When I was really young. Maybe two years old, I would play with my sister and our cousins. Usually our cousin was a girl my age named Karen. And we would play together, and one of our games was to invent our own board games to play.
Ah. That would certainly occupy our time, I’ll tell you what. I would spend hours making paths with chutes and ladders, and we would then come up with cards to play and it was all good fun.
Of course, my sister who despised losing would never let us finish the game, and she preferred to toss the board game up in the air … for the most part. But for the little home-made DIY games, she would tear them up into tiny, tiny pieces.
This was perhaps our dominant play game when we stayed inside the house in those early years. Then later, as we got older, we would go out and frolic. My mother would sit outside on the chase lounges with the other mothers, smoke and gossip. This was life back then in the late 1950’s and into the 1960’s.
I wonder what kids do today?
If they are anything like my daughter, they are glued to social media and are generating one hell of a three to five second attention span.
SIGH.
Today…
No lying: did you regret having children?
Yes and No-
We have have 2 children, one is a great child, normal, we went through some issues in teenage years but nothing beyond what I would consider teenage behavior. Then we have the oldest, she has made our lives miserable since she was 8. We have taken her to countless doctors, therapist, behavior specialist, metal health facilities, etc. Always the squeaky wheel, always got more attention then the other child.
My husband and I both have seen counselors and therapists to try and figure out what WE were doing or saying wrong. How to handle the problem child. We finally told her to leave just to have some peace in our home. Tried to have an arms length relationship once she moved out.
Even as an adult she is one of the most evil and manipulative people we have ever known.Still trying to figure out where we went wrong but doctors tell us some people are just “wired wrong” and she has diagnosed mental health issues and refuse to take the meds Doctors prescribe-She says that’s our way of trying to control her.
So Yes we regret having a child like that and No we don’t regret having our 2nd child
Cheating Wife Served Divorce Papers
How can we determine that China has become an economic giant? Is it more accurate to describe China as an emerging power rather than a “super” power?
Up until 2015, there was a Superpower – USA & 3 Regional Powers – Russia (Europe), China & Japan (Asia)
Today there are no more Superpowers
There are three GREAT POWERS – USA, Russia & China
Why is China a great power?
A. Regional Deterrence
Russia, US and China are the only three countries in the world who can defend themselves from any enemy on Air, Water & Land
Everyone else is Vulnerable to attack
B. Economic Potential
China controls over 70% of the Global Supply Chains when it comes to High Grade & Advanced Manufacturing. As India learnt to its cost, Modernization = China
You cannot modernize without China
C. Financial Clout
With a $ 20 Trillion Savings base & a Fiscal Space for nearly 20 Trillion Yuan ($ 3 Trillion) – China has sufficient fuel to drive the next 15–20 years at 3.75% growth and double their GDP by 2045
Meanwhile their Debt at 77% GDP is under control and their interest on Debt is a paltry 7% of their Revenue & 11.75% on their Expenditure, the lowest among all G20 nations
D. Indigenous Defence Manufacturing
From a mere 140 Suppliers in 1996 , China has close to 93,000 Listed Suppliers today who supply almost 96% of the components, materials and designs that China needs for advanced manufacturing
Even the US has its 78,000 Suppliers distributed across the world – including 72 of them in China
This means during a war, Chinas rate of production can tower above all of NATO easily
By comparison India which had 34 Suppliers in 1996 still has only 1200+ Suppliers in 2024 and has a Localisation rate of less than 20% for Advanced Equipment
E. Technology
The Migration of Knowledge is moving from MIT & Stanford to Tsinghua and Zhejiang
In 2010 – 76% of Pioneering Research in the 14 Critical Areas came out of the US & less than 2% from China
By 2024 – Only 46% of Pioneering Research in the 14 Critical Areas is coming from the US & a whopping 31% is coming from China
The Gap is much closer and China is expected to take lead by 2030 -2035
So China is a Great Power rather than an Emerging Power
Rosemary Roast Chicken
Ready to take plain roast chicken up a notch? Try this honey-and-rosemary roasted version, tastily trimmed with thick slices of squash and onion.
Prep: 20 min | Bake: 1 hr 55 min | Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 3 to 3 1/2 pound whole broiler-fryer chicken
- 1 1/2 pounds buttercup or acorn squash, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch rings or slices, then cut crosswise in half
- 2 medium onions, cut into 1 inch wedges (2 cups)
- 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 teaspoons dried rosemary leaves, crumbled
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Fold wings of chicken under back.
- Tie or skewer drumsticks together.
- Place chicken, breast side up, on rack in shallow roasting pan.
- Arrange squash and onions around chicken.
- In small bowl, mix remaining ingredients; brush on chicken and vegetables just until evenly coated.
- Reserve remaining butter mixture.
- Insert meat thermometer in chicken so tip is in thickest part of inside thigh muscle and does not touch bone.
- Roast uncovered for 1 hour.
- Brush remaining butter mixture on chicken and vegetables.
- Cover loosely with foil to prevent overbrowning.
- Bake 45 to 55 minutes longer or until thermometer reads 180 degrees F. Juice of chicken will no longer pink when center of thigh is cut and squash is tender.
Notes
Cube any leftover chicken and add to Traditional Bread Dressing for a quick one-dish meal.
Add steamed broccoli spears or green beans to make your meal complete.
How do countries with universal health care handle individuals who refuse to pay their medical bills? Do they lose access to healthcare?
Do you even understand what universal healthcare means? There are NO medical bills! All healthcare is funded by taxes. Sprained ankle, heart attack, long term cancer treatment, EVERYTHING is provided FREE at the point of service.
What kind of fucked up, third world country would not have universal healthcare? Oooohhhh wait……
Why is the US still building the obsolete Arleigh Burke destroyers while China intends to launch 75 modern Type 055 destroyers? The type 055s are considered the best warships in the world.
I’m sorry, how could the questioner think that 75 Type 055 destroyers would be built? Currently, only 8 have been built, and even according to uncertain sources, it will increase to 14.
According to the American military judgment, similar Ticonderoga-class missile cruisers have only been built for 27 ships, ignoring the 5 ships without vertical launch systems, which is only 22 ships.
This thing is very expensive, and it is impossible to build so many.
Similar to the Burke-class destroyer is the Type 052D destroyer, of which 27 have been built; the Type 054A frigate, which is the smaller one, theyt have been built 40, totaling about 67 ships.
There are currently 74 Burke-class destroyers.
The total number of launch silos of the Burke-class destroyer’s vertical launch system is more than the previous two (96 vs 64/32), and it has a number advantage.
