Universal Health Care - Should the USA Imitate UK? PSA Video

[bmuralter]

im from germany and i definitely prefer our system

[TheGreatBritishAlex]

nasty sweat hanky *thumbs up*

[FRSFreeStateES]

The advantage of private Health Care Insurance in a Capitalist Liberal Democracy like America is choice and competition. Unlike a Single Payer system in a Socialist Democracy where you have to be on one particular Health Insurance program.

[IanWaters42]

You Americans disgust me.

You have been the world's superpower for 50+ years and you have had billions of dollars of revenue. You could have built a wonderful National Health Service for your people and no American would have had to suffer.

But instead you stupid yanks blew your wealth on luxury, cars, fancy homes, flashy clothes, gadgets, gimmicks, swimming pools, personal computers, etc etc..

Now there are 19 MILLION uninsured children in the USA!?!!?

USA = Nation of selfish assholes!

[FRSFreeStateES]

@IanWaters42

I'm proud to be an american where we have a 1st Amendment where people are free to speak they're mind. Whether they're right or wrong. And you just exercise that right that americans have.

[IanWaters42]

@FRSFreeStateES

Oh Sod off....all Western nations give that right to their citizens. In the UK you may say whatever you want in speech and print. So WHAT is your point?

You just another ignorant stupid American who has NO concept of what right and wrong is when it comes to helping your own people who are sick.

We are proud to be British and we are proud of our NHS. AND I am doubly proud we that I am not a bloody American barbarian.

[FRSFreeStateES]

@IanWaters42

LOL I'll give you one thing you attempting to insult me is funny. I guess thats what you do when you can't talk intelligently. Why you throw jabs I'll make my case.

My point which is obvious is people can say whatever they want whether they're correct or whether others agree with them or not. Thats the beauty of the 1st Amendment. For me I almost prefer to listen to people who I disagree with rather then people I agree with. Its more interesting that way.

[cisseshairdresser]

@IanWaters42

Excellent point!

[DamienJagger]

@IanWaters42

Not true. There are Western nations that have certain types of speech that are against the law. In Germany, for example, its illegal to deny the holocaust, and in the UK and Canada hate speech is also punishable by law if I remember correctly.

[davijeph]

@DamienJagger It is against the law to incite violence or threaten people with violence in the UK.Is it not true even in the US can you really stand outside the White-house with a placard saying death to all Muslims and that you are planning to kill the President without running the risk of being arrested? For the record I and I suspect most non US citizens have on the whole a great respect for the US. Like most superpowers it makes mistakes but no superpower can be mistake free.Regards

[kingkongrichie]

@davijeph No you're wrong, in the USA you can NOT protest in front of the white house because the USA will take your freedom. There is no greedom in the USA. I live here and I am originally from europe, the USA is a dump and I could not believe how trashy it was until I moved here and I am disgusted with this 3rd world country (usa) its not so nice like on tv. believe me.

[inkey2]

@kingkongrichie are you serious?.......look up vietnam war protesters in washington DC on youtube......

[inkey2]

@davijeph actually....in the usa it is a crime to threaten anybody....doesn't matter who it is. Freedom does not mean freedom to deprive another person of their rights,,,,,threaten them etc

[kingkongrichie]

@DamienJagger SAME IN THE USA DUMB ASS, did you not google about the laws against protesting in washington dc?

[DamienJagger]

@kingkongrichie

Dumb ass? Wow, what an obnoxiously vulgar response lol.

Isn't that just under martial law?

[cisseshairdresser]

@DamienJagger

That is not true for the UK. We have the same rights as your precious constitution its just we've existed more than 3-400 years so our political system evolved over time, rather than being changed suddenly in an event such as a revolution which would result in a written constitution like with the US. We don't limit free speech at all though.

[inkey2]

@cisseshairdresser you have the "same rights as our constitution".....I was under the impression that you can't even defend yourself (in your home from burglers) without being arrested........also, didn't your government disarm most or all of its citizens. In the USA in many states if someone breaks into your home you can blow their heads off......no questions asked.......do you have such a freedom?

[cisseshairdresser]

@inkey2

Again not true. A farmer was acquited of murder a few years ago when he shot and killed a burglar with his shotgun. But thats not important. Being able to lawfully shoot someone is not something to brag about or judge a nation by! I can shoot someone and you can't so my countries better! Pathetic. I'm glad we are disarmed. But we were never "armed" in the first place! I cant believe your defence for the constitution being supreme is that you can lawfully "blow someones head off" Geez!

