United Kingdom

But if your politicians are so much more untrustworthy and thieving than insurance companies, why do you elect them.
In the UK politicians get themselves jobs on company boards to make money, but they cannot just take money from the national pot.
Of course there is corruption with contracts being given to a friend's firm etc, but if they get caught they are in big trouble.

I still trust our government at least as much as I would trust an insurance company!
Mark...................

But if your politicians are so much more untrustworthy and thieving than insurance companies, why do you elect them.
In the UK politicians get themselves jobs on company boards to make money, but they cannot just take money from the national pot.
Of course there is corruption with contracts being given to a friend's firm etc, but if they get caught they are in big trouble.

I still trust our government at least as much as I would trust an insurance company!
Mark...................

We (or at least I) attempt to elect my representatives by several criterion.
Some semblance of financial responsibility is one of the criteria.
In such a vast country though it's difficult to ascetain the facts. Also the majority of those making decisions at the federal level are not "my" representatives but from other districts and other states. All to often the choice is the lesser of two evils.
I think my distrust of "government" and my distrust of "private" are pretty well equal Mark.
But I expect "private" to be totally profit driven.
The "government" are supposed to be "public servants" so I guess you could say my disdain for their greed is greater.

That being said it would be difficult to find someone whom hates the insurance industry more than I.
Dont say much for how I feel about corrupt public servants (hang the bastards) does it ?

Hi guys,
I guess this is what is called being between the devil and the deep blue sea... I might be a bit soft in the head or something, and I know there are all sorts of things wrong with our system; but I do actually like our funny old NHS and have always enjoyed my long stays in hospital... the food is great as well!

I am an expert on nurses: English are very nice, but the Irish ones are a little more fun; Chinese are fantastic at the job but almost a bit clinical... Africans are nice, especially a born again Christian girl from Ethiopia who stood in front of me when I was on my toilet and ten days constipated, and she lifted her hands and face to heaven and prayed out loud for me to be delivered of a huge pile of crap!
But my favorite are all the Philippino nurses; lovely at taking blood, with hello Mark are you sure you want me to take it now you look a bit pale, I can come back later, then you realise they have done it anyway and you didn't feel a thing!

After a lorry hit me head on I was an insurance case with a lawyer, and I had the choice to be treated in plush private hospitals at their expense; my lawyer wouldn't believe my choice to go into our local NHS hospital.

I did go into a BUPA private hospital once and couldn't get out quickly enough; the room had a deep carpeted floor like a hotel, which seemed a stupid idea to keep free of bacteria... and you were stuck in a room on your own with no guys to chat across the ward with; not my scene at all!

Sorry to bang on about our NHS, but it works for me!
Mark....................

I'm glad it works for you Mark. And believe me I hope we find something that works "better" for us / US as well. The absolute greed that controls our present system is a spreading disease. Those whom work the hardest doing direct care, the real heavy lifters doing the dirty work (and I am not refering to us nurses either) live at the poverty level while the doctors & admins hide in gated communities from the crime their greed fosters.
This too shall pass:

Hello Sans,
You must mean nurses when you say direct care etc... who else is there?
But like you say, even in the NHS there is a gulf between what a nurse earns and what a surgeon earns.

And there are problems sometimes with contracts for cleaning etc being pushed towards a firm with some family connection, and I guess there will always be that even in a national health system... unless every cook and cleaner is state employed not outside contract.

This new guy Obama seems a nice guy, so I would give him a chance and see what he comes up with... I confess I was no great fan of Bush, but I did like Bill very much... and his wife knows her stuff too.
Mark....................

This new guy Obama seems a nice guy, so I would give him a chance and see what he comes up with... I confess I was no great fan of Bush, but I did like Bill very much... and his wife knows her stuff too.
Mark....................

I liked Ike , Jack, and Ronnie!

I'd prefer Tony or Gordy over our current chief executive!