For the US Navy, the Burke-class destroyer is a very cost-effective warship, and they are not behind.
What is the best mistake you have ever made? A mistake that turned out good.
Being nice to a woman, SHE said! you sleep on the couch. Wash room is there, And don’t go near my door. I own a gun.
About 5am she came out in a nightie and panties and my boxers couldn’t hide my surprise.
HER words exactly ( all the fuc*ing men in the world, and I brought the nice guy home ).
We had three kids, thirteen granddaughters, and at the moment Three great granddaughter.
She never meet the great grands.
All the fuc*ing women in the world, why did she pass first
Shorpy
To those people in the world who have access to universal healthcare, what experiences could you share with Americans in order for us to understand how it affects your life (positively or negatively)?
I had a cough.
It wouldn’t go away, so the doctor (who I saw for free) thought I should get an xray.
This was done (for free) and they noticed I had a crack in one of my vertebrae so fearing it could be something more serious I was sent for a bone scan.
This was also done for free.
Thankfully nothing serious, but if it was, my treatment would have continued for free until either I was healed or dead.
My neighbours wife was American.
They were so terrified of going to the doctors, because usually that would mean crippling debt that they just didn’t go as often as she should have.
She died of heart failure.
Could have had a heart transplant – for free!
Do you agree with Elon Musk that we waste far too much money keeping useless old people alive?
About four decades ago I worked for American Koyo in Orangeburg, SC.
The Japanese revere their elderly for their wisdom and experience.
They don’t force them into retirement if they are willing to keep working.
Their institutional knowledge is highly valued and people actively seek and value their advice.
At home, they are treated with honor by their families and friends.
Their stories and advice are, once again, sought after.
Their stories provide a history of the family that survives through the generations.
Musk will be old before he knows it.
My wish for him is to be surrounded by people who think just like he does.
How should the United States respond to China’s attempts to resist protectionism and safeguard globalization?
There is nothing US can do about China’s resistance to protectionism.
On US tariffs and sanctions, China has shown it is willing and able to counter them. Its approach is nuanced and selective.
China is opening up its economy. It is the world’s manufacturing hub, the centre of supply chain, and the No.1 trader with the most number of countries of the largest quantity and widest variety of goods. What it does will have global impact.
Globalization is part of this impact, directly via the supply-chain network, and a function of the growing trade and investment with it. The significant trend is the new globalization of production across borders around Chinese companies expanding overseas, and with links to the supply chain in China.
In contrast is the trend of isolation in the US, consequent upon its protectionist tendency, and especially, the universal tariffs.
The new globalization fits in with the development of the multi-polar world.
How can we determine that China has become an economic giant? Is it more accurate to describe China as an emerging power rather than a “super” power?
Chinese people only believe in strength.
You countries like Britain, France, Germany—these pitifully small and weak nations—actually dared to invade China?
Do you know how much harm this caused China?!
Do you even understand??!!
You don’t get it!
But we Chinese people do!
From now on, we Chinese only trust ourselves.
Army, navy, air force, and nuclear weapons.
We will never allow China’s industrial power to be less than 50% of the world’s total.
We will never allow any country to pose even the slightest threat to China.
You countries—Britain, Germany, France, and the rest—you can survive, but we won’t allow you to have even 5% of China’s military capability.
Not convinced?
Then take your time and try. We don’t care.
The entirety of Europe isn’t allowed to have 20% of China’s military strength.
If you exceed that? We’ll deal with you the same way you dealt with us back then.
If you’re not convinced, go ahead and try!
Bless Me, Father, for I Have Sinned
Submitted into Contest #287 in response to: Write a story with a character pouring out their emotions.… view prompt
Michael Jefferson
Ronin leans over his bed. “Is there something I can do? Perhaps a special prayer?”
“…Just listen…”
***
Brandon grinds his teeth, stepping on the car’s accelerator.
“Promise me you’ll take your medication, Beth.”
“But it makes me sleepy.”
A tall, attractive, gray-eyed brunette with undeniable style and poise, Beth is the envy of all the wives whenever Brandon can coax her into attending one of Arlington Financial’s lavish parties.
“You need to pay attention to your mental health,” Brandon scolds. “I don’t want you wandering around the neighborhood naked again.”
“The neighbors didn’t mind. Some of them took pictures.”
“This isn’t a joke, Beth.”
Beth cups her head in her hands, sobbing. “You’re still punishing me for Albert. How many times do I have to say I’m sorry?”
“You left our son alone to toy with the mailman.”
“…We were only talking,” Beth says between tears.
“You were flirting while our son walked out the back door, fell in the pool, and drowned.”
“…And I’ve been paying for it ever since…”
“You smoke three packs a day. You don’t eat,” Brandon snaps. “You walk around the house talking and laughing to yourself, and you see things that aren’t there. You’ve had so many afflictions the psychiatrist can’t keep up with them. You’re making yourself sick so people will pity you, and you’ll get more attention. And you know what? That makes me sick.”
Brandon pulls the car into Rexall’s parking lot. He bounds out of the car but stops short, sniffing the air.
“I smell anti-freeze. Must have a leak. Why don’t you get your prescription while I check.”
“Aren’t you worried I’ll dance around naked in the aisles?”
“Just go.”
Brandon lifts the hood of the car, checking the engine.
A battered Chevy parks near the store’s front door. Leaving the car running, a jittery man with a big nose exchanges glances with Brandon before skulking inside.
A loud pop stops Brandon from playing Mr. Fix It.
The jittery man runs out of the door, dashing to his car. Smoking the wheels, he speeds off.
The store’s pharmacist races outside. Spotting Brandon, he yells, “Call 9-1-1! We’ve been robbed, and he shot a woman!”
***
Brandon struggles to speak, his voice a whisper. “…I’ve been living with the guilt for over forty years…”
“It’s difficult to care for a loved one with mental illness,” Ronin replies, patting Brandon’s hand.
“…Her doctor called after the funeral… He’d found a tumor in Beth’s x-rays. It had been pressing against her skull… He said the tumor and her guilt were why she acted so strangely…”
“It’s not your fault, my son.”
“…Yes, it is… I couldn’t take her behavior anymore. I hired that man to shoot Beth…”
***
Brandon Bohm’s confession hangs heavy over Ronin, who reminds himself that he’s duty-bound to keep it a secret.
Brandon’s secret dies with him two days later.
***
Lionel Liversay’s criminal past is well-known. He served twenty-five years for poisoning a co-worker. Now sixty-six, Lionel needs a heart transplant, but his reputation and his rare blood type have left him with little hope of getting one.