[inkey2]

@cisseshairdresser so......if someone has you trapped in your home with very obvious intent to harm or kill you........which would you prefer......(1) dialing up the cops and wait precious minutes for them to show up...or.....pull a gun and say to the criminal...(2) "if you don't leave now, ill kill you where you stand". I can absolutely guarantee you the later will have a much better outcome

[EbsNhexz]

@inkey2 Without gun control the criminal will be much more likely to have a gun himself. And the presence of a gun in a household decreases the safety of those living in it, through means of impulsive anger and accidental death.

[inkey2]

@EbsNhexz oh, you mean like the way "the war on illegal drugs" has worked in the USA? It has not. No law has ever prevented any criminal from obtaining anything they want. "Criminal" by it's very nature means you do not obey laws and you go through non-conventional illegal channels to obtain illegal items....IE; heroin, cocaine, marajuana, guns, stolen goods. In the united states the Federal Bureau of Investigation (the FBI's) own stats show that states with loose gun laws have less crime

[EbsNhexz]

@inkey2 You were talking in the context of the UK, so going on a tangent about the US drugs law is pointless.And the lower crime rates relate to social and economic reasons as-well. The limited supply of legal firearms in the UK means the black market is small and deaths by firearms are very low. legalising firearms would increase the number of homicides resulting from violent crime. A petty criminal poses more threat with a gun than with a knife or fists.

[inkey2]

@EbsNhexz statistically...."murders" by guns in the USA is minimal in relation to our 300 million population. As high as 40% of of the gun deaths are suicides .....the rest are police returning fire on armed criminals and citizens returning fire on burglers etc...........what is left over is actual "murders" by guns

[EbsNhexz]

@inkey2 In terms of the US gun laws I don't have a final opinion(im not a US citizen so I don't rightfully need one) . different nation, different things to consider. The US was a frontier on its formation, therefore the protection of homesteads through deadly force was justified as being a constitutional right. And because of this historical context the present number of firearms in the US may mean that gun control isn't realistic. It is a different case in the UK however.

[cisseshairdresser]

@inkey2

And once again can I ammend your fallacy that the UK doesn't have free speech which is a complete fallacy. Just look up Anjim Chaudri and see what speech he is allowed to get away with and that will prove you wrong. He's on a par with Westboro Baptist Church.

The only time free speech aint allowed is if its racist hate speech or if its trying to incite riots or racist attacks or other acts of violence.

[bmuralter]

@inkey2 to blow someones head of has nothing to do freedom

[inkey2]

@bmuralter it does have to do with freedom...the freedom to protect ones life without the worry of going to prison for doing so.....like in the UK

[inkey2]

@cisseshairdresser I respectfully still contend that the UK has less rights than the USA....(although we are losing more rights as the years pass) ...........the UK: .IE survelience cameras on every(?) street corner, virtually no gun rights for citizens, viewing freedom of speech as a "hate crime"....we even have the legal right to burn a koran or two if we feel like it.......actually the most extreme example would be walking around in a Ku KLux Klan costume

[cisseshairdresser]

@inkey2 All those 'feedoms' or 'rights' you mention above are not ones that us Brits would want as we are not a mad gun-toting conservative country, we are a proud Liberal sem-Socialist country where the idea of people being free to own guns without question would be viewed as abhorrent. We're happy the way we are thank you.

[cisseshairdresser]

@inkey2 Oh, and if a person uses 'freedom of speech' to enact a hate crime, it is still a hate crime and should be punished irrespective of whats written down on a silly bit of paper. The written constitution against which everything is measured seems to cause more problems than it solves from my viewpoint.

[inkey2]

@cisseshairdresser ive tried to reply to you 3 times and my text vanishes while writing it....ill keep trying...i'm not ignoring you

[inkey2]

umm I do not think the poor in the usa were in the position to buy fancy homes, fancy cloths....and LOL swimming pools. I think you have been watching too many trashy American reality TV shows

[juxtn]

OMG I had no idea England used propaganda to brainwash their citizens into buying into their NHS death panel.

[swordhunter12]

@juxtn I see you bought into that nonsense Sarah Palin was spouting. No one would put death panels in place because they would never get away with it. The NHS does not have a death panel it won't "pull the plug on grandma" it will ask patients with fatal diseases if they WANT to end their lives. It's not much of a death panel (at least not the one Palin described) if you give them a choice.

