National Health Insurance Now, Not Later

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Girona,

Good luck to your father during and after his surgery. I hope everything goes perfectly well and his recovery is quick and uneventful. Safe travels.

[rebeccajo 14]

........ If the joke of national freeloader health care ever happens then the employers will stop offering it. .......

Oh wow.

That was harsh.

Gary, how in the WORLD could you call a system that would provide for EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN by a name like that? Is it your perception that if one isn't fortunate enough in America to have insurance paid for by their employer and they have to seek assistance from the State, that this is freeloading?

Do you realize just HOW many Americans have no coverage? Working Americans who have jobs, but not good enough jobs where they receive insurance. Honest, hard-working people who just don't live in an area where it's easy to find work?

I don't usually let off-topic comments get to me, but this one does. I'm just truly amazed.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I have lived in a country with a National Healthcare System and one without and I know what I would choose! The NHS is a Godsend, in my opinion, and the fact that some people are kept waiting is fine with me when those that have life-threatening conditions are treated promptly. Unfortunately, some cannot see that a minor injury doesn't take precedence over someone with a life-threatening ailment. Emergency rooms are just that - for emergencies - and I can't tell you how many times I have seen people complain about their having to wait for treatment, when a child is rushed in after a car accident, and complain that they "jumped the queue"! It makes me sick!

I am leaving the US to travel to the UK in a few hours to go visit my father who was diagnosed with colon cancer only a few days ago. He was scheduled for a surgery to remove his thyroid and the doctor ordered a full-body CT scan to get a clear picture of what was going on. He had his routine screening colonoscopy, which showed a black area. Biospy taken, malignancy confirmed, appointment with the consultant made, surgery scheduled, all within a week.

The surgeon feels that his recovery from the bowel surgery will be far better if the thyroid is removed at the same time.

After a week in hospital he will be returned to his home and community nurses will attend the house. My mother will receive a "care allowance" and "attendance allowance" for simply being there and saving the NHS the cost of having him in the hospital where he will make a slower recovery - most people prefer to be in their own homes after surgery. I know I was two weeks ago when I had surgery here in the US.

When the "chips are down" when it comes to your health, I would certainly prefer to live in the UK where they have a NHS than here in the US where you have to weigh up whether you want to risk losing your home or your health. At least in the UK you don't have to ever worry about that.

There are so many other things that the NHS provides, that so many forget about. Pre and Post Natal Care, childbirth costs, dental treatment, braces for your kids teeth (I could hardly believe it when I saw adults here with braces because they could only now afford to pay for them!!!), care in the community, nurses attending your home after surgery/childbirth, clinics for just about every kind of illness, free vaccinations, tests, surgery, post-operative care, there are a million and one things that the NHS provide.

Oh, and if you are waiting for any time for a "non life-threatening procedure" you are obviously on the waiting list of a very busy hospital. You can request treatment at ANY hospital in the UK, in some cases they will even send you to other countries for treatment. You merely have to request it. My mother had surgery at a hospital further away from her home because their waiting list was only a few weeks, as opposed to a few months if she had it closer to home. The NHS even paid for her travel expenses!

My husband just pointed out that it is knowing the right questions to ask that is the key. Well, no it isn't. The UK Government fund a bureau specifically to deal with ANY questions any one has on anything, from how to sue a builder to how to file forms to claim government grants or assistance. The Citizens Advice Bureau is in every town. I am sure there are those that will say "but it's paid for by the taxpayer!" Well, I don't see any such service being offered in the town where I live in the US and I pay more tax here than I ever did in the UK!

Sorry, but this is a particularly sensitive subject to me at the moment and I can't sing the praises of the NHS enough.

Will be gone for a couple of months, at least, not really interested in any responses to this post - just wanted to get that off my chest!

Well said.

[GaryC 7]

........ If the joke of national freeloader health care ever happens then the employers will stop offering it. .......

Oh wow.

That was harsh.

Gary, how in the WORLD could you call a system that would provide for EVERY SINGLE CITIZEN by a name like that? Is it your perception that if one isn't fortunate enough in America to have insurance paid for by their employer and they have to seek assistance from the State, that this is freeloading?

Do you realize just HOW many Americans have no coverage? Working Americans who have jobs, but not good enough jobs where they receive insurance. Honest, hard-working people who just don't live in an area where it's easy to find work?

I don't usually let off-topic comments get to me, but this one does. I'm just truly amazed.

