79-08-B4
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Miscellaneous II[edit]
Transcript[edit]We can be forgiven for saying that Washington's worry about hospital costs sounds a little hypocritical. The Department of H.E.W. has ordered the nations hospitals to adopt a new idea in accounting procedures. For a number of hospitals the start-up cost alone will amount to $100,000. For all of them it will require keeping two sets of books -- one for the hospital and one for H.E.W. Even without this, government regulations are adding considerably to the average hospital bill. A recent study in New York state found that regulations alone add $38.86 daily to the patients bill. While on the subject of H.E.W. That agency whose budget is third largest in the world (exceeded only by the National budgets of the United States and the Soviet Union) managed to lose an affirmative action plan from the University of Alabama three times. That took some doing since the report was the size of a New York phone book. When the university finally managed to get their plan to the proper desk at H.E.W. they were informed the regulations had been changed and they would have to submit a new plan. I know I've commented a number of times about our society's soft on crime attitude and suggested we should have more compassion for the criminals victims, Well here is an outstanding example of what I've been talking about. Virginia Annable's car was stolen a few months ago and driven out on the ice of Long Islands Great South Bay. There it was set on fire, Miss Annable found her burned out car but before she could do anything about getting it back it had sunk through the weakened ice, coming to rest on the bottom of the bay. Well it was an old klunker worth only about $400.00 - so end of story. Or is it? The Army Corps of Engineers has informed Miss Annable that her sunken car is a menace to navigation and must be removed from the bay. She will be billed for the removal which the Engineers say will cost $1,000.00. Now wouldn't you think some nice, sensible judge would rule that the criminal who stole the car is responsible and tell the Corps of Engineers to find him and collect their $1,000.00. On a happier note-- and I couldn't be happier than I am over England's new Prime Minister. It has been my privilege to meet and have two lengthy visits with Margaret Thatcher. I've been rooting for her to become Prime Minister since our first meeting. If anyone can remind England of the greatness it knew during those dangerous days in World War II when alone and unafraid her people fought the Battle of Britain it will be the Prime Minister the English press has already nicknamed "Maggie". I think she'll do some moving and shaking of England's once proud industrial capacity which under the Labor Party has been running down hill for a long time. Productivity levels in some industrial fields are lower than they were forty years ago. Output per man hour in many trades is only a third of what it was in the 1930's. Bricklayers for example laid 1,000 bricks a day in 1937 today they lay 300(ed.?). I think "Maggie" -- bless her soul, will do something about that. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening. |
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