The Rural Voice, 1979-09, Page 23A Matter of Principle
by J. Carl Hemingway
Filling teeth and feeding the world
The election has been over for some time and there doesn't
seem to be much difference. Retail prices seem to be continually
increasing and we have the usual strikes for higher wages and
interest. Since parliament hasn't been called, I suppose we are
being governed by Order -in -Council and don't know much about
what is being done.
Reports on our economic standing, the Canadian dollar, and
gold have been going up and down like a bunch of yo-yos.
Strikes are being settled by arbitration at $10. per hour while
the rate for unorganized labour doing the same kind of job
remains at under $4. per hour while we merrily talk about equal
pay for equal work.
Just recently one of m y front teeth showed its age and broke
off. I give it due credit for serving one well for many years even
though I had it "filled" two or three times.
I went to the dentist hoping to get an addition to my partial
plate. However he told me he could do a better job and cheaper.
The "cheaper" rang a bell and I let him go ahead without getting
the price.
He drilled three holes in the root and built up a base for the
"cap" tooth. He then took an impression and told me to come
back later to have the cap put on.
A week or so later on a Thursday I went back and had the cap
put on. It looked good and felt fine. The following Sunday I was
having breakfast;when I took a bite of toast the cap fell out on the
table.
The bill had been $219.00 for one tooth and Tess than 2 hours of
the dentist's time.
I started figuring what that tooth really cost me as a feeder of
market hogs.
First I would have to buy 40 feeder pigs which at that time
would have cost at least $50. each = $2,000. Feed and overhead
would cost about the same for a total of $4,000. investment.
Besides I would have to feed and care for those 40 pigs for an
average of about three months.
If I were lucky over the last six months I just might have had
$5. per pig labour income which would almost pay the bill.
I don't know how much the cap which was billed at $200. cost.
It was called "gold" but certainly not yellow gold which means it
was an alloy of some kind.
I don't know where the money went. I imagine the impression
went to a denturist as the dentist said the "cap" would have to
be made. In that case the $200. for the cap went to the dentist,
the denturist and for material. I don't know whether the price is
fair or not. I do know I can't afford to pay that much for a tooth
and remain a farmer.
1 must admit that the dentist did put the cap on the second
time but absolutely refused to give me any guarantee that it
would be any more satisfactory than the first time.
The point I am trying to make is that we must somehow,
develop a more equitable system of payment for service
rendered.
Just remember that if the suppliers of food disappear there
will be an awful lot of people we won't need.
If farmers are forced to go back to "horse -power" as was
suggested in a recent article in "The Voice" food production will
immediately drop by one third - that is if we can find the horses.
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THE RURAL VOICE/SEPTEMBER 1979 PG. 21