Man Dies from Toothache, US Healthcare System Best in World

[Charlie12241]

The United States is turning into an idiot factory and I live here.

[sciencestudent342]

america absolutely disgusts me, infact, dentists disgust me to, if they love dentistry and helping people there shouldnt be any need for them to earn so much money...theyre all a bunch of liars when they talk shit at their dental school interviews.rip kyle

[Yoyoredman]

Why would you choose the pain medication over the antibiotic which kills the infection?

[amokvrs]

@Yoyoredman because you can buy pain medication really cheap over the counter, and for an antibiotic you have to go to the doctor and actually pay the dentist bill, which could pretty much set you back for months if not years, depending on how bad the situation is.

[LawngCat]

When thinking about publicly funded health care, I like to know that some of my tax dollars are going towards helping people who can't afford proper healthcare, and that it helps prevent awful outcomes like this. I like to know that I'm able to help people in my society, and they're able to help me if I need it. That's assuming the healthcare system is well managed to be effective and efficient - something the US healthcare system is not.

[Alex8018]

sad example, indeed



[DawnOfTheDead991]

This means nothing. Dentists are usually willing to haggle and cut a break

[baalisgod666]

@DawnOfTheDead991 really? Do they take chickens?

[DawnOfTheDead991]

@baalisgod666 sure, pigs and bushels of corn too

[tcdowning666]

businesses and workers already get in essence a $128 billion dollar tax cut yearly for employer provided health care which doesn't even serve veryone, but services it's tens of millions participants poorly - this roughly the same amount the real Obama plan with a Public Option proposed on the campaign trail.... instead we got a $450 billion giveaway to the same bad actors - sad face

[JDrury2010]

Anyone that believes we in the US have the best healthcare system in the world...please watch this video, and please just stop talking. This is a disgrace to humanity.

[105Mittens]

@JDrury2010 Great comment. Our healthcare system is only "the best" for the people who can actually afford all the treatments available (ie, the uber-rich). For the average working class folk, it sucks ass (for the most part). We have one of the highest infant mortality rates in the first world...and while 50% of people here claim to be "pro-life", we have thousands dying every year from preventable diseases because they're poor or their insurance company wants to save money. It's revolting.

[donttreadonmyass]

This guy died in two weeks. Countries with UHC have waiting times for non-essential procedures exceeding two weeks. I think its like 4 weeks to see a physician in Canada.

[Xxsucram89xX]

@donttreadonmyass I don't think this would count as a non essential procedure since he died from it. I've yet to hear a valid argument against universal healthcare. To solve the problem of waiting lists, just allow people to purchase healthcare from a private physician if they choose to. Problem solved. We don't have to have an all or nothing approach. It doesn't have to be either universal care or private care. We can meet in the middle with a hybrid type solution.

[DonSSanders]

Free dental should be the #1 item in any managed care plan, private or government.

[maconsumner]

Same old crap Packman, you are saying what you want and what you think you are entitled to but have no idea of how to pay for it. I expect to be called a bunch of names to avoid intelligent thought and debate about the subject, but at the end of the day, the facts are the facts, somebody has to pay for all of what you are “entitled” to. Or are you planning to also socialize dentists to be your slaves too?

[TearsOfWar1]

@maconsumner "Entitlements" are payed for through taxes. You, and I pay for them.

[maconsumner]

@TearsOfWar1 Wrong, the current progressive tax base has about 50% of citizens paying no income tax at all. My guess is that the gentleman in question fit into that 50% statistic I cited. Again, how is his dental insurance to be paid for? I pay for mine and my family of 4, but still pay deductibles. I also fit into the category of do pay taxes.

[l0gically]

@maconsumner "Wrong, the current progressive tax base has about 50% of citizens paying no income tax at all. "

And has the upper income bracket ("the super rich") paying an effective rate of only about 20%.

[maconsumner]

@l0gically LOL, only 20% ? What do you think they should pay? Before you answer, I have a 401K that I invest in for my retirement. These Uber wealthy you are talking about are corporations, of which in most cases over 50% of their values is from small investors like me. What happens when they start paying what you think they should pay and there is no value for return on my investment? Worse, what happens when these evil rich folks get sick of it and move their business out of the country?

