Monthly Archives: February 2012
Random Luck
Published in The Journal Record
February 22, 2012
Apparently we are fast approaching the end of the world, as predicted by Nostradamus (16th century author and philosopher).
It seems we are constantly bombarded by prophesies of future events by “experts or futurists” of all persuasions. We should be wary. In his book, “Future Babble,” Dan Gardner tracks the success rate of many well-known media prognosticators at accurately predicting the future. His conclusion is that any one of us could be equally as successful by throwing darts or by flipping a coin. Continue reading
Different Path, Same Place
Published in The Journal Record
January 25, 2012
In Great Britain there are no bills or paperwork for seeing a doctor. There is a small fee to cover all medicines. The poor do not even pay that amount. No one goes bankrupt by paying medical bills. The British are very proud of their health service. The approach of covering everyone is clearly part of their political and economic culture.
However, after years of this expensive entitlement, the British health service is encountering major bumps. Budget difficulties require that they must cut 31 billion dollars from the health service. In a program already known for service delays, waiting times for English patients are becoming increasingly dramatic. Patients waiting months, sometimes a year or more, for certain therapeutic or diagnostic treatments, is not uncommon. Twenty thousand health care jobs are being eliminated, and hospitals are being shut down. Continue reading