Ronin and Lionel eye each other guardedly as they sip their tea.
“This stuff takes nasty, but at least it’s warm,” Lionel complains.
Ronin makes the sign of the cross over Lionel.
“You should save your piety for someone who believes in that crap,” Lionel says.
“It’s never too late to give yourself to the Lord, my son.”
“Sure, if it’s Jack Lord, Jon Lord, or Majorie Lord.”
“Still defiant, still cynical, even at this stage,” Ronin comments. “Who hurt you, Lionel?”
“…Everyone…”
***
Logan Liversay musses his brother’s hair, punching him on the arm. Now that he’s sixteen and hanging out with the cool kids in school, Logan has stepped up his lifetime harassment of his twelve-year-old brother.
“What’s that you’re doin’, squirt? You playin’ mad scientist again? You know, all the kids at school think you’re a weirdo, a dork. You’re actin’ like Doctor Frankenstein is messin’ up my action with the girls, and I’m getting funny looks from the guys on the basketball team ‘cause of you. You need to straighten up and fly right.”
Lionel ignores his brother, mixing the chemicals he’s created with his chemistry set.
“You hear me, squirt? Maybe you’ll hear this!” Logan says, punching Lionel on the arm.
“OW!”
Lionel’s arm jerks backward, the solution in the test tube splashing onto Logan’s arm.
Logan shrieks, “You psycho! You burned me!”
Lionel turns his head in time to see his brother’s fist hit him.
When Logan is finished beating his brother, all that remains of Lionel’s chemistry set are bits of broken glass.
Lionel and Logan sit quietly at the dinner table as their parents scream at each other from one end of the house to the other. Her eyes blackened, their mother leaves, never to be seen again.
The rest of Luther Liversay’s dinner consists of the three tumblers of Vodka he drinks while belittling his sons and cursing his departed spouse.
“You’re a useless little ant, you know that, Lionel?” Luther grumbles. “You think all that scientific mumbo jumbo and those little test tubes are gonna help you make a living?”
“Maybe I could cure cancer someday. Maybe I could help you if you ever get sick.”
“Me? I’m healthy as a horse. It’s you who looks sickly.”
Luther wobbles as he rises from his chair.
“…I got a cure for you…”
Grabbing Lionel by his long hair, Luther pulls his head back, pouring a glass of vodka down his throat.
Lionel gags.
“Don’t you dare puke! Don’t waste good booze!”
Luther’s anger fails to subside, even after Lionel mixes him another drink.
Logan gobbles down his dinner so he won’t have to be in the same room as his father and brother. Later that evening, he doubles over, complaining about stomach cramps. Over the next few days, he becomes violently ill.
As the paramedics carry Logan to the ambulance, Lionel whispers, “Bye, squirt.”
Logan falls into a coma on his way to the hospital. He dies two days later.
***
Within a week, Luther develops the same agonizing stomach pains as his late son and is taken to the hospital.
Lionel can’t hide his joy as he watches his father try to contain his pain.
“What are you grinning at, you useless ant?”
“Maybe I can help you.”
Luther can only summon enough strength to ball up his fists.
“You did this to me. You and your test tubes and your potions.”
“Yep. Like I said, I could help you… But I won’t.”
Luther lingers for another day as his intestines dissolve.
Luther’s autopsy reveals traces of hydrofluoric acid. Lionel tells the doctors that Luther, a metal worker, had probably been exposed to it while on the job.
***
Lionel boomerangs through the child services system, returning to an orphanage whenever his latest family becomes too sick to care for him or one of his science experiments blows up his room.
After working in numerous pharmacies, Lionel works as a lab assistant at Medix Chemical Company. When Lionel offers to make coffee for his coworkers, they merely view it as a kind gesture.
***
Lionel tells Father McIntire he might have gone on to become a Nobel Prize winner if he hadn’t kept a diary.
Lionel made Roger Ratelle a cup of Earl Grey tea on a Monday morning. He found the taste so sour that he only took a mouthful before throwing it away. Telling their supervisor he felt ill, Ratelle left work. He began to hallucinate, crashed his car, and was eventually taken to hospital. He died on Tuesday.
A second co-worker, Mitzi LeForge, was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday with numb legs, breathing difficulties, and chest pains. Her skin was so tender she couldn’t bear the weight of the bed sheets, and all her hair fell out. But LeForge survived, and when the police questioned her, she mentioned feeling sick after drinking a cup of coffee Lionel had given her.
The police searched Lionel’s apartment and found twelve pages of notes describing how he’d poisoned Ratelle and LeForge. They also found four types of poison in his kitchen.
“But you only served time for Roger Ratelle’s murder,” Ronin notes.
Lionel sips his tea. “Yeah. Luckily, the police only found my notes on Ratelle and LeForge, not my diary. Still, I figure I did a year for everybody I poisoned.”
Lionel yawns. “Don’t you have a christening or catechism class? I’m tired. I need a nap.”
“I’ll leave you alone then. Make sure you finish your tea. It’ll be good for you.”
***
The next afternoon, Killian stops Ronin in the hallway. Killian, who keeps an unlit vape pen in his mouth to pacify his urge to smoke, earnestly bites down on its stem.
“Lionel Liversay passed last night. He had a convulsion. It wasn’t pretty or pleasant. Shame. I got word earlier today that they’d found a compatible subject for the heart transplant he needed. He would have recovered if he’d hung on for a few more hours.”
***
A few days later, Killian knocks on Ronin’s office door.
Killian’s vape pipe points at Ronin like a divining rod searching for water. “I know you’re busy, but can you talk to Homer today? He doesn’t have any family or friends. The doctors say he’s got dementia. Homer can’t remember his own life, so he makes things up. Yesterday, he told me he was there when President McKinley was shot.”
“He probably means Kennedy,” Ronin says.
“He said McKinley’s wife, Ida, had epilepsy, and one time, when she had a fit at dinner, McKinley threw a handkerchief over her face, hoping the guests wouldn’t notice. The way Homer tells a story makes it sound like he really was there.”
“I’d expect that from a man with no last name who signed himself in and paid in cash. He enjoys being a man of mystery.”
***
Homer is one of those lucky individuals who looks infinitely younger than he probably is. The nurses have a pool to guess his age, which they estimate is between fifty-five and eighty. He has the nimble body of a gymnast, an abundant shock of styled silver hair, and his face is wrinkle-free. His tender brown eyes develop a playful glint whenever he tells one of his outrageous stories.
“Are you in pain, Homer? Feeling foggy?”
“I felt far worse at Shiloh.”
