Jim Thompson wrote:

On Thu, 06 Sep 2007 09:41:26 GMT, Ross Herbert
wrote:

On Wed, 05 Sep 2007 15:29:34 GMT, Joerg
wrote:

Also, they are definitely not on par WRT
services such as health care. If you get really sick over there your
chances of dying are quite a bit higher than in the US. Most
certainly so in the UK.


I suppose you haven't seen Michael Moore's Sicko....?

Quite frankly, it seemed pretty truthful to me and I would hate for
the Australian health care system to go the way of the US system. In
fact GW and little Johnny Howard are such good mates that the US -
Australia FTA which was negotiated recently has a hidden agenda item.
If the US allows access for Australian farm produce we have to relax
our very generous Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. Over here we pay
very little for a long list of drugs which are assessed for inclusion
on the PBS and the big drug manufacturers don't like it. They are
doing their damndest to put a spike in the wheel by way of the FTA, so
that we have to pay as much for the same drugs as you do in the US.

I have come to wonder whether a private citizen with one of these diseases,
(who happens to be a chemical engineer) might be better off synthesising
his own drugs from the information in the patent descriptions and journal
articles, rather than buying the drugs. It is possibly close to the point
where a fairly good pharmaceutical lab could be assembled for the cost of a
few years worth of drugs, and the equipment could likely be sold afterwards
if not needed because the health outcome had resolved itself one way or the
other. I remember watching an interview with a Swiss man who could have
paid for his treatment by selling the family house and taking out some
loans, but he decided on economic grounds that it would be better for his
family if he decided to live a bit shorter life and let them keep the
house, car, trust fund etc. for their future.

And GW is pushing the agenda through his little lap-dog Johnny Howard.

Ummm? Who elected this lap dog? Why don't you put the blame back
where it belongs?
Damn right too. But if they criticise Johnny then they get locked up for
"sedition" nowadays.

Chris