The Official Nonsense Thread

[Minty]

With you Caspin on the NHS - for all its flaws I cannot understand how anyone in a developed nation would put up with any government that didn't have the proper provisions in place to safeguard ALL its citizens from ill health.

I've heard about people that have worked hard all their lives losing their homes because one of their children was seriously ill & once the insurance refused any more to pay out, that was it. US Presidents are big on the old "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country", but politicians there seem to do precious little for the people there.

Re. Muslims & insurance - it's a general opt out for anyone on religious grounds, but they have to apply for it. Some religious ultras tried that one in Britain over National Insurance, car insurance, & so on & were sent packing. Technically it's true that insurance is a form of gambling in reverse - a bet you hope you don't "win" - but it's impossible to benefit (in theory) from an insurance claim as you'll only get back the value insured, which means it doesn't qualify as gambling in the strict sense as you can't make a profit from it.

The first actual known example of insurance was a compulsory national insurance scheme invented by the ancient Persians empire around 700 BC!

Poor Ollie - I hope you get something sorted soon.

Hello Gothika - did you get the general e-mail I sent out to everyone last night (come to think of it, can anyone confirm they got a copy? Still don't trust that automated system!)