"Gene Kearns" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 17:55:50 GMT, "NOYB" wrote:


While I don't endorse socialized medicine,

Sure you do. Afterall, you embrace a system where the caregiver will not
charge for his/her services.


I never suggested that it was appropriate to this culture.... I think
it would be a sad refection on our values as a nation. I don't think
that socialized medicine is the best solution.... not by a long shot.
However, if the private sector can't fix the problem by itself, you
can count on regulation by the government.


I can certainly see how those who choose to spend their money on luxuries
such as multiple TV's, new cars, CD's, and vacations to exotic places,
rather than on health insurance, would much rather have physicians
sacrifice
their lifestyles rather than vice versa.


I didn't know that this was a problem. Do you have any statistics to
back this up?

I just have a lot more anecdotal evidence than you on this issue.

I foolishly assumed

Yes you did.

it was people having trouble with
the rent and a car payment.... I didn't realize it was other well
heeled people like yourself that went on enjoying "multiple TV's, new
cars, CD's, and vacations to exotic places" right through that
toothache or abscess. What *was* I thinking?

I can grasp the simple concept that people who work hard deserve their
just
rewards. I can also grasp the fact that somebody has to pay the school
loan
bills, and high insurance premiums. The fact that physicians are also
helping people is an added bonus.


While I, too, believe that "people who work hard deserve their just
rewards," I'm not sure we define just rewards in quite the same way.
Price gouging, in my book, is not "just rewards."

As you see that helping people is only an aside to your corporate
structure, I assume that you won't complain when your corporate greed
causes the populace to vote for governmental regulation of your
income.

Let them. You think HMO medicine is bad, now? Wait until the government
has a chance to **** with it. They'll be boutique-style doctor and dental
offices popping up all over the place to provide refuge for the unfortunate
masses that grew tired of the government-run programs. Sure, you could wait
a couple of months to go to a public clinic for free...but that's not the
choice that people with who can afford to go elsewhere will make.


The majority of dentistry done today is elective. That's why tooth
whitening and veneers are so prevalent. It's a billion dollar industry and
growing. Socialized medicine won't affect my practice one bit. Almost 70%
of my patients have no dental insurance and pay at time of service anyhow.
The other 30% also pay at time of service and then submit the insurance
forms for reimbursement.

Socialized medicine *will* affect the quality of my access to health care,
however. That is precisely why I oppose it.

Trust me, something has to give as the upwardly spiraling
cost of health care reaches a point that it is no longer unacceptable.

I'm hoping it's the insurance industry. It's time to undo the
McCarron-Ferguson Act. Insurance is the one arena in which I think the
Federal government can do a better job than the state governments.



When it comes to a vote, will there be more doctors or more patients?

I already told you that, as a doctor, I don't care if socialized medicine
passes. As a patient, I care a lot.