Eddy, don't be afraid of expressing an opinion. Who becomes President of the USA has huge ramifications for the rest of the world, it's just a pity the rest of us don't get a vote. <br
I was apalled, disgusted with the choice my fellow Australians made a month ago with a similar jump to the right to a man who has lied barefaced to the Australian public for eight years already (no two-term limit here...). I was hoping the American public would make a wiser choice but it was not to be, the same fearmongering paid off there too. I feel sick about it. As a teenager in the 80's I felt proud to be part of a generation where tolerance, understanding, compassion were where we were headed. Now we seem to have done a U-turn and malicious old farts are frightening the population into turning on each other. We are heading into a nastier future, we are being led there by gormless George and his Australian Spaniel Johnnie <br
Re health isurance - if the US system is so great, why does the USA spend over 10% of its GDP on health care, Australia spends less than 4% yet has demonstrably better health outcomes? Because the Aus government had the guts to tackle the health insurance and pharmaceutical industries, we have a twin system with private health insurance for anyone who wants it and a taxpayer funded system for everyone else. The Government system is paid for by a 3% levy on all taxable income, after deductions. It is a bargain. If you choose private cover you get a tax rebate. Pharmaceuticals - you will only spend up to (about) $380 per family per year on prescription pharmaceuticals, beyond that, whatever you spend on prescriptions you get back as a tax refund. Government specifically allows production of generic drugs to give competition against over expensive products. Government has an elaborate purchasing system which drives prices down so Aus has the cheapest pharmaceuticals in the developed world. People on welfare pay no more than $3 per prescription. (up to the annual maximum, then nothing.) Other people pay heavily subsidised prices, most prescriptions cost $10 to $20. A visit to a GP costs about $40. with about $20 of that refunded. Many doctors "bulk bill", where they choose to accept a slightly lower fee in return for directly billing the government for each consultation, so their customers pay nothing. My Dr does that. That is for EVERYBODY, not just welfare beneficiaries. A visit to public hospital costs nothing. I have had surgery on a torn tendon in my hand - cost nothing. Xrays for a back problem - cost nothing. Counselling and management classes for anxiety and depression - costs nothing. Unfortunately the recently re-elected government is hostile to this fantastic system and as they now have control of the senate too, it is likely to be vandalized <br
I am heartened that so many applianceville members feel upset at the recent election result. It reminds me that less than 50% of Americans supported Bush, the other 50% are why I still have such fond memories of my time in USA. <br
Westytoploader - thankfully you are too young to vote. Hopefully in a couple of years you will have the maturity to see things differently. The governments elected in your country and mine plan to make life a lot worse for a lot of people, in both countries and abroad, including several applianceville members. Think about that <br
Robert, this discussion may be making you feel a bit uncomfortable on where it has headed, as it is so far from appliance related. I repectfully urge you to let it run, some of us are pretty upset about the result as you can see. This thread provides a useful vent and a discussion place <br
Best Wishe <br
Chris.
