Marco ... completely agree. I think it's obscene that we spend so much money on boner pills, statins and diabetes meds when children all around are dieing of easily cured diseases, and when malaria, TB, and AIDs are killing so many. There have been many occasions where I have not purchased audio equipment because I just couldn't live with myself dropping $100 on a cable, knowing that MSF could save many lives with the money. Perhaps audiogon could have a charitable donations section ?
Also as a British citizen living in the US I feel in a good position to compare socialized versus privatized medicine. My conclusion is that both systems could work well, and both are utterly screwed up in the UK and US, in the UK by vast layers of incompetent management (thanks Mrs Thatcher !) and in the US by political backhanders and savage greed. Fire all the managers on both sides of the atlantic and let the doctors and nurses run healthcare.
Nrchy, I don't think it's the medical SCIENCE that is failing us, but rather the vested interests. Science has shown quite clearly that if we all went vegetarian (or greatly reduced meat), reduced refined carbohydrates to a minimum, and exercise moderately that our national health would be greatly improved. But then there's more money to be made in urban sprawl, SUVs, Big Macs, and the resulting medical care (statins, bypass, chemo etc etc). I am a big believer in taking care of my own health and only go to a doctor as a last resort.
That said, when the staph infection had my right forearm swollen to twice its normal size, and I was in some degree of discomfort (British understatement !) I was rather glad for IV antibiotics and painkillers. Tofu and brocolli just wasn't going to cut it on that occasion ! :-)
