Petrol Prices - Are they to high - What can we do about it.

[Royal Flush]

Scrap the NHS, reduce petrol prices, then listen to these same people whine about no health service.

The attitude of some people in this country tilts me hard!

I suppose you are with Bupa with being a Pro and not haveing to pay NI, we possibly all would be if we could afford. NI contributions are small compared to the service we get from the NHS, I also agree that we would possibly be better doing like the USA but also alot of tax changes would have to be implemented too. I can not see this happening during my remaing years.

I am making a point, people in this country seem to want something for nothing, the NHS has to be funded, if we start cutting petrol tax then things like the NHS will suffer. It's a simple choice, lower taxes less services, higher tax more service.

As it happens i think healthcare could be reformed no end in this country, i would love to see a governent start some sort of reward system for companies that cover thier staff with health insurance thus easing the burden on the NHS. There are too many people using the NHS when in reality they could quite easily afford to go private, this would allow the NHS to improve no end and help those people who can't afford to go private far more efficently.

[boldie]

Oh well thats not good then.

I might be biased (I am a lefty apparently) but I recommend you watch Micheal Moore's "Sicko" and see what it's like in the states.

They have no Universal Healthcare there, the only "Western" nation not to have it, and unless you are insured up to the hilt (Expensive) you will go broke (or at least have massive amounts of debt) if you have any chronic illness whatsoever.

[kinboshi]

Scrap the NHS, reduce petrol prices, then listen to these same people whine about no health service.

The attitude of some people in this country tilts me hard!

I suppose you are with Bupa with being a Pro and not haveing to pay NI, we possibly all would be if we could afford. NI contributions are small compared to the service we get from the NHS, I also agree that we would possibly be better doing like the USA but also alot of tax changes would have to be implemented too. I can not see this happening during my remaing years.

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo The Health service in the States is awful.

Cuba's health service is meant to be good.  Did you experience it?

[Acidmouse]

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo The Health service in the States is awful.

If you have $ its great

[boldie]

Scrap the NHS, reduce petrol prices, then listen to these same people whine about no health service.

The attitude of some people in this country tilts me hard!

I suppose you are with Bupa with being a Pro and not haveing to pay NI, we possibly all would be if we could afford. NI contributions are small compared to the service we get from the NHS, I also agree that we would possibly be better doing like the USA but also alot of tax changes would have to be implemented too. I can not see this happening during my remaing years.

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo The Health service in the States is awful.

Cuba's health service is meant to be good.  Did you experience it?

Cuba is quite impressive in that respect.

They are a fairly poor country as they can't trade with America or American companies but they do have Universal Healthcare and a good education system.
The hospital in Havana looks impressive (Also shown in Michael Moore's "Sicko" )and according to those that know about this sort of stuff it is top-notch.

Castro has done as good a job as you could expect really, the people seem happy even though they are relatively poor. They are very proud of their country and the history of it. The education system is free, the health service is top class and free (Though you do have to pay for your medication...but that's dirt cheap a it's VERY heavily subsidised). They take care of the elderly in a decent way as well.
I was amazed, I have been to Russia in the past and hated the way the Kremlin ran the country..mainly through fear and intimidation. The Kremlin leaders were living their good life and their people were starving.
Castro (Both Fidel and Raul) and his ministers do not take ridiculous amounts of money out of the system. They do not buy expensive watches and cars when their people are struggling.

I guess that's the difference between communism by revolutionaries (Castro and Co) and communism by politicians.

I do not know which direction Cuba will take after the Castros are gone, both of them are still highly respected by the Cubans and therefore a move towards capitalism isn't even being considered by most Cubans but as soon as the "26th of Juy" boys are gone the country might very well go tits up. For now..I was VERY impressed and convinced that if the Americans could stop being soo stubborn and allow trade with Cuba again Cuba could be a very successful country. (Although it would probably mean McDonalds would move into Havana and destroy whatever is there)

[Laxie]

noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo The Health service in the States is awful.

If you have $ its great

Doesn't matter a toss how good your health insurance is in America...you will STILL pay through the nose.  Then they only cover a certain percentage (after you meet your deductible - which varies, but isn't cheap) and only if THEY feel the procedure is required and only by THEIR choice of doctors.  That goes for any medical condition as well as maternity.  I had 2 of our children there.  Cost about 5k each time.  I've had cancer twice.  Second time was serious enough to require extra treatment after the surgery and was discovered while I was pregnant with our 2nd child.  So add maternity AND medical for that year.  Our son had a kidney disorder (in remission for the past 10 years), but that was ongoing from the age of 1 while we were living over there. 

Long and short of it, we had saved a nice chunk of change planning to move to Ireland and build a house when we were young, working and had no children.  By the time we finally made the move, we had very little money left and no jobs lined up.  Got jobs within the week and continuing medical covered, so it was like winning the lotto to us.  Taxes are higher here.  Food and clothes cost a bit more too.  Petrol is insane compared to over.  But would I move back to America?  Not a hope.  With all the health issues we've had in the past, we count ourselves lucky for the added wee expense each day as we know we'll be ok in the end. 

[Acidmouse]

wow you have gone through alot Laxie!

I am not sure what policy my wife had but her knee surgery (pioneering at the time) didn't cost her a bean. She spent a week in hospital, treated like a queen, given excellent medical aftercare. The operation was not available in the Uk in 2000 and its only just being done here 8 years later. So we have a favorable take on it, but yes I appreciate getting ill can be very costly if you are not completely covered. Saying that just because it's free over here does not mean we should accept the complete shower of shit standards the NHS often delivers.

[boldie]

wow you have gone through alot Laxie!

