A conversation with my old high school buddies

A conversation with my old high school buddies, six against one as usual.

Why am I always the one in the minority? I am a bit comforted by the old saws, “Everything you know is wrong!”  And, “The minority is always right.” Anyway, here’s a recent missive I sent to my debate group of redneck Texas friends. We don’t let politics get in the way of friendship. No one would have ANY friends if they did…

You rotten bastards…

…for whom I have a profound esteem, I know we’ve gone round and round about single-payer but here’s the main reason I think it would improve things remarkably: I read a Reader’s Digest article years ago. A journalist went to a university dental school to find out exactly what work he needed. With this information in hand, he sought out 50 different dentists all over the eastern U.S. One dentist got it right. One other dental school got it right (with a professor supervising). The other 48 dentists had bids ranging from $4,500 to over $40,000 to “fix” his teeth (he had one small cavity). It occurred to me after reading this that physicians couldn’t be any more ethical than dentists as a general rule. I’ve read that up to 85% of surgical procedures are unnecessary. No idea how many prescriptions are also. I’m always hearing of some doctor having his patient bring in all his prescription drugs only to have the doctor throw them all away.

While I believe all should be handsomely rewarded, free enterprise is not a game physicians or dentists should be playing, lawyers either in my book.  This all makes me happy that firemen are socialized; otherwise they’d be out setting fires to make more money.

Peace,

Jerry