Hi Sam

SH >bob, i'm afraid it really is necessary for the us to be 
SH >reacting in the way they are and i just wish the 
SH >politicians here had the guts to as you put it over react.

The unsavourary example of over-reaction I had in mind was California's 
recent law excluding illegal immigrants from schools, hospitals etc.
 
SH >because enough is enough, we are a nation of 17 million 
SH >with a social security budget of tens of billions of 
SH >dollars, someone please try and justify that one...regards

I agree that the social security budget is over-bloated.  But contrary 
to popular myth that is not because of dead-beats and bludgers - it is 
due to respectable middle and high income earners dipping into the till.
That is you and me, Sam.  Millions of people like us are part of the 
problem, especially the post WW2 baby boom generation.  Why should 
medicare be free to all comers, including for cosmetic surgery?  Why 
should everyone get child allowances, regardless of income?  Why should 
the Manangatang Art Appreciation Society get a government grant?  And on 
it goes.

Unfortunately, Western society places too much emphasis on rights and 
not enough on responsibilities.  Hence we get all these pressures for 
governments to solve every social problem, many of which were once 
family responsibilities.

The best way to control costs is to means test everything and to 
introduce user pays wherever possible.  Bulk billing is one of the great 
rorts of out time.  How many people go to the doc for every sniffle, 
because it is "free"?  I read somewhere that 60% of all ailments will 
cure themselves without medical intervention.  Of the remainder, medical 
intervention fixes 20% and makes 20% worse.

Rgds

Bob
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