A Tooth For The Killing ...The Finale

Let me begin by saying that I had not planned for this edition but circumstances have overtaken.





We left off the other day at the end of my most recent visit to my new Family Dentist at which time his hygienist applied a protective layer of something or other which would hopefully do away with the sensitivity of my tooth - you know, the second one in, on the Upper Left Hand Side of my mouth.





Sadly, it didn't work.





Another Brief Recap is probably in Order:

• It all began with a cleaning at my former Dentist's office;


• She noticed a cavity in my second molar in - on the Upper Left Hand Side;


• She prescribed a new Crown, a root canal, and finally a fix to the cavity,


• I told her that if she could not just fix the cavity, all she need do is pull the tooth;


• She was not at all happy but nonetheless sent me to a Specialist to "do some gum work" that would enable her to fill the cavity;


• Specialist did the gum work even though I strongly encouraged him to save us all time and money by pulling the tooth;


• I asked him if he could also do the needed filling but he said that he has never does them - so it was back to Former Family Dentist who fixed the cavity;
• Former Family Dentist fixes cavity although her heart was not in it;
• At this point I found a New Dentist - one that was closer to home and came with a smile;
• Again I went in for a cleaning at which time I pointed out to New Dentist that my Molar - second one in on the Top Left Hand Side - was bothering me (guess Former Dentist was right about the need for a root canal - but then again it could have been simply pulled);
• In any event, after some give and take and a draconian test with New Dentist and after suggesting that he too just pull the damn thing out - New Dentist decides that I need to go to a Dental Pain Specialist to determine the source of the pain - you know the pain that was originating in the root of my second Molar in ...;
• Pain Specialist Dentist takes all but 15 minutes to determine the pain's origin - my second Molar in on the Top Left Hand Side and charges $120 for his diagnosis but he allows that a gel can be applied to the source of the pain which has a 50% chance of success;
• Not surprisingly, he could not apply this gel himself so I am sent back to my New Dentist for this taxing 5 minute procedure;
• This work is done for free along with an admonition that I may still end up requiring the dreaded Root Canal.

Okay - we are now more or less back to the present.

I go home and a few days later realize that the 'gel' treatment has failed to alleviate the pain.

I then call the New Dentist's office and request the dreaded Root Canal.

New Dentist confirms that he does not do Root Canals and I am shipped off to another Specialist to have this fine work performed.

As I get into the Specialist's chair I foolishly inquire - without vigour - whether or not it is too late just to have the damn tooth pulled. She looked at me like I had to heads and quickly inserted the Novocain.

Work done - bill rendered - another $1,050 for 45 minutes work - I kid you not.

So the final tally - Dentists $2,050.00 // me - a new filling and a root canal and one damaged Crown.

Remember now, this is in addition to the initial $1,000 plus that was paid to have the initial Crown work done.

Next time they won't push me around...

As I see it..

'Galagher'

I'll Be Voting For The Towne Clown.

With two Elections coming up within the month; the US Congressionals and the Ontario Municipals, the time is ripe to consider who best to Elect.

For me, the olde tried and true is no longer a viable option.

Simply stated, the Professional Politician has failed miserably to look out for the interests of the humble Taxpayer.

When one says 'Taxpayer' one tends to think only of the poor slob who wrestles with his / her annual Income Tax Return but in truth, this has become only a portion of an individual's annual tax liability. Other Taxes, including Realty, HSTs, various User Fees, Hidden taxes on such things as Gas/Fags &Booze are now taking an ever increasing bite out of the growing tax revenue pie.

Plus more and more government services such as Hydro are going stratospheric to cover the airy fairy 'green costs'.

Let me be clear as well, I am not pointing solely at the individual politician in regard to this failure, in truth the major responsibility for the tax and spend orgy rests with their respective Leaderships. But that said, the individual politician has allowed this to happen by following blindly along.

I have flagged in past Blogs one particular area where any semblance of fiscal control has been totally lost for want of proper management and that is in regard to the Civil Service. And when I say civil service I am speaking about all those who receive their wages from tax revenues. This obviously includes the Politicians themselves plus their Bureaucrats but the ranks also include our teachers, our doctors, nurses, police, firemen, military and so on and so on.

Statistics show that the average civil servant is paid up to 40% more than his private sector counterpart and retires a good 10 to 15 years earlier, on an enhanced pension.

How did this come about you might ask?

For the sole sake of Harmony with the Civil Service Unions. Our Politicians have time and again solde out by awarding far too generous wage and pension settlements. As a result, taxes have continually risen and vital services have been crippled for lack of available funding.

In one particular Senate Race in Deleware, the Republican candidate is accused of being a Witch because she met with a Coven in her University days. (I seem to recall though that one of our former Prime Ministers motor cycled around the streets on Montreal wearing a Nazi Helmet which did not preclude for him electoral success). In any event, this lady - witch? - is backed by the Tea Partyers and is being condemned by both Republicans and Democrats alike. Indeed the GOP's senior strategist Karl Rove is on record in opposing his own candidate.

And why is that? I can tell you that it is not because of her minor fling with the occult during her school years, rather it all has to do with Power and more importantly the Loss of Power. Both main stream US Parties are fearful of losing their clout to the ordinary Jane and Joe via the success of the Tea Party.

I can also tell you that if I was an American living in Deleware, the Witch would get my vote since both she and her Tea Party Conferes stand for Smaller Government and less Taxation.

Turning to our own Municipal Election - I am indeed fortunate since all but one of the Candidates can be classed as a Towne Clown. The odd man out is the quintessential politician and sadly, the likely winner, Jim Watson and it is he that will not garner my vote.

Recently, I did read that a Towne Clown had in fact been elected to an office in some jurisdiction and I smiled in the knowledge that he or she could have counted on my vote, if I'd been there.

As I see it...

'Galagher'