I could say the exact same things, so if you find answers let me know.
Well, except the sucking at calculus bit. I never properly took calculus, but I probably wouldn't have sucked at it unless the teacher sucked.
Oh! Actually I can answer the growing up one: When you die. Throughout your life you will always be "growing up". There is no real final destination here. Being "grown up" is just something aspire to all their life.
I stopped enjoying Christmas early on, probably when I was in middle school; the middle school orchestra had Christmas gigs ALL THE TIME. I could probably still play every single christmas song on that list, first violin and second violin, by memory. Jeeeez. And the funny thing is, I don't know the words to any of them, besides the parts that are in the title.
Soo.... Eric and I broke up last night. Long story short, things were bad, so we talked and decided to break it off. I'm fine. Just feeling a little down, but who wouldn't be? It's gonna be weird getting used to it.
I gots a speeding ticket today too, that had the potential to be MUCH worse. It was my third one in the past year, I was sure that I was going to have my license suspended, BUT in Texas it's 4 in one year to get your license suspended, not 3. Seriously, that was really good news. I also didn't have my wallet with me, and I was carrying around an expired insurance card, but since I could tell him my DL number and he looked up my insurance through my license plate, he was nice enough to let me off for both of those.
I lost my goddamn keys somewhere on my 10km bike trek to work. So when I got to work and realized I lost them, I rode all the way back home without finding them, called my landlord to grab my spares, then rode all the way back again just to see if I would get lucky that time, which I didn't.
Worst of all, I lost my Dragonite keychain I got from Burger King. I had that for nine years.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Not the fucking Dragonite!! That was a part of a symbol of our friendship!!! Now I know what to get you for Christmas. Fuck. Our friendship cannot die like this.
I have to get my wisdom teeth removed which may cost up to $2000. Which may mean I have to get a second job. So much for starting college this semester.
Fuck US medical care. At my last dentist appointment in China, I went to the best dentist in the city with an English fluent staff to get my teeth cleaned and xrayed. It cost me $4 dollars uninsured.
Fuck US medical care. At my last dentist appointment in China, I went to the best dentist in the city with an English fluent staff to get my teeth cleaned and xrayed. It cost me $4 dollars uninsured.
And Andrew, you are an amazing human being.
Damn, even Canada doesn't have it that good. Our socialist healthcare system doesn't cover teeth, unfortunately.
Just yet another argument to go for a full-on Communist system, right comrades?
Hey Shovel, how about this: you tell the dentist that you can't afford $2000. Then tell him what you can afford. You don't HAVE to exclusively go to him, either. OH SHIT WE HAVE CHOICES IN A CAPITALIST SYSTEM.
Doctors charge high prices for their services because of the inefficiency of the insurance system. Insurance seldom pays their full obligation. If a doctor wants to collect $100 dollars, he can't charge that, or insurance may only pay $70 or so. Knock the price up to $150, and he'll get his hundred dollars. This obviously fucks people who don't have health insurance.
Hey Shovel, how about this: you tell the dentist that you can't afford $2000. Then tell him what you can afford. You don't HAVE to exclusively go to him, either. OH SHIT WE HAVE CHOICES IN A CAPITALIST SYSTEM.
Have you ever heard of a single example of someone haggling for a better price with a doctor or dentist and actually getting one?
And if you find a dentist that's willing to do the job for a substantially lower price, what if he's only willing to do so because he sucks at his job? It's not like you can return your mouth for a refund if you're not happy with the product you were provided with.
You're right that capitalism and choice are strongly linked, but it's not because capitalism provides choice. Rather, it's because capitalism only works in a situation where the consumer already has a great deal of choice (and the information necessary to make those choices effectively.) Take that away and the whole system collapses.
If, for example, Shovel Fulla Waffle is presented with two available dentists, one of which will perform her necessary procedure for $2000, the other for $1000. SFW needs to have this procedure done but cannot afford to pay any more than, say, $1500 for it. In this situation, SFW has no choice. She must go to the $1000 dentist, even if this dentist will almost certainly perform a substandard job. She does not even have the choice to not have the procedure performed at all, as she requires it to be done in order to go about here everyday life.
