Disqus - Latest Comments for franv

Re: Enough with the bonuses already!

franv — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 12:01:07 -0000

Yes this is something I'm not sure I understand.

Take for instance lottery. As you might know they sell many more tickets when the prize is higher, in Canada for instance when the prize reaches over $30 millions.

As if, for most people at least, a couple of millions wouldn't be enough.

As for people wanting more than those near them, I'm not sure I agree. I would rather say that they feel uncomfortable if the neighbor gets more, in other words they want at least as much as the neighbor.

I've seen that a few years back in East Germany. Those who were near the border with West Germany and were getting the TV and radio broadcasts with all the advertisement were really unhappy with their lot. Those living farther away and were not getting these broadcasts seemed to be more content with their situation.

Re: Journalism in an Open Era (follow up link)

franv — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:49:33 -0000

I found both your posts on journalism very interesting and think they bring interesting insights on how more and more of us are realizing that the traditional business model has to give way to something different.

Obama's promise to make the government more transparent and his ensuing election seem to reflect that new awareness.

Re: The pope should be prosecuted

franv — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:19:32 -0000

And to tell millions of catholics who really beleive the pope that condoms increase the problem is not murderous?

I disagree

Re: The pope should be prosecuted

franv — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:26:06 -0000

Hi Bobo,

Well, what do you know, I never thought we would agree on any given issue.

I certainly agree that distribution of preservatives is not enough by a far cry but it certainly is a good start.

I don't know either whether education is part of the pope's agenda. I understand he states that we should have a "responsible and moral attitude towards sex" which I agree with of course, if accompanied by condoms.

Re: What hippocratic oath?

franv — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:57:16 -0000

Hi bobo,
First of all thanks for your comments, they are appreciated as they are well structured and they provide for interesting argumentation.
I must say you have me at a disadvantage since as previously stated I don't have personal experience of heath care in your country.
But..
You say you're a patient advocate. I presumed you are paid by the provider... Hardly a neutral approach to a given patient's problems, no?
As for lawyers, yes they will take a case without charging up front...if they think they have a chance of winning. And in most cases of this type, they are going against big machines that have almost unlimited means at their disposal.
I talked about my friends, I'm sure you've seen Sicko by Michael Moore. So you're saying that the case of the guy who could only have 1 or 2 cut fingers sown back instead of the 5 is a lie? Or the cases of those people that were taken to Cuba only to realize that medication they couldn't afford in the States were only a few cents in Cuba. Is that a fabrication as well?

But more generally for me one aspect is difficult to believe: private companies are there to make money, generate profits, not for the better wellbeing of the people. Yes insurance subscribers have paid for the services but the goal of the companies is to keep those patients paying a maximum to them and giving back the less possible (maximize profits and minimize costs.)
I may be naive, but in my eyes health care should be for the wellbeing of the people, not for the generation of profits. Yes this care has a cost, no way around that, but that cost should be managed by an organization that is not there to make money.
Socialized systems have their drawbacks, as the problem with the English one you're referring to. But from what I know of German, French, English and other health systems around the planet, I would prefer those to yours.

Re: What hippocratic oath?

franv — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 22:00:42 -0000

I believe what you say is true, if you have a lot of money.
When you say people come from all over the world to get treated in the States it's true, but those are for the most part rich people.
What happens to those who don't have ten of thousands to pay for proper health care?
As for insurance companies I can't speak from personal experience because I've never been treated in the States. But I do have friends who live there and have been treated. And I hear horror stories on how they had to bargain and yell at their insurance company because these companies wouldn't deemed those tests unnecessary. And yes there is a litigation process but again, for that you need money, lawyers are not free of charge.
And also, you comment on health care from the inside, as a worker, pardon me for saying so, but that's not from the point of view of the patient.
Coming back to my first point, if you have money you can always buy the best, including health care.
The problem is when you don't have that much. Which is the case of a good part of the polulation. What about them? Do they get the best?

Re: Shootings in Vancouver – how our definition of success leads us to failure

franv — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:48:55 -0000

We know since the work of Foucault;s "Discipline and punish" that control and violence are not deterrents to crime. One has only to look at the crime rate in the US in spite (or perhaps because) of the existence of the dearth penalty.
The work of the police is to exercise control, using violence and other means, and it's not in their mentality to reason in terms of help and education.
Mankind has physically gotten out of the caves, but our rationality still to have remained stuck there, hence discipline remains the choice of the powers that be.
I wouldn't expect the police to understand that you can better deal with a problem through education and help. Not in their mental framework.