, "It can't be done." Who is right? "Cash income is a crude indicator of how well off you are." I would modify that to say, "Cash income is a crude indicator of how productive you are." If you blow it all, you aren't very well off. Not every job is valued equally. Teachers, police and firemen don't make near what they should. Society apparently doesn't value their services as much as movie stars and professional athletes. This doesn't mean better opportunities don't exist elsewhere. Clearly, they do. In every job that exists, there is someone doing it successfully. (I understand the Eskimo/refrigerator sales are a little off, lately :>)There is no business pursuit out there that isn't currently being succeeded at, though there will always be those who swear the game is rigged. We are only limited by our imaginations and our willingness. If our supply of these two things is low, chances are our incomes will be too. It often seems easier to blame Big Brother. That's the road to nowhere. To make this endurance related, I take satisfaction in knowing how many people's incomes I enhance through my purchases of hay, shoeing, grain, saddles, tires, insurance, tack, vet services, ride fees, etc.,. We should see the economy pick up around the time I have to order my next load of hay.:)) Bruce Weary =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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