The Problem with ‘Free’ Services

Elderly Australians Use Ambulances Responding to 911 Calls as Taxi to Shops Across From Sydney Hospital

Paramedics responding to emergency calls in Sydney are being used as de facto taxi drivers to local shops.

Older residents are the main offenders — using their pensioner entitlements to secure a free ride in an ambulance instead of paying a taxi fare to go shopping, ambulance sources have confirmed.

An ambulance ride to Mt Druitt Hospital costs $290, but the fee is waived for pensioners and other entitlement card holders.

Paramedics have watched in horror as patients miraculously recover from headaches and other feigned ailments to go shopping across the road.

“You get them to the emergency department and they walk out the door. They are the same patients, you know who is going to do it,” a source said.

“Once the ambulance (crew) has cleared paperwork, they leave and see the person crossing the road and going to the shopping center. An ambulance is an instant free taxi with a pension (entitlement) card.”

It’s funny how people abuse things that are free to them. It doesn’t matter how much it costs someone else. Nope. Not one bit. It’s all about me baby!

I was at the emergency room yesterday and one of the workers mentioned that it was quite popular for people to get drunk and claim they are suicidal. They come in and get examined and get waited on for a couple of days. Food, meds, the works. All on the taxpayers dime. Don’t you just love working to pay for these freeloaders!

This is why I’m against so much ‘free’ stuff. Let the ‘rich’ pay for it, right? That’s how it starts, but when the costs soar due to abuse, then they lower the level of ‘rich’. Eventually, you’ll be considered ‘rich’. ‘Free’ now may be nice, but it’ll catch up and it won’t be so nice.

Predictions!

Yes ladies and gents, it’s prediction time! And in no particular order…

1. Obama will pick a white female for VP. This will help him appear less focused on race and appeal to the women that are upset over losing Hillary.

2. McCain will pick a hispanic/black person for VP. Likewise, he’ll try to appeal to the minorities. It’s hard to tell if it would be a female or not. I’m leaning towards it being female.

3. If Obama gets elected, expect to see a lot more from the likes of Sharpton, Jackson, and Farrakhan.

4. If Obama doesn’t get elected, it’ll be because America is too racist, Republicans ‘stole’ the election, or some other right wing conspiracy.

5. If McCain gets elected, expect the anti-war party to get worse. As well as the other extremists.

6. If McCain doesn’t get elected, expect the anti-war party to complain more. After all, Obama will be getting more involved in Afghanistan and Africa. More war, more troops dying.

What are your predictions?

EDIT(7/31):

McCain veep talk turns to female candidates

Sen. John McCain’s growing popularity among women is fueling speculation about the possibility that he will select a female running mate, ripening talk about conservative favorite Sarah Palin, governor of Alaska, and former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, one of his top economic advisers.

Go Sarah go!!!