Do you ever eat in a restaurant?
Do you work in a restaurant?
No matter whether we're talking about McDonald's or Denny's, Spago or Ruth's Chris, don't we all eat or work in a restaurant on occasion?
As a restaurant diner myself, I was appalled by Judith Warner's commentary in the NY Times that asks the question of several restaurant workers -- from cooks, to wait staff, to dishwashers -- what do they do about work when they get sick? Do they call in sick so they can stay home?
The answers were overwhelmingly "no." They don't, because they don't get sick days, and either they can't afford to miss work, or they've been told they will be fired if they don't show up. They don't get health benefits either. Few restaurant workers in the United States get any form of benefits.
I know this is true. My daughter waited tables for many years in high school and college. My stepson works as a bartender now. Benefits? A paycheck and tips. But no more.
Now put this in the context of this potential pandemic flu. Especially in areas with known outbreaks of any flu, whether or not it is the swine H1N1 flu. Are we eating in restaurants with sick workers? And if so ......... I shudder to think.
When restaurant workers -- or any workers -- don't get health benefits or sick days, they put us all at risk. If restaurants began providing sick days and health benefits, then our costs to eat there would skyrocket.
But healthcare reform -- universal health care in whatever fashion it takes -- would go a long way toward providing affordable healthcare to these workers who do not have any other way of staying healthy or staying home. As Ms Warner states in her article, "If the swine flu outbreak forces lawmakers, at long last, to give workers and families some of the protections that they need, perhaps this crisis will, on some level, turn out to have a silver lining, too."
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Excellent point.
It appears as though the world of parasites recognizes how “we’re all connected”.
I pity people in positions that must deal directly with the public at random – cashiers, toll takers, librarians, teachers, waitstaff, etc.
I have heard that our currancy harbors all sorts of vermin (also traces of cocaine on EVERY bill?). It might be smart to make as many purchases as possible through credit cards and pay the bill in full at month end.
I heard today that people who want private insurance will be taxed to keep private insurance. Illegal aleins already receive health care with are taxes. Nationalizing health-government control, means that the government will develop protocols on how your illness/disease is managed. You and your doctor are out of the loop.
If the government says no CAT scan…no CAT scan, unless you want to pay for it out of pocket.
If you’re elderly…certain operations won’t be available due to your age.
If you need certain drugs for a serious illness those drugs may not be part of the government’s protocol to manage your illness.
Why do you think foreigners come to America for medical care? For the fun of it? No, because their nationalized healthcare forbid the operation, the drugs, the treatment.
Read the British/UK newspapers, please. Everyday there are articles written about the British public’s dilemma.
France’s nationalized healthcare carries an approximate 20% tax, PLUS 92% of the french carry a SECOND health insurance!!!
They have a gatekeeper doctor who makes referrals to specialists.
It is a two-tiered system and only those who have the $$$$ get to see the better doctors.
In addition, the French tax: tobacco, ALCOHOL and pharmacuetical companies’ revenue…(get out of those stocks…if the democrats get their way…of course those government officials will have the BEST medical care, while we, minions receive LESS care than we currently have).
The crunch is that France does not advance medical care, they just manage and depend on other countries for their advancements.
It will be a step back into the dark ages for Americans to have nationalized healthcare.
America is different, please vote for candidates who do NOT want to nationalized healthcare…doomed if you’re aged and in poorer health