Who would have thought that the idea of providing decent healthcare to all citizens, so that everybody can see a doctor and so that an unfortunate accident, illness or just a bit of bad luck with your health doesn't have to make anybody bankrupt, homeless and in more debt than The Royal Bank of Scotland, could be so horrifying. I've watched in completely jaw-dropping amazement as people threatened to kill the president's children because he wants to make sure all American children get medical cover. I've seen TV footage of people, red-faced and screaming in anger because the government dares to suggest they might - just might - like help with their medical bills.
What the hell are they so afraid of?? Do they like knowing that a heart attack could cost them a quarter of a million dollars?? Do they relish having to pay a hundred-thousand or so because they had a minor traffic accident?? Do they want to see their kids die because it costs too much for a bone-marrow transplant. Wouldn't they like to know that all of these things could be treated, with the most up-to-date drugs & procedures, at no extra cost to themselves??
And all this screaming about "socialised" medicine?? Don't they realise they already have it?? It's called Medicare. The president simply wants every US citizen to get the same benefits that the elderly do. You already have "socialised" firefighting and "socialised" education, and a heavily-subsidised "socialised" army. What is so bad about adding hospital care to that?? What is so wrong with the idea that every single human being deserves the best possible medical care from before they're born to the end of their natural lifespan??
I don't know. Just when I thought I understood American politics you go and baffle the hell out of me again.
Ze
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11 comments:
You're not alone. It's baffling the hell out of me too. Ignorance abounds is all I can figure.
Well...3rd here but it baffles the hell out of me too!
Our country has tried and proven the private health insurance does not work for everyone...hence can we not at least try to cover EVERYONE!
I try not reading the news and it is probably best I do not have a TV or I would yell at it a lot.
Baffled is a nice word for what I feel about some of these folks.
The NHS is hardly sunshine and lollipops though, what of years long waiting lists, breast cancer drug postcode lotteries, misdiagnoses and 'cost effective' treatments? For minor complaints the NHS works, but for serious illness or recurring problems you're on your own. I've had point blank refusal of payment for surgery for wisdom tooth complications. I'm allergic to general anaesthetic and the whole thing was deemed too expensive and not the NHS's problem. I was written off and have suffered serious pain on and off for the last few years as a result. I'm currently saving for the £2000 pounds neccessary for private care. As far as I'm concerned this isn't a bi-partisan issue, simply a question of the right decision. The NHS is troubled and hasn't been as effective as envisioned since the 1950's. My mother worked as a nurse for the NHS for twenty years and she can tell you some true horror stories about the standard of care and the lethal cost-cutting that goes on.
45 MILLION Americans without insurance...
In private insurance companies and even coops or HMO's that are just as many horror stories as you have lived...how ever the difference being that there are not MILLIONS of people with nothing and there are not thousands going bankrupt of a corrupt system.
Reality is NOTHING will be perfect, but hey something has got to be better than NOTHING.
This issue will never be simple, but the gross negligence of the NHS in it's current state is just as fatal to the poor of this or any country who cannot afford the required care refused them by the dangerously flawed system of resource siphoning middle managers and fascist rationing of treatments nowhere near the standard of American hospitals. Private insurance may not work for everyone but accepting a proven failure as a safety net that will bring down the standard of overall care, (even private) is a little cynical. Surely improvements to the current system can be made? I'm not familiar with intricacies of the American health process, but the NHS is failing on a national scale and I can't imagine anyone wanting such a system for themselves. Utilitarian 'quantity over quality' isn't something I like to see applied to an issue as serious as healthcare. Creating an American equivalent of the NHS will have just as many Americans without proper treatment, however it'll give the government the ability to pay 'caring and sharing' lip-service while dishing out compensation for wrongful deaths resulting from over stretched resources which is more 'cost effective' than paying for adequate care in the first place.
Once again I will state...look at our private system...look at the inadequate care based on saving a buck. Look at the "non-covered" even though you have insurance. Look at the patient safety record of issue based once again on saving a buck.
Your public health is not perfect but neither is a private system, unfortunately on top of our private system is millions with nothing. And one has to look at nothing think, would something be better?
I thought a new government meant the bringing of innovative new ideas. Or at least aspiring to something better. Applying an already bad idea doesn't seem quite the direction change I imagined. Surely those who have no cover want something better than a second-hand health fiasco that's just going to be dumped on top of what you admit to be a non-effective private insurance system? Maybe that's why they're so upset? If so then they're entitled to be, I would be.
This was sent to us in email from Linda. She gave us permission to post it here in the comments. Take it away, Linda....
Hi Ze. Love your take on American politics and the misguided fools who listen to Fox (Faux) news and swallow the Kool Aid. The bottom line with the majority of the protesters is bigotry and racism. As you notice, the protesters are white. They can't stand it that a black man is now one of the most powerful people in the world. Living down in the Southern region of the USA, I can tell you first hand that a lot of Southern Whites, especially males, are threatened by The President being black.
