Private sector or public sector: Which is more efficient?

[Asher]

Is Ben seriously an illegal immigrant? If so, how does he work as a schoolteacher (or is that a lie)?

He's not a real schoolteacher. He never went to a teacher's college, so he's not qualified to teach in real schools.

He's a "teacher" at some private "faith based" school in Texas. Supposedly.

I bet they pay him under the table.

I just cannot see how the US, at a time of such high unemployment, would go "Sure! We could use more arts graduates in our economy right now...come on down!"

A couple of my friends with Masters or PhDs in computer science had trouble and had to jump through extra hoops to come work for Microsoft & Google. If they have problems, I can't imagine Ben just waltzed right down to Texas and got a work visa.

[Asher]

This is a completely valid criticism of US health care: the opaqueness of prices to individual consumers and thus the difficulties faced by these consumers to price-shop.

Not just that, but if your appendix is bursting you really don't have much choice which hospital you end up with.

[Ben Kenobi]

He's not a real schoolteacher. He never went to a teacher's college, so he's not qualified to teach in real schools.

The only requirement is a degree in the subject in which I plan to teach. The only place I cannot, at present teach, is in a the public schools here. That leaves private and parochial schools. For me to earn the certificate would take a night course, which I am planning to take if I can work around my present employer to get the time to pick it up.

I bet they pay him under the table.

And, you'd be wrong.

I just cannot see how the US, at a time of such high unemployment, would go "Sure! We could use more arts graduates in our economy right now...come on down!"

It's called Texas. They need teachers. Anybody else who's willing to come down and teach, let me know. Plenty of openings here.

A couple of my friends with Masters or PhDs in computer science had trouble and had to jump through extra hoops to come work for Microsoft & Google. If they have problems, I can't imagine Ben just waltzed right down to Texas and got a work visa.

I had some troubles too, but they got worked out. I'd been waiting for 3 years for the opportunity to come down and teach, and when the opportunity came, I took my shot.

I'm sorry it's hard for you to believe, but yes, I'm a legal resident here in TX and have been for some time now.

[KrazyHorse]

While it's true that this may play a role in a small number of cases, it's not usually a life or death in the next five minutes type of decision when you visit the hospital.

If you want to ensure that it never plays a part, you could always require that emergency patients are charged no more than comparable insured patients.

[BlackCat]

I'm a bit curious about american health care insurance. What are the premiums that is paid if :

1) you are young (20) and healthy.

2) at 20 you decided that you didn't need such, but now at 60 it might be a good idea.

[Ben Kenobi]

How much does that cost you per visit?

I don't have a GP down here yet.

Or do you come back to Canada and mooch more off the Canadian taxpayers like you did for your education?

The education which I paid off?

I'm relying on your family's input, I don't see why they'd lie.

If I've not spoken to him, that's third hand, information that he's getting from someone that I did talk to. So not only are you getting his take on things, you're getting his understanding of things in which I've not had a chance to speak with him in person.

I also have an understanding of how the US immigration system works, and I can guarantee you that a guy with an arts degree in history (or whatever it is you studied), would not get a working visa (let alone a living visa) to work for some private faith-based school without years of waiting and government bull****

And you've had vast experience applying for work in Catholic parochial schools in TX? You are clueless about the job market here, and understandably so. It has no relevance to you and your way of going about and doing things.

Just like you are about BC, and BC is right next door.

[notyoueither]

How is it bull**** when that's specifically what is said?

It says quite clearly the funds come from the public, but the companies providing the services are, indeed, private contractors.

Doctors who do a majority of their work in hospitals are considered private. A conventional employer who tried to pass off 'contractors' the way doctors are accounted for in most Canadian provinces would have the relationship described as employer-employee if it ever got arbitrated or adjudicated.

Many hospitals are managed by 'private' not-for-profit societies which are almost entirely dependant on government funds. Again, this is 'private' in name only. Everything about hospitals is public, but the organization that the bills get paid through is 'private.'

I became aware of this during US healthcare threads. Ramo trotted out the high percentage of 'private' care in Canada, so I looked into it. It is an extremely misleading 'statistic.'

[Asher]

I don't have a GP down here yet.

So you still use Canada's health care system. Classy.

The education which I paid off?

You've paid off the public subsidies on top of your tuition?

