The following is from my friend's, Sifu Kam Lee, October newsletter. He is a very skilled Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and martial artist:

""The sages of antiquity did not treat those who were already sick; they instructed those who were not yet sick…" - Huangdi Neijing

It is recorded that the first emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang (259 BC-210 BC), who is credited for the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, established a health care system in which physicians could only accept payment or donations from patrons who were kept healthy and, vice versa, were not paid when someone fell ill.

This system remained in effect for centuries. The people of each village would provide shelter, food, clothing and money to the local physician for maintaining the health of the community. Physicians risked punishment or execution when someone died and were required to wear a mark for their failure. You could essentially see a physician’s track record before you chose to use their services!

In 1680 missionaries in China wrote, “Chinese physicians were flogged after treating members of the imperial family unsuccessfully. When subsequently summoned to treat another relative, the physicians performed better and were released, but they were ordered to wear a small chain around their necks as a warning.”

Now this is not as crazy as it seems. If you eat at a reputable restaurant and you do not like what you order, they won't charge you. If you buy clothing and decide you don't like it, you can return it. I actually put my money where my mouth is. I give a-no-questions-asked money back guarantee on my services. If you don't like what I've done for you, just tell me then and there and there is no charge to you!

Just imagine what the world would be like if you paid your doctor only to KEEP you well. If you paid your broker only when he made you money. I, for one, would pay more for this kind of service.

This kind of economy would go a long way in reducing mediocrity. I hate to say it; but, if I started to complain about mediocrity, I might be accused of being politically incorrect.

To be fair to all of the doctors out there, I recognize that if we are to penalize them for failure, we have the responsibility to follow their instructions on lifestyle. I suppose that will coalesce and galvanize all of the vice-industries, all of the the A+ personality lifestyle and over the top consumerism advocates and even the military industrial complex against me.

So be it. Let the games begin!