Now, as I said, dentistry isn't socialised in Canada, but other forms of healthcare are. If I needed to have a particular medical procedure done and there were two doctors available who could do it, I would have a choice between them, as the cost would not be an issue. I can simply show my OHIP card and be treated by any doctor in the province (out-of-province care requires a bit of paperwork, but it's still quite doable.) I, in a country with a socialist medical system, can choose from any doctor in said system for my medical needs, while someone in a capitalist system would have their choices constrained by their financial situation.
Actually no, Rob. Developed nations where the people are rich (compared to poor nations) tend to be time sensitive and price insensitive. This means that the people on average do not like haggling or negotiating for most goods and services. Their time is more valuable than their money, and they will not spend a great amount of time haggling just to save a few cents or dollars.
Poor nations and developing nations are time insensitive and price sensitive. The people have more time on their hands and less money. They are more willing to spend time negotiating back and forth on daily goods and services to save a dollar or two, because to them money is more valuable than their time.
To be sure, Americans do haggle on things of great value, like houses, cars, or other large contracts, because the larger sums of money being discussed ARE worth the time it takes to discuss them. But when it comes to things like dental services or health services, I'm not entirely sure. I think that in our culture we just naturally see them as fixed costs that are non negotiable, simply because our culture doesn't like to haggle.
Yeah, I thought that was one of the other reasons to go get a 'second opinion.' Not only to see if the procedure is the best to be done, but so that second doctor can say "You were gonna pay what? Okay, well here's what we offer."
I was suggesting to Matt last night to look into some sort of dental school you could go to. I think I've had a different experience in Texas because apparently there's some awesome Dental schools near Dallas and Austin, but it's worth looking into anyway. The students need the practice and just because they're inexperienced it doesn't mean they won't take the job seriously. They'd do it for REALLY cheap, if not for free. You get what you pay for, which doesn't say much-- there's always the possibility you could be getting a great dentist who just hasn't graduated yet.
So yeah. I'm sure you've been looking around, but just be aware of your options. Good luck with that... I can relate to getting really upset about spending a lot of money, heh. Over thanksgiving break I had to fix my computer (which actually ended up meaning buying a new one), and even though insurance was covering it the total was still like 2500 and I just about started crying when he told me
EDIT: Oh well apparently I'm wrong. I'd trust Ryan's opinion on this one
DI you sound like such a lazy sack of shit right now. Waa waa I need medical care. Waa I can't afford it. Waa. Nobody owes you anything, buddy. You got that? Your doctors don't owe you anything. Your government doesn't owe you anything. I don't owe you anything. Quit thinking that you're so fucking entitled to the product of another man's labor. Furthermore, try not being a pussy and negotiate for once. Remember that you don't owe those thieving nut socks anything, either.
You know, some people might not agree with you. Some people might argue that, as humans, we should at least have the decency to ensure that other humans are alive and have at least a minimum amount of care for their well-being... that just looking out for ourselves and not giving a shit about anyone else isn't "self-sufficient"... it's just "being an asshole". I don't think it's legitimate to treat this as some concrete fact of existence, that every person stands on his or her own and really should be allowed to fend COMPLETELY for themselves... some people have different views on what we should do for each other. And I don't think it's being "lazy" to suggest that we might come to some form of social agreement where people can have the basic necessities in order to be well and still try to compensate people for their time in making said people well. I don't know enough about economics and all that to really say much more than this, but I don't think it should be discounted for the mere sake of pure capitalism.
You know, some people might not agree with you. Some people might argue that, as humans, we should at least have the decency to ensure that other humans are alive and have at least a minimum amount of care for their well-being...
Sure, that's why there's a bunch of charities and some medics that agree to do certain percentage of pro bono work and stuff like this. However, as you correctly point out, some people might not agree with this... why should we force them to pay for it anyway?
And I don't think it's being "lazy" to suggest that we might come to some form of social agreement
That's all very well, in the case that as you once again state, you actually come to an agreement. Socialized healthcare isn't an agreement: it's forcing everyone to pay, some of them paying against their will.