[PastafariansWON]

@swordhunter12 The funny thing is that Palin used to bring her children to Canada to take advantage of their free healthcare. If that's not hypocrisy, I don't know what is.

[scottishlowoflow]

@juxtn and i had no idea that 1 in 10 insurance claims are automatically designated to be declined, what do you call that? it's not a "death panel" is it? it can't be a death panel! somebody saying that 1 in 10 people must either pay for it themselves or die, no that's definately isn't a death panel

[elliotazim]

Lets not forget that this was a Labour achievement.The NHS would never of happened under a conservative government. And both the Lib Dems and Labour are now proposing that if cou cannot be treated within 18 weeks of diagnoses, the NHS will have to pay for you to be treated privately

[TheWilliamcale]

i think the dutch system is a better fit for the USA

[Theoneandonlysparky]

In the UK we have greater life expectancy than the US. The only time that is not true is when we are on joint military manoeouvres!!! You guys are awfully good at 'friendly' fire.

[oJKBo]

@Theoneandonlysparky yea maybe thats because youre not as violent, fat, or accident prone--more car accidents here

[jayofwaterloo]

@Theoneandonlysparky Canada does as well

[whosiskid]

The problem here is that no one is talking about the U.S. ending up with what they have in Britain. The U.K. truly has socialized medicine and insurance. The U.S. will end up with socialized insurance, which is what France and Germany (both with vastly better healthcare systems) have. Germany has 100% private insurance heavily regulated. France is a mix. I think the U.S. will end up with something between what they have in France and Germany. Nothing like Great Britain though.

[HeadlightMorningGlow]

Actually, if you Google "WHO list of best healthcare" - while you're right France's is the greatest - we're ranked above Germany's. I think our healthcare's exceptional given our low spending. Germany and France spend 7.8% & 7.2% of their GDP respectively, while we a smaller 5.9%. Smaller than Germany, France, Canada, Italy, N.Z. & Sweden & only 0.1% more than the US's public healthcare expenditure - with their 7.2% private added on top of it.

[ToothbrushMan]

@whosiskid

Not strictly true. In a "truly" social health system, the doctors are paid by the govt. But in the UK many doctors have clinics that are independent businesses. Plus the UK has a mix of social and private healthcare.

[mctarmac10]

Are you being serious? I'm always impressed by the willingness of some to talk in such a way; when to those that are actually educated in the field they appear a complete loon.

[AliTheBrit19]

Im not going to go as far as to say, the UK has the best healthcare on earth, but damn, its in the top 5 at least... Something to be rivaled for sure, I love this country

[bimblinghill]

Only 18'th I'm afraid, according to the WHO. Still, much better than the US at 37, and only slightly more than half the cost per person.

[pluto4847]

@AliTheBrit19

Amen to that. I'm an American and UK does have better healthcare than us. I agree.

[EvilMuzz]

3:42 CHILD ABUSE!

[TorchwoodUK]

the always need the government to invest in infrastructure, like roads, power lines & broadband as you can be sure the private sector wont.

[xj2yzz]

I propose privatizing everything including police,fire ,roads and bridges,do away with taxes and just send bills to the users,if they dont use it they dont pay.

If they dont pay they dont get service,if they call police,police dont show to solve the brime,if they dont pay for fire,their house burns down,simple as that.

[TorchwoodUK]

but the police dont come now, even when we pay them.

more to the point, this PSA makes some bold claims, home nursing LOL yeah right. Meanwhile it seems to suggest taking your kid to child services whilst you are recovering, I find it hard to believe that had support.

[xj2yzz]

So you think privatization is the answer?I do If you dont pay no service,simple huh.

If you are poor and someone robs you hits you on the head with a gun,too bad.

[TorchwoodUK]

no, what gave you that impression, if the police is privatised , this would happen

1 they show up when you report a crime, as that is the only time they would get paid

2 as is the case now, poor people would live with crime, as they simply can not afford "justice"

3 small easy to solve crimes will be the main focus of police, as they look for cheap ways to raise revenue

4 who pays the police, the victim or the criminal? if its the victim, who pays for a crime like littering?

[TorchwoodUK]

follow up to previous post:

as with any privatisation, the richer will get richer and the poor will get poorer.

[xj2yzz]

thats what its about more slaves.I wish we could have slavery back like the republicans want,our economy would blossom.

[xj2yzz]

This would keep government out of our lives forever.

