Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Can somebody hook a brother up with some Twiglets?

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  • Paul Campbell,

    actually my kids were covered by insurance in the US from birth - just had to let my companies HR person know.

    On the other hand my company would often shop around and change insurance providers every year - when my first was born that meant that a month before his birth we had to change doctors, midwives and hospitals (because each HMO has its own list of which of those you can go to)

    In fact I had to change my doctor almost every year for 20 years, which meant in practice that I ended up cycling through the same set of 4-5 doctors offices - people there were amazed that I'd had the same GP in NZ for the first 20 years of my life

    Dunedin • Since Nov 2006 • 2623 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    It isn't France's high level of social spending (with the possible exception of benefits) that are causing its economic malaise. The most likely cause is labour market rigidities combined with over aggressive European Central Bank inflation targeting and downwards wage presures associated with Globalisation. Even then the problem doesn't appear to be across the economy IIRC - it's limited to certain groups (the young, those new to the labour force etc). This in turn, is amplified by France's failure to find viable multiculturalisms

    France isn't anything like the collapsing economy of right-wing myth. A short visit will show you that. There is localised poverty and social exclusion, true, but in general people live pretty well. There may be a high level of unemployment - but economies like the US have disguised unemployment (workers who don't add enough value to earn a real living). Plus, productivity is higher than in anglo-saxon countries like Britain and public infrastructure works well.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    France isn't anything like the collapsing economy of right-wing myth. A short visit will show you that. There is localised poverty and social exclusion, true, but in general people live pretty well.

    I confess, I was pretty staggered by the lifestyle of the French family featured in the film, on a household income of $US100,000.

    There may be a high level of unemployment - but economies like the US have disguised unemployment (workers who don't add enough value to earn a real living).

    Quite true. The US has the highest proportion of the working homeless in the world.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    In fact I had to change my doctor almost every year for 20 years, which meant in practice that I ended up cycling through the same set of 4-5 doctors offices - people there were amazed that I'd had the same GP in NZ for the first 20 years of my life.

    Which casts an interesting light on one of the key PR claims against socialised medicine in the US: that you can't choose your own doctor.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Thanks, Professor Schama - and in my not so humble opinion, both the United Kingdom and little old New Zealand have a lot of shit to clean up in our own backyards before going anywhere else and sniffing at the natives.

    For once, Craig, on this point, I agree with you. I think even criticizing the evil Yanquis is giving them more attention than they deserve. They will not listen, have to learn the hard way, and so be it. We would be better off attending to our own shop. They are welcome to their ridiculous country and war.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I haven't had to do the same since I moved back to NZ but I hear it's just the same, except you wait at different places in the process.

    I think that's it's on the same, or I'd argue, largely the same with some differences, because of a lack of money, expertise, resources, beds etc in NZ. If you threw more money into the NZ system, you could come out with shorter queues. If you threw more money into the US system, you'd most likely come out with bigger profits for the HMOs, and the same length queues.

    Here the medical system largely cares about patients, health, best outcomes, short waiting lists. There the care that parts of the system (health care professionals) put into that have been distorted by HMOs/insurance/profits.

    Ben - I was more referring to totally non-urgent stuff, no sane hospital in the US or NZ is not going to do the same thing (but woe betide you if in the US your HMO thinks you possibly could have rung them to get permission first, you may be stuck with the bill).

    A friend of mine was in a car accident recently, and her insurance disputed the cost of the ambulance that took her to hospital (but not the cost of the hospital care itself). The accident wasn't life-threatening, but it was certainly worthy of a trip in an ambulance, especially given that her car was totalled. Eventually they agreed to split the cost, which for a short ambulance trip was something like $4000 US.

    There are unfortunately lots of ways to be screwed by your HMO it seems. It astounds me that people should have to worry about these things before seeking urgent medical care.

    Have we learned nothing from the teachings of Homer?

    I must have missed that episode of The Simpsons. Or is that in the upcoming movie?

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • InternationalObserver,

    </clarification> er, my comments towards the top of Page 4 were generalities. I'm suggesting that as a culture NZ has replaced a lot of Kiwiana with Americana. I'm not speaking specificly of PA readers who we all know only drink good coffee and listen to National Radio (when not listening to PA Radio).
    Disclaimer: I have been known to wear 'baseball' caps (although never backwards) even tho' I don't play baseball. And I wore a Trucker cap (very) briefly even tho' I did not drive a truck.

    -I suppose not going to war with the US is technically accepting their dictates. We're also accepting everyone else's dictates in that case.
    The crack about following security dictates refers to both the reason for our presence in Afghanistan and the ridiculous screening process one goes thru at the airport even when not flying to the US.

    Since Jun 2007 • 909 posts Report Reply

  • Tony Kennedy,

    find a tower block, in the basement will be a good cheap food mall.

    And large bottles of cold Tiger at a fraction of the price paid in the typical touristy bars

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 225 posts Report Reply

  • Danielle,

    They are welcome to their ridiculous country and war.

    Maybe it's because I'm reading this amazing Peter Guralnick biography of Sam Cooke right now, but these kinds of sentiments really do make me sad. That whole century of incredible popular culture, amongst other cool things, is now just... pfffft!... because that damn country won't get its head out of its ass.

    I couldn't agree more with Schama via Mr Ranapia. I have spent a fair amount of my life laughing hysterically at The Jerry Springer Show, so I'm not exactly immune to the concept of 'American grotesques'... but still. Isn't it a bit too easy, that sort of thing? (Full disclosure: I have several lovely blood relatives who say 'y'all', and wear overalls with their names embroidered on them unironically, and go hunting, and fish in bayous, and own pickup trucks.)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report Reply

  • InternationalObserver,

    I mean really, did you ever think (when you growing up, watching American TV shows/movies) there would come a day when we were going to have Donut shops in NZ?

