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aus.Re: DI 101?

B

bassett

Jan 1, 1970
0
TT said:
LOL :)) When I first read "Trackie" I read it as "Treckie". It made
more sense the second time though. It did conjure up some interesting
scenarios of why a "Treckie" was in Carnarvon though :))

Cheers TT
Perhaps he was "Beamed" down instead of being "Beamed" UP
 
K

Keithr

Jan 1, 1970
0
TT said:
LOL :)) When I first read "Trackie" I read it as
"Treckie". It made more sense the second time though. It
did conjure up some interesting scenarios of why a "Treckie"
was in Carnarvon though :))

As far as the locals were concerned we may as well have been beamed
down. We formed a definite subculture in a town full of "Interesting"
characters :)

Keith
 
D

Davo

Jan 1, 1970
0
Keithr said:
As far as the locals were concerned we may as well have been beamed
down. We formed a definite subculture in a town full of "Interesting"
characters :)

Keith

I know a guy that worked at Woomera. His name is Tony Bell. After
Woomera he worked as a TV repair man for a while and then moved to
Western Australia to work at Muja Power Station. A very nice guy and
lots of funny stories.
 
K

Keithr

Jan 1, 1970
0
Davo said:
I know a guy that worked at Woomera. His name is Tony Bell. After
Woomera he worked as a TV repair man for a while and then moved to
Western Australia to work at Muja Power Station. A very nice guy and
lots of funny stories.

I remember working with a Tony Bell up there. Can't remember too much
about him though, it was a long time ago and a lot of you know what has
gone under the bridge since then.

Keith
 
K

Keithr

Jan 1, 1970
0
TT said:
When I think of Carnarvon even today the image I have is of
the big dish and indigenous people passed out all over the
town with empty flagons and beer bottles scattered around
them. It makes for a very graphic contrast.

Well the dishes weren't that big, ours was only a 30 footer, there were
plenty of empty flagons and bottles around and there were passed out
people of all colours, getting smashed was one of the major recreations
up there. If you went to a party, it was expected that you'd take a slab
with you, and there usually weren't too many unopened bottles left by
morning.

My abiding memory was flying in for the first time, and seeing the sign
on the tin shed that was the "Terminal building" which said "Welcome to
Carnarvon altitude 3 feet"

Keith
 
K

Keithr

Jan 1, 1970
0
Arny said:
Hardly the same priority. On the one hand we have people pinching pennies,
and on the other we have people who fear they will die without proper
treatment.

Piching pennies? Many people need drugs in order to live, I have
diabetese, without insulin, some pills, and blood sugar testing
supplies, my life would be shortened considerably. Here in Australia, it
costs me about $10 per month, when I lived in the US, it cost about the
same but only because my employer picked up the tab for pharmacutical
insurance. Those who cannot afford the insurance would be paying several
hundred dollars a month for those supplies. The Canadian government was
prepared to stand up to big pharma to get a better deal for it's
citizens, the US government obviously lacks the balls to do so.
Since your opinons are 100% based on prejudice and rumor, you *need* to know
nothing.

Arnie, I lived in your country for 5.5 years, I have visited it once or
twice a year since I left (I will be back for 3 weeks again in October).
I could have stayed as long as I wished, but I handed back my green card
because, after due consideration, Australia offers a better quality of
life. I base my opinions on direct personal experience not rumour, the
US has much to recommend it, but it is not the perfect paradise that you
and many of your countrymen make out. There are much better places to
live, Australia is one of them.
 
M

Mr.T

Jan 1, 1970
0
Michael A. Terrell said:
The one that really shocked them was that a US Veteran can refill their
prescriptions online, while their Veterans have to go see their doctor
each time for a new prescription.

Yeah, continually filling drug prescriptions without regular assessment of
the affects, is real penny pinching.
Since our vets pay nothing for those regular health check's, obviously they
are far better off.

MrT.
 
K

Keithr

Jan 1, 1970
0
There are problems with making things actually zero cost. The healthcare
system in the UK did that and got overwhelmed with people wanting
trivial things just because they are free. I pay 50c for test strips,
needles are actually free, 4 months supply of insulin costs me $5. This
would change if I was on a pension.
In my case, anything except dental care is free. The first step is
to go to the local pubic health agency and ask for help, for others. My
health care is provided by our Veteran's Administration. A lot of
people whine and complain, but can't be bothered to follow the rules.
If they qualify, they are entered into the Federal Medicaid system, or
the system run by their state. If they are retirement age, they can
qualify for Medicare.

