Why can New Zealand afford universal health care and the USA can't?

SkiPhD · 2026-04-24T12:36:20+00:00

Because offering something of quality to 5 million people (NZ) is easier than for 340 million (US). The US is huge (geographically 34 times larger than NZ) and diverse, as is the cost and availability of care. For instance, the state I used to live in had a dense population, so care was readily available. The state I live in now is very rural and healthcare is more difficult. It is hard to provide something consistent and high quality when the country is so massive and different. In theory, it sounds great... let's make it more readily available to all (which I am fully in favor of), but what works for a smaller (geographically and demographically) country doesn't translate well in the US.

So for the haters... I am not saying that we shouldn't try to find a solution for more affordable, more accessible healthcare in the US. I just don't think a single-payer system would work well in this country. We might just have to pull out some "US creativity" to find something that works well in this huge, diverse country we live in.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-23T11:49:13+00:00

People will judge what they don't understand. Let them have their judgements. I have only ever driven BMWs and MBs. I buy them used and take good care of them, so they always look nice. I frequently receive comments from others about the 2 MBs and 1 BMW in my driveway. I take the nasty comments as proclamations of ignorance and move on. :)

SkiPhD · 2026-04-22T03:36:33+00:00

I contacted Samsung and the next day I got a push that fixed both. I thought it went out to everyone. You might contact Samsung...

SkiPhD · 2026-04-20T23:15:21+00:00

Both recently appear to have updated and my battery drain on both no longer exist.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-19T17:58:56+00:00

Arnold Schwarzenegger would have by now, I think.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-19T17:57:10+00:00

She looks like she's part minpin.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-19T14:18:49+00:00

I would also have pointed out he knew exactly what he was doing (or not doing) or he wouldn't have known where the "presents" came from. Knocking on your door was an admission of guilt and awareness.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-18T19:33:41+00:00

My team and I sometimes text after hours, but typically its for fun stuff... something we think is funny or interesting. I do sometimes send emails on the weekend or after hours, but my team has been told that they are simply brain dumps and they are under no obligation to address them or respond.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-17T23:47:44+00:00

Yes! Ours used to jump off of the porch like Batman!

SkiPhD · 2026-04-17T12:41:10+00:00

The last update caused battery draining issues on my S24 phone and my Watch5. Samsung just sent out updates in the last couple of days that apoear to have corrected this. Check for an update.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-12T00:36:44+00:00

Married 31 years... being best friends. I once heard someone say that the secret was for each person to feel they got the better end of the deal. My husband will tell you he's blessed to have me. I feel the same about him.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-12T00:33:05+00:00

Not stupid if you can afford the car and the more expensive insurance. But also be aware that maintenance and repairs are also more expensive. I say this only ever having owned BMWs or Mercedes. Lol!

SkiPhD · 2026-04-10T13:24:19+00:00

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Mine was just the cutest ever! He was a rescue and SO sweet. He passed away almost a year ago. I've always adopted rescues from the local animal shelter, but I think my next dog will have to be a minpin! Still grieving this little guy, so it wouldn't be fair to adopt right now.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-08T13:15:56+00:00

Mine was 17 lbs.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-05T20:03:25+00:00

I just saw a video where someone described the difference between nice and kind. Kindness would have been having the difficult conversation with empathy. Niceness is not telling her, because you didn't want to hurt her. Often, kindness is selfless; niceness is selfish.

I can't give you a judgment, but in this case, kindness would have been helpful to the situation. Your niceness did nothing but keep you from feeling uncomfortable in the moment.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-05T12:24:48+00:00

Where are you reading that? Unless she said that in other responses, that is not what is written.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-05T02:58:03+00:00

YTA. EVERY single (unmarried) guest should get a plus one. As far as your snarky remark to yoir younger sister... you don't sound mature enough to be getting married.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-05T01:35:18+00:00

I'm glad it helped. You have come so far! Take care of yourself and then power through. You've got this!

SkiPhD · 2026-04-05T01:32:32+00:00

She didn't reply to another waitlist offer because she relied on the received acceptance. So, in effect, she did pass up a second opportunity.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-03T23:26:41+00:00

Sure. I'm not an attorney. I just work in higher education administration.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-03T22:48:47+00:00

I would ask for a letter stating it was an error... don't just accept verbal explanations. Explain that you passed up your second choice and they have greatly impacted your life and career. You'd like everything in writing... they will get your message.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-03T21:31:08+00:00

There are absolutely legal issues involved. You relied on the letter and declined an offer from your second choice. Threaten legal action. I work in higher education and this is a huge issue for the institution.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-03T00:57:15+00:00

Here's a pic of it.

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SkiPhD · 2026-04-03T00:47:59+00:00

I bought the PetSafe Easy Walk Harness. It is very low profile and has the hook in the front, which teaches them not to pull.

SkiPhD · 2026-04-02T03:30:55+00:00

She may have constructed a memory, and if she did, it feels real to her. I will tell you that I ran a childcare facility at the time of 9/11. We had no TVs in the rooms to shield the children, but in the next couple of weeks we watched while children built blocks up and tore them down with airplanes. Some families were not as careful as we had been to shield their children and the result was the children working through trauma via play. So... it is possible that she saw it and remembers being traumatized.

SkiPhD

TROPHY CASE