I guess we are the only true capitalist society left in the free world. And that is a good thing. 
You know what, John, I don't pay a damn cent for my health care. Do you know why? Because I have a union job that the employer pays 100%. Guess what, there are plenty of those kinds of jobs out there. But people are too lazy to get off their asses and work.
As for all of the countries that have "free" health care, who is really paying for it? I bet if you asked people in these countries how much they pay in taxes, it would be close to 45% of their income. So you see, it is not free. They are still paying for it, but instead of some company with shareholders that make a profit too; they are paying it to the government and no one but the government is making a profit.
And as for this "free" health care, why do so many Canadians come done here to get treatment? Sure, they have cheaper drugs, but at what cost. Our cost here in America. Do you know why? The Canadian government tells drug companies how much they can charge., and most of the time it is at a loss to said drug companies. So, in order to make up this loss the drug companies charge you and I more. So yet again, someone is still paying for this "free" health care.
Nothing is free. Everything has a price and that's the way capitalism works. And capitalism is what makes this a great country.
Peace out,
Peder
'84 Westy
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: John Pronk 
  To: pederparizek ; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
  Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2001 6:13 PM
  Subject: Re: America

  Most western countries outside of the USA have "free" health care as you call it. They are not communist countries.
  They believe society should share the cost of providing a basic health care level for all its citizens. This is achieved through taxes or levies of some kind. They do not believe that a basic level of health care should be directly related to the size of your wallet. The same applies to education.
  By your definition the following countries are communist
  UK
  Germany
  Australia
  New Zealand
  Netherlands
  Switzerland
  Ireland
  Austria
  Denmark
  Sweden
  Norway
  France
  etc etc etc.
  This must mean you are the only non communist country in the world!
  Regards
  John.
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: pederparizek 
    To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM 
    Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2001 20:54
    Subject: Re: America

    These people are not bums, they are communists. These are the same people that want the government to give us free health care (communism). What's next free housing, free cars, free food. Everyone needs to realize that just because it is free to you, means that someone else is paying for it. 
    Here in America we pay for what we want.
    Peace out,
    Peder
    '84 Westy 

      If I may add to what you wrote, selling on the list is allowed on the list. 
      So anyone who complains about it is on weak footing. 

      I sell things occasionally it's a service to the Vanagon community. No one 
      except communists or bums expect it for free. even when I have been broke, I 
      chose to go without rather than beg. 
      So, we bring back the meaning of the term bum-a person who is not willing to 
      work for what he wants, and thinks everyone owes him a living, or vanagon 
      parts for free. 

      But the politically correct way of addressing them is now(homeless). My Mom 
      used to warn when I was young-"you don't want to become like the bums on skid 
      road, do you"?Bums! 
      I have got a lot of vanagon stuff free-does that make me a bum? Well, we used 
      to have a junkyard, and stuff was free on the hulked vanagons heading to the 
      crusher... 

      Robert K 
      1982 Westfalia 

[text/html]