Please elaborate.

very cool man.

1980s? ... try the 1940s and you're more in the ballpark of when for-profit healthcare really took off.

While it's in vogue to blame Reagan for many things, this isn't one of them.

Nixon had a chance to nationalize the entire (VA and Medicare already are) healthcare system back nearly 40 years ago, but instead supported the big money interests of the healthcare industry with the introduction of HMOs.

Ron

Yep, that was a heroic thing to do.

nice thing u did! Respect & Kudos to ya!

no country can afford the cost of top notch healthcare for all its population - the Canadian system has major flaws, and the American system has major flaws. Whether it's the government paying for it through taxes or people paying for health insurance the cost is just too high to give everybody what they need and want.

it's only going to get worse as the population continues to age and medical advances are made which keep the sick living longer.

I'd be for socialized medicine as long as we reward and fund those who are in research trying to find new drugs and treatments.

If you want to see who is to blame, pick up your bank statement and walk to the mirror. The government worships at the same alter you do.

If you can't see the blood dripping from your own hands you are blind.


"We must become the change we want to see in the world."
-Mohandas Gandhi

I agree, but........
This guy was old as dirt, Mutt.

I have to think that after a certian point in life you should be taken care of, cost be damned.

I live in a country that spent around 65 million investigating Clintons blow job (but only around 12 million on sept. 11), Spends between 7 and 10 BILLION dollars a month in Iraq and Afganistan, and is considering bailing out a few major businesses who wouldn't need bailed out if thet knew how to run a business in the first place to the tune of a few extra billion dollars.:error

this guy should not have to worry about his medicine. :2 cents:

Well said. The true sign of a country's greatness is how they treat their sick, disabled, and elderly.

This is a thread close to my heart. Went through all the redtape and got a first class, hands on lesson in the american health care system while caring for my girls sicks father for 2 years until he finally past.

I'm not going to get into detail about the gripes that we dealt, but i'm curious on some points of view.

The american health care system is fucked....Canada's national health care has flaws from what i can tell just from people complaining about that. I don't know much about it, so i can't really form an opinion.

What is the best solution? What country is doing it right in your opinion? Obviously nothing is perfect, but what's the closest and why?

Well I can only speak from my very own experience:

- longer waiting times - YES

- doctors and healthcare workers are underpaid - YES

- quality of health care lower - NOT - don't confuse quality with luxury

- insurance is mandatory - YES

- everyone is insured and have to pay insurance by the law - YES

- price of an average mandatory insurance plan - cca 80 USD / month

- average price of meds - about 1/10 of the average price in US / most common and used meds are fully or almost fully covered by the mandatory insurance

- can get a bonus plan private insurance if preffering to pay more and save on wating time / more flexibility / home visits of the doctor etc. - YES

I don't think there is a definitive solution and I don't think there will be a system that wouldn't have certain people complaining at a certain point.

But at least you have a choice and you won't get harmed / ruined or even die because of not being eligible to insurance or for getting declined by the insurance company.