tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post115411029228823599..comments2024-01-26T10:20:37.836+00:00Comments on Diary of a Goldfish: Fitter, happier, more productiveThe Goldfishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15213378454070776331noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-1154292343626154892006-07-30T21:45:00.000+01:002006-07-30T21:45:00.000+01:00Goldfish, I agree. I would like to have an NHS ove...Goldfish, I agree. I would like to have an NHS over here, which would save a lot of costs. But I wasn't very clear in my description of our health system. We pay according to oure income, but the money is spend equally on everyone, independant of what someones has payed in the first place. It goes into a kind of pool, so to say. It is just like the NHS, but we have about 1000 little NHSs, which is rediculous and a waste of money.BloggingMonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17767164739217269193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-1154285092357669892006-07-30T19:44:00.000+01:002006-07-30T19:44:00.000+01:00Hi Goldfish!I suspect that you'll find that Tony B...Hi Goldfish!<BR/><BR/>I suspect that you'll find that Tony Blair is just reflecting a trend in public opinion. And given that it is the public that fund the NHS through their taxes, why shouldn't their democratic opinion be taken into account in deciding the treatment that is provided. Yes, it brings an element of moral judgement into the provision of treatment, but that is the disadvantage of any system of public provision - if those that pay for it start to think that it's being used irresponsibly, or that the amount of wealth redistribution is too high, eventually they will act and pull the plug as is their democratic right. As always, the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. In this case, for those of us who need someone to subsidise our lifestyles, the price of the freedom that that subsidy brings is making sure that we and our fellow subsidisees are seen to be acting responsibly by the subsidisers.<BR/><BR/>Public opinion won't always stay the same as it is now, and when it does change, the change will happen pretty fast - I've seen it happen. Playing the victim card won't work because the public will have already decided that they're the ones being victimised. For this reason, I welcome Tony Blair's comments since, given the blatant disregard that many British people seem to have for their health, presumably because they assume that the NHS will be there to pick up the pieces, it should improve my chances of continuing to receive the subsidy that I need.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-1154276832124890292006-07-30T17:27:00.000+01:002006-07-30T17:27:00.000+01:00Bloggingmone, for all the faults of the NHS, I str...Bloggingmone, for all the faults of the NHS, I strongly believe it is the best system. Of course, economic has to come into what can be done for whom, but the idea of this depending on personal wealth in any circumstances is just abhorrent to me. It exists to some extent now - I can't get an NHS dentist, and I can't afford to pay for a private dentist, so I haven't been to a dentist in seven years (fortunately, I have good teeth and haven't had any problems).The Goldfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15213378454070776331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-1154251903363619802006-07-30T10:31:00.000+01:002006-07-30T10:31:00.000+01:00Excellent post Goldfish. Please consider send it...Excellent post Goldfish. Please consider send it to Tony with a copy to your MP. Worringly, Tony is just the tip of the iceburg; beneath him are the script writers, ministers of health, department heads, researchers, political advisors - all contributing to what Tony is going to believe next.Sallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08223682934383856392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-1154249256255592442006-07-30T09:47:00.000+01:002006-07-30T09:47:00.000+01:00Great post. The health system in Germany is about ...Great post. The health system in Germany is about to collapse because it is getting too expensive. We do not have a NHS, but health insurances. For reasons beyond my understanding the number of helath insurances is roughly about 1000, each living in marble palaces (honestly!) and keeping up a huge bureaucracy. 14% of my wages go to them, in addition the same is paid by my workplace. Boss and I, for example, are paying 997,00 Euros a month. Still the health insurances do not have enough money. Now there will be changes. Thank goodness there are even a few effecting the insurances.<BR/>Apart from that politicians are blaming people for getting sick. Diabetis was on the agenda, smokers will have to pay an additional fee in future, acohol abuse wasn't mentioned so far. <BR/>Research has revealed in the meantime that the pharmacy industry could cut down the costs to an enormous extend by selling products not cheap, but just reasonably priced. They have run completely out of controle and charge whatever they like to please their shareholders. <BR/>The only thing I wasn't quite opposed to is charging people extra if they decide to do high risk sports, such as mountain climbing, speed boat racing or whatever. I also agree that if people leave the tracks and go skiing wherever they like, digging them out of an avalanche and flying them to hospital in a helicopter should be on their own expenses.BloggingMonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17767164739217269193noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-1154196358013128412006-07-29T19:05:00.000+01:002006-07-29T19:05:00.000+01:00"the resulting prejudice (and dangerous ignorance)..."the resulting prejudice (and dangerous ignorance) in the public perception."<BR/><BR/>Absolutely. How this gets reported in the gutter press will have the most impact on that though.<BR/><BR/>I have a couple of diabetic friends and relatives, and if for instance they have a car breakdown they generally mention to the operator that they are diabetic and therefore have to know how long the wait will be because they need to know if they have to go and seek food or not.<BR/><BR/>We can just see these remarks leading to "it's your own fault you're diabetic, just have to go hungry for a couple of hours mightn't you?" rather than the sympathetic response they've experienced so far.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11639094548415759560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-1154179919967608052006-07-29T14:31:00.000+01:002006-07-29T14:31:00.000+01:00Yes, I acknowledge that for some people, in some c...Yes, I acknowledge that for some people, in some circumstances, dynamic treatment is like a loan to a debtor you know isn't going to pay up.<BR/><BR/>And yes, people can be <I>very</I> muppet-like. I must say that when it comes to individuals close to me, I can be far more critical - after all, I have an investment in them being okay myself. <BR/><BR/>The thing I object to are these sweeping generalisations and the resulting prejudice (and dangerous ignorance) in the public perception.The Goldfishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15213378454070776331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-1154178520695599992006-07-29T14:08:00.000+01:002006-07-29T14:08:00.000+01:00Well put.Although... I do find it upsetting when p...Well put.<BR/><BR/>Although... I do find it upsetting when people blast their bodies to bits with drugs or alcohol or generally being a muppet, and I really wish we could somehow fund the NHS by taxing stupidity.Maryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11639094548415759560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-1154174414834570902006-07-29T13:00:00.000+01:002006-07-29T13:00:00.000+01:00Right on, Goldfish. Such comments as Blair's seri...Right on, Goldfish. Such comments as Blair's seriously worry me. I think that, faced with the black hole that is NHS finance, he and his advisers have decided on a deliberate policy of "blame the victim" in order to justify rationing. A sinister agenda.<BR/><BR/>A cursory study of history might benefit Mr B also, where he will find that a similar situation arose during the 19th century with regard to the welfare system then in place, the Poor Law. When the finances of that got out of control, a parallel movement arose to blame paupers for their poverty and refuse them help.<BR/><BR/>That said, I would make one tiny point. There are circumstances in which a doctor's reluctance to treat a condition, although it appears to be moralistic, may not be so. Take coronary heart disease and smoking, for instance, or alcoholism and liver transplants.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10557263.post-1154172200455769492006-07-29T12:23:00.000+01:002006-07-29T12:23:00.000+01:00As a selfish, wasteful, irresponsible, burdensome ...As a selfish, wasteful, irresponsible, burdensome and costly diabetic who clearly and inarguably brought the condition on herself entirely through her own actions (or <I>in</I>actions), Lady Bracknell cannot thank the Goldfish enough for this sterling blog entry.Lady Bracknellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06140991035663374911noreply@blogger.com