to feel for the USA under Trump at the moment

[chomalungma]

I know that there are divisions here. Johnson could have done better. But our briefings aren't political and generally everyone is working together.

Anyone who is following Trump and the USA at the moment will know that division is rife in the USA. Trump is still talking about fake news and is using his briefings as a rally.

I just feel for people in the USA at the moment having to deal with all this as well as the virus.

i also can’t wait for Trump to be gone. The thought that he will probably be re-elected makes me want to scream and then cry.

We have gin distilleries here doing the same Hush. No America bashing from me. Although I would like to know where Dr Fauci is. I don't think we should sound so smug whilst pointing and staring at Trump. Yes, he's barking but let's face it we in the UK haven't exactly got this situation cracked either.

We will have to disagree. I think the NHS gives average healthcare to everyone while the US has excellent healthcare in most places, though admittedly substandard in rural or remote areas. It could be better for sure, but if something serious happens to me, you’d better believe I’d fly back home ( well not now obvs ) and get proper care.

Anyone who would want an epidural or c-section could get it in the US; likewise an HRT shortage is unheard of.

I’ve reread the thread and chomalungma’s right-there’s no bashing. I think I was reacting to the “they’ll get what they deserve” comment.

if something serious happens to me, you’d better believe I’d fly back home ( well not now obvs ) and get proper care.

Define serious and proper care.
And how would you pay for it?

Although I would like to know where Dr Fauci is. I don't think we should sound so smug whilst pointing and staring at Trump. Yes, he's barking but let's face it we in the UK haven't exactly got this situation cracked either.

Dr Fauci is great
There is a noticeable difference in the press attitudes - few follow up questions in the UK and a lot more friendliness on both sides - you can see how Boris Johnson knows the journalists.

Not sure if that is a good thing - the PM and his team aren't pressed.

@Hushpuppy1

I’ve reread the thread and chomalungma’s right-there’s no bashing. I think I was reacting to the “they’ll get what they deserve” comment

Thanks - I love the USA and I know that we are more similar than we are different. It's just Trump and what he's doing

Hellotomekitty - The point is that everyone can get health care, no matter who you are or where you live be it rural or in a city. No matter what your opinion of our health service is, if you feel it's not up to your standard you can easily go private here too and that offering is maybe what you should be comparing with yours in the US.

I'm just here to say hi to other mid westerners and Brits in the US.

And after over a decade of living here, I don't think there's much to choose between UK and US medicine. They are both highly flawed, but in different ways.

@DetroitLake luckily we're in St Louis which has mandated everything close bar drive thru and take out as have the other large cities. I feel like the places that have dragged their heels compromise everywhere else though, especially when people from rural areas will have to travel to the cities for testing and treatment.

The Cards are a great team. I never made it out that way, but spent time in the Midwest.
I'm glad you are feeling as safe as possible. All of this has been done on the fly, I guess. We are at the mercy of underfunded people who didn't take it seriously enough, early enough. That, plus the job losses have really hurt people.
Stay safe. I'm around if you ever need support.

Chicago has its problems but I feel as safe as my family in the UK.
Neither options feel great but I wouldn't swap countries just now.
Hope countries on both side of the Atlantic come out as well as possible.

Trump makes Johnson look like a frigging genius (and I’m not a fan of his either). Every time Trump opens his mouth I start cringing before the first word is out. Maybe he should spend more time on his speeches than tweeting.

If you read the OP you will see that she says she really feels for the USA right now, so not a USA bashing thread at all - actually the opposite

Hope you all keep well in the U.S.

Not USA-bashing, just horror for Americans without health insurance, or massive copays

A child in the US with COVID died because of no health insurance

He had no health conditions - but having no insurance sounds like a v serious health condition there

https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/17-year-old-dies-coronavirus-California-Lancaster-15161761.php

A 17-year-old Southern California boy who tested positive for coronavirus and died this week didn't have health insurance and was denied care at an urgent care center,
according to the mayor of Lancaster.

Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris confirmed the boy's death in a YouTube video posted Wednesday
and said the urgent care facility referred him to the local public hospital.
Hospitals cannot refuse treatment over payment in their emergency departments.

"En route to AV Hospital, he went into cardiac arrest,"
the mayor said. "They were able to revive him and keep him alive for about six hours.
But by the time he got there, it was too late."

