has anyone covered the NHS republican slander free healthcare for americans thing today?

[Tortington]

i cant find an existing thread is there one.

i been listenng to radio on the train - talk shows need to comment

But, what difference do you think a bunch of people who have no voting right are going to have in Congress? Congressman don't care what people who won't vote for him/her have to say. Just as Gordon Brown doesn't care that I think he's a twit.

And people on this thread have largely missed the American objection to socialised medicine. It isn't the part about free for all and avaliable on the basis of need. The huge objection is the part about it being run by the government. Governments are corrupt organisations. We don't trust them. Get away from our heathcare!

"Governments are corrupt organisations. We don't trust them. Get away from our heathcare! "

But a potentially corrupt / incompetent organisation you actually have power in, whereas the drug companies and the insurance companies are organisations you have absolutely no say in at all unless you are rich enough to have enough shares for them to care which way you vote them! In which case you don't need "free" health care anyway!

But I don't expect you to get that, because you have obviously made up your mind, and fair play to you, we do after all both live in democracies in which we are both allowed our opinions.

And I'm kind of with SWC on why do we care what Americans think of one of our institutions?

But, you are comparing the NHS or the Canadian system or Obama's plan to way things are now. Everyone agrees reform is needed. And everyone thinks the insurance companies and drug companies have too much power. The GOP agrees. But, they have a different plan that doesn't involve government control.

Generally speaking, the GOP opposes big government. They believe that the government exists to run only those things which cannot be run by private business (for example, the armed services). So the fact that the GOP opposes government control shouldn't really come as any surprise.

I'm confused, what it is that you think will be better about any corporation running your health care system than your government running it?

In my mind you still have the inherit issue of no say! I can influence my government how can I influence the private corporation?

I live in a democracy and wouldn't want to live in a dictatorship especially not if the dictator gets to decide on policy that one day my life might depend on.

The US needs a new healthcare policy and a system that will treat everyone. However they NHS they want is not necessarily the UK NHS.

Given the US approach to healthcare I'm proud of the UK system. However, the care could be better if better managed. Is it not the largest employer in Europe - but it certainly doesn't support the largest population in Europe so something doesn't add up here.

I think Leone's experience of US healthcare is awful. My dad had thyroid cancer and was admitted for treament two days after diagnosis - well but not over treated - he then got it again a year later and so second gland removed and treated and he's been on thyroxin now for over 25 years to ensure he remains in remission. All free. He's alive and well and at the age of 70 still has regular checks and I also get the same checks to make sure I don't have it- all free. We're all grateful.

Why do americans think that anything that involves a degree of care for others means communists. I really don't believe the UK to be a commie country and look at france - they ensure that people who use their health service the most pay a bit more for it and they are far more socialist than the UK.

Don't think Obama can win this one.

"Why do americans think that anything that involves a degree of care for others means communists. "

Again, it's the part about government control, not the part about access for all.

Yep understand that love but don't understand that it's then preferable to have millions of your population (pretty much the population of small countries) without adequate, 'first world' standard healthcare and a disgraceful child morality rate.

A wish not to have a nanny state does not make people free. Oh except to be as shit poor as you want and the freedom not to have any money for healthcare.

I don't think alien is a nice word for people who don't have the right papers to be in a country. Suggests extraterrestial rather than a member of the human race.

What? Did you just call me "love"?

Alien: " relating, belonging, or owing allegiance to another country or government"

I don't know what is offensive about that. But, if there is another word that means the same thing then by all means tell me what it is and I shall gladly use it to appease you.