Being a vet makes a big difference, many of the people that I worked
with in the US were worried how they were going to pay their medical
bills when they retired. These were middle class professionals too not
minimum wage workers.
Some do fall through the cracks, and others who don't qualify get
help they don't deserve, but the system has changed a lot in the last 15
years.

I have been trading e-mail with a volunteer group in Australia to
help them understand the differences in our two systems of Veteran's
health care. Some differences are minor, while others are night & day.
The one that really shocked them was that a US Veteran can refill their
prescriptions online, while their Veterans have to go see their doctor
each time for a new prescription.

I did like it that I could ring my health centre and they would get my
doctor to fax a new prescription straight to the pharmacy. I have an
arrangement with my doctor that he will write me a new prescription
without seeing me, but I have to pick it up from the surgery and he
charges me $5 to do so. It doesn't happen very often though as I see him
every 6 months anyway and my prescription usually lasts that long.

Are you type 1 or 2? I have known that I am type 2 for the last 14
years, god knows how long before that I actually had it, no secondary
effects though, my circulation is excellent and my eyes are unaffected
so far.
 
K

Keithr

Jan 1, 1970
0
Arny said:
No, pinching pennies.


Your own words make my point. Operations like heart bypass often don't
merely shorten your life considerably, they can kill you outright, and any
time now.

People who need a heart bypass operation need it there and then, they
don't have time to go shopping for one in another country. I did hear
that some US HMOs are sending people who need less urgent operations to
asia as a cost cutting exercise, perhaps that says something.
That's a choice you get to make. Take a look at the relative migration
patterns between the two countries and one immediately sees that you're the
odd man out. But many of us already knew that! :-(

Not many Australians migrate to the US, and when I handed back my green
card at the US consulate in Sydney, the official told me that more
Australians give up their green cards than any other country. Perhaps
that says something about our countries, Austalians are prepared to go
out there and give it a try, but then they see that it is better at home.
BTW, ditto for Canada, Mexico, and Europe.

Europeans and Canadians aren't hammering your door down to get into the
US, it is third world countries like Mexico that people are desperate to
get out of (understandably). Just go to the Dept of Immigration web site
and look at the green card waiting times to see where the numbers are
coming from. It took me less than 3 years to get mine, so there weren't
many Australians in the queue.
If the US is such a bad place, why do so many millions of people want to
move here?

Millions don't. The US is not a bad place (although many of it's foreign
policies are) it is though a massively overhyped place, and you and many
of your countrymen unfortunately believe your own hype.
 
K

Keithr

Jan 1, 1970
0
Michael said:
Type 2. It has run in my dad's side of the family for at least four
generations.


Mine came out of the blue, no family history, not even overweight. I did
have a sweet tooth though, maybe it is payback by the fates for that.

One of my grandsons got type 1 at age 14 we have no idea where that came
from either.

Keith
 
M

Mr.T

Jan 1, 1970
0
Michael A. Terrell said:
Sigh. So much ignorance in one message.

Reading what you wrote, I couldn't agree more.
We see the doctors on schedule. Usually every 90 or 180 days, unless
you are in very bad health.

And since our prescriptions come with repeats, the doctor will cover you
until the next visit, unless he thinks you need more regular attention, or
is trying to gouge you. Most doctors here are busy enough not to even want
to create unnecessary visits.
We have access to our docotors any time we
need them. I have never been turned away, like three months ago, when I
lost my eyesight from a palsy. I saw MY doctor within an hour, was sent
to the emergency room atthe VA hopital, and had three followups. The
vision is returning, but it will be three more months before they decid
if it's completly healed, or needs surgery. I have seen over a dozen
docotors on this problem, including the head of the Othomology
department.

So actually seeing a doctor is important to you then. What was the point of
your argument again?
Some prescriptions don't need to change every 30 days, like
dibeties medicne, or high blood pressure.

