Report

Off topic: Rachel Maddow Video - health care

Off Topic Chat

Josh started this discussion 15 years 3 months ago

I can't get the sound to work on my computer and haven't watched this video, but the description of this video on Reddit reminded me of what Santa Klaus was saying in another thread about Democratic majority backing down to Republican minority:

Whats your take on the health care issue in the US?

Comments

Report

Scotch Argus

15 years

The issue has been big in the news in the UK due adverts in the USA placed by right wing groups and the health lobby attacking the NHS (National Heath Sevice) in the UK. It's funny because a lot of the time people complain about the NHS in this country, but now the attcks are coming from another country everyone is rallying round saying how great it is. Personally as a minimun wage employee (classed as working poor I guess) I have had free health care, prescriptions and dental in the UK, and never waited more than a few weeks for any procedure - and none of those were even urgent. (This may be partly due to living in a rural area where the hospital isn't totally overstretched - I can't vouch for big city hosptials at all).

I know people on good wages with good health insurance in the USA who have to pay out large amounts (co-payments?) on top of their insurance that is supposed to cover them. I don't know any uninsured, but I don't imagine they're too well off. We had a guy staying a few years ago from the USA, Oregon I think, and he had a problem where his jaw would dislocate all the time. He was told he needed an MRI scan, but that it would cost $3000, which he said he didn't have, and he was uninsured. He was hoping to stay in the UK long enough so as he could get it done here, although as a tourist this wouldn't be strictly legal. How he got on I'm not sure.

Report

santa klaus

15 years

Whats your take on the health care issue in the US?

That is a disturbing video. My take? I`m glad I don´t live in a Banana Republic like the USA.

A meaningful healthcare reform was one of the very few things Obama spoke about all the time on the campaign trail. He was elected for that, and the Dem majority in Congress was elected for that as well.

Compared to what we have in Europe, Obama´s plan was a bad joke to start with, but hey, you gotta start somewhere. After all, you can´t launch a nationalized health care system when the government is broke and the economy is in deep shit. Wait, the UK did exactly that in 1946. :confused:

Now, the "Public Option" seems to be dead. Right? Nothing is going to change. I can´t believe the Obama administration gives up a cornerstone of their election platform without a fight. I can´t believe they even bother to bargain with the Repiglicans - they don´t want to bargain about anything and are not needed for anything anyway. WTF?

I´m not surprised about the blatant lies and fearmongering of the Repiglicans. That´s nothing new. Nothing is too low for them. Just remember the manipulated election in 2000, the Swiftboat campaign, the exploitation of terror scare for their own ends. I´m not surprised how silly their lies are, like the one about the "death panels", or the one about Stephen Hawking, who, they say, would not have survived in Britain with the British health care system. Nevermind that he has spent his entire life in the UK and the NHS hasn´t managed to kill him. Rumors about his death decades ago are wildly exaggerated. The majority of Americans are stupid Neanderthals, so why bother with sophisticated lies.

If Obama fails to deliver (like Clinton!), he is going to be dead meat. The majority in Congress will be gone next year and he can forget re-election. Unless, of course, he finds a country to invade, so the Neanderthals have a reason to rally behind their supreme Neanderthal.

Get rid of the idiot in the White house and elect Sarah. At least, she´s a great laugh.

Search form

Report 'Off topic: Rachel Maddow Video - health care'?

Report 'Re: Off topic: Rachel Maddow Video - health care'?

Report 'Re: Off topic: Rachel Maddow Video - health care'?

Join the world's largest community of hostel professionals.

Check Your Email