They are actually buying guns and preparing for the 'race war'. In fact, I've heard a lot of them wishing for our President to be assassinated in hopes that it will start civil unrest so they can once again feel that they are the 'elite' by the color of their skin and because they have a penis.
Whatever our President tries to do to better our lives here in America, they will close their ears and their hearts to. They had rather see their children die for a lack of medical care than support our president. These same fools are the ones who bought, lock, stock, and barrel, the lies of George Bush in starting the immoral and illegal war with Iraq and lied to your government to get British support. There are still many of these fools who believe that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and directed the attack on the Twin Towers. They quickly forget that Saddam was our 'good friend' when he was fighting Iran. And we supplied him with weapons.
The likes of Fox News clowns, such as Hannity, Bill O'Rielly, Rush Limbaugh, and other of their ilk, are advocating violence at our town hall meetings and actually keeping our elected officials from telling the truth about the medical care we all need, by screaming and shouting to drown them out. Some are actually wearing guns and bringing guns openly to the meetings. This is very intimidating to many who want to have a civil discussion, because you never can tell when one of these right wing nuts will start shooting, so those that are law abiding citizens are afraid to attend. America is actually at a cross roads that I fear will led to violence, and yes a civil war between those 20% of mostly white neocons who want to force their narrow christofacism views down the rest of America's throats, and those who want liberty and justice for all. MAKE NO MISTAKE. This is not about HEALTH CARE but about RACISM and anger over no longer being the privileged class that makes all the decisions on how the rest of us should live..
I fear for our President and his Family. I also fear for America.
--Linda
I think it's unfair to label everyone who disagrees with Obama's irrefutably problem rife health care plan as racist (overt and unashamed, gun-toting racist scumbags notwithstanding.) It's a dangerous McCarthy-ite road to travel down when any criticism of any policy is deemed racist bias. What of legitimate concerns over very real problems that potentially arise from this proposed healthcare plan? Where do these hordes of racists end and concerned constituents begin? I'm no neocon disciple, I'm Iraqi/Iranian for God's sake! I just don't think dismissing and labelling those with opposing views is fair, not in terms of keeping every person's opinion free (like it or not) but also in aid of showing liberals to be capable of rational argument without throwing out Ad Hominem attacks to anyone who criticises government policy. I don't think it does Obama any favours and gives a wealth of ammunition to establishments like Fox News.
Health care and racism...I think in our country right now they are related. Let us remember 1992 when Clinton offered up public health care. There were out bursts and a "difference" of opinion.
However there was not people yelling Hitler or calling people names or even threatening or intimidating people. It was a discussion. I lively one for sure, however what is happening today in this country is not just about health care.
It is based around one very vocal part of this societies fabric trying to intimidate and scare another with false claims. Regardless of the message.
It is not just health care. These same people already claimed months ago, all they want to see happen is Obama to fail, hence they have targeted on piece - health care.
Once this one goes away there will be another and another. Since the day our black president took office we have a core group do nothing but attack...can I say "birthers".
Be real, it is not just about health care in this country. It clearly has racism written all over it.
There are legitimate concerns and questions that are being and need to be discussed about health care and it's options, but sadly the rhetoric moving around it is much more vile and disturbing.
The rational argument does not include bringing your gun to a town hall meeting about health care...how are these connected? Is that not intimidation or sensationalizing this topic to another level?
I think it is important to discuss and debate, however some in this country right now are saying things so out of line one can no longer even see value in that debate.
Reality is this problem is even bigger than health care...much.
We have one section or piece of our country doing nothing but encouraging, enflaming another group to create havoc, which they hope, will form failure in our current government.
In doing so they are only creating more of a gap between what is right for this country and what is wrong.
To wish nothing but failure upon your government perhaps is not the best approach for a society?
To wish ill will to anyone including the president again in poor judgment.
I will state again, review 1992 when this was last debated...find the differences.
I am not sure what the solution may be by I am hopeful it is at least peaceful.
I want to thank everyone who has commented here, as it is important for us to do so.
The debate should and will go on.
I've lived in both the US and the UK. While I was living in the US there was at least one occasion where I should have accessed health care, I didn't, because I worked in an entry level and low paid (but high fun) job. I worked with a lot of young people in the same situation and who made the same choices. We weren't living in poverty, but after making rent, bills, buying groceries etc there wasn't any money spare for 'luxuries' like getting that filling you needed or going to the Doctor unless you really had no choice.
The NHS has problems, huge problems, it is far far from perfect, but at the same time no one should get into debt to meet their basic health needs. The treatment I've had on the NHS has left things to be desired, but at least I could access it.
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