Which is why our prescriptions come with multiple repeats where necessary.
Up to six months is not uncommon before a further doctors visit is
necessary.
Why do you have to show your ass and make your country look bad at
every turn? 99% or more are great people, so there is no call for it.

I wish I could say the same about you.

MrT.
 
M

Mr.T

Jan 1, 1970
0
Michael A. Terrell said:
Do you think our VA doctors have time to waste?

Read what I wrote, not what you want to make up. Or is comprehension a
problem for you?
It rakes less than a
minute for them to review & update your prescriptions, for up to a year
at each visit.

Not much different than here then. What is your point exactly?
You don't have to go to a drug store and wait, or make
multiple trips.

Nor here. We do have on-line pharmacies for those who prefer them. You are
just proving your ignorance of what occurrs in other countries, so why
bother continuing the argument?
What is your point? I have stated the facts, multiple times, but you
continue to challenge them.

Not me, YOU are the one claiming the USA system is somehow better than
another of which you continually prove you have no knowledge at all.
I see the doctors whenever I need. :(

So do all aussies, NOT just veterans or those with company provided health
care.
You just don't get it. I get the refills without leaving my house. I
log in, click the refills I need from the available items two weeks in
advance, and they are delivered to my door by the US mail system.

Which you could do in Australia for up to a year, depending on your doctor.
After a year you would need to see a doctor for free to get another
prescription and make sure it is still appropriate.
How exactly is that a HUGE imposition?

Ask the low income non-vets without health care in the USA what they think
though. I bet their opinion is different to yours.
All you want to do is argue, anyway. You have a chip on
your shoulder, and your bias is obvious.

No, that would be YOU.
You are biased against a system you have proven you have no knowledge of.
As for me, I realise there are better systems than in either USA or
Australia.

MrT.
 
R

roughplanet

Jan 1, 1970
0
Arny Krueger said:
Tell that to the Canadians who are currently in a Detroit hospital, paying
their own way.


You Aussies really have a bed inferiority complex, to circulate rumors
like that among yourselves.



No numbers or references provided so of course you're talking out of the
back of your neck.


Meaningless anecdote.


Meaningless anecdote.



About a quarter of a million Europeans and maybe 100,000 Canadians are
naturalized as citizens every year:

http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/natz_fr_07.pdf

Additionally, about 100,000 each permenant residents from Canada and
Europe:

http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/LPR_FR_2007.pdf




My references say otherwise. About 2 million between new citizens and
permanent resident aliens.



Try doing your homework before you shoot of your mouth again, Keith.
You've just forced me to correct you and thus cause you to hate me even
more.

And there you have it. Arnie the masochist just LOVES to be hated. It's the
only reason he bothers to post to newsgroups, safe in the knowledge that he
has wrested the title as the most obnoxious person on Usenet from Phil
Allison, and is likely to hold the 'trophy' for the forseeable future.
What a truly enviable title to own. Not!
 
M

Mr.T

Jan 1, 1970
0
Michael A. Terrell said:
Only you say it is. I've already told you that you see your primary
care provider twice a year, minimum.

And you're still wrong. Repeats can go for up to a year maximum. Sure six
months is common, but it's free for all and hardly the impostion you
claimed.
Just why are you so hung up on this issue I wonder. Does it really make you
feel better even IF you were actually correct?
You are trying to separate fly
shit from ground pepper. You are trying to find things that you can't.

Trying to get actual sense/facts from you? I couldn't agree more.
I was one of them. It took a couple weeks to apply and be in the
system. It takes a little time to process the paperwork to make sure you
rally served.

All they have top do is apply for a VA medical card. medical care is
free for any Veteran that can't afford other medical care. I don't ask
them, I tell them to take their DD-214 to the closest Veterans Service
Officer and they will fill out the form, or they can do it online or by
mail.

And as I said, thankfully you don't have to be a veteran here.
All I have to go on about the Australian system is what the director of
the Geelong Veterans Welfare Centre http://www.geelongvets.org.au/ has
told me in multiple email exchanges.

So why do you continue to argue from a position of ignorance I wonder?
If you're happy with your system, good luck to you, and good luck that
you're a veteran I guess.
Non-vets are definitely better off here.
But frankly I've had enough, and I don't care what you think any more, or
what your health is.
Something is definitely stuck in your bonnet though :)

MrT.
 
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