Hello All...

[Tamara]

Taz, a while back I was searching Russian "help wanted" sites for my own edification and keeping an eye out for my girl.. plus if anything in the Kitchen and Bath or even woodworking industries appeared I sent out some resumes.  Anyway, many of the jobs advertised were offering health insurance and some were offering pension plans.  I was pretty surprised to see that as I had been under the assumption that such benefits did not exist.  The higher up the food chain the more benefits were being offered all the way up to luxury apartments and cars with drivers for top level positions.  Three hours of research and that is what I learned.

Sculpto, thank you for sharing your experience.  It's great to see your opinion on this subject.

We are all shaped by our experiences and where we travel. I have always encouraged people not to look at the FSU countries as separate entities even if they are somewhat similar. Just like Canada and the US are neighbors and pretty much share a common language but have a totally different "feel" to them.

I am a little confused here.  I guess you mean that you DO encourage them to look at FSU countries as separate entities.  Or is it the opposite?

This entire OT part of the thread brings up an question that most Americans should ask themselves, why in heck would you want socialized medicine? If socialized medicine (governmental sponsored/managed/operated health plans) have failed so miserably in Russia that they need to offer private health insurance, why in heck would you want to adopt the model in the US that has failed. If it worked so wonderfully why would Russian employers even offer it???

Have you ever seen this article in Pravda, which used to be a"propaganda rag of Soviet Communism": http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/107459-0/?

If you don't have any expectations at all, why do anything? So unless I set some expectation for myself, my career, my future, etc., I am less likely to be motivated to accomplish anything in life. By setting high expectations in these areas I have worked to become a better person. I set high expectations for my trips as well and do the necessary planning to help ensure the odds of success being high.

Taz, I never said that we should not have any GOALs.  Having high goals set for ourselves, career, future, etc. motivates us to achieve more.  If you look at the context of how I use the word "expectation", then you will see that I am talking about setting expectations regarding OTHER people, not yourself without asking them and getting to know what it is they really experienced and want to experience in future.

[SANDRO43]

This entire OT part of the thread brings up an question that most Americans should ask themselves, why in heck would you want socialized medicine? If socialized medicine (governmental sponsored/managed/operated health plans) have failed so miserably in Russia that they need to offer private health insurance, why in heck would you want to adopt the model in the US that has failed. If it worked so wonderfully why would Russian employers even offer it???

Maybe the problem is not so much with the model, but with its implementation.

It works fairly well here, although it consumes a substantial chunk of our national budget. Somewhat indirectly though, since a few years ago the responsibility for managing health was turned over to our Regions, each being assigned a budget based on a number of parameters such as inhabitants, etc. Lombardy decided to extend its coverage to include 'accredited' private health institutions, and that contributed to reducing wait times for hospitalisations and analyses.

Nationally, many years ago they introduced the concept of a 'ticket' to discourage ever-growing prescriptions for medicines and analyses, an increasing tendency in modern medicine: except for a list of serious or chronic conditions, Italians have to pay out of their pockets a percentage - about 20-30% - of their cost.

[Sculpto]

Maybe the problem is not so much with the model, but with its implementation.

It works fairly well here, although it consumes a substantial chunk of our national budget. Somewhat indirectly though, since a few years ago the responsibility for managing health was turned over to our Regions, each being assigned a budget based on a number of parameters such as inhabitants, etc. Lombardy decided to extend its coverage to include 'accredited' private health institution, and that contributed to reducing wait times for hospitalisations and analyses.

Nationally, many years ago they introduced the concept of a 'ticket' to discourage ever-growing prescriptions for medicines and analyses, an increasing tendency in modern medicine: except for a list of serious or chronic conditions, Italians have to pay out of their pockets a percentage - about 20-30% - of their cost.

A combined system would work fine.  The base is the national system with doctors in pvt practice required to either contribute time, or, opt out and trade credits with other doctors.  Overlay a private system on top for those who want additional coverage and services and there you have it.  Basic needs are covered for everyone.. specialties are covered for those that demand them and can pay for them.  Put a cap on punitive damage awards on malpractice suits to get the gross risk out of the picture and let doctors do their job!  I don't know if we have any Germans posting regularly on the forum, but, I saw something on PBS not long ago about their system and was pretty impressed, so, I wonder what an average German would say about it.

