Is This a Hospital or a Hotel?

New York Times ^ | 9/21/2013 | Elisabeth Rosenthal

[dfwgator]

No, “hôtel” is french for “hostel”. hôpital is “hospital”.

It's like those French have a different word for everything.

[sportutegrl]

Well, what’s up with the Hotel Dieu? I had a friend that had back surgery there.

[ClearCase_guy]

I suppose I didn't make myself clear. My comment was intended to focus on government involvement in society and the economy. I think it's gone too far.

It is generally agreed that college tuition goes up faster than inflation because the federal government keeps pumping money into the system so that "deserving" people can go. They can't pay -- so I get to pay for them. I don't see a whole lot of choice there, since the IRS has a gun to my head.

Look at Obamacare. Lots of federal involvement in health insurance right? And now companies are droppin g coverage for people. And prices are going up. The government is giving healthcare to "deserving" people. They can't pay -- so I get to pay for them. I don't see a whole lot of choice there, since the IRS has a gun to my head.

How's this for an idea: you pay for what you get, and I pay for what I get. I like that.

But government is "paying" for everybody now, and the colleges get nicer and the hospitals get nicer too. I look at that and say "We screwed ourselves. We wanted a free lunch. Now we're slaves."

And you call me an Obama supporter for feeling like that. Really?

[JoeTheGeorgian]

Good question. Probably because it started as a catholic charity? As per wikipedia: “Like many hospitals of that era, it started as a general institution catering for the poor and sick, offering food and shelter in addition to medical care”