Politics and religion.

[Edwina's Secretary]

What an interesting fact! Union membership in the US - in private industry is about 6.9% and 36% in the public sector continuing a downward trend.

In Australia private sector union memberhsip is 14% and growing! Public sector - that is government employees - 46%. Wow.

Those maties are a far way down the road to socialism! Look sharp maties or you'll be swallowed up in carbon taxes and union members...

[blue]

What an interesting fact! Union membership in the US - in private industry is about 6.9% and 36% in the public sector continuing a downward trend.

In Australia private sector union memberhsip is 14% and growing! Public sector - that is government employees - 46%. Wow.

Those maties are a far way down the road to socialism! Look sharp maties or you'll be swallowed up in carbon taxes and union members...

That is interesting, any chance of a source link?

I have viewed Ausie society going the way of the Socialist for many many years.

[wombat2u2004]

That is interesting, any chance of a source link?

I have viewed Ausie society going the way of the Socialist for many many years.

Ho hum.....looks like we've been hit with FACTS again by THE ONE WHO KNOWS ALL.
You won't get source facts from that spoilt arrogant yankee.
blue....she ain't got a source....hee hee.

Now for some real facts.
Australia has one of the best health systems in the world. We probably have one of the lowest unemployment figures in the world. Unionism rears it's ugly head every time a Labor party gets voted in, but they won't last long, and the unions will fall back on their butts where they belong.
Australia doesn't have a shot economy, almost falling into third world status like some. The Australian dollar is way stronger than the US dollar. And, believe it or not, we here have more freedom of speech than you all in US do.

Good God, who is she calling "Maties".....I could'nt imagine any Australian in their right mind who would even consider "mateship" with that one....I think that term would be well beyond her.

[phesina]

Now for some real facts.
Australia has one of the best health systems in the world.

Wom, how does the Australian health system work? I'd really like to know more about that. Thank you.
Pat

[wombat2u2004]

Wom, how does the Australian health system work? I'd really like to know more about that. Thank you.
Pat

Here ya go............

In 1984 a comprehensive health care system, Medicare, was introduced. Medicare facilitates access by all eligible Australian residents to free or low-cost medical, optometric and public hospital care, while leaving them free to choose private health services.

Individuals’ financial contributions to the public health care system are based on their income and are made through a taxation levy known as the Medicare levy.

Australia’s public hospital system is jointly funded by the Australian Government and state and territory governments and is administered by state and territory health departments.

People admitted to public hospitals as public (Medicare) patients receive treatment by doctors and specialists nominated by the hospital. They are not charged for care and treatment or after-care by the treating doctor.

Private patients in public or private hospitals can choose the doctor who treats them. Medicare pays 75 per cent of the Medicare schedule fee for services and procedures provided by the treating doctor. For patients who have private health insurance, some or all of the outstanding balance may be covered. Private patients are charged for hospital accommodation and items such as theatre fees and medicine. These costs may also be covered by private health insurance but are not covered by Medicare.

Medicare Australia is the agency within the Department of Human Services responsible for processing and paying Medicare benefits for approved services. Medicare Australia also pays pharmaceutical benefits under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which subsidises an agreed list of prescription drugs.

For both medical and pharmaceutical services, safety net arrangements exist to make sure patients who need a high level of treatment or medication during a financial year do not incur significant out-of-pocket expenses. Out-of-pocket costs are the difference between the Medicare benefit and what the patient is actually charged.

The Australian Government also provides medical, pharmaceutical and hospital services for veterans, war widows and their eligible dependants under legislation administered by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

The Australian Government provides about two-thirds (67 per cent) of public sector expenditure on health, and state, territory and local governments provide the rest.

Note: I have what they call a "Gold Card" Pat. They are issued automatically to war veterans over 70 years of age, and to those like myself who have a war caused disability. The card is given to us regardless of assets. Joe Blow living on the street, or as rich as Rupert Murdoch.....meeting the age and disability criteria automatically gets you issued one. The benefit of the Gold Card ??? Everything is free. Doctors, Specialists, Hospitals, Treatment, Medicines, Dental, Physiotherapy, Optometrical....every single thing related to our health is free.

[Edwina's Secretary]

Apparently "Undefeated" has been defeated at the box office by a documentary about turtles! The weekend gross for Ms. Palin was just over $24,000 - down over 60% from the opening weekend..."Turtle: The Incredible Journey" was over $25,000. Turtle total gross is over 3 times Undefeated.

Defeated!

Could it be her 15 minutes are over?

[Karen]

Could it be her 15 minutes are over?

Not quite - you posted about her!

[blue]

Apparently "Undefeated" has been defeated at the box office by a documentary about turtles! The weekend gross for Ms. Palin was just over $24,000 - down over 60% from the opening weekend..."Turtle: The Incredible Journey" was over $25,000. Turtle total gross is over 3 times Undefeated.

Defeated!

Way to misrepresent the 2 movies, not surprised by you or the Huffington Post for doing so. Turtle: The Incredible Journey was released in 2009, Link.

Could it be her 15 minutes are over?

Karen beat me to it. As long as the Huffington Post and its readers like yourself are rabidly reporting and reading about her, her time in the limelight will continue.

[phesina]

Here ya go............

In 1984 a comprehensive health care system, Medicare, was introduced. Medicare facilitates access by all eligible Australian residents to free or low-cost medical, optometric and public hospital care, while leaving them free to choose private health services.

Individuals’ financial contributions to the public health care system are based on their income and are made through a taxation levy known as the Medicare levy.