John, have you actually haggled over doctors fees before? I have never gone to a doctor where that was even a remote possibility. It's like Ryan said before, it's basically a fixed rate because of insurance. You can shop around for a better price, but you definitely can't haggle, at least not here, so I'd assume not in other areas as well.
And how the fuck do you get "lazy" out of anything DI said? He was talking about options based on affordability. Are you suggesting that if someone doesn't have enough money to afford the most expensive medical care it is a result of laziness? And for the last fucking time. Nobody is trying to own anything from anybody else. We're talking about buying a service. It's an exchange of equal values. Some people use their position to charge more than their service is actually worth because they are in a system that allows such abuses.
You can technically shop around for medical services, but the medical service industry is not subject to market forces as other services are in a capitalist economy, for several reasons:
1. Many people do not practice preventative medicine; they tend to only go to the doctor when something is wrong. When this happens, the patient (consumer) loses something very important: his time. He does not have the time to shop for the cheapest hospital. While we may drive to the other side of town to buy a TV that may be $100 dollars cheaper, most people in a serious medical situation will not have that luxury. Therefore, medical facilities have little incentive to try and undercut their competitors.
2. For serious medical conditions, people who have money are not afraid to spend it. People naturally associate price with value; the higher the price then certainly the higher the quality of the service. And when you are dealing with something as important as the lives of your loved ones during a serious medical emergency, you are going to want to do everything in your power to save them, even if that means taking your loved ones to expensive hospitals under the belief that they provide better health care (while I'm sure there are some that do, the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota is internationally renown for its cutting edge cancer research and medical service, though it is priced within the middle range of hospitals).
3. Many hospitals and clinics don't even provide accurate pricing information up front anyway; they are not required to do so. I'm not sure if they have legislation protecting them or if they are preventing legislation that would force them otherwise, but right now they don't have to release price information. There are countless stories out there of people who do try and shop around and get quoted a price, only to find that they were really charged much much more.
Put this all together, and you can see that this is not a normally functioning industry in a capitalist society. There are too many other factors at play here. As for how to solve it, I dunno. Socialized medicine seems widely enjoyed by the people who have it, but the US government is way too fucking incompetent to manage something like that.
Comments
Well, except the sucking at calculus bit. I never properly took calculus, but I probably wouldn't have sucked at it unless the teacher sucked.
Oh! Actually I can answer the growing up one: When you die. Throughout your life you will always be "growing up". There is no real final destination here. Being "grown up" is just something aspire to all their life.
NOT THE JINGLY BELLS!
I gots a speeding ticket today too, that had the potential to be MUCH worse. It was my third one in the past year, I was sure that I was going to have my license suspended, BUT in Texas it's 4 in one year to get your license suspended, not 3. Seriously, that was really good news. I also didn't have my wallet with me, and I was carrying around an expired insurance card, but since I could tell him my DL number and he looked up my insurance through my license plate, he was nice enough to let me off for both of those.
But yeah. Single again.
Worst of all, I lost my Dragonite keychain I got from Burger King. I had that for nine years.
Not the fucking Dragonite!! That was a part of a symbol of our friendship!!! Now I know what to get you for Christmas. Fuck. Our friendship cannot die like this.
And Andrew, you are an amazing human being.
Just yet another argument to go for a full-on Communist system, right comrades?
And if you find a dentist that's willing to do the job for a substantially lower price, what if he's only willing to do so because he sucks at his job? It's not like you can return your mouth for a refund if you're not happy with the product you were provided with.
You're right that capitalism and choice are strongly linked, but it's not because capitalism provides choice. Rather, it's because capitalism only works in a situation where the consumer already has a great deal of choice (and the information necessary to make those choices effectively.) Take that away and the whole system collapses.
If, for example, Shovel Fulla Waffle is presented with two available dentists, one of which will perform her necessary procedure for $2000, the other for $1000. SFW needs to have this procedure done but cannot afford to pay any more than, say, $1500 for it. In this situation, SFW has no choice. She must go to the $1000 dentist, even if this dentist will almost certainly perform a substandard job. She does not even have the choice to not have the procedure performed at all, as she requires it to be done in order to go about here everyday life.