    Since Jun 2007 • 909 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Maybe it's because I'm reading this amazing Peter Guralnick biography of Sam Cooke right now, but these kinds of sentiments really do make me sad. That whole century of incredible popular culture, amongst other cool things, is now just... pfffft!... because that damn country won't get its head out of its ass.

    Yep, I owe America a hell of a lot. It's been a huge cultural influence on me - not least in that it gave rise to the internet, which is where a large part of me is, culturally speaking. I read American magazines, watch American TV, treasure American music and visit American websites.

    That's why I don't resile from commenting on American controversies -- there's a sense in which I'm a stakeholder too. Plus, it's fascinating.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Also, does anyone else find the food on American shows on Food TV a bit scary looking? It always looks soft focus and mucusy to me. Bluk.

    Gastro-porn creeps me out, period and full stop. Anything that looks that luscious on screen - or in the pages of a glossy cookbook - has probably been 'styled' under hot lights until unfit for human consumption.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    That's why I don't resile from commenting on American controversies -- there's a sense in which I'm a stakeholder too.

    Well, sure... just as I have an enormous debt to British culture, which is why I kinda feel invested in (and hellishly depressed by) folks who still think Salman Rushdie is kinda, sorta asking to be murdered after all these years because he wrote a book that offends various fundamentalist clots. Makes me want to cry when you see that coming out of a country that produced so much great literature, art, music, philosophy and politics that doesn't regard freedom as another obscene word beginning with F.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    The crack about following security dictates refers to both the reason for our presence in Afghanistan and the ridiculous screening process one goes thru at the airport even when not flying to the US.

    I think we get a lot out of presence in someone else's war zone. It's real training, hard to come by. But we can leave any time. That side of it is really an opportunity rather than a cost. But I tend to agree on some of the more insane screening practices. Is that not more from the airlines/ports than the govt, though?

    Baseball caps can be useful, although I have to say something that covers the ears really does serve a better purpose. And I must be a bad PA denizen cause I never listen to the radio at all. Got tens of thousands of tracks of my own choice that I actually like to listen to instead. My big concession to American culture is loving their boxing and MMA stuff. Yank pounding yank, that's fun.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • BenWilson,

    Maybe it's because I'm reading this amazing Peter Guralnick biography of Sam Cooke right now, but these kinds of sentiments really do make me sad. That whole century of incredible popular culture, amongst other cool things, is now just... pfffft!... because that damn country won't get its head out of its ass.

    You can't trade on past glory forever. Of course they've still got stuff to offer. It's just a matter of taking what's good and discarding the rest.

    And as a sad mantra, I must reiterate that I don't dislike American people at all. Almost all of the ones I know are good people. The fuxor ratio is not higher than NZ. But their system and their culture are not what they were, which is lamentable, if inevitable.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Terence Wood,

    Rich of Observationz,

    For the most part I agree - France's economy is most certainly not in a death spiral. Nevertheless there are, as I understand it, problems with its labour markets. Like I said they are not across the board, but they exist - particularly for new job seekers. There are flipsides, of course, increased security and better terms for French workers who have jobs.

    Anyhow, back to my original point to Russell: none of this has anything to do with their health care system - so it may be a bit unfair to pin this particular criticism on Michael Moore.

    Since Nov 2006 • 148 posts Report Reply

  • InternationalObserver,

    Is that not more from the airlines/ports than the govt, though?

    Hell no. Airport screening is a sop by the US Administration to show the American people they are doing something (and keep the percieved threat level up). And yes, they've made it extremely possible to blow up a plane. Which is why I don't go on Cruise ships. </mark my words>

    Since Jun 2007 • 909 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown,

    Anyhow, back to my original point to Russell: none of this has anything to do with their health care system - so it may be a bit unfair to pin this particular criticism on Michael Moore.

    Sorry Terence, meant to get back to you on this. Moore also enthuses on the French system's 35-hour working week and lavish holiday entitlements, among other things. I'm the first to admit that it all looks quite attractive, but maybe it's causing some problems too.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • WH,

    I'm more moderate (politically speaking) than Michael Moore, but I think he gets unfairly relegated to the status of unreliable firebrand sometimes. I understand that the basic critique of Moore is that he uses misleading editing, but the less conspicuous lack of balance in something oestensibly neutral like Time or HANNITY and colmes is prolly more insidious.

    Since Nov 2006 • 797 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Moore also enthuses on the French system's 35-hour working week and lavish holiday entitlements, among other things.

    Will doesn't really mean jack if your life looks more like this festering boil than the photogenically scruffy bits of Provence where emotionally constipated Englishmen get in touch with their inner child.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Terence Wood,

    Thanks Russell,

    For what it's worth, I think that a 35 hr working week and longish leave entitlements are pretty good ideas but, yes, if they are not coupled with similar adjustments to salaries, and combined with other burdens on employers - depending on the extent to which labour markets are functioning in something resembling perfect competition - they could well be contributing to high unemployment.

    It's worth noting that increased holiday leave entitlements here in NZ haven't lead to a a surge in unemployment, which might suggests that there is some wiggle room at least for policy makers concerned with work/life balance.

    Since Nov 2006 • 148 posts Report Reply

  • Lee Wilkinson,

    According to French friends, its the old, they are only unemployed because they want to be canard. The average worker gets to have more quality time with their family so is a lot less likely to go postal.
    On a much less salubrious note:
    Im JohnBanks and I always listen to Rick and Charles. eeek.

    Whangarei Heads • Since Nov 2006 • 45 posts Report Reply

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