[TorchwoodUK]

you are being totally naive, the private sector is never to be trusted with anything important, just look at broadband, on the one hand South Korea , has speeds of 100mb due to government investment, yet in the UK we are lucky to get 2mb if you like outside of the city centre.

meanwhile Gordon Brown has only now said he wants to invest in broadband make Britain a digital hub and making sure people have a minimum of 2mb, which in comparison to S.Korea is shocking.

[Taff1967SC]

I'm from the UK, but been in Florida for 22yrs. For a country that put man on the moon, it is so far behind in many fundemental ways. Being self employed with 5 children, give me NHS quality any day of the week. I remember dealing with genuine people who actually appeared to care, not nameless faceless individuals who are mosly interested in your insurance credentials and the almighty dollar. We are getting screwed by these insurance companies- time for change.

[BeholdZeus]

Ahem, the US heathcare system is ranked 38th in the world; the UK is ranked 17th. So, I wouldn't recommend any American's bitch about the British system until their own raises itself up at least 18 places. The best healthcare systems in the world are universalized systems. "Period."

[inspectorgadget0022]

Having lived in both the UK and the US, I can say without any doubt that in every single aspect of healthcare the UK is far superior to the US. Even the skill and knowledge of the doctors and nurses in the UK is of far more calibre than the best medical treatment I have experienced in the US. Compared to the NHS of the UK, the US healthcare system is nothing but complete horse shit.

[psiabs]

Why are Americans obsessed with socialism??? It seems some (or more) Americans don't want a nationalised healthcare system because it could be seen as socialist; but the USA already has nationalised Police Force, and Fire Fighters, and what about your schools and teacher- they are nationalised too you know!!!! And your armed forces and your postal service

The British NHS offers fantastic service and you never have to worry about the cost or insurance or anything!! The NHS is Brilliant!!!

[DaMuttzNutz]

Americans are obsessed with socialism because they don't understand it. Socialism to Ameicans means Stalinism or something equally nasty. It's a dirty word over there.

[TheWilliamcale]

americans are semi literate spoiled children who become hysteriical if you try to take their guns or provide anything for the poor, there are many good things about americans but at times their ignorance and selfishness is embarrasing

[floridagrandpa]

Americans spend more on charity than any other people in the world. The health care debate is more about protecting freedom than denying health care to people. Guns have a unique place in our history which I don't have space to explain. By the way I support health care reform and I am a Republican.

[TheWilliamcale]

no they dont. protecting freedom? thats bullshit.its about protecting priveledge of spoiled greedy americans who dont give a shit about anyone but themselves thats not freedom you american have such perverse definition of "freedom' all it means is- me me me- my money my gun my property, you make me sick

and honestly/ you american have way to much" freedom" you raped the worlds resources, ensleved blacks wiped the indian out for what so your fat ass can

be "free" you dont mean fredom you mean

[TheWilliamcale]

you arent talking about freedom you are talking about priveldge health care and education should be equal to all or their is no real freedom and if that means the governement takes it over? fine

they did in my country and it works fine

we have more freedom than you i wager

when was the last time you had tweo months free paid vaction and free health care? thats freedom

[fudge1monkey]

plus the fact of the obsession with socialism! whats up with that? dear god! oh, that will mean that this person is not worthless, they are valued like me! n we cant have that! oh obama is black, we will want us to live in mudhuts and wear sandles! it seems if any policy is similar in any way to another, made by a less favorable country, then that policy is attacked and the person who made it labelled as nazis, stalinists,.

what the f people?

[fudge1monkey]

OMG ive never heard such bias drivel as american news! im so sorry, i hate categorizing and generalizing but i have never seen such horrific nonsense based on stupidity and ignorance! to quote IBD as one "people such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the UK, where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless." except steven hawking is British! doh! how can a news channel make such a mistake?

[Senlocc]

its sad here in the US.. we dont see things like this in our media or from our government ..the media trys to scare the ppl about a universal system.. even ppl that are in debt with health care bills are scared of obamas new reform plan..its really sad..im all for a social system..there's to many ppl like George here in the US with out the right info or outlook on this kinda health care system... i pray more Americans get they heads out there asses and think 4 themselves.

