Help a person in pain.

Message

Gronagor · #51 Post by **Gronagor** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 5:27 pm

Bromios wrote:I presume it's something to do with population. UK has a very small population comparing to Canada and US. If health service was free there, I'd believe it would cost bundles of cash to keep everything in order, it'll be a tight budget.

US: 295million
Canada: 30million
UK: 60million

Hmmm... for the US, yes, but not for Canada.

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Edit: Hey! This is fun!

Australia: 19million
South Africa: 45million
NZ: 4million (????)

Edit: Oh great. Going through all that, and here's all the numbers:
http://www.wallstreetview.com/population.html

Charlemagne · #52 Post by **Charlemagne** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 6:26 pm

rosel1 wrote:I think it is admirable that Brassfire is being honest and asking permission to use the money to improve things for herself and her partner. It's a known fact that the welfare system seems determined to keep people trapped in poverty. Using this money to help her establish her partner and make it possible for both of them to work, will eventually improve their financial situation. In the end, she can get her teeth fixed and the original goal will be accomplished.

That money used differently in the short-term, will pay off long-term dividends. In the event that they have a child, life will improve for the whole family. Again, the end result will be that Brassfire will be able to get her teeth fixed, and her health will improve, thanks to the folks on this forum. Either way, it's a positive outcome.

I agree. The donation I made was with no strings attached. If using it to help get her husband into Canada is what she thinks is best, that's fine with me. In the end, it was to help improve her situation, be it her teeth, living conditions or anything else.

rosel1 · #53 Post by **rosel1** » Thu Mar 03, 2005 9:03 pm

Angelus3K wrote:I think I just must be to used to living in a country where the goverment however full of problems it may or may not be has a basic health service in place for people to get free/cheap medical care.

Yep, that's definitely it. In the US you can lose everything you own if you have health problems and don't have medical insurance. At this point, the number of Americans without insurance numbers in the millions. Furthermore, many companies are increasing the premiums while cutting benefits. Prescription plans are being dropped by many employers. Co-pays and deductibles continue to go up making even an office visit a very expensive situation for many families.

In addition, if the whole family gets sick and goes to the doctor, the doctor often charges an office visit for each family member, even though he sees them all at the same time. Add the cost of prescriptions-- you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure that one out!

I am very aware of this because I live in a small, rural community where several major employers have gone overseas, leaving many families without work and medical insurance. Our local social services office has seen a 300% increase in new cases. Likewise, homeless shelters and other charitable organizations are seeing the same situation. These are families with young children. More and more US citizens are falling below the poverty level.

Gronagor · #54 Post by **Gronagor** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 6:16 am

Well. That's why you guys are voting for the wrong people.

The time of promising 'nice buildings for all', and a 'glorious nation' has come and gone. Like the saying goes, the country doesn't care for you: "Don't ask what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."

Most of the world has a system in place for people who can't afford medical treatment... and I mean complete. Up to the top super-specialists.

Swift · #55 Post by **Swift** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 6:54 am

Her teeth are still hurting very badly, don't get her wrong. It's just that they don't exactly have enough money at the moment to pay for both dental care and living expenditure at the same time. Which means that even if she does get her teeth done, she would have hardly enough to support herself and her husband.

rosel1 · #56 Post by **rosel1** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 2:27 pm

Gronagor wrote:Well. That's why you guys are voting for the wrong people.

Judging by my post above, and many others before, do you really think I voted for the current resident in the White House? Please, don't lump all of us together. Only HALF of the country voted for GWB! And there were many voting irregularities in many jurisdictions (Ohio, for example), that are still being investigated. The US has never been more divided!

Gronagor wrote:The time of promising 'nice buildings for all', and a 'glorious nation' has come and gone. Like the saying goes, the country doesn't care for you: "Don't ask what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country."

That's why some of us have been working to change the system. Unfortunately, those who are most vulnerable, and most disenfranchised, also have little money to fight the wealthy, greedy GOP. The GOP elite continue to give themselves huge tax cuts; the Congress continues to give itself wonderful pay raises, and great benefits, while many Americans do without even the most basic necessities! The gap between the rich and poor continues to grow daily!

Gronagor wrote:Most of the world has a system in place for people who can't afford medical treatment... and I mean complete. Up to the top super-specialists.

Again, I agree. Unfortunately, those in power claim "Compassionate Conservatism", a real oxymoron! I'm not sure how bad it has to get before the 51% who voted Republican, get it! The middle class is shrinking in the US. Maybe, when they're living in a box over a heated grate somewhere, they will wake up!

#57 Post by **Erpy** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 3:47 pm

This discussion may be better suited for PM or chat. In general, we try to keep discussion of (US or otherwise) politics away from these forums.

Charlemagne · #58 Post by **Charlemagne** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 4:34 pm

Unfortunate, that policy. I'm sure there could be many interesting discussions on a topic like politics, or even *gasp!* religion. (Remember: Jesus saves... but Gretzky gets the rebound!! He shoots! SCORES!!!!

)

Blackthorne519 · #59 Post by **Blackthorne519** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 5:37 pm

Jesus saves....early and often.

Anyhoo, yes, hot button topics are verboten here. There are other placesyou can discuss issues as such. As long as it doesn't degrade into calling each other "poopie-heads".

Anyway, tell Brassfire I'll come to Canada, get her liquored up on 151, and knock her teeth out of her gums with a baseball bat. Problem solved!

I wish her and her husband the best, seriously.

Bt

#60 Post by **Erpy** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 5:40 pm

Yep, but such discussions have the tendency to get overheated quickly. Communities that allow political/religious discussions are usually about politics/religion themselves or they reserve folders and moderating staff specifically for those topics. Without those precautions, you're bound to have things burst into flames in a heartbeat. There's plenty of political forums on the internet that are equipped to handle those sorts of discussions.

Swift · #61 Post by **Swift** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 4:26 pm

Latest news.

http://www.questformoreglory.com/forums ... st&p=18174

Charlemagne · #62 Post by **Charlemagne** » Tue Mar 08, 2005 5:16 pm

I don't know... it's starting to look like she's making these plans on the spur of the moment, without thinking things through. As someone who's gone through his share of financial and other difficulties over the years, I know that dashing off "plan A", "plan B", and "plan C" on the weekend without looking at the bigger picture is a recipe for disaster.

What if she isn't accepted at university? What if her husband can't find a job that pays enough to cover a car and student loans. She already said they have no idea what he'll do in the short term. And making a living busking on the street? No steady income and no job security. Need I say more? It's great that she wants to get her life back in order, and I hope my donation helps, but I know from first-hand experience that you need a well thought out plan first.