5,000 Deaths Caused by Foodborne Illnesses Each Year, Health Care Political Action Committees Donate Millions, and Hospital Patients Steal
Bon appétit: “While most of the 76 million reported foodborne illnesses a year are mild, 325,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths are related to tainted food each year.”
Earning their keep: “As Congress worked on health care legislation that would dramatically reshape their industry…donations by the top 15 health care political action committees rose to $11.7 million in 2009.”
64% of hospital patients steal: They take numerous items from hospital rooms, costing hospitals nationwide at least $52 million annually.
Political donations naturally flow to Congress, so the fact that health interests donated $11+ million to politicians should be no surprise … especially in a year when Congress is debating health reform.
Wherever private property exists, special interest groups arise to protect their interests. This naturally leads to accusations of unfair influence and control. Liberals only know two ways to address this problem: (1) eliminate or control the liberty to protect private property (e.g., campaign finance limitations), or (2) allow everyone an equal amount of property (e.g., redistribution of wealth).
In a free political marketplace, special interests should be liberated to defend their private property. In fact, James Madison said “the more special interests, the better.” I am paraphrasing, of course. Here’s what he really said: “Extend the sphere and you take in a greater variety of parties and interests; you make it less probable that a majority of the whole will have a common motive to invade the rights of other citizens; or if such a common motive exists, it will be more difficult for all who feel it to discover their own strength, and to act in unison with each other.” In other words, the more special interests that exist, the more they will check and cancel each other out.
I don’t know why anyone in their right mind would steal a telephone from a hospital room. Yuck.
Nearly two-thirds of hospital patients steal? Wow!
In 1990 I lost a Sony Walkman from my office at Baylor, where I was an accounting manager. Our patients were very sick, so I always assumed it was taken from my office by a patient’s family member while I was out (they left a half-used cup of coffee sitting by my door).
That’s when I realized what the lock on my office door was used for.
Interesting to see tha Congress is getting theirs while the rest of us watch this ridiculous side show.
My wife and I just had a baby and the care we recieved druing the pregnancy and for the birth was simply amazing.Because we’re older it was recomended by our doctor that we undergo a number of tests (chromosone etc.) to determine the health of the fetus which we did (she’s quite healthy).For the birth we had the choice of using a midwife an obgen or our family doctor, a home birth or hopital birth whatever we wanted. the birth ended up being a hospital c-section.Because we chose to breastfeed we were provided with a lactation consultant and allowed to stay in the hospital until we were comfortable with breastfeeding (up to 5 days).At no time were we asked what’s your policy cover?’Now that we’re home we’re allowed one year off work (paid for by employment insurance) which can be split between us as parents any way we see fit.That’s the crappy Canadian system for you.pat