Not Everything in America Has to Make a Profit

[Nonno]

"Not everything in America has to make a profit. It used to be that there were some services and institutions so vital to our nation that they were exempt from market pressures. Some things we just didn't do for money. The United States always defined capitalism, but it didn't used to define us. But now it's becoming all that we are.

Did you know, for example, that there was a time when being called a "war profiteer" was a bad thing? But now our war zones are dominated by private contractors and mercenaries who work for corporations. There are more private contractors in Iraq than American troops, and we pay them generous salaries to do jobs the troops used to do for themselves #-- like laundry. War is not supposed to turn a profit, but our wars have become boondoggles for weapons manufacturers and connected civilian contractors. "

"And finally, there's health care. It wasn't that long ago that when a kid broke his leg playing stickball, his parents took him to the local Catholic hospital, the nun put a thermometer in his mouth, the doctor slapped some plaster on his ankle and you were done. The bill was $1.50, plus you got to keep the thermometer.

But like everything else that's good and noble in life, some Wall Street wizard decided that hospitals could be big business, so now they're run by some bean counters in a corporate plaza in Charlotte. In the U.S. today, three giant for-profit conglomerates own close to 600 hospitals and other health care facilities. They're not hospitals anymore; they're Jiffy Lubes with bedpans. America's largest hospital chain, HCA, was founded by the family of Bill Frist, who perfectly represents the Republican attitude toward health care: it's not a right, it's a racket. The more people who get sick and need medicine, the higher their profit margins. Which is why they're always pushing the Jell-O. "

More at: When Did Making a Profit Become the Only Reason to Do Anything?

[ylexot (Premo)]

You are free to go to the nun to get some plaster slapped on your ankle to fix your broken leg. I'll take a doctor who would use modern medicine to scan, set (if necessary), and cast the broken leg (not sure why the old doctor was putting a cast on your ankle).

Next time you get a fever, I'm sure somebody can get you some leeches too

Oh, and there are contractors on the battlefield because the military was cut back way too far to be able to do it themselves.

[Lenny]

Originally Posted by ylexot

Oh, and there are contractors on the battlefield because the military was cut back way too far by the Clintonistas to be able to do it themselves.

:Fixed:

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Nonno

"Not everything in America has to make a profit...

...said AIG, Goldman/Sachs, GM, Chrysler, Bear/Stearns, Citi...

[Nonno]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

...said AIG, Goldman/Sachs, GM, Chrysler, Bear/Stearns, Citi...

[-SS-]

Originally Posted by Lenny

Oh, and there are contractors on the battlefield because the military was cut back way too far by Bush 41, the democratic congress, and the Clintonistas to be able to do it themselves.

:Fixed:

Fixt!

[This_person]

Originally Posted by Nonno

"Not everything in America has to make a profit. It used to be that there were some services and institutions so vital to our nation that they were exempt from market pressures.

Really? What are those things?

Originally Posted by Nonno

Did you know, for example, that there was a time when being called a "war profiteer" was a bad thing?

That's because there's a difference between making a profit, and being a profiteer.

Originally Posted by Nonno

And finally, there's health care. It wasn't that long ago that when a kid broke his leg playing stickball, his parents took him to the local Catholic hospital, the nun put a thermometer in his mouth, the doctor slapped some plaster on his ankle and you were done. The bill was $1.50, plus you got to keep the thermometer.

And, who provided the funds to that hospital? I'll bet it wasn't the taxpayer unwillingly.

[SamSpade]

Originally Posted by Nonno

"And finally, there's health care. It wasn't that long ago that when a kid broke his leg playing stickball, his parents took him to the local Catholic hospital, the nun put a thermometer in his mouth, the doctor slapped some plaster on his ankle and you were done. The bill was $1.50, plus you got to keep the thermometer.

Funny, when I busted my jaw as a kid, jumping in the pool and hit the side with my chin, we went to the doctor's, he patched me up - but it cost a bit more than 1.50, and I didn't get a lollipop (for obvious reasons). When my brother needed multiple surgeries for his knees and legs at age 12, it wasn't cheap. The doctor didn't charge a mere buck fifty to take my inflamed tonsils out at the age of 6. And that was the 60's.

How do they come up with these anecdotal stories?

Are they trying to persuade us that there was a time in this country when doctors peddled their craft strictly for altruistic purposes? I just don't recall any hospital where I went as a youth waiving their costs because, heck, I was just a kid.

[SamSpade]

Originally Posted by This_person

That's because there's a difference between making a profit, and being a profiteer.

No kidding. We've had anti-profiteering legislation passed as recently as in the past two or three years. Profiteering is the equivalent of price-gouging or insider trading.

[eddy1]

Originally Posted by Nonno

"And finally, there's health care. It wasn't that long ago that when a kid broke his leg playing stickball, his parents took him to the local Catholic hospital, the nun put a thermometer in his mouth, the doctor slapped some plaster on his ankle and you were done. The bill was $1.50, plus you got to keep the thermometer.

And then the liberal court sytem and lawyers got involved and said you have to take your child to a public hospital because the catholic hospital might have a cross in it. The lawyers said the thermometer didn't measure exactly to 96.8 so the hospital was sued for a 100 million dollars and went out of business because the liberal judges gave the poor downtrodden such a high award.