I'm sorry you think I am insensitive. I just don't think it's fair that my taxes should pay for someone else's health care. I never asked anyone to pay for mine and I don't want to pay for someone else's. I like my health care. I worked hard all my life to put myself in the position of being able to get a job that paid for it. Why should someone else that didn't put that same effort into their life suddenly get it for free and have me pay for it? I call that harsh. To top it all off I know that if the government forces me to start paying for this my employer will stop offering it. That means that the quality of my care will go down. Why should I be forced into that? Why did I work my butt off for 30 years to get to where I am only to have to subsidize everyone else's health care? I do not think we have a right to health care any more than we have a right to a car or a house. Those are things to be worked for and earned not just given. The constitution does not state we have the right for free health care.

[DeadPoolX 9]

Honestly, one of the reasons I am not in favor of government-run healthcare is because it's RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT! Look at how "well" they do in all of their other endeavors. Whenever government gets its sticky hands on something, it all goes to hell and gets screwed up beyond belief. I have yet to see government actually do something efficiently, reliably and cost-effective.

[GaryC 7]

Honestly, one of the reasons I am not in favor of government-run healthcare is because it's RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT! Look at how "well" they do in all of their other endeavors. Whenever government gets its sticky hands on something, it all goes to hell and gets screwed up beyond belief. I have yet to see government actually do something efficiently, reliably and cost-effective.

That also. I don't trust the government to do anything right and I will not give them this power over me.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Honestly, one of the reasons I am not in favor of government-run healthcare is because it's RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT! Look at how "well" they do in all of their other endeavors. Whenever government gets its sticky hands on something, it all goes to hell and gets screwed up beyond belief. I have yet to see government actually do something efficiently, reliably and cost-effective.

That also. I don't trust the government to do anything right and I will not give them this power over me.

And yet you seem to trust them without question when it comes to spending of billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars to fund questionable wars...

[GaryC 7]

Honestly, one of the reasons I am not in favor of government-run healthcare is because it's RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT! Look at how "well" they do in all of their other endeavors. Whenever government gets its sticky hands on something, it all goes to hell and gets screwed up beyond belief. I have yet to see government actually do something efficiently, reliably and cost-effective.

That also. I don't trust the government to do anything right and I will not give them this power over me.

And yet you seem to trust them without question when it comes to spending of billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars to fund questionable wars...

Ok, if you don't trust them to do a war what make you think you can trust them to run a national health care? Hmmm???

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Honestly, one of the reasons I am not in favor of government-run healthcare is because it's RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT! Look at how "well" they do in all of their other endeavors. Whenever government gets its sticky hands on something, it all goes to hell and gets screwed up beyond belief. I have yet to see government actually do something efficiently, reliably and cost-effective.

That also. I don't trust the government to do anything right and I will not give them this power over me.

And yet you seem to trust them without question when it comes to spending of billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars to fund questionable wars...

Ok, if you don't trust them to do a war what make you think you can trust them to run a national health care? Hmmm???

Because you don't understand how socialised healthcare works (and there are different systems in numerous countries, which have different systems of funding and management. It's wouldn't be directed from on high by GWB and his cabinet ;-)

[GaryC 7]

Honestly, one of the reasons I am not in favor of government-run healthcare is because it's RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT! Look at how "well" they do in all of their other endeavors. Whenever government gets its sticky hands on something, it all goes to hell and gets screwed up beyond belief. I have yet to see government actually do something efficiently, reliably and cost-effective.

That also. I don't trust the government to do anything right and I will not give them this power over me.

And yet you seem to trust them without question when it comes to spending of billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars to fund questionable wars...

Ok, if you don't trust them to do a war what make you think you can trust them to run a national health care? Hmmm???

Because you don't understand how socialised healthcare works (and there are different systems in numerous countries, which have different systems of funding and management. It's wouldn't be directed from on high by GWB and his cabinet ;-)

There is the word I despise more than ever. We are not a socialistic country. We are a democracy. The government has no right to take over a huge segment of our society or our lives.

[DelcoCouple 1]

There is the word I despise more than ever. We are not a socialistic country. We are a democracy. The government has no right to take over a huge segment of our society or our lives.

And at long last we finally understand why you cannot understand basic concepts. The USA is not now nor has it ever been a democracy. It is a constitutional republic. If you can not even understand what your own country is I am not surprised that you have no ability to grasp what happens in others

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Honestly, one of the reasons I am not in favor of government-run healthcare is because it's RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT! Look at how "well" they do in all of their other endeavors. Whenever government gets its sticky hands on something, it all goes to hell and gets screwed up beyond belief. I have yet to see government actually do something efficiently, reliably and cost-effective.