“The Battle of Shiloh was in 1862, Homer.”
“That’s right. April sixth and seventh. Twenty-three thousand casualties… Some of the wounded soldiers gave off a greenish-blue glow. We called it ‘Angel’s Glow.’ The soldiers who had the glow recovered faster like they were blessed… Yeah, I saw a lot of suffering then. It was heartbreaking on the Titanic too…”
“Are you saying you were on the Titanic when it sank?”
“I was an electrician. I got out just before they shut the watertight doors to try and save the ship. I was lucky… Did you know there were seventeen newlywed couples on board? Seven new husbands and twelve new wives survived.”
“How do you know details about events that others don’t?” Ronin asks.
“I told you before, Father, I’m a time traveler.”
“And I’m Francis of Assisi. I bet you’re just a better internet surfer than the rest of us.”
Homer’s leprechaun charm dissolves. “It’s nearly time for me to go. I want to thank everyone for letting me rest here for a while… I hear White Birch is in financial trouble… I can help.”
“Unless you’ve got access to a goldmine, there’s not much you can do.”
“I’ve got four million dollars, and I’m willing to give it to you.”
Ronin tries to contain his laughter. “How and where did you get four million dollars?”
***
Homer’s story begins in Norwalk, Connecticut, in June 1975.
Homer greets Sanford DeNiro, the President of the Second National Bank, with a warm hello.
DeNiro looks up at the clock, his bushy eyebrows rising. “Right on time, as usual, Homer. You keep showing this kind of dedication and excellent work, and you’ll have my job!”
The bank’s other teller, short-haired, perky Crissy Coyne, smiles, muttering, “Suck up.”
“How’s Dan and the kids?” Homer asks.
“The same. We spend money faster than we make it. But I still love them.”
“Don’t worry. Dan’ll get a promotion. And your kids are destined for greatness.”
“From your mouth to God’s ears,” Crissy replies. “Hey, did you hear the latest? Wells Fargo is bringing four million dollars here this afternoon. Can you imagine getting your hands on that much cash?”
“Yes, I can,” Homer answers, whistling as he counts the money in his cash drawer.
“How do you do it, Homer? How are you able to stay so happy? We get paid next to nothing, yet you have beautiful clothes and a sports car and live in a gated community.”
“I told you. I’m a time traveler.”
Crissy rolls her eyes. “Just admit it, you’re either dealing drugs or gambling.”
“Okay, you got me. I’ve got a hot tip for you, Crissy. Keep this date in mind: February 11, 1990. Thirty-five to one odds. Bet on Buster Douglas against Mike Tyson.”
“That’s fifteen years from now. And who’s Mike Tyson?”
***
“The wife and I are spending the weekend in Banksville,” DeNiro says to Homer. “You don’t mind closing up, do you?”
“Of course not, sir.”
Smiling, Crissy mouths, “Suck up.”
***
Homer locks the front door of the bank, turning off the lights.
He goes to the vault. Stuffing six million dollars in three sacks, he walks out the back door, disappearing.
Homer spends the next fifty years enjoying a bachelor lifestyle, spending his free time sailing, traveling to exotic locales, whipping around in his sports car, and telling inquisitive acquaintances he made his fortune in junk bonds. He also occasionally robs other banks.
***
Ronin smiles broadly. “That’s a wonderful yarn, Homer.”
“It’s the truth… Go to my house…Check the Kennedy wall…”
***
Ronin arrives at Homer’s house as a tractor tears down the four-car garage.
He walks toward a well-kept house, slowed by a gruff voice yelling, “Hey! Where the hell do you think you’re goin’?”
Ronin turns to face Stash Diesel, the stocky demolition team foreman.
Noticing Ronin’s collar, he says, “Sorry, Father. I was hopin’ you were J.P. Morgan.”
“The financier? He died a hundred years ago.”
“His name’s on the deed,” Diesel replies.
“I’m here to look into something for Homer, the man who lived here. Maybe you can help me.”
“His neighbor said the owner was hardly ever here, that he spent most of the time travelin’,” Diesel says. “He said the owner forgot to pay his property taxes. Nobody can find him. Some real estate agent now owns the property, and he wants to build a condo here, so this is where I come in.”
Diesel follows Ronin inside.
The living room is a treasure trove of gold vases, hand-carved tables, luxurious Italian sofas, and mahogany chairs.
“I was expecting IKEA furniture,” Diesel comments. “Somebody should take this stuff out before we demo the house. I bet it’s worth a fortune.”
Ronin picks up an unusual art deco lamp shaped like a planet. Turning it over, he looks at the label.
“…World’s Fair, 1939… You’re right. Everything in here is a valuable antique.”
“Where’d you say the guy who lived here is?”
“I didn’t. He’s in hospice care. Dementia.”
“I’ll go halfsies with you on everything here, Father.”
Ronin sees the painting of John Kennedy on the far wall.
“Do you have a sledgehammer?”
***
Diesel wheezes heavily as he destroys another section of the wall.
“You sure about this, Father?”
“The nurses think Homer was telling another one of his tall tales, but he seemed serious when he spoke to me.”
Diesel grunts as the hammer punches another hole in the wall, revealing a small bookcase with three shelves.
A sack sits on each shelf.
Diesel grabs one of the sacks, opening it. Reaching inside, he pulls out a stack of hundred-dollar bills.
Diesel reads the lettering on the bag. “Second National Bank, Norwalk Connecticut.”
***
Killian sits back contentedly in his office chair, twirling the vape pipe around in his mouth. “I can’t thank you enough for finding such a generous donor, Ronin. I want to thank him. Are you sure he wants to remain anonymous?”
“It’s a condition of his donation.”
“Two million dollars will keep White Birch going for a long time.”
“I should make my rounds, starting with Homer.”
Killian throws the vape pen in the trash. “The nursing staff went to check on him this morning. He’s supposed to be forgetful, confused. But he managed to walk out of here. He’s vanished. The only thing he left behind was a gag gift.”
Killian pulls a sailor’s hat out of his desk drawer, showing it to Ronin.
The lettering on the cap reads: RMS Titanic.
Are people in nations with universal healthcare ever told that they are not eligible for treatment? If so, why would this happen?
“Eligible”? I have no idea what this means.
I’ve certainly heard people being told that a certain treatment may not be worth in terms of quality of life improvement, but it depends on the person. One friend got a new hip at age 90 so she could go on a book tour, but another was warned that a new hip would involve a long recovery and probably wouldn’t improve her quality of life.
