@ivykaty44 I agree the lack of union support is a major factor re poor employee and associated rights.
As well as the corruption angle, they also see this as socialist which is the premise of the thread and we know they mistrust anything remotely socialist - while in my opinion not really understanding what socialism is. They're far too quick to equate it with communism without understanding the nuances.
@Peregrina Yes USA actions in the Cold War seem very played down to me, it's very obvious in film and tv even set at the time of the Cold War but the stuff made at the time pertaining to it borders on propaganda!
@user1471565182 I agree the puritans had their faults (understatement!) as do most population groups especially where religion is involved, but I think at the time they emigrated they did feel they were being persecuted BUT it was persecution largely of their own making, being more of a "backlash" situation, with primarily non separatist c of e followers disagreeing with the puritans extremism, not to mention catholics fighting to not be criminalised etc and tensions were running extremely high in England! Remember this was the time of the civil war, Guy Fawkes and parliament being dissolved at the whim of a hubristic king etc
The people concerned may all have been "Christians" but they saw themselves as widely differing in beliefs as we perhaps now view the differences between Christianity, Judaism and islam which some followers claim to be completely separate unconnected religions but they are all connected in a variety of ways.
I have wondered at times if this is at least partly the root of the fears certain white Americans have regarding non whites achieving significant positions of power. The fear of the oppressed becoming oppressor.
Its paid for through National Insurance payments
It's not solely paid for this way hasn't been for ages, it's funded through multiple taxation sources.
Personally I think it should be NI only and ring fenced which would mean NI Is increased but it is really low at the moment 12% at the moment? As the base rate I mean though it's more complex than that in reality.
I'm thinking USA workers pay a lot more than that for healthcare!
A quick google suggests a MINIMUM of 20% of pay? Any USA experienced posters able to guide on this?
USA health insurance is 3x that of an average NI payment from a n average wage. wow that's a huge difference!
I Believe also that this doesn't include what they call "out of pocket" payments which again quick google looks to be around $1400 per annum per person? And varies depending on insurer?
And that's IF you can get insurance plus of course the lovely "pre existing conditions are not covered" nonsense!
As someone who is disabled with multiple health issues I am absolutely terrified at the mere thought of the Uk even moving TOWARDS a USA style system. Basically I'd likely be dead in 6 months!
To those who said they had conversations with Americans in USA on the subject, did it not occur to you to tell them that our system is
A cheaper per person (surely this would appeal to their individualist stance?)
B not subject to pre approval by actuaries/accountants and similar rather than hcps
C generally much fairer than theirs
???
That's what I'd have said
As for "paying for something I don't use every day" well they're doing that anyway! Assuming they're currently in good health and not on any daily meds? (Which ime is incredibly rare especially as people get older)
I wonder how we compare to Australian culture - I often imagine that as halfway between American and Western European I have family in Australia and New Zealand.
NZ tends to a more Northern European style of culture and Australia is more influenced by Asian culture than I think many in Uk or USA realise. Again you have to consider the geographical location. It may have been "settled" by white folk but it's far closer to the cultural influences of its indigenous people and those of south east Asia than it is to British culture in particular.