Should there only be one company making gear?

I guess my point was that not everyone died during the middle ages, and not everyone is dying of these terrrible diseases today, but for the ones who are affected the result is the same. There are more bad diseases around today than there were then. How is that for a ringing endorsement for medical science!

AIDS, so one theory goes is an offshoot of antibiotic resistant syphylus. There are many diseases that have gone underground for a short period to return as stronger strains that are resistant to the ubiquitous antibiotics found today. We haven't cured much really, just made it stronger, while peoples immune systems are worse than their stereo systems!!!

Even the meds for AIDS don't cure it, they just drag out the life of the poor unfortunate who has to be treated.

I must commiserate with you on the appendix issue though. I had mine out at four years old in Austria. Quite an adventure as I recall.

Marco ... completely agree. I think it's obscene that we spend so much money on boner pills, statins and diabetes meds when children all around are dieing of easily cured diseases, and when malaria, TB, and AIDs are killing so many. There have been many occasions where I have not purchased audio equipment because I just couldn't live with myself dropping $100 on a cable, knowing that MSF could save many lives with the money. Perhaps audiogon could have a charitable donations section ?
Also as a British citizen living in the US I feel in a good position to compare socialized versus privatized medicine. My conclusion is that both systems could work well, and both are utterly screwed up in the UK and US, in the UK by vast layers of incompetent management (thanks Mrs Thatcher !) and in the US by political backhanders and savage greed. Fire all the managers on both sides of the atlantic and let the doctors and nurses run healthcare.

Nrchy, I don't think it's the medical SCIENCE that is failing us, but rather the vested interests. Science has shown quite clearly that if we all went vegetarian (or greatly reduced meat), reduced refined carbohydrates to a minimum, and exercise moderately that our national health would be greatly improved. But then there's more money to be made in urban sprawl, SUVs, Big Macs, and the resulting medical care (statins, bypass, chemo etc etc). I am a big believer in taking care of my own health and only go to a doctor as a last resort.

That said, when the staph infection had my right forearm swollen to twice its normal size, and I was in some degree of discomfort (British understatement !) I was rather glad for IV antibiotics and painkillers. Tofu and brocolli just wasn't going to cut it on that occasion ! :-)

People in the middle ages didn't get old enough to contract a multitude of today's diseases. Increasing life span is because of medical science. There has never been a cure for a viral disease, so immunizations are used to "trick" physiology. Small Pox has been erradicated and Polio is on its way because of science and because of financial means. If any of you knew the complexity involved in curing, you may not have the expectations that lead you to insult an institution. Also science costs a lot of money. If one knows in the ins-and-outs of financial mess then one can judge the degree or who is at fault. I know about the patient and mal-practice insurance, which is a chain reaction hell, but there is no easy solution. My point is money is a problem, but the scientists and MD's, in general, have done a hell of a job.

It is kinda interested to see where this thread as evolved

Boner pills? NOW this thread is getting interesting!
Look what you did Nrchy!!