[TheWilliamcale]

the really agravating thing is how the right wing is allowed to distort eveything

all we hear is how bad the NHS

is and how hoorible "socialized" medicine is but i havent talked to on brit

that says its terrible the vast majority

like it are satisfied and insist its the same quality we get or better and its for everyone, we americans have been duped

[TheTubeMouse]

I can say with complete conviction that I trust the NHS to give me the health care I need, when I need it. You're living in a wealthy country and you deserve the same level of cover. There's nothing remotely 'Orwellian' or sinister about it. Healthcare is and should always be a govt. responsibility. I hope you get a single payer system in the US, Williamcale. If you can see through the misinformation, so can others. Campaign for it. Don't believe the money's not there - it is!

[TheWilliamcale]

we need something, but the NHS has real drawbacks let me give you an example if i may i was talking with a neighbor who now lives in luxembourg

he says in luxembourg everyone has coverage but it isnt a totally state run system like the NHS. he told me that

hundreds no thousands of people

from Britian are treated in Luxembourg and the contitnent because of long waiting lists for serious operations

people die in britian waiting on the NHS

we do need something some sort of universal

[augoustinos]

The UK also has a private system. Why do people go all the way to Luxembourg? This neighbour from Luxembourg must have missed something.

[TheWilliamcale]

valid question evidently britian just doesnt have the facilities and not everyone in britian has private insurance

few in fact do

from what i undersand eu states now have so operative agreements on health care, dont they your belgian you should know

[creaton1976]

The NHS will pay for people to travel abroad and pay for their treatment if it is needed and cannot be provided within 18 weeks if it is elected surgery. All urgent surgery - no one will wait for. But isnt it good that by law from Doctor to operating table no matter what the complaint you will be treated witin 18 weeks.

[TheWilliamcale]

coverage but the NHS is a poor model

and this is the feeling in continental europe i was told, people seriously ill people in britian must either go to the continent for care or wait and wait often die waiting, you are a ware of this?

[TheTubeMouse]

I'm surprised by the numbers given. Thousands? My understanding is that it's an give-and-take option for areas under particular pressure; it's an EU-wide system (the 'community' in European Community) and EU citizens from Luxmbrg, France etc. can travel to the UK for ops in the same way. The EU approach helps to offset each country's pressure points, which they all inevitably hv. I think that's a creative approach. Apologies as I don't have statistics tho. NHS can be improved bt not discarded.

[TheWilliamcale]

statistis are like prostitutes

you can do anything you like with them- v i lenin

people in the united state FOR THE MOST part are happy with private insurance they dont wnat a government run system, they adamently dont

i lived in canada and i think there gun laws and single payer seemd to work pretty well but i never knew the details

the thing is the UNITED STATES IS DIFFERENT PLANET perhaps a different dimension, people dont want governement interference in their lives

they hate it

[TheWilliamcale]

there are however 40 million people with no insurance at all many of that 40 million are kids, what i think we need to do here is concentrate on creating reforms that will create easier access for that 40 million, i think thats the best we can do

a governement run system, has to many drawbacks and is VIOLENTLY opposed here

[thomasward00]

hey tard Kids up to 18 are already covered by Medicaid, of he 40 million you quote half are illegal aliens, fuck that, you pay out of YOUR check for healthcare for illegals...

[TheTubeMouse]

Hi Senlocc, don't forget the internet and twitter; people will have access to a lot more unbiased information. Don't buy the line given out by greedy corporations and lawyers who are making a lot of money from the current system in the US. Americans should organise marches to get a single payer system going. It's high time for free health care at the point of service in the US; Go for it! I know, for all its faults, I would fight tooth and nail to defend the NHS any day.

[AmaruRuna]

Even my home country, Peru, a third world country, have a better and affortable health care rather than USA, I had an operation there and my parents did not pay a single cents not even in medicine; we have a National Insurance, and all inmunization was also government funded. Is a shame that USA being a rich country, people can go into bankrupcy to cover their cost. A surgery in Australia did cost me $0. and my dental bill in Japan, just $10. SHAME US !!!

[AmaruRuna]

Health Care MUST NOT be profits; if the system need to be profitable and put on the market; the prices will rise, for the simple fact that there always be a higher demand than supply of services, due to the high population.

Also if health insuraces are able to make a profit, they reserve the right to insure or not insure certain type of people. Goverment Health care also serves as a benchmark, to avoid certain groups to profiteer.

[fenriz2]

The german system isn't bad. You must be in covered, but you can choose between a private insurance or a health fund.

There is a competition. Health Funds are not allowed to make profits. It has nothing to do with socialism. I'm proud of this system, because you don't have to wait as long as in the UK for an operation.

