David Isaac Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 Ha ha, Worcester, that's where my Grandaddy was born.
Marty_d Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 No. But she did it about three days into a two month stay. She was in a real pickle for the whole time. She must've felt like a dill.
facthunter Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 Can this get any worse? I'm gagging on it. People do exploit the english system. It's one of the PULL factors for economic migration. In Africa the family say to the BOY. Why don't you go the UK and send back lots of money like so and so down the road does. (you lazy piece of whatever) Nev
Marty_d Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 This is inevitable. Wherever you have a large economic imbalance, you will get a certain number of people prepared to emigrate and try their luck in the new country. Perhaps the solution lies in helping them to transform their own economies and societies.
Old Koreelah Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 This is inevitable. Wherever you have a large economic imbalance, you will get a certain number of people prepared to emigrate and try their luck in the new country. Perhaps the solution lies in helping them to transform their own economies and societies. The brain drain can be reversed. Many expats would love to take their new skills home, as long as there is a job. Peter Jackson's six movies brought so much talent home to boost NZ's film industry. All it takes is safety and stability. http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30447039
Marty_d Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 I agree OK... Australia has the capability to be world leader in science and innovation - but not under this government.
bexrbetter Posted January 30, 2015 Posted January 30, 2015 How much does he pay every month for the privilege of being seen quicker? Our bums had barely hit the waiting room seats when a doctor called him in, literally a minute or so. Never happened to me in 20 years of raising 3 kids in Logan/Brisbane. Can't recall less than 3 or so hours waiting. I have certainly arrived in the evening and seen daylight before being seen on a couple of occasions. American Health isn't more expensive than Australia, I believe the Oz lower class median is actually more expensive, but they do however have insurance packages that can be astronomical in price that people get the hard sell on; "What, you don't love your children??" - but that's your choice to sign or not. My Mate isn't wealthy by any strecth, respected 'Detroit car industry' historian, now runs a classic car website and was best known as "Detroit Editor" of the famous American "Hot Rod" magazine for a while. http://www.macsmotorcitygarage.com/ Enjoyed the read. I've lived in Canada, Asia and Australia The best place is here! You're welcome to your opinion. At the end of the day many places have their advantages and disadvantages that generally balance out and I prefer to live in China not because it's "better", it's not, and it's certainly not "worse" either, but that it's advantages happen to suit my career and lifestyle.
Phil Perry Posted January 30, 2015 Author Posted January 30, 2015 Now now Ayavner... if he didn't like me saying "boob" there's no way he's going to talk about bush! OOps,. . . . .did I BOOBoo back there Marty ? ? What's the exchange rate at present, ie, how many bushes to the boob ? I've lost track. . . / ( ! ) Now you MUST refrain from talking about ladies naughty bits like that ! ! ! ! . . . if you don't, . . . then I shall rend thee in the grobblewarts with my burglecruncheon SEE if I dont ! ! ! ! ! ( with apologies to HHGTTG. . . . ) INCIDENTALLY,. . . I had occasion to visit Stafford District General hospital ( Management recently fired and now taken over by North Staffs H.A. by the Govt. following thousands of horrendous complaints. . . ) and I was actiully called in to the Haematology dept. For a blood test, Fifteen minutes BEFORE my alloted appointment slot,. . . so it's a bit hit & miss really. . . . . I don't personally have an axe to grind with regard to UK healthcare per se, but I DO read a lot about it as the National Health Service is going to be a major weapon used by all of the protagonists in the upcoming general election ( May 2015 ) With the appropriate Pos / Neg SPIN of course,. . .depending upon who is writing the blurb at the time. . . . The current coalition Govt., or the opposing parties . . . . . Phil
cooperplace Posted January 31, 2015 Posted January 31, 2015 anyone who says US health isn't more expensive than here hasn't got sick there. I've had the experience. Overnight in the ER cost US$11k back in 1999.
David Isaac Posted January 31, 2015 Posted January 31, 2015 anyone who says US health isn't more expensive than here hasn't got sick there. I've had the experience. Overnight in the ER cost US$11k back in 1999. Ouch buddy ... I hope you were insured.
cooperplace Posted January 31, 2015 Posted January 31, 2015 yeah, insurance covered 100%, and my insurance had a deal with the hospital that whatever the bill, they would pay 66% in full settlement, so why wouldn't the hospital grossly inflate the price. A CT scan that here is <$1000 cost $3500. And the bureaucracy around health there is unbelievable. Atul Gawande has written a very good book on it, The Checklist Manifesto, in which he extensively compares aviation with health. We could start a new thread on that subject. Aviation always comes up looking great compared with health. What we have, and health emphatically doesn't, is CRM.
facthunter Posted January 31, 2015 Posted January 31, 2015 And checklists. The surgeons reckon they are clever and don't need them. They only kill one at a time.. and don't get investigated often. Nev
cooperplace Posted January 31, 2015 Posted January 31, 2015 And checklists. The surgeons reckon they are clever and don't need them. They only kill one at a time.. and don't get investigated often. Nev exactly, you're summed them up nicely. Gawande's book is all about that. He's a surgeon, and seems quite amazed at how useful checklists are.