[SANDRO43]

A combined system would work fine.

Yes, but you need to keep a sharp lookout for sharks, too . A few months ago they arrested the management and top surgeons of an 'accredited' private clinic for fraud and malpractice: false diagnoses and unnecessary surgery, including lung removals, that caused the death of a number of their patients and the permanent incapacitation of others .

[bigdeg]

hello, this is off topic...but...
A combined system would work fine...In someone's dreams maybe. Government takeover (now I am not talking regulation) of any part of capitalistic enterprise is suedo-socialistic and just a bad idea. Hasn't worked in Massachusetts,Canada, France, Finland, the list goes on.
 Or you could use as an example the combined system such as China. Their "elite" get world class healthcare, of course 98% of their citezens have "the cheapest that money can buy". Why wouldn't anyone want a government healthcare plan, they are so efficient at everything they touch.
 At least in this country now, if a legal citezen needs, they can go to a large number of hospitals and still get most care that they need. The bigest difference I can see with this healthcare overhaul is that if it passes you will no longer need to be a U.S. citezen. There is no distinction made in Obama's bill requiring U.S. citezenship.

[Faux Pas]

hello, this is off topic...but...
A combined system would work fine...In someone's dreams maybe. Government takeover (now I am not talking regulation) of any part of capitalistic enterprise is suedo-socialistic and just a bad idea. Hasn't worked in Massachusetts,Canada, France, Finland, the list goes on.
 Or you could use as an example the combined system such as China. Their "elite" get world class healthcare, of course 98% of their citezens have "the cheapest that money can buy". Why wouldn't anyone want a government healthcare plan, they are so efficient at everything they touch.
 At least in this country now, if a legal citezen needs, they can go to a large number of hospitals and still get most care that they need. The bigest difference I can see with this healthcare overhaul is that if it passes you will no longer need to be a U.S. citezen. There is no distinction made in Obama's bill requiring U.S. citezenship.

Back in the 90's our government the IRS took control of the Mustang Ranch brothel in Nevada and were required to run it. They failed miserably and had to shut it down. The same government that has already taken control of many of the nations banks along with insurance and GM now wants the healthcare system. This is the same government that couldn't make a profit selling poon and whiskey.   

[Sculpto]

great example Faux as if the Ranch was being run properly before the government got involved...   

Mustang Ranch Timeline

October 1955: Joe Conforte, a former cabdriver and brothel operator, opens the Triangle River Ranch brothel in Wadsworth. He will later become partners with Sally Burgess, also a brothel owner. The two marry.

November 1959: Joe Conforte arrested and later convicted for trying to extort Washoe County District Attorney Bill Raggio. Serves 22 months in jail. Raggio and other officials burn down the Wadsworth brothel.

June 1963: Joe Conforte pleads guilty to tax evasion and is sentenced to three years in federal prison. Released in December 1965.

1967: Joe and Sally Conforte take over the Mustang Bridge Ranch in Storey County. Name later changed to Mustang Ranch.

1971: Storey County legalizes the Mustang Ranch brothel. Lyon County follows suit in March 1972, legalizing its brothels in Mound House. Later in the 1970s, Churchill, Mineral and Nye counties legalize brothel prostitution in restricted areas following favorable public opinion votes. Lander and Esmeralda counties legalize brothels in restricted areas as well.

1973: Conforte sells land in Sparks to convention authority for what became the Wildcreek Golf Course. His own land adjacent to the course increases in value by $1 million.

1975: The Mustang Ranch burns to the ground in a suspected arson fire. Conforte rebuilds.

January 1976: A Washoe County grand jury investigation into Conforte’s local influence finds close ties to Reno-Sparks officials, but no indictments result.

May 1976: Boxer Oscar Bonavena, managed by Sally Conforte, is shot to death outside the Mustang Ranch.

April 1977: Joe and Sally Conforte are arrested on 10 counts of income-tax evasion. Sally is fined $10,000 and given a suspended sentence. Joe faces a minimum five years in prison and $10,000 fine. They appeal.

