As Abbott and his cronies in Canberra are philosophically opposed to a public heath system, if they had their way Medicare would be totally dismantled. Abbott would replace Medicare with a dog eat dog, American styled health system, where the rich and famous have the luxury of face lifts and boob jobs at will, performed by the finest surgeons, whilst the poor battlers would be left to rely on faith healing and quackery!

<<In any case there has got to be regulation to safeguard against tribal practices.>>

The White/European tribe has won, the worshippers of science have conquered and raised their black flag with the test-tube symbol and destroyed the temples of all other tribes: science invented guns and missiles, combat helicopters and the Bomb - Woe unto the defeated!

Long live colonialism...

<<As with anything where humans are involved.>>

Fascism too!

<<People have come unstuck by their beliefs in alternative medication.>>

I.E. They failed to be obedient, stick with and be loyal to their conquerors.

God help us !
Reading the plethora of political claptrap here on a serious problem
I am at a loss to see where we can turn for policy.

For many years Medicare with the private health funds did a job that
many countries wished they could duplicate. Even Hilory Clinton tried
to interest the US politicians in our system, but to no avail.
Nothing is perfect but it got close enough.

All that was in a time of cheap energy and many indulgences were
possible in those times, note the growth of family benefits, single
mother pensions etc etc etc.

Well kiddies those times are OVER !

Cheap energy ended with peak oil in 2005 !
Now live with it, never again, aside from miracles, will we have the
cash to splash around like the last 50 years.
The government, either consciously, or unconsciously has realised
this and is trying to adjust to the new normal.
The opposition is simply in denial.
They can't be blamed for that because most of you on here, including
the resident Labour Party computer are either in denial or have not
been fed relevant information.

So forget your political wheelbarrows, put on your thinking caps
and see if you can dream up a political and financial compatible system of heath care.

Yuyutsu,

I'm assuming you don't have any medical conditions. I do - so I have some experience. Regardless, I do use natural alternatives.

I have a natural beauty book. I've made a hair washing recipe from it - and it's excellent. It saves money, and I don't have to buy dishwashing detergent (sorry shampoo and conditioner) and these are environmentally toxic. People in earlier times, used herbal products, to make things and these did work. However "full on" health conditions, require science and intelligent specialists to diagnose patients (if you want to live) and in some cases, also involve other specialists.

I have Epilepsy and over the past (seven) years I have had to try so many medications to come to a "balance" which has reduced my seizures by around 90-95% now. One medication I was allergic to, during this period gave me a horrible shaking problem. I am now on (seven) medications per week, as my previous medication I was allergic to (and gave me a bone density condition) - which I take medication for.

I do agree, better options are needed re prescriptions, (sometimes I'll have to pay the gap payment and not other times) - but people have to realise the costs of running a clinic - rental is high, the staff costs are high and other costs are usually high. Simply property and corporate sector rip offs.

I don't want chemists deciding what amounts of medication I take, as it's open to abuse - or deciding by myself. A woman one day asked me what medication I was on (on public transport) - and asked if she could buy some. I said no.

Medication levels are put to me by my Neurologist and Bone Density Specialist, with details sent to my GP. We should keep medication levels and access (DRUGS) out of the hands of the public (like me) and have the decisions made by qualified people who know what they are doing. I 100% value that.

Peak oil is your belief Bazz. The coalition govt; DNA analysis says they do not like anything that is subsidised by tax payers $.

Why don't they tax the top end of town instead of hitting the small fish all the time. You must be aware of the budget that Hockey, Abbott, and Credlin put together, a load of steaming hot dung.

Oil won't get any cheaper than it is at present, the world is not using the amount of oil like it was once, and may never happen again. Once a vehicle is made that does not rely on petroleum, oil will be there for greasing fence posts so they can slide into the hole easier.

Abbott is not suitable for the task at hand, until that is addressed we are destined to be entertained by bumbling idiotism.

C 579
Logon: Bazz
Password: splat
> Well PO happened and the volatility in price is just as expected.
The high cost of energy is eating up our excess cash which we once
were able to spend on all those entitlements.
I hear lots of abuse of the government because they seem to realise
what is ahead of us.
Haven't you heard all the talk about poor growth figures all around
the world ? That is what will be coming for all of us and is also
known as Zero Growth. At least it will be if we can manage it properly
because the alternative doesn't bear thinking about.

So the upshot is a whole lot less money is going to be available.
So do you have any suggestions on how to compromise with reality
other than just ranting Abbott Abbott Abbott !
Sooner or later the Labour Party will have to face reality and drop
the "There is no problem" position and face how the much smaller cake
is to be cut.

Statements like this get us knowhere;
"Why don't they tax the top end of town instead of hitting the small fish all the time. "

All they do is turn it into a political argument.