Marty_d Posted January 31, 2015 Posted January 31, 2015 exactly, you're summed them up nicely. Gawande's book is all about that. He's a surgeon, and seems quite amazed at how useful checklists are. "22. Remove all tools before closing up..."
Phil Perry Posted January 31, 2015 Author Posted January 31, 2015 Wow. . . . . . . I posted that American Gentleman's "Australia day compliment" because it was nice to hear a viewpoint from a tourist who did not want to have a whinge about his vacation in OZ,. . . . . . .( Yeah,. .I've heard quite a few. . .) well,. . .just goes to show that under every rock there's a can of wriggly things hiding. I would imagine, reading between the lines,. . . that the American Gent is a well know personality in his home country "Poet Laureate" etc. . . . so maybe he can afford the appropriate quantity of medical insurance called for in the U.S. . . . the only thing which baffles me ( and quite a few of my American friends also ) is the vehemence of the opposition to ANY intention to make healthcare in the USA available at minimal, or (A La UK ) FREE. . . . to those who, for one reason or another either have insufficient or no insurance at all. . . . . I've never been Ill in America. . . so No experience to relate, but I ALWAYS get the best insurance available for Wifey and myself; when travelling anywhere else outside the UK. Two friends were recently "Medevac extracted" by private jet from mainland Greece for ongoing treatment in a British medical facility following a serious road accident whilst using a hired motorcycle . . . they were physically prevented from leaving the hospital until the insurance company paid up a large chunk of the cost, the rest had to be paid by them at the time, maxing out two credit cards to the tune of £15,000. The cost to them was £0.00 following their refund later at home, . . . but if they had not been insured,. . . . . or didn't have a good credit rating. . . . Phil.
Marty_d Posted February 1, 2015 Posted February 1, 2015 Wow. . . . . . . I posted that American Gentleman's "Australia day compliment" because it was nice to hear a viewpoint from a tourist who did not want to have a whinge about his vacation in OZ,. . . . . . .( Yeah,. .I've heard quite a few. . .) well,. . .just goes to show that under every rock there's a can of wriggly things hiding. I would imagine, reading between the lines,. . . that the American Gent is a well know personality in his home country "Poet Laureate" etc. . . . so maybe he can afford the appropriate quantity of medical insurance called for in the U.S. . . . the only thing which baffles me ( and quite a few of my American friends also ) is the vehemence of the opposition to ANY intention to make healthcare in the USA available at minimal, or (A La UK ) FREE. . . . to those who, for one reason or another either have insufficient or no insurance at all. . . . . I've never been Ill in America. . . so No experience to relate, but I ALWAYS get the best insurance available for Wifey and myself; when travelling anywhere else outside the UK. Two friends were recently "Medevac extracted" by private jet from mainland Greece for ongoing treatment in a British medical facility following a serious road accident whilst using a hired motorcycle . . . they were physically prevented from leaving the hospital until the insurance company paid up a large chunk of the cost, the rest had to be paid by them at the time, maxing out two credit cards to the tune of £15,000. The cost to them was £0.00 following their refund later at home, . . . but if they had not been insured,. . . . . or didn't have a good credit rating. . . . Phil. I agree Phil - it seems to be not only idealogical but almost pathological. Even when it's demonstrated to lower income earners that the much-maligned "Obamacare" would work out cheaper and better cover for them, they argue that they don't want THEIR money going to cover other people's medical costs. My personal opinion is that it has to do with the over-riding "individual freedom" idea. Same reason that an otherwise reasonable bloke, having witnessed first hand the effect of the Sandy Hook massacre on his community, still thinks that banning privately-owned assault weapons is an infringement of individual rights. Perhaps it's the historical effect of the massive anti-communism legacy from WW2 onwards - the thought of anything with even the whiff of socialism is anathema to much of the US populace?
ayavner Posted February 1, 2015 Posted February 1, 2015 ... and those of us who aren't happy with being as you say end up moving here!