[l0gically]

@maconsumner "These Uber wealthy you are talking about are corporations"

No, I'm talking about the top 1% of wage earners who control 40% of the wealth in this country.

"Worse, what happens when these evil rich folks get sick of it and move their business out of the country?"

Like they *have* been doing? It's called off-shoring, and it's still going strong. Yeah, they'll create jobs alright, just in another country.

[Xxsucram89xX]

@maconsumner What is your solution to this problem? I don't see why we cant have both a universal and private system. Coverage should be universal. If you as a consumer don't like that you can always choose your dentist and pay out of pocket. What's wrong with a system like that?

[maconsumner]

@Xxsucram89xX This is a small part of the overall problem. We have some very serious economic realities that need to be addressed and adding additional socialist programs has historically never helped the situation, despite what this channel’s host implies. Socialism is not the answer and always creates a small elite wealthy class with everyone else being poor. Young people don’t realize that is what they are asking for now.

[Xxsucram89xX]

@maconsumner Again, what is the solution?

[105Mittens]

@maconsumner A small elite wealthy class with everyone else being poor is already the direction in which America is headed and has been the last 30 years (since Reagan's massive tax cuts for the rich in the 1980s)...damn, we might as well get medical care treated as some sort of human right out of the deal.

[maconsumner]

@105Mittens Yes, Reagan proved that decreasing taxes on job craters is a solid stimulus plan that could work again. Problem is that now the unfair trade treaties that Clinton signed and the CRA, signed by Carter and regulatory changes by Franks/Dodd have done their damage and there is no cash flowing and manufacturing in the US is all but gone. Whoever replaces Obama in 2012 has a tough road ahead to undo the damage by every president since Reagan.

[Shad3251]

@105Mittens You are absolutely right and it's scary what's happening to the middle class

[iamthe1337est]

Last time I went to the dentist was absolutely free because the government here provides vouchers for a free yearly check-up, as well as heavily subsidizing any care you need. ujelly?

[CreationistVotebot99]

Since when do conservatives care about people dying as a result of lack of health care or anything else for that matter. Take Rick Perry for example, who had a man executed in Texas even though he had already been exhonerated of the crime. He did it probably so elderly rich people would think he's "tough" on crime. Never mind that someone dies, so long as it advances his career.

[12235117657598502586]

This tragic death gives a whole new meaning to the saying: "Money is the 'root' of all evil"...Too dam true in this poor man's case!

R.I.P & commiserations to his bereaved family.

[Craigipedia]

cincinnati, my hometown... very sad

[ohbuddyiliketowatch]

feels very lucky to live in canada i CANNOT imagine having to worry about cost when im sick

[Demarcoa]

@ohbuddyiliketowatch well it's not like dental is covered, but anyone with private health insurance usually gets at least some dental because they have to compete outside of our provincial health care programs.

[ohbuddyiliketowatch]

@Demarcoa your very right.... 

[kazooga1234]

this is fucked up and exactly what the republicunts want and ha bisky upload

[frustratedlogician]

you would think if you had to choose between one or the other, you'd take the antibiotics and deal with the pain, however excruciating. still, it's a sad state of affairs.

[Calimantalkin]

floss..prevent loss

[BlueShreveport]

I'm suprised the pharmacy let him purchase the pain medicine without getting the antibiotic.

[justjulie37]

Welcome to America !! Keep voting for the GOP and it will be happening a hell of a lot more.

[rextrek]

sad sad story -- Im tired of greed

[rextrek]

this makes me sick........america is such a lie, a greedy nation...its me me me all the time

[Xaxaar]

@rextrek I think you're talking about human nature.

[bunkmasterflex]

@rextrek America was founded on having your cake and eating it too, It's based upon doing terrible things and allowing terrible things to happen but just willfully denying them with a no true Scotsman argument.

[yes4me]

wait... dental care?

[VoVaKissCam]

I swear hydrocodone is designed to kill you.

[BEARARMZ]

dont tell cuntservatives that. they will say " he was a lazy bum depending on nanny state looking for a handout." cunts

[Shad3251]

@BEARARMZ Yeah you aren't kidding. They will twist it around to make it his fault 'somehow'

[donnyforte2]

Eek. Brb, brushing teeth.

[silverpairaducks]

Free market health care.