AVR-Chat

dlc wrote:
> 
> Kathy Quinlan wrote:
> 
>>Russell Shaw wrote:
>>
>>>Ted Smith wrote:
>>>
>>>>Hi Don,
>>>>I am sorry to tell you but many Australians do react to the continual
>>>>use of "Down Under" by inhabitants of the Northern Hemisphere.
>>>>
>>>>Funnily enough, if an Aussie says it, there is no offence felt but
>>>>just watch the faces of Aussies when a "Yank" says it. (Common
>>>>reaction is "not another self opiniated Yank")
>>>>
>>>>Whereas the Aussie is not really offended (we are too good natured for
>>>>that), it in effect downgrades the respect an Aussie has for the
>>>>utterer of the words.
>>>
>>>I wouldn't agree. You rarely hear a foreigner say "from down-under", and
>>>when you do, makes you think they have some clue of the local slang.
>>>
>>>The "not another self opiniated Yank" really applies when a USAan says
>>>something all too common like "we've got the best such-n-such in the world".
>>>Utterances like "best democracy anywhere" evoke responces like "yeah right,
>>>the best money can buy".
>>
>>We have a better health system :)
> 
> <Whatever!> The best the wealthy can afford after the drug companies and 
> insurance companies get their squeeze!  I am an American who thinks that 
> socialized medicine might not be a bad idea.  We could probably get 
> cheaper services and the doctors would get paid _better_ if we could 
> leave the insurance companies out of the picture.  A bunch of <expletive 
> deleted> desk warmers that provide no value, that is what insurance 
> companies can provide.

That's a more fundamental idea i agree with. Insurance companies simply
insulate between the consumer and those charging, so that those that charge
can charge a whole lot more. If the averaged true cost for a service is $5/month,
the insurance marketers will see anyone can pay $20/month, so they do.
IMHO, there should be no private law firms (law dispensed by guvmint service only),
or the fees and payouts should be capped, because that's where a lot of insurance
money goes. A US guvmint run by lawyers doesn't help;)
IMHO, the guvmint here down-under is nearly as bad as the US currently.
Getting back to AVRs, product liability insurance is very expen$ive because
of the reasons above.