[dtvfan24]

NHS provides health care with the need to worry about fees and charges. Universal health care is the answer for America

[jackfisher1992]

i am sooo glad the NHS was established :)

[SaviorOfLogic]

Sarcasm? Or are you a stupid commie?

[missrandom80s]

universal health care will never work!

[colbertLOTR91]

have you ever lived in a country that actually takes care of?

[AmaruRuna]

I lived in TWO countris that HAVE, Australia and Japan; and I found the system GOOD for my wallet and my health too.

[saiyajinmillina]

no one should profit off things that are needed such as food(basic food like fruit, veggies, and meat), education, healthcare and even some housing but there needs to be the option or going public or private.

[ryer46]

Go kill yourselves

[09geauxtigers]

I am all for public healthcare, but would suggest a few things that would exempt people from being covered. If you receive STDs from living a premiscious lifestyle, become ill from illegal drugs such as crack, heroine, etc, become injured in a vehicle accident while not wearing a seat belt, and a few other sensible measures. I am not a Dem or Rep. I am a realist. Public heathcare is will cost trillions no matter how you do it. At least we can reduce waiste and the continuing to higher taxes.

[7410n0]

The problem is, you can't always determine the source of infection.

[saiyajinmillina]

Its a pretty well known fact that the UK healthcare system of better than the US healthcare system because of choice. they have the choice of wether or not they want to use the public healthcare system or pay for private healthcare and thats how the US should be. It shouldnt be that everyone is required to use private or public care. an all private system just lines the pockets of greedy CEOs but an all public isnt the answer either. no one should profit off of healthcare

[jenkmesser]

American's pay more money in taxes on military spending than anything else. Why is it if the government spent a million dollars on an x-ray machine that makes them more socialist then if they spent 1 billion on a war jet?

It's usually the Republicans that want to go to war! It doesn't add up to me. I'm not a democrat or a liberal either. Where do you think the money comes from that funds war? TAXES!

Homeland security should be keeping the Americans SAFE, which to me includes health care.

[SaviorOfLogic]

False dichotomy, what about lowering taxes and paying for neither?

[SEFARAD2K4]

The Yanks had no right to execute a foreign president! But that is irrelevant to healthcare, the US is the only nation where people are afraid of having first world social conditions and will lobby against them!

[thebizkit69u]

The "Yanks" did not execute Sadam, the Iraqi government executed Sadam.

[SEFARAD2K4]

You mean the "Iraqi" government propped up by the Yank occupation force after it invaded the nation and executed the legitimate regime.

[thebizkit69u]

Still your statement was wrong, I just correct you thats all.

The "Yanks" did not execute a foreign president, its just fact.

[gabriellex13]

haha i watched this in history today ^^ cos im studying medicine through time :)))

[salvadorsalvona]

every low life scum from eastern block eu countries come over to the uk and use our nhs.

[USA0806]

Germany has Universal Health Care. I had hospital care in Germany a few years back. Sorry to say, but you get what you pay for. I do not want Universal Health Care in my country. No Thanks!

[jackfisher1992]

i love the NHS i think it works brilliantly and it has always helped me

[SaviorOfLogic]

When I got a burn I had to travel across London to get it sorted out, when all it needed was clingfilm and bandages (I needed a professional opinion to know that, but nothing else).

[fmd74nd]

i have a few comments as a british person:

1/ yes the NHS isnt perfect you only have to see all the scare storys on our news programmes about MRSA / C-DIF etc to realise this....it maybe an imperfect system but it works most of the time and without this i probably couldnt afford my treatment for asthma

2/ how many foriegn travelers to the UK have had to use our hospitals free of charge

3/ not all treatment is free on the NHS to everbody

[britishoceanliners]

if the american government set it up, let us hope they have the money saved up in the first place unlike us!

[whoo689]

Health care is not a right. Let's lift the people who can't afford insurance up so they CAN afford it by giving them opportunities like education and better job training to get high-paying careers. It will do wonders, way more than just providing services and handouts. Ever notice how it's always the poor or uninsured who usually claim something they can't afford is a "right"? The middle and upper classes just pay for it and deal with it an don't bitch n moan.

[JayEey]

Why would people who can afford health care moan? they wont, theyre sitting pretty.

I think the people who cant afford to save their own lives or those of their loved ones rather have a right to moan!

Education and jobs is great but people will still fall through the cracks. What do you do about those people? F*ck em? How very moral.