As far as Secretary of states go, 'ol Henry's my man! (after all, he was the guy who cut the deal with Le Duc Do behind closed doors to get our asses out of Nam! (They had to share the Nobel Peace prize for their efforts. That was before they dumbed the Nobel down!

cheerio!, mates!,
Howlin'

Mark
We have men and women called Nurses Aids who are my eyes and ears. They have more daily direct contact with patients than even the nurses do. And for barely above minimum wage. It's hard physical work.
I would not do it for what they are payed.
You know I'm a pistol packin redneck. I got no use for pinko pricks who want to tell me how to live and raise my family. So ol Bill and the Hil, eeh get a rope.
But as I say " To each his own " (long as they keep their noses out a mine)

Hi Sans,
I may have got confused Sans, but surely you are one of the God-rockband guys? (using real names might help!) So pistol packin' and hang em high? Surely not: didn't Jesus say though shalt not kill, and love thy neighbor as thyself?

Not that I should be lecturing you, speaking as as a godless doomed Brit!
Mark..............

Mark,Are you saying Hill and Bill havent Killed, and they love their neighbors more than themselves. HMMMM,people seem to have a strange way of winding up dead around them and Bill loves his neighbors so much ,,, well we know,he did not have sex with that woman. Totally dispicable behavior, and yes these are the people ruling our lives.
Amazing how you twisted SAN'S comment around. You want to come over here and run for pres, That twisting would take you far, and I hear you dont even have to be American anymore to become pres.

Yep, thats what he said.
But I aint Jesus.
Thats why he died for me.
Cause I'm an evil MFer.

Hello guys,
I will tread as lightly as I can as I can sense some rather tickly yankee feathers starting to get ruffled here... and from past experience I know how easily that happens!
No you are right, a belief in the words of Christ has never been allowed to stand in the way of blowing their heads off if you don't like them, but I still think Bill spoke the truth: when someone gives you head, you cannot then say, "I have just had sex with someone".

You know what? I think we're all wrong!
All the best,
Mark.........................

No, problemo Mark.
I always enjoy our conversations.
Introspection is most always beneficial.

Where in the written word of GOD ,the BIBLE , does it say you have no right to protect yourself, your loved ones, and to protect your prosperity, and your right to prosper. NO WHERE. By the way , this can also be interpreted to protect all the brothers and sisters of the planet earth. This raises the question to a new level, and also opens the door to major abuse in the name of power and political domination.
Mark , you don't understand the mess that is going on here, and sadly way to many people that were once proud to be American. History has allready been written once. Will it be written twice?
The most difficult thing about this is choice, yours ,mine, every one else,I beleive that was the second greatest gift we were given. We have to all find a way to respect someone elses choice. THATS NOT HAPPENING IN AMERICA RIGHT NOW,WE ARE BECOMING THE LAND OF THE STUPID!

Hi friends over there,
I suppose in a big place like the States it will be nearly impossible to make everyone happy all the time... I think Abe Lincoln said something like that didn't he.
It would be a terrible shame though, and something that would benefit no body, if the country slipped back into a state of semi civil war again!
Shall we send two surveyors across the pond again to re define the Mason Dixon Line?
Mark the Brit.....................

I have to stand up for my mates here Mark. (They say I've gone native back home)
Short story is that its tough. Yes we cannot smoke in bars. We are not allowed to smoke within a 100 feet of a building here in NJ.

I'm confused at the sheer amount of laws for this and that here, its scary sometimes frankly. I'm not sure about other states but we are particularly well governed if that's the right word? I remember seeing a sign on a Social security office here. "It is illegal to shoot office staff!"

No way! Go figure huh?

We got through summer ok sort of but now winter is here you don't see as many smiling faces as you used to. Scores of houses for sale where I am now despite the so called upturn. It worries me too to hear the things I hear but things being what they are I think I can understand it frankly and with hindsight.

I've tried to educate them about tea and football so I am doing my bit over here dontcha know! Eh I dunno? Times are weird and our TV is crap.

Looking back on this I've hardly said anything. VOTE FOR ME!
Cheers.
Chippy.

Hi friends over there,
I suppose in a big place like the States it will be nearly impossible to make everyone happy all the time... I think Abe Lincoln said something like that didn't he.
It would be a terrible shame though, and something that would benefit no body, if the country slipped back into a state of semi civil war again!
Shall we send two surveyors across the pond again to re define the Mason Dixon Line?
Mark the Brit.....................