A Question for Americans

[Jamstruth]

A bit serious I know but I've been catching snippets of this on British News and am bemused by the whole thing. Mainly I can't understand why people are against this.

Here in Britain we have the free Health Care known as the NHS and despite complaints it keeps us going and yes, we all pay for it. I understand that America has none of this and instead has Health Insurance systems and if you don't have Health Insurance you either pay for it or suffer I guess. I saw the kind of reforms that have been put in place and just don't understand the problem with it. Stuff such as stopping Insurance Companies pulling your insurance if you become ill (which is, in my opinion, terrible and almost negates the whole idea of insurance) yet the News was saying that most Republicans (I think it was) are still against the bill and showed images of protests with kids' placards saying "Don't enslave my generation" So your taxes are a little higher is that such a big deal compared to helping thousands of Americans?

The cheap Medical Insurance will still have to be paid for by the users as Obama obviously doesn't want to rock the boat too much by setting up an NHS style system in the US. I am obviously out of touch with the whole thing being a Brit and never living in the USA but my mind boggles that people would object to Health Reform

 

[Law]

From what I've heard it's because it will increase taxes for the poorest, people who are having trouble paying their bills as it is.


NHS needs a complete reform though, the things people can get the taxpayer to pay for is ridiculous. IVF Treatment, Sex changes, etc. None of that should be paid for by the taxpayer because they aren't necessary. Anything that isn't necessary shouldn't be paid for by the taxpayer (Yes, this includes moats, bell towers and houses for MP's pet ducks).

 

[MarkDarkness]

Obama is the weakest man alive. He made so many promisses and took them all back now that he's feeling the real heat of North American politics. He is a shame to the world.

 

[asdf]

Obama is the weakest man alive. He made so many promisses and took them all back now that he's feeling the real heat of North American politics. He is a shame to the world.

I agree. He's an idiot. If people are already having trouble paying their bills, why the Hell should he increase their taxes?

 

[Sstew]

Obama is the weakest man alive. He made so many promisses and took them all back now that he's feeling the real heat of North American politics. He is a shame to the world.

+1 Although it is harsh.

Also it's being forced upon you, You HAVE to have it or you pay a yearly fine. (Main reason is, It's really expensive even for low income families)
Where as right now, if I don't want health insurance I don't have to get it. Im just screwed if I get into an accident or such. United States is used to having options and not being soley controlled by the government. this is one step closer to being controlled.

 

[outgum]

Sounds to me OTHER taxes need to be dropped, Health is Important. If Obama is trying to save the Americans, Health needs to be AFFORDABLE. And why cant he lowers taxes on other things to find a balance? With America gets hit with a plague or something, he wont have an america to look after >_>

IMO

 

[MarkDarkness]

Healthcare should be socialized, but he wouldn't have to raise any tax if he did half the things he promised he would do to enhance the economy.

 

[Deleted_171835]

Health Care in Canada is awesome! It's publicly funded and is a public and not a per-profit system.

I'm not fond of the health-care in the United States.

 

[outgum]

Health Care in Canada is awesome! It's publicly funded and is a public and a not a per-profit system.

I'm not fond of the health-care in the United States.

Im not fond of it either, It sounds like a diaster to me, Like Hospital is free here, Unless a MEGA surgery, But insurance covers most of it!
Sounds like America screwed up in that area, No offence to American People, im just saying

 

[BoxShot]

None taken. Now I would love to move to another country.

Obviously I can't so I must live through these crappy reforms and bad presidents.

 

[emigre]

The problem is that this is centralisation which isn't popular in the US and people feel that it's being enforced on htem; going against the principle of freedom. Personally I think on the whole it's a good thing, it means thirty million people will now have access to healthcare and puts insurance companies into place; where previously they would act like cunts tbh. I can't say I'm a fan of the compromise over teh restrictions on abortion though. On the whole, it's morally the right decision. It's a disgrace when money is made out of the sick.

I should add that it's not the well written bill in the world, a bit like the Lisbon Treaty. It's fucking flawed but it's still betteer then nothing.

What made me laugh was that that the CBO reckon that this will significantly reduce the budget defecit and that teh US spen something like $2.7 trillion dollars on health insurance. Half of that could build an advanced health system.

All I can say is that I'm fucking glad, I live in a country with free healthcare. ( okay not free but paid by everyone paying tax)

 

[Uncle FEFL]

It's extremely difficult for Obama to keep his promises in this country. Just because the way our country works. Idiots follow the bandwagons and make a majority even if it isn't best for the country. Plus, Democrats and Republicans are both usually terrible in our houses. Some people know what they're doing, but the ones that don't usually get the most attention.

That being said, Obama really hasn't even tried to do anything except put more useless money into the economy. The Stimulus Bill I haven't even felt in my State yet. In fact, my school just keeps getting poorer and poorer. I wonder when he's going to do something that effects us positively.

Jon Stewart said it pretty nicely: "It's OK to have food on your plate, but you gotta chow down sometime! You can't just keep putting more food on your plate!"