[douglasaglen]

There will always be a need for people to work in low paying jobs and there will never be enough high paying jobs for everybody. All wealth is generated by workers so why should anyone who works be deprived healthcare? I am not poor and I consider healthcare to be a right, I am happy to pay the taxes necessary to fund the system in my country (which are much less than insurance premiums in the USA anyway). It´s not just about the system being universal it is about what costs less.

[JJJPaxton]

Better than just neoliberalism and profit driving it

[JJJPaxton]

When we see life beyond ideologies and understand what brings true value to the human life, how KNOWLEDGE SCIENCE and TECHNOLOGY are what improve our lives...

THESE combined with healthcare... that's true value

Now the true value is overshadowed when a monetary system determines the value of these and it becomes PROFIT and not tech, science and knowledge valued by human life

Watch Zeitgeist Addendum the movie here in youtube or the official website

[YogaNate79]

Halthcare is not a basic right. It is an earned privilege.

Socialism is exactly why the American Republic was founded--- NO TAXATION.

I do not want big government bureaucracy and interference in the lives of the American people. Europe is plagued in socialism which controls every facet of their people's lives.

Universal Healthcare = High taxes + Socialism

Free Market = Low Taxes + Capitalism

As an American, I say NO thank you to the UK's N.H.S.

[JJJPaxton]

Say that when you are poor and ill there's no way you can earn the privilege of healthcare ...

or to the person who didn't have the opportunities for progress ... or to the child who's sick and who's parents can't afford healthcare tell him he has NO RIGHT to health and LIFE

[YogaNate79]

All 305 million Americans have accesibility to health care.

Medicare is a government program for retirrees 65 years and over. Medicaid is another government program for those who are below the pverty threshold and those who are disabled.

Those who do not meet the above criteria for eligibility must pay out of pocket, purchase private health care insirance, or receive group health insurance through their employer.

Universal health care is not needed.

[JJJPaxton]

The right to healthcare is needed, Not every american would agree on that I suppose, that's why THERE'S A DEBATE about it, because SOMETHING is needed/missing, not otherwise

[JJJPaxton]

respect your opinion, mine:

It isn't needed in a world of perfect, free-marked economic transactions

It was within neoliberalism that HIV infected products were sold to hemophiliacs by Bayer Corp

Accessibility is not the same as caliber... In many countries people have accessibility to water, but they have to walk long distances to get and it's usually not the most drinkable BUT this is just an ANALOGY YOU should watch ZEITGEIST ADDENDUM at the official website, the trailer is in my channel m8

[YogaNate79]

I do not want socialized medicine. It goes against American principles and Capitalism.

Socialism does not work nor will it ever work for the free world.

[BumbleBeeInABluebell]

Do you consider yourself 'free'? - you are not free when your healthcare goes along with your job! You are a wage slave in every way!Capitalism has failed - hence the financial crisis. Socialist tactics have rescued private money, provide housing, healthcare, education, security and freedom of speech. Socialism works! It's like a family - a good family cherishes each other. A bad family treats each other like crap, then brags that it makes them tough.

[whoo689]

Healthcare- failed UHC systems worldwide

housing- crappy public housing projects that lead to cities with high crime, high poverty, etc.  The houses aren't well-maintained, either.

private money?- hardly. the $700 Billion bailout didn't work.

Education- hate to break it to you, but public school K-12 sucks in this country

security- well, sorta. Although we still have lots of private military contractors

free speech- I guess

[BumbleBeeInABluebell]

I was going to say I didn't know what you were trying to say - but having read your comment above, I know now - same old self-congratulatory comment putting a price on human life. Notice how it's always those who CAN afford things who reckon things aren't a 'right'? And I refer you to my comment, below - I take it you don't mind paying to kill Iraqi children?

[NaMgKCa]

the police service in America is a Socialist institution.

[BumbleBeeInABluebell]

You don't have universal healthcare - but everyone gets ill and disease is no repsector of persons. Providing care for the sick is part of a civilised society. It is revolting that some of you have to pay for the birth of your baby on a credit card, or have anything in your head when sick except GETTING BETTER.

[ebony3921]

You don't know anything.Medicare and Medicaid does not pay all your health care.Come down to Florida.Since Florida put a private company to manage it's health care system there has been more bankruptcies do to medical bill than bankruptcies do to mortgages.How do i know i owe $80,000 because of my unplanned sickness.I guess retirement has taken me out of being the earned privileged .

[BumbleBeeInABluebell]

And yet you are happy to pay taxes to fund the slaughter of Iraqui children...

