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^ìortlanò (Observer
August 28, 2013
New Prices
Effective
May 1,2010
Martin
Cleaning
Service
ERjCAbl
vue;
WEAVTHy
PROTO
ABOVE AlzU
Carpet & Upholstery
Cleaning
Residential &
Commercial Services
Minimum Service CHG
$45.00
* w
/A - .
A sm all distance/travel charge
m ay be applied
CARPET CLEANING
2 Cleaning Areas or
more $30.00 Each Area
Pre-Spray Traffic Areas
(Includes: 1 small Hallway)
1 Cleaning Area (only)
$40.00
Includes Pre-Spray Traffic Area
(Hallway Extra)
Stairs (12-16 stairs - With
Other Services): $25.00
Area/Oriental Rugs.
$25.00Minimum
Area/Oriental Rugs (Wool):
$40.00Minimum
Heavily Soiled Area:
Additional $10.00 each area
(RequiringExtensivePre-Spraying)
UPHOLSTERY
CLEANING
Sofa: $69.00
Loveseat: $49.00
Sectional: $ 109 - $ 139
Chair or Recliner:
$25 - $49
Throw Pillows (With
Other Services): $5.00
ADDITIONAL
SERVICES
• Area & Oriental Rug
Cleaning
• Auto/Boat/RV Cleaning
• Deodorizing & Pet
Odor Treatment
5v
• Spot & Stain
Removal Service
• Scotchguard Protection
• Minor Water Damage
Services
SEE CURRENT FLYER
FOR ADDITIONAL
PRICES & SERVICES
Call for Appointment
(503) 281-3949
Health Industry Giants Geared to Profits
When the focus
is on making as
much money as
possible
W illiam A . C ollins
As the O bam a ad m in is­
tratio n struggles to keep
rolling out its landm ark Pa­
tient Protection and A fford­
able C are A ct am id partisan
squabbling, the sh o rtco m ­
ings o f A m erican health care are
m ore evident than ever.
O ur system is very different from
o th er countries: It’s w orse.
by
T he reason is sim ple. M ost n a­
tions focus on keeping people as
healthy as p ossible. E lsew here, the
gov ern m en t org an izes the system ,
and the providers — h ospitals, d oc­
tors, d ru g m ak ers, and insurance
co m p an ies — focus on
healing and prevention.
H e re,
th e
h e a lth
in d u stry ’s big players fo ­
cus on m aking as m uch
m oney as possible. The
p roviders devise the sys­
tem , m aking profits a high
priority.
Patients that c a n ’t co ntribute to
profit m argins are shunted o ff to
g o v ern m en t serv ices o r ignored,
E ven M ed icaid — a key part o f our
S
u
b
s
c
rib
e
!
□ U U d tllU C ’
503-288-0033
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safety net fo r the poor — im poses
restrictions, is rife w ith w aiting lists
an d faces b u d g et sh o rtfalls. In ­
creasin g ly , patients are grappling
w ith a shortage o f physicians w ill­
ing to play ball.
A s a re s u lt, A m e ric a n s d ie
y o u n g er than o ur counterparts in
o th er rich countries.
U nfortunately, the solution isn ’t
ro ck et science. W e ’re pretty good
at rocket science. It’s political sci­
ence at w hich w e ’re notoriously bad.
H ave you seen C ongress pass m any
b u d g et bills lately?
T h e single biggest im pedim ent is
the bizarre fact that one o f o ur m ajor
political parties has sw orn to u p ­
hold the rights o f the profiteers.
F ortunately, the m ain offenders
can be clearly labeled. C h ie f am ong
them are the health insurers and the
d ru g m anufacturers. Big Pharm a
w ields an arm y o f lobbyists and
adm inisters large doses o f cam paign
c o n trib u tio n s to th eir frien d s in
C o n g re ss.
B u t a t le a s t in s u r e r s a n d
d ru g m ak ers are clear-cut enem ies.
H ard er to deal w ith are o ur friends
— the hospitals, doctors, clinics,
etc. — w hom w e know personally.
It’s fun to have d in n er w ith them ,
but is that colo n o sco p y every five
years — o r that supplem ental “ju st
to be on the safe side” C A T scan —
really n ecessary?
The netw ork o f handshakes and
private agreem ents that links h o sp i­
tals to m edical device m anufactur­
ers and drug reps inflates our health
cost ju s t as m uch as the insurers
and Big Pharm a.
W hy should health care be so
profit-centered in A m erica?
In m ost countries, som e sort o f
universal and M edicare-like system
prevails, w ith equal coverage for
everyone. Som etim es individuals
pay in. S o m etim es it’s all done w ith
taxes. In som e places, the g o v ern ­
m ent ow ns the w hole w orks, w hile
in others, it contracts out. But in all
cases, there are careful lim its on
costs and enough health care for
ev ery o n e.
H e re , th e M e d ic a l-In d u s tria l
C om plex is A m erica’s biggest in ­
d u s try . O u r h e a lth la w s a re a
m inefield o f loopholes and special
privileges.
T he ideal solution isn ’t P resi­
dent B arack O b a m a ’s Patient P ro­
tection and A ffordable C are A ct,
w hich ju s t m akes o u r current sys­
tem a little bit less dysfunctional.
It’s a sin g le-p ay er system , such as
a M edicare for all.
Som ehow , this seem s im perative
to acquire but im possible to achieve.
OtherWords columnist William
A. Collins is a former state repre­
sentative and form er mayor o f
Norwalk, Conn.