You know Mark, half of the stuff you write - I don't read--I'm sure
the same with me-right?

But thanks to Andrew and our religious discussions --- I remember
getting a magazine (I don't remember the name of it) back in about
1999 or so---where the discussion was blatant about money---MLM, and
Utah.  And about alternative health.
And another well wisher (I think not), sent me one from another
religious organization (which I kind of think was a cult religion--ka
ching, kaching, kaching) about issues in our healthcare---I have this
philosophy that I do not believe that religious organizations should
be involved in making decisions about our healthcare to the point of
being lobbyists --- at the government level--one needs to leave their
religious faith out of the equation.  It is hard not to be judgmental
and doing what one feels is right for their body -- if one's religion
supports one kind of health care of another.  I know many people have
left their organized church of choice because of their own personal
frustrations with the church butting into too many personal decisions,
but I also am aware that it is isn't just one religious organization,
it is everyone's ideas.  And it is also the ideas of the insurance
companies -- deciding what they want to pay, what they believe is
right to pay, and criticizing doctors who have made their lifelong
careers out of doing something that doesn't fit their paying agenda.

I think the government should take over the insurance plan for all
Americans (citizens only).  Anyone that comes to America expecting to
be taken care of, should not be allowed free medical care.  It ticks
me off to no end, when people come here and expect to be taken care
of, work under the table, pay no taxes, and send money home every
month to their native country.  An old saying out of the sixties that
I still love today, gas, grass or a.s, no one rides for free.  I think
as Americans we should have a choice -- of what health care we would
like -- kind of a universal cafeteria plan - so much a month except
for emergency situations --- you could still have different providers
--- kind of like one gigantic HMO---just like Alice's Restaurant --
where you get to get anything you want -- you pay a flat fee per month
--- depending on the size of your family.  If you want to have 15 kids
-- the choice is yours to have those 15 kids -- but the health care $$
you pay would be different than the persons that are married with no
kids.  Employers could pay a portion of that flat rate every month --
which would encourage people to work -- unless they are retired---or
genuinely disabled.
   There is just too much interference with religious organizations
and healthcare, MLMs (which I consider some pharmaceutical companies
to be part of this), and we need an objective healthcare system that
is going to take care of everyone, whether they are black, Buddist,
brown, purple, Jewish, Christian, Hindu, Atheist, Mormon, white,
orange, or whatever.
   Government should also take over the pharmaceutical companies as
well---totally non profit would work - that way
no one gets paid for prescribing more of this or that, and the prices
are the same for everyone - because it is included in that gigantic
HMO ---.
   No one should be making money off of anyone's health---period.....

Having lived in Utah, I can assure you that plenty of things happen without
their blessing.

-----
Richard Schultz                              schultr@mail.biu.ac.il
Department of Chemistry, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
Opinions expressed are mine alone, and not those of Bar-Ilan University
-----
"A condemned man does not request egg salad for his last meal.  He also
doesn't order Alka-Seltzer."
                    Kehlog Ahlbran, _The Profit_