You make too much money!

[protege]

I actually don't spend much to heat my place. Usually, the natural gas bills are pretty low...except during December to early March. Usually, those months are pretty cold, and I have to have the heat on. Also helping, is that I turn the heat back at night, and when I'm at work. Oh, and having a very efficient furnace (fitted 4 years ago when I moved in) in a small house helps too. Eventually, I plan on insulating the basement, which will help even more.

[blas87]

My parents invested in a wood pellet stove. That thing has been a godsend for them, as they only have to to re-fill their fuel oil once every other year now. Of course, their house is set up just so that where the stove is positioned, it properly heats the entire downstairs.

Dad buys 100 bags of pellets for about $500 a year, versus fuel oil at nearly $1,000 or more per fill. Of course, with winters like last year and this year, he's had to buy more, but it's still saving a ton of money.

[AdminAssistant]

what ever happened to just being a doctor cuz you like helping people get well? Teachers do that shit all the time

Doctors, of any kind, have to go through *much* more training than a K-12 teacher (although the length of time is on par with Ph.D.s, JDs, etc.) K-12 teacher = 4 year degree, maybe 1 year certification. Later on, if they want to move up the ladder to administration, a Masters of Education (2-3 years) and then, maybe, an Ed.D. I'm not sure how long that one takes, but usually only superintendents have that level of education.

A doctor should get into medicine because they want people to feel better, just as a teacher should get into education because they love teaching. But one is so much harder than the other.

[DrFaroohk]

And that's the point I see people making too much money. Fine, make money, support yourself, and live well, but don't screw people. Fine, you have 1 million dollars in yearly expenses. So you can spread out that 1 million among your patients. But then don't cry poverty when your suit costs more than my house.

[protege]

And it doesn't have to be all about the money either - what ever happened to just being a doctor cuz you like helping people get well? Teachers do that shit all the time - they do a looooot of work, work way longer hours than the 8-3 of school hours, and they get paid jack shit.

Medical school isn't cheap, nor is it an easy time--I have a cousin enrolled in it right now. He did it, because he's following in his dad's footsteps. I have a feeling that he'll be in debt for years...until he establishes himself, and lands a job at a practice.

[DrFaroohk]

That's not at all what I'm talking about - I'm not saying "rip someone off". I'm saying the expenses they quote are often inflated. Not everything needs to cost an arm and a leg, and many people would be doing just fine if they lowered their costs a bit.

And it doesn't have to be all about the money either - what ever happened to just being a doctor cuz you like helping people get well? Teachers do that shit all the time - they do a looooot of work, work way longer hours than the 8-3 of school hours, and they get paid jack shit.

[protege]

Cigarettes CD's Movies Books all that fun shit, charge whatever you want, but people should not be able to capitalize on shit that you need to survive.

Unfortunately, if you want the expertise--be it a doctor, mechanic--you're going to have to pay for it. Those people have bills too. Same with the independent oil distributor who brings the heating oil. Why should they have to operate at a loss because someone can't afford their product? That would be like walking into Ferrari, and insisting they sell you one of their V12 sports cars...for the price of a Chevy Cobalt.

[Boozy]

I have no problem with doctors making a shit-ton of money. These people spend almost a decade during the prime of their lives making no money, getting no sleep, and working their asses off to learn their profession. If there's no light at the end of the tunnel, no one's going to do it. And we need doctors.

This would be one of those situations where the government needs to step in and subsidize. We need to keep the economic incentives for future doctors, while being sure that the poor don't get screwed out of health care.

[DrFaroohk]

I don't begrudge anyone the fortunes they've earned in life. I respect people who have the intelligence, drive and will to get their education, work hard, do whatever it takes to succeed. They rule in my opinion.

And I don't necessarily think everyone who makes a lot of money is "wrong". I think Metallica can charge whatever they want for tickets. Nintendo can charge what it wants for a Wii.

But when you start with life necessities, such as heating oil or medical care, seriously the costs are too high.

And then people come up with all sorts of explanations for why it costs so much. say for a doctor. Someone once told me that just for a small office with only one or two doctors, a lowball estimate is like 250K a year for operating costs. Plus all their schooling, student loans, etc... Ok, cool. That's fine. 250K a year to run a business, not bad, I'm fine paying for that.

But that goes right out the window when I also see these same people with "such high operating costs" living a million dollar lifestyle. I can choose whether I want internet access or not, but if I get a sinus infection I NEED my antibiotics. If I break my arm I NEED to get it set. I can't afford to pay 300 dollars for a bottle of tylenol. I can't afford $75 for the doctor to shine a flashlight up my nose.

Same as heating oil. Fine, high demand. Running out of oil or something. Today I paid 3.81 a gallon for the shit! Then I get a big runaround about how much it costs. Operating costs, environmental protection shit they have to pay for, refining costs, etc.... That's all good and well, but when the guy who owns the company is pissing in a diamond toilet and wiping his ass with golden toilet paper, there's something wrong. because I NEED heating oil. I can't just "not have it".

Cigarettes CD's Movies Books all that fun shit, charge whatever you want, but people should not be able to capitalize on shit that you need to survive.