On Thu, 31 Aug 2017 06:38:07 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

On Wednesday, August 30, 2017 at 7:52:43 PM UTC-7, John B. wrote:

Hardly. In fact the South East Asian nations are very interested in
heir citizens welfare, likely because satisfied citizens rarely
revolt.

That's right but when push comes to shove let's see just what goes.

Thailand, for example, has universal health care. You go to a clinic,
pay 1/10th of the minimum daily salary and any and all treatment
proscribed by the doctor is free. And, of course if you are over 65 it
is completely free.

You're joking right? I have had over $18,000 in medical bills this year. Most of it paid for by insurance and every bit of it possible only because of modern medical instruments some of which I helped develop.

No, I am not joking. Any Thai citizen can visit a government clinic,
pay 30 baht, and receive any necessary medical treatment (that is
available in Thailand) free.

A friend who suffered kidney failure was treated and had dialysis for
several weeks for the initial 30 baht payment. Luckily his problem was
resolved. His wife joked that the only thing that they didn't pay was
the gas for the car to drive back and forth to the hospital.

My wife has a heart condition and thyroid problems (both controlled)
and has a blood test and checkup quarterly. Entirely free because she
is over 65 years of age. (the clinic is close enough that she walks
:-)


Are you telling me that a Thai can go to a clinic and have a $500,000 panoramic x-ray taken of his jaw? How many of these clinics are there? How many doctors trained in doing a sinus lift that requires donated bone material to achieve? That requires three different medications before and afterwards top stave off infections?

Yup. Anything that the doctor orders. Specifically a panoramic x-ray I
do not know but if the government hospitals have the device then yes.
free.

We have antobiotics in the USA that you can't even get in Europe and you're telling me that things are better than that in Thailand?

Nope. I am saying that a Thai Citizen can get any medical treatment
that is available in Thailand for 30 baht (1/10th of the minimum daily
salary)


Singapore built low cost housing for their people. They brag that over
80% of Singapore's resident population reside in this housing and
about 90% of these resident households own their home.

Vietnam? Well, in the past three years the average income has
increased by nearly 30%.

Do you mean 30% more than nothing? Why don't you tell us all that the common Vietnamese isn't nothing more than a rice farmer now just as they were before the communists took over.

It really doesn't make any difference what the starting point was,
that is history. What is important is that today, living is nearly 30%
better then it was three years ago.

Tell me more about " looking out for the common man".

At what point did it became MY responsibility to make sure you took care of yourself?

I have no idea. That seems to be a sort of socialistic notion that
seems to be taking root in the U.S. I recently read that almost half
of the families in the U.S. was receiving government aid, in some
form.
http://tinyurl.com/yamwp3mt

I read that 81% of the U.S. government revenues are from individual
income tax and payroll taxes so it appears that yes, you are taking
care of the common man :-)
https://www.nationalpriorities.org/b...-101/revenues/
--
Cheers,

John B.