Australia’s public hospital system is jointly funded by the Australian Government and state and territory governments and is administered by state and territory health departments.

People admitted to public hospitals as public (Medicare) patients receive treatment by doctors and specialists nominated by the hospital. They are not charged for care and treatment or after-care by the treating doctor.

Private patients in public or private hospitals can choose the doctor who treats them. Medicare pays 75 per cent of the Medicare schedule fee for services and procedures provided by the treating doctor. For patients who have private health insurance, some or all of the outstanding balance may be covered. Private patients are charged for hospital accommodation and items such as theatre fees and medicine. These costs may also be covered by private health insurance but are not covered by Medicare.

Medicare Australia is the agency within the Department of Human Services responsible for processing and paying Medicare benefits for approved services. Medicare Australia also pays pharmaceutical benefits under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, which subsidises an agreed list of prescription drugs.

For both medical and pharmaceutical services, safety net arrangements exist to make sure patients who need a high level of treatment or medication during a financial year do not incur significant out-of-pocket expenses. Out-of-pocket costs are the difference between the Medicare benefit and what the patient is actually charged.

The Australian Government also provides medical, pharmaceutical and hospital services for veterans, war widows and their eligible dependants under legislation administered by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

The Australian Government provides about two-thirds (67 per cent) of public sector expenditure on health, and state, territory and local governments provide the rest.

Note: I have what they call a "Gold Card" Pat. They are issued automatically to war veterans over 70 years of age, and to those like myself who have a war caused disability. The card is given to us regardless of assets. Joe Blow living on the street, or as rich as Rupert Murdoch.....meeting the age and disability criteria automatically gets you issued one. The benefit of the Gold Card ??? Everything is free. Doctors, Specialists, Hospitals, Treatment, Medicines, Dental, Physiotherapy, Optometrical....every single thing related to our health is free.

Thank you, Wombat. I think this sounds fantastic. Are there down sides of this system for you Australians?

So WHY are conservatives in the U.S. so outraged about the idea of even attempting to introduce such a system here? Would any of you folks of the conservative stripe please enlighten me? Thank you.

[Lady's Human]

Ummm, possibly a little issue along the lines of a $14 trillion debt problem?

We can't pay for all the government services now. Let's fix that before we spend more money we don't have.

[wombat2u2004]

Thank you, Wombat. I think this sounds fantastic. Are there down sides of this system for you Australians?

So WHY are conservatives in the U.S. so outraged about the idea of even attempting to introduce such a system here? Would any of you folks of the conservative stripe please enlighten me? Thank you.

As for down sides, well no system is perfect, so we do get the hiccup now and again, but overall it works very well for everyone, and almost everyone is happy with it. Oh, you always get the people who don't agree with the system, but some people don't agree with anything....right??

As to why this system is so contentious in the US, then I'd have to agree with LH on that. We have a very strong economy here, and the government does keep the system going by injecting funds from revenues into it. So I suppose when your economy gets back on it's feet, then there will be less against and more FOR that kind of system.
I do hope you all get it there eventually...I think good health services should be available to all regardless of their situation money wise.

[Edwina's Secretary]

That is interesting, any chance of a source link?

I have viewed Ausie society going the way of the Socialist for many many years.

Sure blue...the numbers are from 2010 but, before the nay-sayers attack, labor statistics are not usually reported in "real time."

Australia

DOL - US

Facts are facts...

[cassiesmom]

What an interesting fact! Union membership in the US - in private industry is about 6.9% and 36% in the public sector continuing a downward trend.

Why such a disparity between the public sector and private industry, I wonder?

[Edwina's Secretary]

Why such a disparity between the public sector and private industry, I wonder?

There are a couple reasons for the difference. Unions are attractive to employees who do not feel any control over their worklife - employees who work for large, impersonal employers where the decisions makers are far away from them. That rather defines most public sector jobs - postal service, firefighters, police, teachers, etc. Hospital are becoming fertile ground for union organizers - large organizations - decision makers far away.

Smaller employers are more able to know what is going on in the organization and put out fires. Smaller organization can simply respond faster to problems.

Wages are rarely the reason most union campaigns get started. And most campaigns begin when employees contact the union rather than the other way around. When I was working in labor relations I was involved in a few campaigns - and every time it was the same thing - favoritism - the boss.

For example, in San Diego County the average number of employee is 12. Most people in the US public sector work for small/medium sized employers where the perceived need for a union is less.

[Bonny]

There are a couple reasons for the difference. Unions are attractive to employees who do not feel any control over their worklife - employees who work for large, impersonal employers where the decisions makers are far away from them. That rather defines most public sector jobs - postal service, firefighters, police, teachers, etc. Hospital are becoming fertile ground for union organizers - large organizations - decision makers far away.

Smaller employers are more able to know what is going on in the organization and put out fires. Smaller organization can simply respond faster to problems.

Wages are rarely the reason most union campaigns get started. And most campaigns begin when employees contact the union rather than the other way around. When I was working in labor relations I was involved in a few campaigns - and every time it was the same thing - favoritism - the boss.

For example, in San Diego County the average number of employee is 12. Most people in the US public sector work for small/medium sized employers where the perceived need for a union is less.

You mention favoritism - the boss. What do you mean by that? Like ignoring someones seniority in the company, breaking company rules, as an example. The boss would be non-union working for the company as the employee would be union working for the company type of thing? Do the bosses get reprimanded by the company like firing or transferred someplace else? I know of a company three faults by the employee even if they are protected by the union & out the door they go.