My mother in law had terminal lung cancer. Her doctors told her that chemo would not extend her life significantly but would reduce her quality of life, and they recommended occasional radiation. Plus home help and as much morphine as she wanted.
Finance was never a question, only if the treatment was worth it to the patient.
Do Americans really avoid hospitals, even in serious situations because of the bills that follow after?
Yes, unfortunately. I am 80 so many of my friends are also older. During the pandemic I had three friends who caught COVID and had long hospital stays as a result. All three had Medicare and supplements and Part D. But all three received due bills of over $1 million dollars each. None of them were poor but none of them were wealthy either. And none of them could afford the bill so all three declared bankruptcy. Since then I have always referred to Medicare as “medically-assisted bankruptcy.”
In discussions with two of them, both opined that their sadness is that they have very little to leave to their children because the pandemic and Medicare took it all. Both felt that they should have considered remaining and home with a much much higher chance of dying so that their family would have been better protected.
I just had cataract surgery within the past month. I have Medicare, a Plan F supplement and VA combat veterans’ benefits. Medicare paid $280 total on my surgery. The supplement and the VA paid ZERO. I paid over $7,500 out of pocket for the surgery. My only alternative was to slowly go blind. I already had difficulty reading and with driving at night. But if I had any other alternative, I would likely have chosen that.
Currently fewer than 40% of Americans have “adequate” health insurance. The US is the only industrialized country without universal healthcare. The US is the only significant country with no public health system. But yet the US already pays over twice what the most expensive universal healthcare system pays, yet the US only covers 40% while universal healthcare covers 100%.
Hit By Semi-Truck; & Jumped Timelines? PROFOUND NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE (NDE)
Why are Indians so jealous of China?
It’s the Indian Mentality
We are similar to the Africans and Arabs
We cannot bear to see our former neighbors once at the same level as we were, now rise to a level where they are a Great Power while we still remain at the level of an Emerging Regional Power
These are Eight Levels in the Power Race :-
- Dependent Nation
- Sustainable Nation
- Economically Stable Nation
- Emerging Regional Power
- Regional Power
- Major Power
- Great Power
- Super power
In 1950 & 1949 – India and China both started as Dependent Nations
In 1976/77 – China became a Sustainable Nation and in 1980/81 India became a Sustainable Nation.
In 2002/2003 – India became a Economically Stable Nation and in 2002/2003 China also became an Economically Stable Nation
So far so good
China became an emerging Regional Power in 2008 , a Regional Power in 2012/13 , a Major Power in 2017 and a Great Power in 2022
India took 12 years until 2014/15 to become an emerging regional power under Dr Singh and to this day remains an emerging regional power
So in a mere 20 years – China rose to become a Great Power – 4 Levels up while India grew 1 Level up to an Emerging Regional Power
In 2002/2003 – AB Vajpayee and Jiang Zemin headed countries which were Economically Stable but neither of them couldn’t afford a war
In 2002/2003 – India was the King of Low Cost Services and China was the King of Low cost manufacturing
Japan was the big boss , the regional power in Asia
Most of the Indians who are 35/40 today grew up during this period as 12–17 year olds who are geared to look at China as an equal in terms of Military, Ability or Economy
In fact a good majority of Indians looked down on China as a place that made clips, laces and shoes while India created Software
China rose so rapidly that India simply stood still and gaped
Today Modi & Xi head vastly different countries than Vajpayee & Jiang Zemin did
India is extremely vulnerable to war, China can absorb the impacts of any near distant war (Upto 1500 Kms) for upto 5 years without economic impact
India depends on 8 nations and licenses and supply chains for its production of advanced defense equipment – Israel, US, Russia, France, Italy, Belgium, UK & Canada
China depends on nobody at all for all the production of its advanced defense equipment
India is a Nation with a $ 3.6 Trillion Economy with a $ 98 Billion net current account deficit while China is a near $ 19 Trillion Economy with a $ 424 Billion net current account surplus
India has 31 Crore Poor People Including 12.6 Crore Extremely Poor People while China has 5.95 Crore Poor people with NO extremely poor people
India has 11.7 Crore Middle Class Consumers while China has 53.6 Crore Middle Class Consumers expected to reach 80 Crore by 2030
India CANNOT ACCEPT IT. INDIA JUST CANNOT ACCEPT IT
Indians cannot go “Wow Neighbor. Well Done. Kudos. Please teach us what to do so we can learn from you”
If India was like that, India would have been well ahead of where we are
So Indians COPE like the Fox in the case of Aesops Fables, the one with the Sour grapes
Instead India goes
We are as good as China is. It was the Congress who kept us backward. Otherwise we would all be the next USA by now
We are as good as China is. It is the Public Servants and Socialism that kept us backward. Otherwise we would all be the next USA by now
We are better than China. China is a surveillance state, communist, the CPC is evil, they keep their Citizens behind camps while we are a democracy
China is not really that prosperous. They are collapsing. Their GDP is cooked up. Their Real Estate is in Crisis.
There is a grand conspiracy afoot by the CPC to humiliate India and work against Indians, through QUORA
The List goes on and on
Not one single theory of “Wow the Chinese did wonderfully well. Let’s send people to learn from them and find out how to do the same under a democracy”
Its because Indians cannot bear criticism of any kind
In 2011, Musk laughs at BYD and mocks them openly
They don’t respond
14 years later, Musk spends sleepless nights because of the same BYD which makes more affordable cars of the same quality with better batteries and very comparable advanced software and probably better self assisted driving systems
Thats Chinese
Indians are different
You criticize them and they will immediately turn hostile, go defensive and ultimately say “You are Anti National Or part of a Major CPC Conspiracy”
Thats Indian
The Chinese don’t care too much
They are too busy to bother about Indian opinion
They simply say “You want our imports. Pay us 110% and get it”
They simply say “You try changing status quo, we will move in and take 4000 Sq kms of Your Land and build more infrastructure there. You can ban Share it and Tik Tok and PubG if it makes you feel better”
They simply say “Look. You can do whatever you like with your neighbors. If you move an inch towards PoK Or try to change status quo on our Projects with Nepal or Bhutan or Bangladesh, we will respond”
Beyond that, they really don’t care about India
They care about Indigenous Technology, Energy Security and Food Security and Trade Routes and Domestic Consumption
India meanwhile desperately tries to ape the Chinese
- They have a Bullet Train, we should get one too (Doesn’t matter if they have the money to bankroll the losses for 30 years while we don’t have enough to bankroll losses for 30 months)
- They have AI, we will have AI by 2026
- They have 7 nm Chips, we will have 5 nm Chips by 2030
- They have Harmony OS. We have some random skin OS.
