Re: The Government should pay for it???

["Robert A. Fink, M. D." <rafink@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

From:                   "WILL JOHNSTON" <johnston@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To:                     <rafink@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Copies to:              <PARKINSN@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject:                Re: The Government should pay for it???
Date sent:              Mon, 30 Sep 2002 00:51:17 -0400

> That is the climate today. Everybody [a gross exaggeration] is trying
> to get what they want through insider trading (a president's son did
> it and got away with it). Here in Salisbury we used to make Wayne
> Pumps - the things you use to put gas in your car. Thanks to Dick and
> his boys at Halliburton, the plant here has closed and the machinery
> has been sold or junked. Now the pumps can be made in Mexico but they
> are not selling since the quality control has been so lax. Cheap pump
> + cheap price will sell until customers find out what they bought.

Some interesting coincidences.  I was born and raised in Maryland
(Baltimore) and lived there until 1961 (when I was graduated from
medical school).  I still have family (a sister and others) there.  I
also looked at, and almost accepted a job as a neurosurgeon in
Salisbury in 1988 when Dr. Spence (the one who was there) was looking
for a partner for his very active practice at Peninsula General
Hospital.  I turned down the job eventually for a number of reasons,
but I was initially attracted at the prospect of being between the
Chesapeake and the Atlantic and returning to my "roots".  I am not
sorry, however.

I am familiar with Maryland Blue Cross/Blue Shield ("Care First").  I
handle the affairs of my 92-year-old mother-in-law (mother of my
first, deceased wife) who lives in assisted living in Baltimore, and
I have seen the rates for her Medicare Supplement go up to the point
that it is now about $200 per month.  As one who will turn 65 this
coming January, I have determined that a good Blue Shield supplement
for me out here will be half that.

As to Hillary Clinton's healthcare plan, much of it was good (and I
generally supported it); but there was still the "managed
competition" part of the scheme which would have led to the same
situation in which we are in currently.  A good single-payer system
is, IMO, a good idea, but the medical decisions have to be controlled
by medical professionals, not by bureaurocrats and MBA types.

American medicine is deteriorating rapidly.


Best,

Bob

**********************************************
Robert A. Fink, M. D., F.A.C.S., P. C.
2500 Milvia Street  Suite 222
Berkeley, California  94704-2636
Telephone:  510-849-2555   FAX:  510-849-2557
WWW:  



"Ex Tristitia Virtus"

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