That also. I don't trust the government to do anything right and I will not give them this power over me.

And yet you seem to trust them without question when it comes to spending of billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars to fund questionable wars...

Ok, if you don't trust them to do a war what make you think you can trust them to run a national health care? Hmmm???

Because you don't understand how socialised healthcare works (and there are different systems in numerous countries, which have different systems of funding and management. It's wouldn't be directed from on high by GWB and his cabinet ;-)

There is the word I despise more than ever. We are not a socialistic country. We are a democracy. The government has no right to take over a huge segment of our society or our lives.

And you don't understand socialism either. If you think European democracies which have socialised healthcare are Socialist countries you're buying into a gross generalisation.

[GaryC 7]

Honestly, one of the reasons I am not in favor of government-run healthcare is because it's RUN BY THE GOVERNMENT! Look at how "well" they do in all of their other endeavors. Whenever government gets its sticky hands on something, it all goes to hell and gets screwed up beyond belief. I have yet to see government actually do something efficiently, reliably and cost-effective.

That also. I don't trust the government to do anything right and I will not give them this power over me.

And yet you seem to trust them without question when it comes to spending of billions upon billions of taxpayer dollars to fund questionable wars...

Ok, if you don't trust them to do a war what make you think you can trust them to run a national health care? Hmmm???

Because you don't understand how socialised healthcare works (and there are different systems in numerous countries, which have different systems of funding and management. It's wouldn't be directed from on high by GWB and his cabinet ;-)

There is the word I despise more than ever. We are not a socialistic country. We are a democracy. The government has no right to take over a huge segment of our society or our lives.

And you don't understand socialism either. If you think European democracies which have socialised healthcare are Socialist countries you're buying into a gross generalisation.

Right, now who isn't thinking honestly? Europe is going socialist. It's what the people there seem to want and they are getting it. I'm not going to divert this topic to whether Europe is socialist or not. As far as I concerned they are either there or getting there.

Let me ask you this. If socialized health care is the right thing because it serves the common good then whats next? Hillary Clinton is already talking about taking Exxon's profits and putting it into an alternate fuel fund. Why doesn't the goverment just nationalize the oil companies? While they are at it they should nationalize the powerplants so everyone will always have heat. Then they need to take over the farms so no one goes hungry. You see what I am saying. At the moment my comments seem outrageous but so did socialized health care 50 years ago. Tomorrow when the left gets done with it they will do just that. I don't want to give an inch when it comes to maintaining our representative democracy. Nationalized health care is just step one. I will never support it.

[de_sjiem 0]

There is the word I despise more than ever. We are not a socialistic country. We are a democracy. The government has no right to take over a huge segment of our society or our lives.

Actually the US is a capitalist country.. and not a true on either, because a "True" full capitalist economy would not have welfare, unemployment or any other government funded things.. A true socialist society has everyone making the same wages, getting the same things.. very few economies are true socialist or capitalist..

Furthermore, Socialism/capitalism is economy, and democracy/dictatorship whatever are political standpoints.. they are not comparable

And you wouldnt be paying for everyone else's healthcare, you'd be paying for yours.. i'm sure there are plenty of people who would be paying more taxes than you that would be covering your healthcare as well.. and the roads you travel on and the police force that you enjoy the protection of etc etc

[DelcoCouple 1]

Right, now who isn't thinking honestly? Europe is going socialist. It's what the people there seem to want and they are getting it. I'm not going to divert this topic to whether Europe is socialist or not. As far as I concerned they are either there or getting there.

Let me ask you this. If socialized health care is the right thing because it serves the common good then whats next? Hillary Clinton is already talking about taking Exxon's profits and putting it into an alternate fuel fund. Why doesn't the goverment just nationalize the oil companies? While they are at it they should nationalize the powerplants so everyone will always have heat. Then they need to take over the farms so no one goes hungry. You see what I am saying. At the moment my comments seem outrageous but so did socialized health care 50 years ago. Tomorrow when the left gets done with it they will do just that. I don't want to give an inch when it comes to maintaining our representative democracy. Nationalized health care is just step one. I will never support it.

HUGE YAWN at the rhetorical nonsense. Would you now like to explain to us all why you think the USA is a democracy other than what it actually is which is a constitutional republic? I know it is kind of awkward to ask you to justify your delusional rants but it is sort of important to me that you are not allowed to simply ignore difficult questions. Your constant refusal/inability to deal with them is very helpful to for other readers when they need to form a judgement as to the value of your "opinions" TIA