- They have HQ19, we will have “Rudra” by 2030
- They have a Sixth Generation Fighter, we will have a seventh generation fighter by 2034
India desperately hopes for a War between US & China and Chinas defeat even though Chinas win could be a hope that the White man need not be the only one to stand tall with self respect
No Sir
India would rather the White man always win and be slaves to the White man with their “Saar Saar” than to see a fellow neighbor win for once
Would you call this Jealousy?
Nopes
I call it a fatal colonial slave mentality prevalent in the Africans of the 19th Century Or the Arabs today
Luckily many Indians of the Gen Z are slowly pushing back against this
Plus many enlightened Indians on this platform and others , Millennials and Generation X
So we still have a chance of a push back
We just need realist leaders who can call a spade a spade for once in their lives
Sir Whiskerton and the Glowing Mystery: A Tale of Patience, Observation, and Feline Ingenuity
Ah, dear reader, prepare yourself for a tale of glowing enigmas, nervous rodents, and one very wise cat who taught the importance of patience and observation. Today’s story is one of mystery, mindfulness, and the power of simply staring at a problem until it makes sense. So, grab your magnifying glass (or a comfortable chair, if you must), as we dive into Sir Whiskerton and the Glowing Mystery: A Tale of Patience, Observation, and Feline Ingenuity.
The Glowing Object
It all began on a quiet evening, just as the farm was settling down for the night. The animals were going about their usual routines—Doris the Hen was clucking about the latest gossip, Rufus the Dog was chasing his tail (as usual), and Sir Whiskerton was perched on the barn roof, surveying his domain with a satisfied flick of his tail.
But something was different. A strange, glowing object had appeared in the barn, its soft light casting eerie shadows on the walls. The animals gathered around, their eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and fear.
“Cluck!” Doris squawked, flapping her wings. “What in the name of cluck is that thing?”
“Cluck!” Harriet echoed, tilting her head.
“Glowing!” Lillian added, fainting dramatically onto a pile of hay.
Sir Whiskerton leapt down from the barn roof, his tail flicking with curiosity. “This is most unusual. Let us investigate.”
As Sir Whiskerton approached the glowing object, Ratso the Rat emerged from the shadows, his trench coat flapping dramatically. “What is that thing?!” Ratso exclaimed, his voice filled with alarm.
Sir Whiskerton raised an eyebrow, his tail flicking with amusement. “If we stare long enough, it might tell us. Or explode. Either way, it’ll be interesting.”
Ratso’s eyes widened. “Explode?!”
Sir Whiskerton smirked. “Relax, Ratso. I’m merely speculating. Now, let’s observe.”
Ditto’s Dilemma
Ditto, Sir Whiskerton’s ever-eager apprentice, watched the scene with wide eyes. “What should we do, Sir Whiskerton?” he asked, his tiny paws twitching with excitement.
Sir Whiskerton placed a paw on Ditto’s head. “When faced with a mystery, the first step is to observe. If you’re not sure what to do, just stare at it until it makes sense.”
Ditto nodded, his eyes filled with determination. “Okay, Sir Whiskerton. I’ll stare at it!”
With that, Ditto sat down in front of the glowing object, his tiny eyes fixed on its soft light. The other animals watched in silence, their curiosity piqued.
The Farm in Chaos
As Ditto stared at the glowing object, chaos erupted on the farm. The animals, unsure of what to do, began to panic.
Rufus the Dog, ever the curious one, bounded over to investigate. “Ooh, glowing!” he barked, sticking his nose into the light. But as soon as he did, the object emitted a loud beep, sending him running in circles.
“Yelp! Yelp! Yelp!” Rufus cried, his tail tucked between his legs. “Help! It’s alive!”
Porkchop the Pig, drawn by the commotion, waddled over to the object. “Mmm, glowing,” he said, licking his lips. But as soon as he tried to nibble on the light, the object emitted another beep, sending him rolling into a nearby trough.
“Oink! Oink!” Porkchop squealed, splashing in the water. “This is worse than the time I ate too many acorns!”
Even Bessie the Tie-Dye Cow, usually so calm and collected, found herself caught in the chaos. As she tried to help Rufus, the object emitted a series of beeps, sending her tumbling into the mud.
“Moo!” Bessie groaned, her mood ring turning a deep shade of purple. “This is not groovy at all!”
Sir Whiskerton, observing the chaos from the barn roof, knew it was time to intervene. “This has gone far enough,” he said, leaping down to the ground. “The farm cannot function under such disorder. I shall restore order and teach everyone the importance of patience.”
Sir Whiskerton’s Solution
Sir Whiskerton approached the glowing object, his tail flicking with determination. “Ditto, what have you learned from staring at the object?”
Ditto looked up at Sir Whiskerton, his eyes filled with frustration. “I’ve been staring for hours, but it still doesn’t make sense!”
Sir Whiskerton smiled, his tail flicking with satisfaction. “Patience, Ditto. Observation is not about immediate answers—it’s about understanding the problem over time.”
With that, Sir Whiskerton sat down beside Ditto, his green eyes fixed on the glowing object. The other animals watched in silence, their curiosity piqued.
As they stared, the object began to change. Its light grew brighter, and a series of symbols appeared on its surface. Sir Whiskerton’s eyes narrowed as he studied the symbols, his mind racing with possibilities.
“Fascinating,” Sir Whiskerton said, his tail flicking with excitement. “These symbols appear to be a form of communication.”
Ratso, his trench coat flapping dramatically, stepped forward. “Communication? From a glowing object? What is it trying to say?”
Sir Whiskerton adjusted his monocle, his tail flicking with determination. “That is what we must decipher. But one thing is clear—this object is not a threat. It is merely trying to communicate.”
The Moral of the Story
As the farm returned to normal, the animals reflected on the day’s events.
The moral of the story, dear reader, is this: Patience and observation can solve even the most puzzling problems. The glowing object, though mysterious and intimidating, was not a threat—it was merely trying to communicate. Sir Whiskerton’s willingness to observe and understand the object showed the importance of patience and mindfulness. And through it all, Ditto learned that sometimes, the best way to solve a problem is to simply stare at it until it makes sense.
A Happy Ending
With the mystery of the glowing object solved, the animals gathered for a celebratory feast. Ditto, now wiser and more patient, sat beside Sir Whiskerton, his tiny paws twitching with excitement.
“Thank you, Sir Whiskerton,” Ditto said, his eyes filled with gratitude. “I’ll remember to be patient and observe when I’m not sure what to do.”