December 1980: U.S. Supreme Court rejects Joe Conforte’s tax conviction appeal. Joe Conforte flees the country. Sally remains and runs Mustang Ranch.

Sept. 10, 1982: Conforte opens an account at Discount Bank and Trust in Geneva, Switzerland, under the name of Jose C. Montoya, making numerous deposits and withdrawals.

October 1982: A Storey County grand jury, after a 2 1/2 year probe, concludes Conforte has unusual influence and power in the county. The jury says District Attorney Virgil Bucchianeri and Sheriff Bob Del Carlo are implicated but no indictments result.

Nov. 24, 1982: Joseph Conforte deeds his interest in Mustang Ranch to Sally Conforte.

Nov. 26, 1982: Sally Conforte files Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Jan. 24, 1983: Sally Conforte deeds back to herself and Joe Conforte Mustang Ranch property, subject to bankruptcy plan.

December 1983: Joe Conforte returns. Bargains for an 18-month term in return for testimony against federal Judge Harry Claiborne.

March 1984: Claiborne’s first trial on bribery and tax-evasion charges ends in mistrial when jurors don’t buy Conforte’s story. Bribery charges dropped.

1985 to 1990: Several attempts to sell Mustang Ranch fail, including attempts to make it a publicly traded corporation.

Aug. 14, 1990: About $800,000 transferred from Discount Bank and Trust in Switzerland through Valley Bank to Mustang Properties.

September 1990: IRS seizes Mustang Ranch and fails in an attempt to run the brothel to pay Conforte’s back taxes. The government padlocks it, announces sale.

Sept. 18, 1990: Sally Conforte bankruptcy is converted into liquidation under Chapter 7. Attorney Peter A. Perry files a Chapter 11 bankruptcy for Joseph Conforte.

November 1990: Mustang Ranch and various memorabilia auctioned. The ranch is sold to Mustang Properties Inc. for $1.49 million. The corporation is represented by Victor Perry, brother of Conforte lawyer Peter Perry. Joe Conforte returns to manage Mustang.

Nov. 30, 1990: About $1 million transferred from Discount Bank and Trust in Switzerland to Mustang Properties.

April 1991: IRS auctions Joe Conforte’s other properties for $2 million.

Feb. 5, 1991: Joseph Conforte bankruptcy is dismissed.

August 1991: Conforte announces his retirement, saying he has served more than 1.5 million customers in his 36-year career. He disappears from the public scene.

May 6, 1992: Sally Conforte bankruptcy case is dismissed.

September 1992: Sally Conforte dies from diabetes and bad kidneys. Joe Conforte does not attend her funeral.

Nov. 1, 1995: Federal grand jury indicts Conforte and his Reno lawyer, Peter A. Perry.

June 14, 1996: Peter Perry pleads innocent to two charges in the indictment.

Dec. 2, 1996: Perry’s plea agreement unsealed.

Dec. 4, 1996: In an advertisement in the Reno Gazette-Journal and in an interview published the next day, Conforte says he wants to return to face charges, possibly by Christmas.

Jan. 28, 1997: The IRS files a $16 million tax lien alleging Conforte owns the corporation that owns the Mustang Ranch. A lawyer for the brothel denies that.

Feb. 19, 1997: Lawyers for Conforte want to know if he will get bail or can be released on his own recognizance if he surrenders.

Aug. 5, 1998: The U. S. attorney indicts Joseph Conforte, A.G.E. Enterprises Inc., A.G.E. Corp. Inc., Shirley Colletti, Joann Olcese and Eduard Neves. Charges include bankruptcy fraud, aiding and abetting, money laundering, witness tampering, racketeering, conspiracy and forfeiture.

July 1999: A.G.E. Enterprises Inc., A.G.E. Corp. Inc., the firms’ owners and Shirley Colletti found guilty of racketeering and illegal wire transfers. The shell owners transferred millions of dollars to Conforte. Mustang is ordered closed.

Aug. 5, 1999: A legal attempt to block the closure fails.

Aug. 9, 1999: Mustang padlocked by federal agents

[dokrog]

OMG. You people have way too much time on your hands. You need to write your RW or UW. your intelligent that's for sure.