Now, as I said, dentistry isn't socialised in Canada, but other forms of healthcare are. If I needed to have a particular medical procedure done and there were two doctors available who could do it, I would have a choice between them, as the cost would not be an issue. I can simply show my OHIP card and be treated by any doctor in the province (out-of-province care requires a bit of paperwork, but it's still quite doable.) I, in a country with a socialist medical system, can choose from any doctor in said system for my medical needs, while someone in a capitalist system would have their choices constrained by their financial situation.
...Are you serious? Have you NOT? Do people not negotiate before buying stuff?
Poor nations and developing nations are time insensitive and price sensitive. The people have more time on their hands and less money. They are more willing to spend time negotiating back and forth on daily goods and services to save a dollar or two, because to them money is more valuable than their time.
To be sure, Americans do haggle on things of great value, like houses, cars, or other large contracts, because the larger sums of money being discussed ARE worth the time it takes to discuss them. But when it comes to things like dental services or health services, I'm not entirely sure. I think that in our culture we just naturally see them as fixed costs that are non negotiable, simply because our culture doesn't like to haggle.
I was suggesting to Matt last night to look into some sort of dental school you could go to. I think I've had a different experience in Texas because apparently there's some awesome Dental schools near Dallas and Austin, but it's worth looking into anyway. The students need the practice and just because they're inexperienced it doesn't mean they won't take the job seriously. They'd do it for REALLY cheap, if not for free. You get what you pay for, which doesn't say much-- there's always the possibility you could be getting a great dentist who just hasn't graduated yet.
So yeah. I'm sure you've been looking around, but just be aware of your options. Good luck with that... I can relate to getting really upset about spending a lot of money, heh. Over thanksgiving break I had to fix my computer (which actually ended up meaning buying a new one), and even though insurance was covering it the total was still like 2500 and I just about started crying when he told me
EDIT: Oh well apparently I'm wrong. I'd trust Ryan's opinion on this one
Sure, that's why there's a bunch of charities and some medics that agree to do certain percentage of pro bono work and stuff like this. However, as you correctly point out, some people might not agree with this... why should we force them to pay for it anyway?
That's all very well, in the case that as you once again state, you actually come to an agreement. Socialized healthcare isn't an agreement: it's forcing everyone to pay, some of them paying against their will.
And how the fuck do you get "lazy" out of anything DI said? He was talking about options based on affordability. Are you suggesting that if someone doesn't have enough money to afford the most expensive medical care it is a result of laziness? And for the last fucking time. Nobody is trying to own anything from anybody else. We're talking about buying a service. It's an exchange of equal values. Some people use their position to charge more than their service is actually worth because they are in a system that allows such abuses.
1. Many people do not practice preventative medicine; they tend to only go to the doctor when something is wrong. When this happens, the patient (consumer) loses something very important: his time. He does not have the time to shop for the cheapest hospital. While we may drive to the other side of town to buy a TV that may be $100 dollars cheaper, most people in a serious medical situation will not have that luxury. Therefore, medical facilities have little incentive to try and undercut their competitors.
2. For serious medical conditions, people who have money are not afraid to spend it. People naturally associate price with value; the higher the price then certainly the higher the quality of the service. And when you are dealing with something as important as the lives of your loved ones during a serious medical emergency, you are going to want to do everything in your power to save them, even if that means taking your loved ones to expensive hospitals under the belief that they provide better health care (while I'm sure there are some that do, the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota is internationally renown for its cutting edge cancer research and medical service, though it is priced within the middle range of hospitals).
3. Many hospitals and clinics don't even provide accurate pricing information up front anyway; they are not required to do so. I'm not sure if they have legislation protecting them or if they are preventing legislation that would force them otherwise, but right now they don't have to release price information. There are countless stories out there of people who do try and shop around and get quoted a price, only to find that they were really charged much much more.
Put this all together, and you can see that this is not a normally functioning industry in a capitalist society. There are too many other factors at play here. As for how to solve it, I dunno. Socialized medicine seems widely enjoyed by the people who have it, but the US government is way too fucking incompetent to manage something like that.