Sir Whiskerton smiled, his tail flicking with satisfaction. “I’m glad to hear it, Ditto. Remember, the world is full of mysteries, but with patience and observation, you can uncover the truth.”
As the sun set over the farm, the animals laughed and chatted, their bond stronger than ever. Sir Whiskerton lounged on his favorite sunbeam, content in the knowledge that he had once again saved the day. The farm was at peace, and all was right in the world.
And so, dear reader, we leave our heroes with the promise of new adventures, new lessons, and the enduring importance of patience and observation. Until next time, may your days be filled with laughter, love, and just a little bit of feline genius.
The End.
If you are for universal healthcare for all, why?
Because I grew up in America and my mother worked for a health insurance provider. I remember her coming home several nights crying because they kept being forced to deny claims for this 11 year old boy’s cancer treatments. They kept hunting for technical reasons. It affected her because I was about 11 at the time.
I remember a few years later when she came home with boxes and boxes of paperwork which she told me was her insurance against ever getting fired. She had been ordered to destroy documents which apparently proved that her insurance company had repeatedly made decisions along the lines of “It will cost $6 million over the life of the patient to cover their medical bills. But most wrongful death law suits cost between $100,000 and $2 million dollars.” And many other quite reprehensible acts.
When I moved to England — everyone just went to the doctor when they needed and got treatment when they needed. I remembered that 11 year old boy. In England he would have just gotten the cancer treatment and his mother wouldn’t be fighting cancer and an insurance company at the same time.
Germany wants WAR with RUS, seizes RUS ship. Tribunal Set up for Putin. Putin sabotaged Heathrow?
What is the most intelligent example of revenge?
Reply with work.
This dramatic painting entitled Unequal Marriage by Vasily Pukirev is one of the most epic revenges in my opinion.
This painting, published in 1862, is one of his masterpieces. A sensational painting in its time, because it depicts one of the power of money. Look at the wide age range of the bride and groom. The young bride is standing side by side with someone who is sorry, ‘old’. It can be seen from the clothes worn by the groom with a medal pinned on his left chest! Clearly he is not just any old man, he is a respectable and respected man.
What a contrast to the bride beside him. A young woman with a resigned and sad face, as if she was receiving a sentence for punishment. Clearly this marriage was not her dream.
Her beautiful clothes, the jewelry she wears, different from the way she holds the candle. Very weak and rich, she hasn’t eaten yet. Oh yeah, try to observe the crown the girl is wearing. It’s still a bud that hasn’t bloomed yet. Is that a symbol of the girl’s very young age?
So what is the correlation between this painting and revenge? We can see it from the figure in the right corner of the painting.
Who is this handsome guy?
Oh, it turns out he is none other than the painter himself.
Vasili Vladimirovich Pukirev (1832–1890)
He is Vasili Pukirev himself. So, long before becoming one of Russia’s influential artists, he was just a novice painter who had just graduated from the Moscow School of Painting. He came from a simple family and according to records he was ‘lucky’ because he could go to college.
And the bride was his lover who was rumored to be married by her parents to a rich man.
Compared to Pukirev who was still a free artist, the girl’s parents preferred to marry her to a well-established man.
This is a personal painting for Pukirev. Depicting his disapproval of his lover’s marriage and also his helplessness at that time. In my opinion, this is also a social criticism for Pukirev, where at that time a girl was married to a rich man without her consent. It can be seen from the painting of the ‘invited guests’ who seem to sneer at the marriage.
This painting was published at the academic exhibition in 1862 and successfully earned Pukirev the title of Professor.
Not only that, this painting changed the public’s view at that time about old men marrying teenagers. Public criticism caused several similar marriages to be annulled.
Edit: I think this is the coolest revenge ever. Sorry if there are still many shortcomings.
Strange Characters
Submitted into Contest #287 in response to: Start or end your story with a character making a cup of tea for themself or someone else.… view prompt
Carolyn O’B
“Yes, it is a very intricate process. I’ve learned a lot about the practicality of every part of the butterfly. They chose me to help because I am a butterfly collector.”
“They?” The woman slurped.
Joel prattled on. “Did you ever look at a piece of cut wood and see an abstract picture embedded in the grain?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Most people think the images are natural and coincidental. I however, understand that they are deliberate sketches; one of the ways extraterrestrials communicate with us. The fence that surrounds my house is full of their graffiti. They are asking me to help them learn the anatomy of life on this planet.
The woman fell unconscious before Joel finished speaking. He cradled her limp body in his arms and carried her to the bathroom while humming the tune to ‘DEM BONES.’ He laid her tenderly in the porcelain tub, then he strolled into the kitchen and drizzled the ethyl acetate onto a couple of cotton balls. Hurrying back to the bathroom, he crammed them into the woman’s nostrils.
~~~
Two days earlier, Joel knelt just inside the fence that surrounded his house. He sang while cutting a rug of grass at the base of one of the pickets. “The leg bone’s connected to the knee bone, the knee bone’s connected to the thigh bone, the thigh bone’s connected to the hip bone, now shake dem skeleton bones.”
Mark approached the fence and stood on the opposite side startling Joel. “Need any help?”
“Found a dead bird on my doorstep this morning, probably a gift from one of the stray cats I feed. Just giving it a proper burial. I think I could handle it.” Joel gestured toward the paper bag beside him. “My house is in the center of a pet cemetery.”
“I’ll leave you to it then.” Mark trotted back to the road.
Joel commenced with using the garden spade to dig a grave. He placed the bird’s wrapped, dismembered carcass into the hole and filled the void with the extracted mound of dirt. After covering the site with the piece of turf, he wrestled onto his feet and stomped it flat.
He glided his rough fingertips over the outline of a bird on the wooden board in front of him. The curve of a head, the open beak, and the dark brown streak arcing downward from a solid, brown sphere that represented a heaving breast. Strategically placed fissures in the timber signified the feathers of a wing.
His head swiveled to the right and his eyes fixed on the coiled snake depicted on another picket in the fence. He stepped closer and lightly caressed the image; the loop that formed its long neck, the V that showed its forked tongue, the hypnotizing spiral, like an archery target, denoting its coiled body.
He moved along the enclosure. The next wooden slat was for Golden Guy, the fish. A figure in the shape of a torpedo appeared to be jumping from a ring below it. Undulating lines surrounded the figure like splashes of water. “My low-maintenance roommate,” he sighed.
He rounded the corner and walked past the gated entrance to the opposite side of the enclosure then paused. “Aw, Jerry the mouse. Your pointy nose, your round corkscrew ears, your delicate hooked feet.”
