Comments on: Capitalism vs. Socialism – Understanding Premises, Part 12 (Healthcare-Part 5) http://www.burg.com/2009/06/capitalism-vs-socialism-understanding-premises-part-12-healthcare-part-5/ Bob Burg's Official Website Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:00:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bob Burg http://www.burg.com/2009/06/capitalism-vs-socialism-understanding-premises-part-12-healthcare-part-5/comment-page-1/#comment-1158 Bob Burg Sun, 19 Jul 2009 18:05:28 +0000 http://www.burg.com/?p=975#comment-1158 Hi Jodie, I did read the article and was astounded by the numerous contradictions by Mr. Campbell. It did, however, make me feel good to know that your politicians are just as duplicitious as are ours. On the other hand, I truly don't believe most of them (ours or yours) even realize how duplicitous they are; definitely self-delusion comes into play. :-) Without going too deep into the content of the article, it seems that while he's telling us how wonderful Socialized health care is, he also says: #1 "In our system, wait times have been the largest complaint but SOME (emphasis mine) progress is being made. #2 "...urgent cases MOSTLY (emphasis mine) get treated in a timely fashion..." {Bob: I'm sure that is very re-assuring to the many families who've lost loved ones do those whose life-threatening illnesses were *not* treated in a timely fashion.} #3 "But there never are sufficient revenues for an open-ended system. This is why we struggle with scarcity of staff and equipment." {Bob: Yes, that is exactly why.} #4 "Increasing taxes is not recommended as Canadians are already overtaxed" {Bob: This one needs no commentary.} #5 "When the government is the only payer, it rules out market signals that improve service and efficiency" {Bob: Yes!} #6 "We provide free coverage for minor services so we don't always have enough resources for timely major services" {Bob: I am amazed and astounded. Does this guy realize what he is saying?!} #7 "A more sensible system, while excluding no one, would include co-payments for front-end cost..." {Bob: What?? Is he now suggesting people should...pay something?} With all respect to former Deputy Minister of Health and Deputy Minister of Treasury and Economics for Ontario, Campbell, I don't think any more needs to be said. Hi Jodie,

I did read the article and was astounded by the numerous contradictions by Mr. Campbell. It did, however, make me feel good to know that your politicians are just as duplicitious as are ours. On the other hand, I truly don’t believe most of them (ours or yours) even realize how duplicitous they are; definitely self-delusion comes into play. :-)

Without going too deep into the content of the article, it seems that while he’s telling us how wonderful Socialized health care is, he also says:

#1 “In our system, wait times have been the largest complaint but SOME (emphasis mine) progress is being made.
#2 “…urgent cases MOSTLY (emphasis mine) get treated in a timely fashion…” {Bob: I’m sure that is very re-assuring to the many families who’ve lost loved ones do those whose life-threatening illnesses were *not* treated in a timely fashion.}
#3 “But there never are sufficient revenues for an open-ended system. This is why we struggle with scarcity of staff and equipment.” {Bob: Yes, that is exactly why.}
#4 “Increasing taxes is not recommended as Canadians are already overtaxed” {Bob: This one needs no commentary.}
#5 “When the government is the only payer, it rules out market signals that improve service and efficiency” {Bob: Yes!}
#6 “We provide free coverage for minor services so we don’t always have enough resources for timely major services” {Bob: I am amazed and astounded. Does this guy realize what he is saying?!}
#7 “A more sensible system, while excluding no one, would include co-payments for front-end cost…” {Bob: What?? Is he now suggesting people should…pay something?}

With all respect to former Deputy Minister of Health and Deputy Minister of Treasury and Economics for Ontario, Campbell, I don’t think any more needs to be said.

]]> By: Jodie http://www.burg.com/2009/06/capitalism-vs-socialism-understanding-premises-part-12-healthcare-part-5/comment-page-1/#comment-1154 Jodie Sun, 19 Jul 2009 14:49:57 +0000 http://www.burg.com/?p=975#comment-1154 http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/668161 Hi Bob Thought you might be interested in this article and especially the comments posted against it...lots of angry Canadians for all those pleased ones... if you have never had anything major happen I can see how you might feel differently. The Star is a very liberal Toronto paper as compared to The National Post say. However, The Star is the paper that most Ontarians read and absorb. FYI only http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/668161

Hi Bob
Thought you might be interested in this article and especially the comments posted against it…lots of angry Canadians for all those pleased ones… if you have never had anything major happen I can see how you might feel differently. The Star is a very liberal Toronto paper as compared to The National Post say. However, The Star is the paper that most Ontarians read and absorb. FYI only