[NamVetBuck]

Another French attitude. Didn't cost me, a US taxpayer , a dime for Saddam to kill kids. However, worth every penny to take him out so he wouldn't kill any more.

When the French get it through thier Gaullic skulls that freedom and the War on Terror is a worthy cause to fight for, the you will fulfill the debt we, as Americans, shed so much blood to liberate you from thew same kind of tyrant that Saddam was like.

The people in Normandy are the exception, they are STILL gratefull.

NO UHC !

[BumbleBeeInABluebell]

As I am British - you know, from the country that fought for two and a quarter years (18 months alone) before you lot managed to get your ducks in a row, while a bomb was dropped on us every 12 minutes and we lost avg. 1500 people per night, don't lecture me on shedding blood for others. Saddam has been dead a long time - and your comment is a load of bollocks. You may not have shed your blood, but to be so ignorant, you must have had a bang on the head.

[NamVetBuck]

Can't tell you are a Brit with a location stated as France. Pardon moi !

And who was guarding your Lend Lease convoys, supplying you with war materiel, and what Prime Minister bought into Hitler's lies ? No, no bop on the head...and Saddam IS dead because we went after him ...with the assistance of our allies.

I imagine Winston would think your outlook is more of "bullocks" than mine.

[BumbleBeeInABluebell]

Well unlike you, we tend to have passports. We needed some support , while we were fighting your battles for you, but before you were invaded it had to be done secretly because helping was so unpopular. You should have been out of Iraq about a week after Saddam was executed. It's now just a sick invasion - and you are the ones slaughtering Iraqi kids. But - like Vietnam - you will just keep on talking BOLLOCKS (not 'bullocks') until you finally crawl out of Iraq in disgrace..

[salvadorsalvona]

saddam should have been left in charge,as you know fine well,he had nothing to do with the 9.11 attacks! and iraq would not be destroyed. what in the name of god did the usa sacrifice so many young men? bush should be ashamed.

[NamVetBuck]

Oh, really...leave Saddam in charge..sounds like you would have loved to just let Hitler stay in power...tell the relatives of the gassed, tortured, murdered people Saddam rilued that ...in person. See what kind of respect for your "opinion" you get.

My tax dollars as a working man aren't the government's playtoys for UHC. I work for aliving, pay my own health care costs, and don't want to support illegal aliens, welfare queens/kings, deadbeats, with MY hard earned money !

[sugarbabyuk]

Everyone should have private health care - do it the UK way!!

[curiousproclivity]

Universal Health Care? No.

Some sort of public aid for health insurance? Yes.

I think such places as Canada that have Universal Heath Care have proven that it is ineffective. Many Canadians are going to America to have proceedures done because the lines are unbearable. There is an eye disorder that is fixed with a simple proceedure but if untreated soon will cause blindness, and there are many cases of blindness in Canada because people are not getting treament in time.

[curiousproclivity]

I believe that choice and competition should be a part of health care, not government bureaucracy and mediocrity. That is just my opinion, as a nonpartisan independent who reads both sides of issues.

[ChoofMonster]

Canada's system doesn't work because there was no private health care available until recently, hence no real competition between the private organizations and government agencies which ran it.

Public health care for all could be available via the taxation system, with discounts and incentives for taking out private cover. This is supposed to be the case in Australia, but greedy insurance companies and a lack of government regulation of the industry make things complicated and expensive.

[BumbleBeeInABluebell]

'Choice and competition'? Ok, if all you are choosing is a nose job or fake tits, or something else stupid.

But have you ever watched someone you love dying slowly? I have - and I can tell you, in that situation, you are definately 'partisan' - you want surgery, drugs, nursing, home visits, travel costs, care at every level, including home-helps, counsellors, meals delivered free - which is what my family had, thanks to living in the UK.God bless the NHS! America - you need this!

[mickidukinfield]

So...do you actually LIVE in Canada, or did you pull these statements out of your whatever? How many cases of blindness, did you say? And how many are there in THIS country because the people can't afford to go to the doctor?

[TAKENnameARGH]

Here's a differing opinion:

I got it. And if I didn't, I would move to a country that had it.

[ChoofMonster]

YES. America should have adopted such a system a long time ago.

Australia's near-perfect two-tier scheme of private and public cover has almost been dismantled since inception in 1975, we still get cheap medicine and free hospital cover for emergency treatment. GWB calls our Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) a "cartel"; I pay $5 to $21 for any basic prescription medicine listed, and it covers every medical category.