How will Republicans view the Olympics salute to National Health Care?

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   pagesvoiceposted 11 years ago

   How will Republicans view the Olympics salute to National Health Care?
   
   Obviously the United Kingdom loves their National Health Care. Doctors and nurses made a stellar performance in the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. So, how will another country's love for socialized medicine play out with the republicans and FOX News in the USA?

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   A K Turnerposted 11 years ago

   we do, we do, my brother was ill yesterday, took him down  doctors for free, then got free meds from the doc, i love it, but i think in truth it is unsustainable. i think with the american budget sky high i think it is more of an ideal, and another drain on the government budget

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      pagesvoiceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I appreciate your Birdseye view and candidness. Interestingly the World Health Org. rates Britain at 18th vs. the USA at 37th  in health care systems. You beat us in life expectancy and infant mortality rates as well.

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   SassySue1963posted 11 years ago

   They can love their National Health Care. They pay through the nose for it. Most will tell you they don't but that's because much of it is taken out of gross pay before they even get their check. I'd rather keep more of my own money and choose how it's spent than pay the government to make those decisions for me. The government, any and not just the US government, has shown over and over that they do not know how to be frugal with the citizens' money nor spend it wisely.

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      ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      have you talked to most brits? If that were the case they would have worked to overthrow their NHS and it appears to me they celebrate it.

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      Ken Sturmerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Until you find yourself in need of medical attention.  Then you will cry about how you are being discriminated against, because you are not poor!

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      SassySue1963posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      @ChristinS In 2009, they paid approximately 2000 pounds each man, woman and child. Plus, they pay value added taxes on goods nationwide. These are just facts and you can find them easily on the internet. Most were born into it; they know nothing else

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      ChristinSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      In 2004,  the cost of uncompensated care for the uninsured was estimated to be around $41 billion - tax payers bear that burden, so we pay too, because we've never known anything different.

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      Volitansposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I'd much rather pay 2000 pounds a year and get the treatment that the Brits get than what I do now. Through my employer, I pay $7200 a year for health insurance - and I still have to pay $50-$300 each visit for routine preventive care.

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      SassySue1963posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      They also pay value added taxes. Check the price of goods there compared to here. And that isn't $2800 pounds per family, that is 2800 pounds PER family member, including children.

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   ChristinSposted 11 years ago

   They will find a way to spin it as "propaganda" and not true feelings of the people.  In my eyes, if it was so awful - we'd hear their citizens in an uproar about it, trying to have it overthrown for our system.  Funny I don't see that happening - so in my mind, this means the British actually like having a system of medicine that works for everyone.  We pay out the nose already for the uninsured - I wish more people would be rational and logical.  Hospitals write off those debts and tax payers fund it already - Private insurance companies raise rates through the roof because no one is regulating them properly.  I have never understood why the basic human right of health needs to be a for-profit deal.  There are plenty of countries with socialized medicine who have a much healthier population than we do.  I suspect Fox etc. won't want facts to inconvenience their position though.

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      A K Turnerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      remember there is only only party, the capitalists, that is why, very sad though. I do agree health insurance should only be for micro profits, I do not think a man should pay 10K to have his finger reattached, that is disgusting.

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      SassySue1963posted 11 years agoin reply to this

      No, they've created an entitlement society. If you try to take away what they consider "free" they get in an uproar. They pay value added taxes on almost all goods, check the prices for things versus here.

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   Uninvited Writerposted 11 years ago

   Actually, it was more a tribute to that one hospital. But, people in the UK defend the NHS regardless of any problems.

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      pagesvoiceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Every system has kinks. Isn't it better for all to be treated equally, than let's say Dick Cheney receiving the absolute best care imaginable, over the part-time school bus driver in charge of transporting our children?

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   Prakash Digheposted 11 years ago

   Should we really care about what Fox News plays out on UK's NHS? Our health care system has been unregulated and been privately run all these years - has it resulted in lowering costs, improving our health and are people generally satisfied with what's available? We score very poorly on all these points. Why then grudge the brits for their system which has stood the test of time and with which they are satisfied?

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      pagesvoiceposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I don't personally care what Fox says because they are an unbelievable source of information. I've had many conversations with Canadians and those in the U.K. and so far I haven't found one that would trade medical plans with us.

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   brakel2posted 11 years ago

   Does anybody care what others think? Good and bad exists in NHC. In the US, there aren't enough doctors for.the plan. Somehow the kinks will work themselves out. Fox News and political parties will move on to other items eventually. If we can avoid going broke and people get healthier, maybe  it will have been worth it. I have a friend who makes public places turn off Fox News. lol

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   LandmarkWealthposted 11 years ago

   My wife lived there for years and the notion that they love it is somewhat a fallacy.  Anyone who can afford to, which is not many, buys their own private insurance.  The younger segment of the population love it because it's free and they rarely need to utilize services.  The elderly however are routinely denied needed services by the rationing bodies.  The problem is the those in need are in the minority, so there is little chance of democratic change.  I always find this debate interesting.  With all of our flaws in our system, we lead the world in survival rate of the treatment of virtually every major disease, from cancer to heart disease, AIDS treatment etc. Anywhere else in the world you're statistically more likely to die.
   
   Our problem in our health care system is an economic one in terms of cost, not quality.  The notion that the Gov't can bring down cost without quality suffering has never worked anywhere in any industry.  Since the creation of Medicare in 1965 costs have skyrocketed in a disproportionate ration to overal inflation.  Yet things like cosmetic surgery which have virtually no gov't or private insurance connections have become, more advanced, more available to the general public and less expensive. And in most cases the patient deals with the Dr directly with no third party involved.

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