EDIT: Also, most people here are right. People here in the US don't want to centralize. We aren't used to change. We don't want change...for some reason. I mean, there's some things in this country I love. But with Health Care, I think everyone should be on equal terms. When I broke my femur, my mom didn't have to pay one cent, because the health care that she pays for allows that blessing. I want that blessing to be for everyone. Even if you're rich, I feel you shouldn't have to pay $60,000 for a broken leg.

 

[yuyuyup]

Fight to make our govt better

 

[Cyan]

In France we have the health care system, where everyone is taxed from their work's earning money.
Not all the medical cares are taken in account by the health care, only the most logical and not the personal wishes like stated by Law on post 2.

there are some leak point in the system, like doctor getting more money from the system etc., but I think it's far more better than American health insurance system for the end user.

 

[Defiance]

Argh... No socialized healthcare.

There's a reason why the US is rated one of the top (if not the top) countries in the world for the hospitals.. It's because we have great doctors, and passing a healthcare reform will decrease the doctor's pay. Then the doctor's will quit their job. There's nothing that annoys me more than people who say "yeah well the doctor's earn too much anyway." Dude, try spending 12 years getting a Ph.d (after graduating high school) and see just how "easy" it is to become a doctor. It isn't. It's one of the hardest jobs in the world.

Survival of the fittest.. Capitalism is the best way to go for a country to succeed. Once we start socializing healthcare, who knows what else will be socialized with that. We will stop moving forward, and just stay where we are..

 

[Uncle FEFL]

Argh... No socialized healthcare.

There's a reason why the US is rated one of the top (if not the top) countries in the world for the hospitals.. It's because we have great doctors, and passing a healthcare reform will decrease the doctor's pay. Then the doctor's will quit their job. There's nothing that annoys me more than people who say "yeah well the doctor's earn too much anyway." Dude, try spending 12 years getting a Ph.d (after graduating high school) and see just how "easy" it is to become a doctor. It isn't. It's one of the hardest jobs in the world.

Survival of the fittest.. Capitalism is the best way to go for a country to succeed. Once we start socializing healthcare, who knows what else will be socialized with that. We will stop moving forward, and just stay where we are..

Is the doctor who needs a lot of money worth having if no one can afford it?

Don't make that slippery slope argument either. I love Capitalism and Adam Smith just as much as the next guy, but health care is already controlled by the government. You know we have socialistic properties, right? Like financial aid, and Medicare...right? Those are government-controlled portions of health care. Healthy Families (my insurance) is another example.


EDITEDIT: One of the reasons why we have the best doctors is because we have most of the best universities on the planet. Doctors that work here come from all over, not just the US.

 

[Defiance]

Argh... No socialized healthcare.

There's a reason why the US is rated one of the top (if not the top) countries in the world for the hospitals.. It's because we have great doctors, and passing a healthcare reform will decrease the doctor's pay. Then the doctor's will quit their job. There's nothing that annoys me more than people who say "yeah well the doctor's earn too much anyway." Dude, try spending 12 years getting a Ph.d (after graduating high school) and see just how "easy" it is to become a doctor. It isn't. It's one of the hardest jobs in the world.

Survival of the fittest.. Capitalism is the best way to go for a country to succeed. Once we start socializing healthcare, who knows what else will be socialized with that. We will stop moving forward, and just stay where we are..

Is the doctor who needs a lot of money worth having if no one can afford it?

Uh, it's called Health Insurance. Even crappy jobs provide it.

 

[hatredg0d]

the republicans dont want it cuz they will have to pay more to help us (me being lower class). republicans want to stay as wealthy as possible. and i just wish my 40 hours a week could pay the rent.

 

[emigre]

I don't think people become doctors for the money but to help people. That doesn't seem to come into your equation.

Also the US isn't rated the top or anywhere near the top for healthcare. They're 37th according to the WHO.

the league table

an interesting read from the CEPR

Persoanally you just sounded ignorant to me. The reason why people move forward is becasue the previous status quo wasn't working, otherwise you stagnate. Money shouldn't drive people's hearts, I could have easily studied a subject that would result in the likelyhood in me getting a well payed job in the future. Instead I chose a subject I cared for and don't regret a thing. To enforce a capitalist philosphery in health where lives anf the quality of lives are at stake in morally wrong.

 

[Uncle FEFL]

I don't think people become doctors for the money but to help people. That doesn't seem to come into your equation.

Also the US isn't rated the top or anywhere near the top for healthcare. They're 37th according to the WHO.

the league table

an interesting read from the CEPR

Persoanally you just sounded ignorant to me. The reason why people move forward is becasue the previous status quo wasn't working, otherwise you stagnate. Money shouldn't drive people's hearts, I could have easily studied a subject that would result in the likelyhood in me getting a well payed job in the future. Instead I chose a subject I cared for and don't regret a thing. To enforce a capitalist philosphery in health where lives anf the quality of lives are at stake in morally wrong.

I agree. Going into a job for money does not make a happy human being.