When you are walking through Hell

When you are walking through hell walk faster

(Eisenhower?)

Sound advice?

Sicko, by Michael Moore

This movie really resonated. Points to remember:

• People are easier to Govern when that low confidence are uneducated and unhealthy, they don't think let alone challenge.
  
• What kind of democracy is this?
  
• Some things are good in the private sector and some things are not. We should never forget or change this.
• I don't agree with Moore's solution , but something needs to be done. the Singapore model seems good or even the France system with compulsory insurance with premiums based on percentage of income
• The comparisons to Cube are very interesting, obviously only part of the story, and obviously a bit of properganda on Cuba's part, but still interesting.
• The choices over which finger to save one for $12,000 and one for $60,000, without medical advancement neither finger would have been savable, so now we can save both, who should pay and how should they pay?
  
• The way the insurance works seems close to criminal. The risk based insurance model just does not work well.
  

Additional Thoughts

UK vs US
UK government actually spends less per person than the US government on health care (from page 123 of the book - Undercover Economist by Tim Harford). Yep the UK gets free health care for everyone for less US Government spends on health care administration and Medicare programs for the few.

Democracies and the Vote to change things
To Tony Ben's point about the Vote, In Australia it is compulsory to vote. You can spoil the ballot if you feel particularly angry that your right not to vote has been infringed, but you must attend the poling station and vote (or face a fine). This means that the vast majority of people vote and generally take a greater interest in what the government is doing that the US. What would happen to political leaders in the US if everyone had to vote? Would it help if leaders could not ignore the poor that they know won't vote anyway under the current system?

Links:
http://www.michaelmoore.com/

Recent Movies

Bourne Ultimatium

Fast, well crafted, really well shot with get technology and acting, you find your self walking very fast out of the cinema, and realise that everyone around you is walking fast, care is required in the parking lot to make sure your run over on the way out

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/bourne_ultimatum/


Lucky miles

This is a comedy from start to finish, you are never really worried about the survival and safety of these people in the middle of no where, the outback seems like a gentle, friendly relaxed place. The humour is unassuming and quietly confident. Really great entertainment.


Shut Up and Sing

How quickly people change and turn on there own. The entire country music scene turned on the Dixie Chicks. What they said seems so harmless really, nothing compared to what the US government said and lied about. Why are people so believing? The Country music industry should be ashamed of what you did, with was time for leadership not simple reaction of the anger that they had helped create through there own news reporting of what happened.

Overall I think a lot more of the dixie chicks and Natalie Maines in particular.

Remember FUTK.

Roots and Wings

Parents need to give there children 2 things, Roots and wings. When I think about this I cannot honestly say that my parents understood this, although we have some good times.

Perhaps the goal of every interaction we have should be to give each other roots and wings.


Reference: ABC Show

Seven Blunders of the World

1. Wealth without work
2. Pleasure without conscience
3. Knowledge without character
4. Commerce without morality
5. Science without humanity
6. Worship without sacrifice
7. Politics without principle

—Mahatma Gandhi

Schadenfreude - Pleasure from others misfortune

Be honest how often is this you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schadenfreude

People to Learn from: Alan Turing - What is right is always in context

Alan Turing's contribution to the war and to computer science is huge, I mean really big. So how come he was treated so badly for something that today would not be considered a problem at all (IE was Gay).

Who where the people that actually treated him badly?
Why was is OK to judge someone for something that is so personal and private?
At our worst we so fear any difference so much that we do anything to destroy it, yet we all seek to be and understand our own uniqueness, why?
There where people that knew Alan was gay, but did nothing at the time he was arrested, why?
What part does culture play?
What is happening to the world now?
Which direction are we moving in?
Which direction do we want to move in?


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing
http://www.turing.org.uk/