Universal Health Care Scam

Whenever I hear people talking about “Universal Health Care (UHC)”, my skin begins to crawl. The repeated canard that the American system is far inferior to the socialist systems of the UK or Canada just falls flat on its face when faced with the facts. UHC doesn’t lead to access to the doctor, it just leads to access to waiting lists.

According to CBSnews.com on March 20th, 2005, in Canada, it takes about 3 months to get an electrocardiogram (commonly known as an EKG). Three months. For a test that takes FIVE MINUTES to perform, and even quicker to be interpreted. It takes 3 years to have surgery to correct torn knee ligaments.

In an effort to try to improve waiting times, the Canadian government has come up with some “guidelines” for acceptable waits. To get your knee replaced, you should only have to wait 26 weeks. And if you need cardiac bypass surgery, the most you should wait is, again, only 26 weeks. And these are the government supported wait times. A US citizen would sue their doctor and everyone else in the room if they were told they had to wait 26 days for bypass.

Another common myth about socialized medicine is that it is free. In the same article by CBSNews.com, it is revealed that Canadians pay 48% income tax. That means that if you make $40,000.00 a year, you have to pay $19,200.00 in taxes. Thus you only actually get to have $20,800.00 to pay for EVERYTHING you want to buy, including your mortgage. I don’t think people fully comprehend this fact.

Yet another myth is that Emergency Room visits would be decreased if only the USA had universal health care. It is assumed by the media that being uninsured increases the usage of ERs. However, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, one out of five people in Ontario went to the ER at least once within a twelve month period. That’s 20 percent. And, nearly half of all infants (48%) were seen in the ER during 2003-2004. Of this multitude of visits, over half were for NON-EMERGENT conditions like chronic back pain and sore throats.

Another blow to socialized medicine...

While our presidential candidates are all coming up with ways to socialize medicine here in the USA, the "great" Canadian system is showing us why socialized medicine doesn't work. A liberal Canadian politician, Belinda Stronach, had to come to the United States for surgery to treat her breast cancer. I'm thrilled that this lady was able to get the best treatment available. But if the Canadian system is sooo good, why would she need to travel here?

Dave Ramsey is my hero...

Our central heating and air system died yesterday. It was 99 degrees upstairs last night when our son tried to go to sleep. Thanks to years of being brainwashed by Dave Ramsey, we have an emergency fund in the bank. We are getting a new American Standard unit installed today, and it's paid for with cash. What a concept!!

Thanks Dave!!!

Nessun Dorma: No one sleeps

In case anyone was wondering about an English translation of Nessun Dorma, the song that won the world over to Paul Potts, here are the words in both Italian and English:



Nessun dorma
Nessun dorma,
nessun dorma ...
Tu pure, o Principessa,
Nella tua fredda stanza,
Guardi le stelle
Che tremano d'amore
E di speranza.

Ma il mio mistero è chiuso in me,
Il nome mio nessun saprà, no, no,
Sulla tua bocca,
io lo dirò
Quando la luce
splenderà.

Ed il mio bacio scioglierà il silenzio
Che ti fa mia.

Il nome suo nessun saprà
E noi dovrem, ahimè, morir, morir...

Dilegua, notte!
Tramontate, stelle!
Tramontate, stelle!
All'alba vincerò!
Vincerò!
Vincerò!


Giacomo Puccini
(1858-1924)


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No One Sleeps
English Version of "Nessun Dorma"


No one sleeps!
No one sleeps!
Even you, oh princess,
in your cold room,
look at the stars
that tremble with love
and hope!

But my mystery
it is locked in me.
And my name,
no one will know!
No, no!

On your mouth
I will say it,
when the light
will shine!

And my kiss will break the silence,
that makes you mine!

choir:
His name no one will know...
And we shall have, alas, to die, to die...!

Disperse, o night!
Vanish, oh stars!
Vanish, oh stars!

At daybreak, I will win!
I will win!
I will win!

Pavarotti è guasto

Pavarotti died today. His family was able to be there with him at the time. God Bless you, Pavarotti!!!

Pavarotti is very ill

In light of my recent discovery of Paul Potts, I was saddened to read today about the serious illness of one of the greatest voices in the history of man - Luciano Pavarotti.

He has been ill for some time now, suffering from pancreatic cancer and its complications. Apparently now he is in a coma from kidney failure.

We are only on this planet for a short time, but the world was made a better place by the man known around the world simply by his last name: Pavarotti.

Paul Potts

I can't believe I've just now heard this guy sing. His name is Paul Potts, and he was the winner of 2007's "Britain's Got Talent."

Even if you are not a fan of opera, you will be brought to tears by his amazing voice. This may not be the best version of "Nessun Dorma", but it's up there!

His story is very touching as well. Of course, the world if full of people who hate to see anybody succeed. There are already people out there saying that he isn't genuine. Let those sad, sad critics cry themselves to sleep. You will love this guy!!!

Carbon Offsets

On September 2, 2007, the LA Times ran an interesting article about the effectiveness of (or lack of ) buying carbon offsets. The LA Times is hardly a bastion of right wing extremism.

In short, carbon offsets provide no real offset at all, at least for the next decade. It is a good way, though, for people to get rich off other people's guilt.

In addition, the August 4, 2007, issue of World magazine uses a great term for people's reliance on this concept: "checkbook environmentalism."

Don't get me wrong. I love the idea of getting power from ANYTHING besides mid-east oil. But I don't buy for one minute that my giving some company a couple of hundred bucks in any way will decrease global warming.