I am not sure what policy my wife had but her knee surgery (pioneering at the time) didn't cost her a bean. She spent a week in hospital, treated like a queen, given excellent medical aftercare. The operation was not available in the Uk in 2000 and its only just being done here 8 years later. So we have a favorable take on it, but yes I appreciate getting ill can be very costly if you are not completely covered. Saying that just because it's free over here does not mean we should accept the complete shower of shit standards the NHS often delivers.

agreed..but the NHS should not be compared to the health service in the States..it should be compared to other European countries where they also have free health service which is better run than the NHS.

[AndrewT]

wow you have gone through alot Laxie!

I am not sure what policy my wife had but her knee surgery (pioneering at the time) didn't cost her a bean. She spent a week in hospital, treated like a queen, given excellent medical aftercare. The operation was not available in the Uk in 2000 and its only just being done here 8 years later. So we have a favorable take on it, but yes I appreciate getting ill can be very costly if you are not completely covered. Saying that just because it's free over here does not mean we should accept the complete shower of shit standards the NHS often delivers.

agreed..but the NHS should not be compared to the health service in the States..it should be compared to other European countries where they also have free health service which is better run than the NHS.

where 'free' means 'free at point of use', not 'free of cost' - we still pay for the NHS.

[boldie]

wow you have gone through alot Laxie!

I am not sure what policy my wife had but her knee surgery (pioneering at the time) didn't cost her a bean. She spent a week in hospital, treated like a queen, given excellent medical aftercare. The operation was not available in the Uk in 2000 and its only just being done here 8 years later. So we have a favorable take on it, but yes I appreciate getting ill can be very costly if you are not completely covered. Saying that just because it's free over here does not mean we should accept the complete shower of shit standards the NHS often delivers.

agreed..but the NHS should not be compared to the health service in the States..it should be compared to other European countries where they also have free health service which is better run than the NHS.

where 'free' means 'free at point of use', not 'free of cost' - we still pay for the NHS.

Yes of course

[rajkan]

I heard today, there was a 13p difference in a litre of diesel within a 1 mile radius. How do they justify this.

[nirvana]

I've never understood why we generally seem to want to exercise personal choice in most everything but real debate about the health service seems taboo.

I don't think people want government to provide us with a house, a car, clothes, blah blah, but when it comes to our most important choice in terms of looking after ourselves we seem, in general, to want the government to provide it - yet, Governments just don't do 'efficient' or 'good service'.

It's a bit like universal child benefit -it's a ridiculous notion but hard to challenge without sounding reactionary  - I can genuinely say all the child benefits I received should have gone to someone more needy.

The NHS is an extension of the benefits system and so encourages us to abdicate responsibility for ourselves and hand over control to a higher power - its a bit like a religion.

Why are we so incapable of reducing the tax take by making people pay for their own services rather than public services and at the same time look after the genuinely needy ? It can't be that difficult

[boldie]

I've never understood why we generally seem to want to exercise personal choice in most everything but real debate about the health service seems taboo.

I don't think people want government to provide us with a house, a car, clothes, blah blah, but when it comes to our most important choice in terms of looking after ourselves we seem, in general, to want the government to provide it - yet, Governments just don't do 'efficient' or 'good service'.

It's a bit like universal child benefit -it's a ridiculous notion but hard to challenge without sounding reactionary  - I can genuinely say all the child benefits I received should have gone to someone more needy.

The NHS is an extension of the benefits system and so encourages us to abdicate responsibility for ourselves and hand over control to a higher power - its a bit like a religion.

Why are we so incapable of reducing the tax take by making people pay for their own services rather than public services and at the same time look after the genuinely needy ? It can't be that difficult

lol Really? How does the NHS treating people for free (at the point of service) means people relinquish responsibility..I don't get that at all? If it shouldn't be that difficult to change it how would you do it? Surely you must have an idea.

I agree on child benefits not being neccesary..in fact I disagree with child benefits on principle..I should not have to pay simply because people choose to breed.

[Newmanseye]

I've never understood why we generally seem to want to exercise personal choice in most everything but real debate about the health service seems taboo.

I don't think people want government to provide us with a house, a car, clothes, blah blah, but when it comes to our most important choice in terms of looking after ourselves we seem, in general, to want the government to provide it - yet, Governments just don't do 'efficient' or 'good service'.

It's a bit like universal child benefit -it's a ridiculous notion but hard to challenge without sounding reactionary  - I can genuinely say all the child benefits I received should have gone to someone more needy.

The NHS is an extension of the benefits system and so encourages us to abdicate responsibility for ourselves and hand over control to a higher power - its a bit like a religion.

Why are we so incapable of reducing the tax take by making people pay for their own services rather than public services and at the same time look after the genuinely needy ? It can't be that difficult

lol Really? How does the NHS treating people for free (at the point of service) means people relinquish responsibility..I don't get that at all? If it shouldn't be that difficult to change it how would you do it? Surely you must have an idea.

I agree on child benefits not being necessary..in fact I disagree with child benefits on principle..I should not have to pay simply because people choose to breed.

OK lets take this a stage further then boldie, If we don't have a system to "help" people with kids, what happens to the next generation?  with we just have more kids dropping out of school? More kids draining the benefits system at 16/17/18  you either support them now when its +EV to give them every chance possible or later when the damage is done and no bugger gives a toss because they will be labled a "lazy bastard"

Supporting them later costs more....

Take Glasgow as an example its almost a 40% unemployment rate (including people on incapacity benefit), of that number      around 80,000 are between the ages of 17 - 24.

Now what caused this? 

answers on a post card please.

[byronkincaid]

Irn-Bru?