Americanising a Belgian

Kristof,

79 wrote:
"and how long is that line to see the Doctor and how long does it take to get the surgery done with the free systemyou have?"

I am also open mindedly curious about this?

I know at the company I work for the medical expenses year over year go through the roof. I have to sell to my employees less medical benefits at a higher out of pocket expense yearly. Employees do not care how much more it is also costing their employer to attempt to maintain this benefit. Employees ultimately loose out though through lower pay/pension etc. due to this added company expense.
T   

     

As one of the self employed I can really appreciate some of the things Alan has discussed, for me it will be 14yrs this summer. Insurance as a whole is quite a racket, it is my second highest operating expense, with payroll being 1st.
Another major issue is getting my invoices paid, you would not believe how many dishonest business people there are out there, the trend in my collections is the more money they have the harder it is to get them to pay! And my last complaint will be the legal system, or what I believe is Tort Law. Over the last three years the amount of money I have spent on legal to defend being named within the Mother F'n Lawyers laundry lists of defendants on individuals injury claims could have paid for a fleet of boats that would make the likes of Timmy or Reid Proud.

Kristof, no matter how much complaining you hear my bet would be there is not one of us here who would want to live anywhere else but the good old US of A!! God Bless America and all those who serve her!!

PS, Eric I love it when you talk about the Import cars that way, I am right there with you brother!!

eric lavine wrote: , another nut buster was my wife gets migraines and i tell her to buy three pills at a time for a total of $86.00.....

She wakes up the next mourning and your sorry ass is still there, tell her to ask for her money back...........LOL

              Boat dr

Boat doc, your wife is LETTING you play on the computer i see

quinner wrote: Kristof, no matter how much complaining you hear my bet would be there is not one of us here who would want to live anywhere else but the good old US of A!! God Bless America and all those who serve her!!

Yep - We've all got it pretty good!

you use to have two of something but as of valentines day they are gone..lol

Can anyone reading this logically tell me why we as Americans are paying this much for fuel, what is the reason
so Tull what do you do now that you have to pay that much more for fuel? surcharge?

OPEC's decision not to up production effectively reduces supply while demand always increases as a factor of the increasing population. Also China and India are thriving and using much more further increasing the demand. We all know the equation.

I see where some in Dubai have a few quarters to spend as well!

I thought it was closer to about 40% of the cost/gal in IN.

So Steve, If you can't recoup that extra expense in either a surcharge or a price increase what do you cut out?   Whatever it is it will be money you're spending for fuel that will not go back into any local economy and it's just a domino effect that is spiraling down so fast we're gonna hit bottom and it will be devastating.

This reactionary crap with our governent is B....T, why do we sit around and wait for it to implode and then react. Critter hinted on that earlier where there hasn't been a change to the millage requirements of our cars since 1978, that's 30 years.

LOBYISTS and PAC's thats why, greasing palms and buying what they need. These people are paid by big interests to buy power with total disregard for the long term outcome. Can anyone say Haliburton? Why is it our former Governor is in prison, and our current one with a little luck will be joining him. Because they're greedy crooks and can be bought and sold like a cheap whore. I'm going off my rocker again, sorry but when the hell is someone that can't be persueded by personal interest or that of his cronies going to step up and lead this country. I love this country to the death but I'm tired of being embarrased and ashamed of those that represent us.

I hope you all don't think I'm an *************** but if I could make a difference I would. Just give me someone to vote for that can.

so Kristof, no one is denied medical help whether you are rich or you are poor, all in all what do you think about the current system in your country?

Steve, what do haul? and i would assume the end customer also passes along the costs to the consumer

Kris, there is a pharmacy on every corner in this country, when i was younger you had to drive 15 or so minutes to get to one, thats one i dont understand and you always have to wait for your prescriptions because thare are 5 people ahead of you, if you have a cough the doc schedules you for a cat scan, then a mri, then a rectal exam, and in between he schedules you to his office for follow ups..... i wish the transmission business was like this

Okay, I hate the confrontations that usually happen when politics are involved but I'll through in my hat and join in. the way i see it is:

A little over one year ago:
      
     1) Consumer confidence stood at a 2 1/2 year high;
     2) Regular gasoline sold for $2.19 a gallon
     3) the unemployment rate was 4.5%.
      
     Since voting in a Democratic Congress in 2006 we've seen:
      
     1) Consumer confidence plummet;
     2) the cost of regular gasoline soar to over $3 a gallon;
     3) Unemployment is up to 5% (a 10% increase);
     4) American households have seen $2.3 trillion in equity value
     evaporate (stock and mutual fund losses);
     5) Americans have seen their home equity drop by $1.2 trillion dollars;
     6) 1% of American homes are in foreclosure.
      

     America voted for change in 2006, and we got it!

Now let us all blame it on "Bushka and Chenski" as it is all their fault. I'm so sick and tired of everyone in this country always blaming someone else for the problems we have created for ourselves. Be responsible and own up for yourself and your actions don't blame them on someone or something else. I love this country but am tired of the politcal correctness that has taken over and the " YOU OWE ME" mentality.
If I go and live in Belgium then I had better learn to speak Dutch or not even bother. I need to assimulate to them, not them to me. That is the problem with the USA. We all are to easily offended if something we don't like doesn't go our way.

Scroll thru some of my posts and see >>>>>>>
I try to stand up for what is CORRECT< answer is I have become my DAD.Old time values and God needs to be at the center of my life.
I need to do my part,and sometimes that means keeping my mouth and opinion to myself.Part of doing a good deed is not showing or telling, it is that good feeling it gives me, and this is enough reward.
You seem to enjoy telling everyone about your good works, that is fine, I choose the quieter approach.
Point being as to the cooler being mounted backwards.........Boat dr

Enough about the state of the union......VOTE