]]> By: Bob Burg http://www.burg.com/2009/06/capitalism-vs-socialism-understanding-premises-part-12-healthcare-part-5/comment-page-1/#comment-1097 Bob Burg Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:16:32 +0000 http://www.burg.com/?p=975#comment-1097 Dr. Stitsky, my heart goes out to you for your loss as it does for Jodie. And, as it does for the many I hear from and read about under a system of Socialized Medicine. As you described, it simply doesn't work, if by "work" one means being able to do the optimum job possible. Every time I hear a story such as yours, I just ask myself how anyone could actually be "for" the kind of system that leaves so many at a loss for good, quality care. The only answer I can come up with is that, because they mistakenly believe we (the U.S.) currently have a market-based healthcare system - which we don't - that doesn't work, they are willing to try anything, hoping it will be an improvement. The improvement will come only from once again having the market-based healtcare system that we the people of the U.S. (and all other countries) deserve to have. Dr. Stitsky, my heart goes out to you for your loss as it does for Jodie. And, as it does for the many I hear from and read about under a system of Socialized Medicine. As you described, it simply doesn’t work, if by “work” one means being able to do the optimum job possible. Every time I hear a story such as yours, I just ask myself how anyone could actually be “for” the kind of system that leaves so many at a loss for good, quality care. The only answer I can come up with is that, because they mistakenly believe we (the U.S.) currently have a market-based healthcare system – which we don’t – that doesn’t work, they are willing to try anything, hoping it will be an improvement. The improvement will come only from once again having the market-based healtcare system that we the people of the U.S. (and all other countries) deserve to have.

]]> By: Dr Lorne Stitsky http://www.burg.com/2009/06/capitalism-vs-socialism-understanding-premises-part-12-healthcare-part-5/comment-page-1/#comment-1083 Dr Lorne Stitsky Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:58:10 +0000 http://www.burg.com/?p=975#comment-1083 Dear Bob.. I am a licensed board certified family physician practicing in south Florida for the past 12 years and things gave definitely changed. I have a practice in Jupiter, Florida that I opened 18 months ago. After spending 10 years seeing 30 patients a day and relying on third party payers for .2 cents on the dollar; I opened a "concierge" membership practice. I now take care of 250 wonderful patients and am able to practice medicine again and enjoy being a doctor. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would "charge" patients to be there doctor, but in life you get what you pay for, and speaking from experience.. In medicine.. Depending on what country you live in, you also get what you "pay" for. My uncle died at age 60, six years ago.. A citizen of Ontario, Canada, a citizen with "universal" health care coverage. He waited three months to see a urologist, another 2 months to get an MRI, 2 more months to get in with an oncologist, and three more months to start treatment for bladder cancer. He died four months later at age 60. In America, and our current healthcare system, I could have gotten the MRI on thevdsy he called me, had it read that night; seen by a urologist the next morning and started treatment that same day. You tell me which system is better?? If this country, goes to universal healthcare, I'm packing up my shingle and opening a vineyard in the South of France; at least I won't have to tell someone's nephew their uncle died because of a " waiting list"!!! I enjoyed your article very much... Thank you!! Dr. Stitsky y Dear Bob.. I am a licensed board certified family physician practicing in south Florida
for the past 12 years and things gave definitely changed.
I have a practice in Jupiter, Florida that I opened 18 months ago.
After spending 10 years seeing 30 patients a day and relying on
third party payers for .2 cents on the dollar; I opened a “concierge”
membership practice. I now take care of 250 wonderful patients and am able to practice
medicine again and enjoy being a doctor. Never in my wildest dreams did I think
I would “charge” patients to be there doctor, but in life you get what you pay
for, and speaking from experience.. In medicine.. Depending on what country you live
in, you also get what you “pay” for.
My uncle died at age 60, six years ago.. A citizen of Ontario, Canada,
a citizen with “universal” health care coverage.
He waited three months to see a urologist, another 2 months to get an MRI,
2 more months to get in with an oncologist, and three more months to start treatment for bladder
cancer. He died four months later at age 60.
In America, and our current healthcare system, I could have
gotten the MRI on thevdsy he called me, had it read that night; seen
by a urologist the next morning and started treatment that same day.
You tell me which system is better?? If this country, goes to universal healthcare,
I’m packing up my shingle and opening a vineyard in the South of France; at least
I won’t have to tell someone’s nephew their uncle died because of a ” waiting list”!!!
I enjoyed your article very much… Thank you!!
Dr. Stitsky
y

]]> By: Bob Burg http://www.burg.com/2009/06/capitalism-vs-socialism-understanding-premises-part-12-healthcare-part-5/comment-page-1/#comment-1082 Bob Burg Tue, 07 Jul 2009 02:00:03 +0000 http://www.burg.com/?p=975#comment-1082 Jodie, thank you for sharing your story. I'm so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine anyone reading this and still putting any kind of trust in government to take care of their (or their loved ones') important health matters. My heart goes out to you and your son. Jodie, thank you for sharing your story. I’m so sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine anyone reading this and still putting any kind of trust in government to take care of their (or their loved ones’) important health matters. My heart goes out to you and your son.

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