Parris emphasized the need to practice social distancing and keep kids and teenagers home.
He said the incident is a reminder that once a coronavirus patient goes into respiratory issues and has trouble breathing and a fever,
it's important to call a doctor immediately.

"He'd been sick for a few days.
He had no previous health conditions," the mayor said.
"The Friday before he died, he was healthy.
He was socializing with his friends. By Wednesday, he was dead."

I am alive because of the NHS. Cardiac arrest plus other interventions and pacemaker. If it weren’t for the NHS I literally wouldn’t be here now.

Whenever we’ve talked about going on holiday at some point in the future the US is the last place I’d visit precisely because of access to healthcare should I fall seriously ill, or should I say because of the lack of ability to pay for healthcare even with some insurances which incidentally cost the earth.

As for that quote, ok it was fake news, but the fact so many people spread it without actually checking that shows just how plausible it is that trump could have said it.

usually most would check, but let’s face it, it’s perfectly within his reputation to have said that. Added to which the fact he brands everything outrageous he says as “fake news” regardless of there being proof he said it, leads to people just rolling their eyes when someone calls something trump said “fake news.” Because invariably, it isn’t.

Yes Trump is an idiot and has done a lot of horrible things during this Pandemic. But as far as him saying "The churches filled by Easter..." He can spout that all he wants but he has ZERO powers to make that happen. As previously state the Governors of each State are in charge of things like that. Most states have a Governor who knows what they are doing, and they are protecting their citizens the best they can. I'm so grateful I live in one of those States. I fear for the people who live in states like Florida and Mississippi, their Governors are complete idiots just like Trump.

I also wanted to add that people talking about losing your job and insurance. The Plan that just passed offers loans to businesses to help them cover their costs, including to keep paying their employees. Any business that takes one of these loans and keeps their employees on the payroll will have that loan turned into a Grant (meaning it will not have to be repaid). Also they have increased unemployment payments so people will collect the same amount they had made before losing their job.

Also sneaking in here to say Hi to other US Brits. We are in western WA. Fwiw we had the first cases and first deaths in the USA and although our governor has been slower to lock us down than other states (and has been pilloried for it), our case and death rate are rising much more slowly than other places. Trump hates our governor with a passion (called him a snake and reportedly told Pence not to deal with him). I'm just very glad that we have excellent government at pretty much every level between us and Trump, our city, county and state governments have taken this seriously at every turn

Thanks Rootbeer, my friend in NYC was waiting for that bill to be passed and will be applying for a loan for her business

Yes I’d be worried his non relationship with truth, electioneering and lack of healthcare.

Couldn’t agree more! I’ve never liked Boris but at least he’s done something and tried, even if it was delayed and a bit shit.

Trump is just so beyond awful

USA healthcare, the only healthcare in the world to actually create a new strain of TB.

A fantastic system that had to start paying people to take antibiotics as well as give the antibiotics for free.

A system where a patient with suspected SARS got a taxi from his Dr's office to a hospital because he couldn't afford an ambulance.

No system is perfect but the US system is unique in the way it isn't a system.

BigChocFrenzy

That clinic will get sued, for sure. They aren’t supposed to turn people away and seventeen year olds typically are insured through their parents and don’t have their own insurance.

Although I think an urgent care center isn’t the same as an ER, so they can turn people away? I also think you are not supposed to go to urgent care with life-threatening illnesses, I’m actually not sure on this point.

But then, we could also cite the case of that 30-something woman who died from coronavirus complications because paramedics refused to take her because they didn’t think she was a priority. This would equally horrify Americans. Will those medics get sued for their negligence?

www.nypost.com/2020/03/26/36-year-old-british-mom-dies-from-coronavirus-after-paramedics-refused-her

This all to say that different systems have pros and cons. Honestly prefer the US system but I can understand if you prefer the NHS model. But don’t pretend there aren’t serious downsides to that approach.

It's unfortunate, but I always sense a certain amount of envy when Brits discuss America and look to score unnecessary points - the American health care system being seen as an easy target.

As a Brit living in Britain I love and support the concept behind the NHS. But there is so much to admire about the US in general, that it really belittles us to constantly try and identify its weaknesses.

KonTikki what do you admire?