Great Britain initiated universal health care sometime around 1947. Since then, most European countries have too. Does that make them care more about their citizens? Are they smarter & more progressive than we are?
2007-09-18 14:26:12 · 13 answers · asked by mstrywmn 7 in Politics & Government ➔ Government
midnitronavu...you are the perfect example of sheeple that spread misinformation by repeating the lies from those who don't know what they are talking about. Shame!
2007-09-18 14:45:46 · update #1
Yes. Those against it don't seem to realize that the extra taxes paid out will be offset by the fact that they will have no medical premium (or very low) or copays to be responsible for. The cost will be minimal as we will get the reduced rates of an extra large group (3 million people). Remember: we are the UNITED States of America!
2007-09-19 01:48:13 · answer #1 · answered by The Wiz 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they care more about their citizens. Yes, they are smarter and more progressive than we are. Yes, we have been spoonfed propoganda for years about what a "mess" universal health care in our nations is (in a small anecdotal poll, I have spoken with over 60 Canadians within the past two months since seeing "Sicko" & have not found a single one with anything bad to say about the Canadian health system).
Please, take a moment to read the linked Jane Bryant Quinn article ...
(excerpt)In 2005, the United States spent 15.3 percent of gross domestic product on health care for only some of us. France spent 10.7 percent and covered everyone. The French comparison is good because its system works very much like Medicare-for-all. The other European countries, all with universal coverage, spent less than France.
Why are U.S. costs off the charts? Partly because we don't bargain with providers for a universal price. Partly because of the money that health insurers spend on marketing and screening people in or out. Medicare's overhead is just 1.5 percent, compared with 13 to 16 percent in the private sector. John Sheils of the Lewin Group, a health-care consultant, says that the health insurers' overhead came to $120 billion last year, of which $40 billion was profit. By comparison, it would cost $54 billion to cover all the uninsured.
Eeeek, your taxes would go up! Maybe not, if Sheils is right. Both the Congressional Budget Office and the General Accounting Office have testified that the United States could insure everyone for the money we're spending now. But even if taxes did rise, you might still come out ahead. That's because your Medicare plan would probably cost less than the medical bills and premiums you're paying now.
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At what point do we wake up people?
PS: Thank you for posting Mike F. I was on antibiotics two to three times a year throughout my 30's ... and am now suffering the after effects of our "superior" American medical care.
2007-09-18 21:46:40 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
My cousins live in a small European country. They are more open about most social subjects than we are, more united as a people, their generations get along better together, and their government is operated for the sake of the people instead of in spite of them. They are more ecology conscieous and place a higher value on education for all age people. They have universal health care, take care of their elderly and college is available at no cost. Most everyone retires at 55 and while working get at least 1 month vacation. They pay more taxes but have a lot to show for it. They don't allow motorized vehicles on their lakes and people don't own 4 wheelers and snowmobiles etc... Most people live in cities, owning their own homes or flats, drive small cars and conserve energy. Their country is 98% Catholic and do not allow Muslims to have churches there. One draw back for me is you can't buy land there unless you were born there. They are very united and have very very little crime. They are beginning to have inflation problems since joining the EU, hopefully this will be a managable issue.
2007-09-18 21:43:21 · answer #3 · answered by Ktcyan 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Europe is a lot more Socialist than the United States. I don't think they are any smarter or progressive than we are, they have problems too. The grass always looks greener on the other side, especially when you think its free. I understand their tax rates are a lot higher there than ours are. You pay for health care one way or the other.
2007-09-18 22:06:07 · answer #4 · answered by Johnny Reb 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
midnitrondavu, i'm not entirely sure which packet of cereal you get your information from, because there is NO deductible to pay in Britain, and the patient does NOT have to pay a thing. The costs of the NHS are included in the income tax that is deducted from gross pay, except for certain things like prescription meds (which aren't even expensive).
2007-09-18 21:33:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yeah, and those progressives come to the states to get the good health care they can't get in their own countries. Their is nothing good about national health care if you are looking for good health care.
2007-09-18 21:30:31 · answer #6 · answered by macaroni 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
America is ruled by the rich, the care are close to slaves
2007-09-18 21:30:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
They pay a 40 percent deductible and if the govt doesn't pay the rest of the bill, the patient has to pay it. Are they really smarter???
2007-09-18 21:29:32 · answer #8 · answered by midnitrondavu 5 · 2⤊ 4⤋
in today's world the word progressive means socialist,.....when you hear a politician say i am a progressive, just know what they are saying is i am a socialist,.....
2007-09-18 21:42:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
well it makes them have a higher quality of life, and higher life expectancy, and you dont have to worry about getting sick
2007-09-18 21:30:48 · answer #10 · answered by carlos r 2 · 3⤊ 1⤋