And you've had vast experience applying for work in Catholic parochial schools in TX? You are clueless about the job market here, and understandably so. It has no relevance to you and your way of going about and doing things.

Well, you may be right. Catholic churches and schools demonstrably have ****ing terrible judgment. It's probably very difficult for them to get a teacher at a school without a criminal record of pedophilia (yet).

[Ben Kenobi]

I'm saying that without knowing the actual problem your mother had.

Grandmother. She slipped and fell and hurt her back. She went from full mobility to none, and sitting in her chair and needing assistance from her daughter, (my aunt), to help her. She's made significant progress with her rehab after the surgery, but still has a long way to go.

[notyoueither]

Oh, and why is anyone bothering to argue with Ben?

The only two cents I will offer is to point out that it is illegal for a Canadian outside of Quebec to purchase private insurance that covers anything covered by the public system.

Also, doctors are discouraged or prohibited from practice in the public system if they do decide to go private. It is either or.

These are intentional parts of the regime in order to make any sort of extensive private system infeasible, IMO, outside of the very wealthy who may have a truely private doctor on the payroll. Sports teams and some large companies do this for executives (so I've heard). There are also some actual private clinics for the delivery of certain procedures.

[Ben Kenobi]

So you still use Canada's health care system. Classy.

Did you fail logic? I haven't seen anybody.

You've paid off the public subsidies on top of your tuition?

They only care that I pay the tuition.

Well, you may be right. Catholic churches and schools demonstrably have ****ing terrible judgment. It's probably very difficult for them to get a teacher at a school without a criminal record of pedophilia

Well considering that I have neither, I guess we can say that they've had at least one successful hire.

[Asher]

Did you fail logic? I haven't seen anybody.

But you see your GP once a year! And you don't have insurance. But you've not seen your GP yet.

Which country was the GP in that you last saw?

And how much is a GP visit without insurance?

They only care that I pay the tuition.

No ****?

I'm just pointing out you have a sterling track record of taking advantage of the Canadian taxpayer for your education and health care, then incessantly badmouthing both while you live as an illegal in Texas.

Well considering that I have neither, I guess we can say that they've had at least one successful hire.

Well, successful in that you've no criminal pedophilia record yet, but unsuccessful in that you're one of the dumbest human beings this side of Brendan Frasier and Pauly Shore.

[notyoueither]

Oh, and why is anyone bothering to argue with Ben?

The only two cents I will offer is to point out that it is illegal for a Canadian outside of Quebec to purchase private insurance that covers anything covered by the public system.

Also, doctors are discouraged or prohibited from practice in the public system if they do decide to go private. It is either or.

These are intentional parts of the regime in order to make any sort of extensive private system infeasible, IMO, outside of the very wealthy who may have a truely private doctor on the payroll. Sports teams and some large companies do this for executives (so I've heard). There are also some actual private clinics for the delivery of certain procedures.

Oh, and of course the very wealthy will go to the US when they feel a need and pay out of pocket. In a way the US is the private system for Canada, and the wealthy tolerate our system because they have an easy time getting the care they need when they need it.

If it were not for the ease of health tourism for our wealthy and governing classes, there is no way the Canadian system would be tolerated by them.

[Ben Kenobi]

But you see your GP once a year!

Or so. I've gone several years without seeing my GP.

Which country was the GP in that you last saw?

Gee, that would be Canada, dumbass.

And how much is a GP visit without insurance?

I'd have to look it up.

I'm just pointing out you have a sterling track record of taking advantage of the Canadian taxpayer

Uh, I don't see how you can say that when I've repaid my school tuition.

for your education and health care, then incessantly badmouthing both while you live as an illegal in Texas.

Gosh, can you be anymore wrong?

Well, successful in that you've no criminal pedophilia record yet, but unsuccessful in that you're one of the dumbest human beings this side of Brendan Frasier and Pauly Shore.

Who seems to actually understand logic. What does that make you? Gilligan?

[Kitschum]

I, for one, am completely shocked that a nation that does not provide all mothers with adequate pre-natal care would have such a high infant mortality rate.

It's shameful, isn't it? There's no excuse good enough that the United States - despite it all one of the richest countries in the world - shouldn't be near the top of that list. And you better not ask "where's the outrage" because it's all reserved for excretable Tea Party anti-tax initiatives.

It's absolutely disgraceful, but who am I to complain? I'm not an American. The US is a democracy. Their people have willed the current state of things...