Resuming his trip down memory lane, Joel turned to his right and focused on the board next to the corner beam. He smirked as he lifted his arm to touch the darkened elongated oval that stretched like a rubber band. A series of arched contours spread outward, like sound waves bouncing off it. “You wanted a butterfly, you got a butterfly. No problem. Dedicated to everyone that laughed at me for collecting butterflies.”
He sauntered toward the back of the house and stopped. The board he examined contained the burnt silhouette of an inverted lightbulb. He ran a finger along each of the eight curved streaks the sprouted from it like rays of light. “Spider. Should be easy,” he mumbled.
He walked through the back gate and headed for the dilapidated shed at the edge of the woods. He breathed heavily, “Plenty of spiders in here.”
It didn’t take him long before he spied something crawling along the windowsill. Upon closer inspection, he was able to identify it as a wolf spider. He cupped the harmless creature in his hands and hustled back to the house.
Slamming the door with his foot, Joel hurried to the bedroom. He dropped the creature into an open jar he kept at the bottom of his closet. It was the “kill jar,” a jar any serious butterfly collector would have. He carried the jar to the kitchen and set it on the counter. He threw in a few cotton balls soaked with ethyl acetate and sealed the tomb. “There you go buddy.”
Once the spider became rigid, its legs curling inward, Joel removed it from the glass chamber with a long pair of forceps and began detaching the legs from the abdomen. He used a paring knife to separate the figure eight form and put the ten pieces in a small manila envelope.
The following morning, Joel buried the grim package containing the spider at the foot of its grave marker in the wooden fence. His gaze wandered to the run-down shack. Two almond-shaped knots in the wood were positioned approximately a foot apart and resembled human eyes. The natural darkened grains in the wood formed a lengthy and rather pronounced streak, like an aquiline nose between them. Inches under that streak, a horizontal split in the lumber signified parting lips according to Joel. It was like a portrait on a mausoleum.
~~~
The extraterrestrials observed Joel via one of the many screen monitors lining the walls of the rocky cavern. They were counting on him to provide them with prototypes of the life on Earth.. Unfortunately, the first woman Joel targeted when they asked for a human specimen, wore a prosthesis and the puzzle would have been incomplete.
End
What are the best arguments for or against universal healthcare in America?
Arguments for:
It’s cheaper than private care.
It’s just as good as private care.
Doctors don’t have to have huge malpractice insurance because the government indemnifies the doctors.
The patients don’t have to fill out claim forms.
The patient doesn’t have to get permission in advance to get treatment.
Universal health care doesn’t have lists of things they don’t cover (except for elective cosmetic surgery).
It offers greater peace of mind. You never have to sell your house or declare bankruptcy to meet medical bills.
Arguments against:
It’s like going to the DMV. False. Republican lie.
You have to wait months for an appointment. False. Republican lie.
There are death panels deciding who lives and dies. False. Republican lie. You know who really has death panels? Insurance companies.
It raises your taxes. True, but the taxes are cheaper than the insurance premiums that you no longer have to pay.
Pork and Pineapple Kababs
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce
- 2 tablespoons Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 pound boneless pork loin, cut into 1 inch chunks
- 1 cup fresh pineapple chunks
- 1 cup green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch chunks
- 1/2 cup red onion, cut into 1 inch chunks
Instructions
- Mix first 3 ingredients in large bowl. Reserve 1/4 cup for later use.
- Add meat to remaining sauce; toss to coat. Refrigerate for 15 minutes to marinate.
- Heat grill to medium-high heat. Remove meat from marinade; discard marinade. Thread meat onto skewers alternately with pineapple, peppers and onions.
- Grill for 12 to 14 minutes or until meat is done, turning occasionally and brushing with reserved sauce.
Notes
Substitute: Prepare using 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves.
My sister is insisting that, although our current system is broken, universal health care in the USA will cause medical professionals to lose their jobs and hospitals to close, especially in rural areas. How would you counter that argument?
It is well documented that Americans pay more and get less for medical care than any other industrialized country in the world. This is because insurance companies have placed themselves in the middle to soak up as much money as they can, hurting providers and patients. If you have any respect for the idea that healthcare is a human right, and not an opportunity to exploit people for the purpose of profit, you should seriously consider becoming a voice advocating for a single payer system: Medicare for all would be a good start.
I have a doctor friend that wanted to set up clinics to serve people in under served communities, analogous to the rural communities referenced in your question.
She and her husband, who is also a physician, ran all the numbers and realized that the cost of filing claims and negotiating with insurance companies would cost them more than they could recover in payments, with one exception: Medicare.
So they started their clinics and the only insurance they took was Medicare. The cost for a patient to see a doctor was initially $25 and has since risen to $40. Both of those numbers are less than what most insured people pay for a co-pay. With that revenue stream, they were able to pay doctors and nurses and run a very sound business, even making a little profit. Involving American insurance companies would have increased their costs and the costs for the patients, and given them less resources for patient care.
Medicare was and is the sole exception, because the system is streamlined and clear for payments for services to providers. payments are made on schedule and without negotiation—exactly like single payer health care systems in other, more sensible, countries.
The major difference in the economic model is that a middle man (private insurance companies) are not generally involved and therefore are not sponging resources for personal gain to the detriment of doctors and patients. In many countries there are still private health insurance policies available to fill the gaps, which is a great free market way to provide services that a single payer, government run system might not be flexible enough to handle.
So the US already has a single payer model that doctors and patients benefit a great deal from that could be implemented for everyone in the country called Medicare. If that happened, a bunch of insurance companies would lose a pile of profits. Virtually everyone else would benefit.
The reason this is not happening is because the insurance companies are bribing our elected officials to keep the predatory system in place. I call that corruption.
The problem with growing up in a country that has Universal Healthcare is that it seems normal and countries without it seem backwards and uncivilised!
Not a big problem, I know. 😛
The main issue I see here is that the centralisation causes there to be a possibility for focused attempt by US pharma companies to influence the individual or two who decide what the policies are.
Such as the insanity that happened with the covid vaccines – we had our own, Astra-Zeneca vaccine, that worked fine, but enough money changed hands somewhere so that it was banned and replaced with multi-billion pound contracts with Pfizer and Modera! The AZ vax was supplied at zero cost to the government – the cost of manufacture was all it took to produce it. South Korea went as far as building a factory to produce the AZ vax but the same happened there – they switched to the mRNA vaccines, with consequences that are only now coming to light.
A video about mRNA vaccine cancer risks coming out in South Korea’s Seoul:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuAysuldlIw