Steven L. Goldstein The Sun-Sentinel

August 14, 2009

Steven L. Goldstein
The Sun-Sentinel
200 East Las Olas Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301

RE: Health Care

My dear Professor,

“Every health care professional with whom I’ve spoken
has said that universal health care is the answer.”
Today
Page 19A
You

“We are in the mess we are in because of the private sector.”
Today
Page 19A
You

The second quote is a bit tautological but that is not why I write.

Today’s teachable moment comes from combining both quotes from your bi-weekly screed.

On July 3rd I mailed a check to a company in Texas. The envelope was returned yesterday because I had inserted the bill into the envelope upside down. [In a bow to diversity and multiculturalism let me just say that it is further proof that only Allah, and blessed be his name, can weave a perfect rug.] The envelope spent 10 days on a round trip that totaled 4 miles. It never got to Texas. It never left Broward County. It never left Fort Lauderdale. It never left my zip code. And these are the people you want running health care?

Now I know why you are a rabid abortion advocate. “The triumph of hope over experience” – the bed rock of your statist principles, such as they are – would, if you were a woman, guarantee perpetual pregnancy.

If the Federal government couldn’t get a truck filled with ice and water across the Mississippi to New Orleans 5 years ago why do you think they would be any better doing pneumonectomies?







Since July 16th I have spoken to 8 “health care professionals”. I call them Doctor because they all have the letters M.D. after their names. They may or may not support ACORN, SEIU, or MoveOn. I mention that because being a member of any of those groups does not make one a “health care professional”. It may make you a “health care thug” which, if done well, would qualify you as a “professional health care thug”.

On July 16th my wife had a total laparoscopic hysterectomy. A bilateral salpingo-oophrectomy and a bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy were also performed. These procedures were done with DaVinci robotic assistance.

One of the advantages of using the DaVinci is that the recovery time is shortened. That’s because Dr. Freddy from Elm Street is not using a Texas Chain Saw to get to the malignancy. 5 years ago the DaVinci device was almost ready. Some physicians, some scientists, and some adventuresome private sector bankers all had a hand in it. Their combined motivations, be they altruism or “growing rich beyond the dreams of avarice” are of no concern to me. They all came together in the operating room on July 16th.

5 years ago the United States Postal Service charged 37 cents for a first class stamp. I carried the mail for 4 years. [I learned early on never to confuse effort with results. Put differently, I used to be able to play basketball as hard Dwayne Wade. I could never play it as well.] It costs 44 cents today. That’s about 18% more. The Post Office is in serious financial free fall. Unlike GM or Chrysler they don’t qualify for a bailout. The government already owns them.

How would you like to be prepped for prostate surgery by Dick Cheney?

One of the advantages of living in Florida is that you can get quickly to Cuba should a medical emergency arise. They have a world class medical system, don’t they?

“First, do no harm.”



Kevin Smith