I cannot believe you seriously appealed to the poor state of China’s health care system as an attack on proposals for universal health care in the United States. I can scarcely think of a tactic that displays less intellectual honesty than that.

There are arguments to be made against universal health care, but implying, for instance, that the United States would no longer know how to sanitize instruments or use modern magnification tools if it were to have universal health care is entirely ludicrous. Do you really think that doctors in Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Germany, and the UK (just to name a few) practice medicine the same way the Chinese do?

MATT,

I stand by my comments. Socialized medicine allocates scarcity. Only free-market medicine provides meaningful incentives for innovation; and only free-market medicine improves automatically through market-induced competition. All medical systems including ours have issues. Never did I say or imply that those nations you mention allocated as little scarcity as China. However, visit the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale from late September through April and you will find the place packed — I mean packed — with Canadians seeking treatment other than what they receive at home under their socialized, government run system.

Keith

Hi Keith,

My husband John and I are enjoying your commentary regarding your travel down the Yangtze River. We took a Victoria Cruise Ship tour in June and were amazed by what we saw and experienced. We flew into Shanghai, toured that city and then flew to Yichang where we boarded our boat and began a 5 day river cruise. We visited the Three Gorges Dam site and went through the locks. We found the Three Gorges area to be beautiful even though most of our days on the river were rainy and overcast. We also boarded a smaller vessel that carried us through the picturesque Lesser gorges , along a tributary of the Yantze, the Danning River. The scenery was magnificient, but, we could relate to your comments regarding debris and dead animals floating down the river.

We visited Chongqing, Xian and Beijing and enjoyed our trip as we learned so much about the country, culture and Chinese people. We really came to appreciate “4 star” western bathrooms!

Thanks for sharing your experiences with all of us and safe travels to you, your family and crew,

Rolene and John Dinsdale
Program Listeners

ROLENE AND JOHN,

It appears you took the same trip, only in the opposite direction up river. Truer words were never spoken regarding bathrooms!

–Keith

Dear Keith,

I listened in pain this morning of your horrific account of your lost passport and visa. If Alan were not with you, you would still be standing in line.

Although you generously admitted blame, your travel agent should share some, as they did not properly prepare you.

I carry in my luggage a photocopy of the passport page with my picture, and four extra passport pictures, available for a replacement passport should mine get lost.

When I travel I carry three credit cards. Despite American Express advertising it is not accepted everyplace in the world. Therefore, my second card can be either a VISA or MasterCard.

My third card is stored safely in my luggage. Hopefully your wallet will not be stolen, but if so you have a back up credit card and it not the end of your trip.

Before I leave I make a photocopy of my three credit cards, drivers’ license, and put them with the photocopy of my passport in my luggage. I call each credit card Company and advise them of my travels. I also ask them for an International toll free telephone number in case I have to report them lost or stolen.

I have traveled to 18 countries, some more than once. I am well traveled, and have visited Australia, Bahamas, Canada, Cyprus, France, Greece, Ireland, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Scotland, Spain, Thailand, Ukraine, Vietnam, and Virgin Islands.

I just returned from eighteen days in Spain and Portugal. I did misplace my passport briefly, but since I am always prepared with extra photos it didn’t bother me.

Since all my travel involves airplanes, I carry around my neck a Nylon Pre-Board Organizer. The backside has a zippered pocket where I put my passport. There it is easily accessible to show Customs Officers, airline personnel, and at your hotel, when you check in.

Go to the below web site for item 9301

http://www.travelsmith.com/

Go to the below web site for items SV03 or LB904

http://www.magellans.com/

If you have one of these items your passport should always be in the same place every time you look for it.

Safe sailing

Loyal Sunday listener.

Gerald Boysen

GERALD,

You are clearly a far more accomplished traveler than am I! Thanks for the excellent advice. Hope you are able to catch the radio show via this site even as you travel!

–Keith

Great story about replacing your passport/visa in China. Now I know where the bureaucrats at the City of Tucson Department of Developmental Services (building permits) learned their trade. We call it the Department of Redundancy Department.

AL,

Very funny funny!

–Keith

Keith,
I could only catch a brief couple minutes of your July 15th program and heard you discussing the educational comparisons of China and the United States. You mentioned a few of the top tiered private schools here in Phoenix. With a young family I am anxious for the best possible education for my children. In your opinion, what are some of the better priviate schools in the Valley? Your program is great and quite unique in my opinion.

Thank you

DERICK,

I would not recommend one school over another since each child has different needs, but here is what I know: Rancho Salano on Greenway at 56th Street is excellent academically. Lot’s of homework. However, we pulled our boys from there because we were displeased with classroom facilities, the lack of boys overall in attendance (although this may have changed), and the attitude of some of the administrators and teachers. All that could easily have changed over the past few years, however. I mention Rancho because it is well worth a look.

Phoenix Country Day is very expensive, highly competitive, and as much a status symbol for the parents as for the kids. But I understand they are excellent academically.

Our boys attend 8th and 6th grade as Scottsdale Christian Academy, on Tatum just north or Thunderbird. We love the school and its sense of community. I must say it is probably not as academically challenging as Rancho; but then the boys don’t have three hours of homework assigned each night either, which we regard as a plus.

For high school, there are all these schools plus three excellent Catholic Schools: Brophy for boys and Xavier for girls downtown just south of Camelback on Central. My daughter went to Xavier. They are absolutely excellent schools. I’ve also heard that Notre Dame in North Scottsdale is doing an excellent job as well.

Sorry I don’t have the names of outstanding private schools in the east or west valleys. I’m sure there are several. Good luck!

–Keith