Is Peace profitable? Is sickness prevention profitable?

[khazadman]

Wow! You mean Israel owes the U.S. money?!

Not to rain on your parade Eisenschwarz, but alot of countries owe us money. And it looks like the crusader is going the way of the dodo. The same might be in the works for the next generation of super carrier and the f-22.

Originally posted by Eisenschwarz: Well, I’m sorry if that offended you, But although it is not particularly relevant, I have been giving Serious thought to enlisting in TEH ARMY, but not The US one, Since I don’t live there. I still wouldn’t place it on a pedestal though, The army serves the state, and the state isn’t always right or pure. Also, I'm not sure whether I could get educated on that sort of issue, Since I'd presume that It'd be something to do with the quartermasters general or equivlillent, or maybe High ranking officers, Or perhaps even Government minister (Prob. The Ministry of Defense) who decide on what the army gets, and their funding etc. And I'm not Sure wether I'd acutally get to be one of those persons, but You never know. That part didnt offend me at all. I assumed a lack of first hand info. I think military service os really good for people. It can really expand your views if you don't go in with your mind made up already. Different militarys are obviously going to be different. But in the US military you end up rotating through a number of secondary duties, some times it is supply working with contracotrs, some times it is maintenance working with contractors some times it is testing Jetski's after they have been returned to the Morale unit. (that was fun duty [img]smile.gif[/img] ) I wish you well and know you will have many interesting adventures if you do actually serve in the military for a while. quote: Originally posted by MagiK: Oh by the way, Contractors...are people, they have families, wives, husbands, children they do their jobs, they earn their money and they deserve every right to have a job as a burger flipper at the Micky D's.

Contractors tend to be Ex-army officers, who get these extremly well paid jobs as a favour.
how It works is, You are in the army, You make a fat contract with these contractors, then when you leave the army, these contractors out of gratitude then Give you a nice little job with them.
rinse and reapeat.

Lol that is a very very small, minute even proportion of contractors. there are litterally millions of consultants and contractors who have never had any military service, nor do they even own a company. Working for SAIC I was one of hundreds on a project, some of whom had never even seen an actual miltary unit untill we deployed the system

Originally posted by MagiK: Please post a contract number so I can look up that "string" you talked about. the only string Im aware of is that the Israelies are not allowed to turn around and sell the technology and as far as I can tell the Isralies only buy part of their arms from the US. They develop their own for the most part.

Yeah, They've licensed and Accurised to a certain extent upon the AK in the Gali? (Can't remember) But ever see the Rifle The ISreali Army uses?
Why, It's the M16 of course.

Originally posted by MagiK: Their MBT (Main Battle Tank it is called the Merkava.) is of their own superior design, their small arms are of their own design (ever hear of the Uzi?) I think you may have some facts mixed.

Israel owes $5.6 billion to commercial U.S. banks and the U.S. government from 15 arms sales loans dating back to 1976, Pentagon documents show. The Pentagon data, documenting the status of loans and loan guarantees issued under the Arms Export Control Act, is contained in a January 28 letter from the acting director of the Defense Security Assistance Agency, Diehl McKalip, to the House Speaker Newt Gingrich.[/QUOTE]Ahh yes, there are monies owed, but there isn't any clause that requires all or any future purchaes come from the US. If Israel wanted to go to the french and buy Mirages instead of F-16's Im sure they could. I doubt they would since the US fighters are arguabley the best on the commercial market. The Israelis buy the best because they are the best. They do not kid around when it comes to defending their home. And I am rather Pro-Israel, see the zionism thread at Pandemonium [img]smile.gif[/img]

[John D Harris]

Yorick, They already have super long lasting light bulbs, I get them from JFH (Jobs For the Handicaped) the cost $25 for two bulbs some times they have a special 3 for $30. They have a 5 year warranty, if they burn out in five years you call them up and they'll send you a new one. The problem with the light bulbs is in order for them last longer the filiment must be thicker, the thicker the filiment the less light is given off.

What you discribe for healthcare seems pretty proftible to me

[Attalus]

Well, I shall leave the defense of Defense to MagiK, since he knows it better than I, but I can speak to the (non)profitability of healthcare. Most of the HMO's have had to pull out of Texas due to huger monetary losses. As for us private physicians, the State of Texas just had to pass a law to force insurance companies to pay us what they rightfully owe. Many doctors have had to cut back staff and hire relatives just to keep the doors open. And, believe me, Yorick, I try my very hardest to keep my patients alive, for, in addition to my friends, they are my source of income. I speak sorely because I just had to fire my receptionist to stay profitable.

[True_Moose]

Health care is not an industry that should be profitable; much like education. In profits, you tend to lose the personal aspect of a case, which is incredibly important in both those jobs.

[Chewbacca]

As long as people believe in violence and sickness, so shall we have them.

An open mind can see past these things, but the golden age of peace and health is a future a long way off.

That wont stop me from believing in the potential and possibility of the perfect manifestation of benign human life according to what I believe is the divine plan.

I know I can have peace in my life, even as I am surrounded daily by violence. I know I can have health, even as My loved one dies of a tumor.

But I believe in the power of belief, so I can only speak for myself.

[Attalus]

Originally posted by True_Moose: Health care is not an industry that should be profitable; much like education. In profits, you tend to lose the personal aspect of a case, which is incredibly important in both those jobs.

Yeah, but you have to pay your rent and your morgage and your girls' salary, so money is important.

[Ronn_Bman]

Originally posted by True_Moose: Health care is not an industry that should be profitable; much like education. In profits, you tend to lose the personal aspect of a case, which is incredibly important in both those jobs.

I agree that profits shouldn't rule, but the problem is, because it isn't profitable, the best people don't bother. Education is a great example of this problem. With the exception of a few teachers, like Saz and Mrs. Gwenn(my second grade homeroom teacher), the education program in America is substandard.

People tend to avoid low paying jobs. No matter how good someone's character may be, they have families to support, and with what we pay teachers, it's no surprise that we don't get the "cream of the crop" like other professions do.

[John D Harris]

Originally posted by Attalus: Well, I shall leave the defense of Defense to MagiK, since he knows it better than I, but I can speak to the (non)profitability of healthcare. Most of the HMO's have had to pull out of Texas due to huger monetary losses. As for us private physicians, the State of Texas just had to pass a law to force insurance companies to pay us what they rightfully owe. Many doctors have had to cut back staff and hire relatives just to keep the doors open. And, believe me, Yorick, I try my very hardest to keep my patients alive, for, in addition to my friends, they are my source of income. I speak sorely because I just had to fire my receptionist to stay profitable.

You sound like my kind of doctor [img]smile.gif[/img] You understand your patients are your source of income, instead of some one to make money off of. There is a differance! Years ago I went to a dentist for a check up and cleaning, he took x-rays and told me I had a bunch of cavities. OK but for the fact that I've only had 1 cavity, so I went to another dentist he did some x-rays sure enough he found some cavities, problem was they where in completely differant teeth then the first denstist. So I go to a 3rd dentist more cavities, again differant teeth. Not one of the three denist could agree on a single tooth. Since then I've been back to a dentist once to have a wisdom tooth pulled.

[Leonis]

If the average joe was to come up with, say an engine that ran on garbage ala Back To The Future ie: very cheap and accessible fuel, you can gaurantee(sp?) the corporate hitmen would be in like steam, and the espionage/sabotage in full swing.

The ultra rich are so because they act the way Yorick says and deny competition using some amazing means.

Sounds like a paranoid conspiracy theory? Think again. Naivity will get you killed.