facthunter Posted February 1, 2015 Posted February 1, 2015 It's the repetitive propaganda they feed themselves on.made to a recipe of compliant religion (that fits in with everything they do). Greed is GOOD. God want's you to be rich. We are in the last days so don't worry about pollution. They only notice the guy in front." Loser" is a common term. Conspicuous excess consumerism. Once you buy this object your whole life will change ie Monster gun, Bigger tits ,Showy car. Private jet, Bimbo mistress, Toy boy, Penis enlarger, Personal Psychiatrist, personal Gym instructor Nitro Drag car Bullet proof cars Yacht Cruiser with Helipad (Finish off for yourself). The business of America is Business. What's good for GM is good for America. God bless America. repeat 100 times each day. Possibility of the 3rd BUSH being president. Jeb. Sound like a place you want to live in? WE are going down the same path. Nev.
ayavner Posted February 1, 2015 Posted February 1, 2015 yes we are, and it makes me sad... that's one of the (many, complicated) reasons I left
Phil Perry Posted February 1, 2015 Author Posted February 1, 2015 A friend in Michigan with whom I regularly chat on all sorts of subjects . . .( UK Ex-Pat - 35 years in the U.S. ) jokingly said this week that if the UK Govt. goes ahead with it's planned programme of forcing the manufacturers of tobacco products to remove ALL branding from their products, that using some kind of convoluted legislation that they will sue the British Govt. for any lost profit. . . . . . didn't Australia go down the "Plan Fag packets" route some time ago ?? Also : he said that Starbucks had stated in the U.S. press that it had successfully defended the tiny amount of tax it pays to the exchequer on all it's UK operational profits by basing it's main office in Dublin, where the taxes are a lot lower. . . . . "Hey, IT'S OUR PROFIT BUDDY - NOT YOURS ! ! ! We ( aparently ) have a similar problem with EVERY US Corporation operating in the UK. They're all bloody selfish tax dodgers. I guess their corporate lawyers are better than ours ? ? Collective name for a group of Whales ? ? ? POD. Collective name for a group of Lawyers ? ? ? CLUTCH ? ? ? Phil
Old Koreelah Posted February 1, 2015 Posted February 1, 2015 ...We ( aparently ) have a similar problem with EVERY US Corporation operating in the UK. They're all bloody selfish tax dodgers...Phil What is the main task facing any new government? Get re-elected- and that takes money, lots of money. The money comes from people and corporations that want you to do something special for them. To control it's ballooning deficit, Australia's current government is cutting costs and raising taxes; but not for the big end of town. They are too powerful. https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/corporate-tax/senatesubmission/can-you-sign-onto-getups-submission?t=54oNyTBQ3
Phil Perry Posted February 1, 2015 Author Posted February 1, 2015 What is the main task facing any new government?Get re-elected- and that takes money, lots of money. The money comes from people and corporations that want you to do something special for them. To control it's ballooning deficit, Australia's current government is cutting costs and raising taxes; but not for the big end of town. They are too powerful. https://www.getup.org.au/campaigns/corporate-tax/senatesubmission/can-you-sign-onto-getups-submission?t=54oNyTBQ3 Thanks for that OK,....... I should have said that the Starbucks argument ( along with a bunch of others ) has been going on for over three years, not really related to scrambling for a "Tax Boosted" warchest due to an imminent election in other words. . . . this situation is also true of some non - U.S. companies / corporate bodies which sell in the British Isles but convolute their operational /supply HQ in other countries with more "forgiving" tax arrangements. One of the scams is to use a distant arm of the corporation and have it charge exorbitant prices back to itself in the UK, whether this be coffee beans or plastic doggie doos and thereby artificially inflate their cost of operations ledger which is of course tax deductible. . . . . . . . and I'm sure there are a load more carefully lawyer - constructed arrangements than that fairly simple example. . . . . Phil
facthunter Posted February 2, 2015 Posted February 2, 2015 IF you are making money from your operations in a certain country That's where you should pay the relevant tax. What's fairer than that? If you aren't making any profit why be there?. Glencore, a large Coal miner here pays NO tax. Nev
bexrbetter Posted February 2, 2015 Posted February 2, 2015 anyone who says US health isn't more expensive than here hasn't got sick there. I've had the experience. Overnight in the ER cost US$11k back in 1999. Your proffering has nothing to do with what I said. The same services in Australia would cost the same or more, who pays for it doesn't change the cost of it..
cooperplace Posted February 2, 2015 Posted February 2, 2015 sorry, I don't agree with everything you say, the same services in Australia can cost a lot less. A visit to the dentist cost me the same in both places, but the CT scan I mentioned in another post cost x3 in the US. Inpatient procedures can be a lot more expensive there.
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