If there is any one aspect in our society functions that I want socialization and fair prices for all in this country,...its medicine... On the issue of medicine alone, you can call me far left or whatever it takes to take care of everyone price-wise. I know it may not be reality (whichever political side is elected the next President)...Something to look into further I will agree...
My girlfriend has never complained about the Swedish healthcare system but routinely says how ridiculous ours is. While the Swedish system isn't perfect, its a hell of a lot better than the bull**** we have here in the States. I think it is ridiculous to say that all you have to do is get a job to have health insurance. What about contractors? What about self employed people? Retired people? Children? Everyone should have access to health care.
ive met many who are very happy with it. i also know people who have lived here and in europe/canada/ect and they are almost always more happy w/ the "socialist" model. im self employed and only started getting health insurance about a year ago. in that time it has gone from $90/month to $160/month. if it goes up again im probably going to drop coverage. i like to live on the edge (of financial ruin)!
skill wise, the US has a great healthcare system. But financially it is a mess. I dont like the idea of socialized healthcare, but thats probably what we are headed too. At least a form of that.
I've spent a fair amount of time in Canada and talked specifically about healthcare with Canadians living in Canada, Americans living in Canada, and Canadians living in the U.S. Not one of them preferred the U.S. system to Canadian universal healthcare. One of the huge benefits of a universal healthcare system that you don't see discussed much is the freedom it provides for individuals. In a universal system you have much more freedom to switch jobs or live whereever you want without having to worry about employer provided healthcare or being denied coverage with a new plan because of a pre-existing condition. If they understood this I think Americans living in rural areas would find this very attractive because it would make it less likely that they have to leave their community find a job the provides health insurance. A universal system would also take the burden of providing and administering health plans off of small business owners, which would be a boon to entrepreneurship. And putting all that aside, it's just a moral question. In the wealthiest, most powerful nation on earth, no one should go without adequate healthcare because they can't afford it. In Maryland, where I live, we recently had a case where a young boy died from a brain infection caused by a tooth abcess, when the condition went untreated because his mother couldn't find a dentist who would accept Medicaid. That is completely unacceptable.
this is where it begins and ends with me. i agree with you..it's a moral question. i'm assuming a case like this is where the emergency room treatment would fail the patient. because it's not urgent until it's too late. correct??
From the wiki: The new deal on the pipeline was signed on 27 December 2002 by the leaders of Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan and in 2005 Asian Development Bank submitted the final version of feasibility study designed by British company Penspen. Since the United States military overthrew the Taliban government the project has essentially stalled; construction of the Turkmen part was supposed to start in 2006, but the overall feasibility is questionable since the southern part of the Afghan section runs through territory which continues to be under de facto Taliban control. So yes...that part of the movie has not come true. I guess ol' Dubya should have kept the Taliban in power and invited them to the ranch a little more often!
Correct. And here's the kicker. When the problem was finally recognized the boy underwent two surgeries, to the tune of more than $200,000. A simple tooth extraction performed in time would have taken care of the problem. His name was Deamonte Driver. His case was widely reported and you can easily find information on it.
Have you travelled in Europe, much? Most Euros don't visit the US. Your sample could be skewed. Also the key question is whether they prefer it to our system-- if they are knowledgeabe enough to compare. Who doesen't have at least some complaints about the US system? I have literally talked to thousands of Americans in my years as a lawyer who do not have any health insurance at all. They are in the minority, roughly 20%, who have no insurance at all. Many others cannot afford what are for them expensive co-pays or the price of their drugs. So it is not like everyone is pleased with the US system. I have two good friends who are family physicians, one has no health insurance for the family, due to an uninsurable spouse,the other went years without insurance due to a disabled child, until his spouse was able to snag insurance through employment with a corporation that had the clout to do it. I think the answer in the short run is to let anybody buy into (or if poor give it to them) Medicare at cost. This would use Medicare with its mere 2% administrative costs a chance to give the private insurance system with its hundreds of competing forms, extensive wasteful private bureaucracies devoted to advertising, accounting and screening out the unprofitable sick, competition. Using the desire of taxpayers to keep their taxes down would also be a good brake on gouging by big pharmaceuticals.
it means that even if i applaud your honesty, i find it hard to believe you want to admit for all to see that you have no moral compass.
and your lecturing him about morals? nice. he has a more naturalistic point of view. sink or swim. You cant save everyone.
