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A Linux dev who helped thousands needs help to fight cancer

linuxlock.blogspot.it

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Re: A Linux dev who helped thousands needs help to fight cancer

#11

Post by eric_bullington »

I just donated $50. And as much as I agree with the sentiments on this page about my country's lacking health care system (and have always voted with this in mind), I hope we can come together to focus on the problem at hand, which is raising money for a fellow dev in his time of greatest need. I assume the Indiegogo account cannot be suspended as easily as Paypal, so I made the donation through Indiegogo despite the slightly higher service fee.

EDIT: Here's the link for the Indiegogo campaign: http://www.indiegogo.com/helios

Re: A Linux dev who helped thousands needs help to fight cancer

#12

Post by mtrn »

gambiting wrote: post #6

Say whatever you like about EU, but I can't think of any country here that would not help this man, or let him die simply because he can't afford surgery. In the worst possible case he would still have the surgery done straight away ,but he would have to pay afterwards,not before - he might end up in debt because of that,but better than being dead for sure. Anyway, donated some money, really wish he gets all the help…

* Germany: In 2005, Germany spent 10.7% of GDP on health care, or US$3,628 per capita. Germany has Europe's oldest universal health care insurance system, with origins dating back to Otto von Bismarck's Social legislation, which included the Health Insurance Bill of 1883, Accident Insurance Bill of 1884, and Old Age and Disability Insurance Bill of 1889.

* US: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the United States spent more on health care per capita ($7,146), and more on health care as percentage of its GDP (15.2%), than any other nation in 2008. The United States had the fourth highest level of government health care spending per capita ($3,426).

Source:

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_Germany

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_the_United_States

Re: A Linux dev who helped thousands needs help to fight cancer

#13

Post by shirro »

It isn't like a health safety net even has to be all that expensive. A good mixed system looks after the poorest people and everyone else is encouraged (with tax penalties etc) to have private health insurance. In a wealthy country hardly anyone should be poor or unemployed anyway so the costs aren't that great. The US is a triumph of ideology over common sense.

Re: A Linux dev who helped thousands needs help to fight cancer

#14

Post by gambiting »

mtrn wrote: post #12
gambiting wrote: post #6

Say whatever you like about EU, but I can't think of any country here that would not help this man, or let him die simply because he can't afford surgery. In the worst possible case he would still have the surgery done straight away ,but he would have to pay afterwards,not before - he might end up in debt because of that,but better than being dead for sure. Anyway, donated some money, really wish he gets all the help…

* Germany: In 2005, Germany spent 10.7% of GDP on health care, or US$3,628 per capita. Germany has Europe's oldest universal health care insurance system, with origins dating back to Otto von Bismarck's Social legislation, which included the Health Insurance Bill of 1883, Accident Insurance Bill of 1884, and Old Age and Disability Insurance Bill of 1889. * US: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Uni…

Yet I am sure that this man would never ever be in a situation like this, had it happened in Germany. I know how it's like in EU - if an operation is life-saving they always do it first,then ask for the money, not the other way around, as it seems to be in the US.

Re: A Linux dev who helped thousands needs help to fight cancer

#15

Post by [deleted] »

mtrn wrote: post #12
gambiting wrote: post #6

Say whatever you like about EU, but I can't think of any country here that would not help this man, or let him die simply because he can't afford surgery. In the worst possible case he would still have the surgery done straight away ,but he would have to pay afterwards,not before - he might end up in debt because of that,but better than being dead for sure. Anyway, donated some money, really wish he gets all the help…

* Germany: In 2005, Germany spent 10.7% of GDP on health care, or US$3,628 per capita. Germany has Europe's oldest universal health care insurance system, with origins dating back to Otto von Bismarck's Social legislation, which included the Health Insurance Bill of 1883, Accident Insurance Bill of 1884, and Old Age and Disability Insurance Bill of 1889. * US: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the Uni…

[deleted]

Re: A Linux dev who helped thousands needs help to fight cancer

#16

Post by FiloSottile »

eric_bullington wrote: post #11

I just donated $50. And as much as I agree with the sentiments on this page about my country's lacking health care system (and have always voted with this in mind), I hope we can come together to focus on the problem at hand, which is raising money for a fellow dev in his time of greatest need. I assume the Indiegogo account cannot be suspended as easily as Paypal, so I made the donation through Indiegogo despite the…

I think that developers as we are, we could just offer our apps or services for IndieGoGo perks! Also, I already see the Reddit cross-post, but I am sure everyone here can think to a still not touched community (even niche) or mailing-list.

Re: A Linux dev who helped thousands needs help to fight cancer

#17

Post by marquis »

I just donated via Paypal given the comments about the 9% vs Paypal fees. However it got me thinking from reading the indiegogo site:

"The cost just to book the OR for Ken's surgery is $50,000, and that doesn't include the surgery itself, nor any post-op medical expenses."

What is the total cost of expenses, or is that unknown? Knowing how much is needed would possibly help raise more funds.

Re: A Linux dev who helped thousands needs help to fight cancer

#20

Post by Peaker »

FiloSottile wrote: post #5
callmesocialist wrote: post #4

I still question the lack of healthcare in a developed nation.

Yeah, in a nation like USA (or actually anywhere, but let's be realistic) no one should die because they can't afford a standard treatment. I am from Italy and the first times I couldn't believe it.

According to the movie "Sicko", the doctors working in the Health Maintenance Organizations are being told: "You are not preventing care, you are preventing payment" as they are encouraged to deny as many requests as they can.
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