Shonky wrote:I've never understood why one of the richest, most technologically advanced countries in the world doesn't have a national health care service
Health care isn't free in this country by the way, apart from the tens of billions (might even be £100bn or more) of pounds of tax revenue thrown into it, you also have to pay for dental appointments and (I think) eye tests. And prescriptions of course.
Plus most of the improvements made to the service in the last ten years have been from increased private sector involvement which means that the money is spent more inefficiently and at greater expense.
Really sorry to hear about your problems Thought Bombing, that's really so fucked up, universal health care should be standard in civilised nations. I thought Clinton was supposed to be pushing for this way back, but people that'd been paying into health insurance didn't see why they should pay and poor people shouldn't - which seems to be intensely selfish - can anyone give some more detail about this?
the insurance lobby is POWERFUL and puts a ton of money into campaign coffers. the fact is, american policy is being driven by private interests and the people are being left out entirely. you can vote for whomever you want, but rest assured that they are already beholden to private interests, and those come first. it's a disaster.
the sad fact is that it's not just the poorest of the poor having problems now. insurance premiums have gone up for everyone, and the middle class is staggering under the weight of that as well. most people in this country are one major illness away from complete bankruptcy.
big companies that provide insurance coverage to their workers are hurting now too. a good chunk of big employers like the automobile industry seem to be supporting nationalized health insurance as well, because they are paying out the nose for it too.
what has always killed me (pun intended) is the link between employment and healthcare, as if those who (for whatever reason) are unemployed are undeserving of basic care. but now, even full-time employment guarantees you nothing. i have been in the work force for 17 years and have NEVER had the option option for health insurance. finally i am getting a promotion at my job that gives me benefits, but now the issue is still "can i afford the rates?". i work for a non-profit, and i don't make a shit ton.
sadly, as long as our government operates the way it does now, i can't see nationalized health insurance being any better. and you know if we ever get it, they will just re-privatize it (they privatized social services here in indiana recently...yeah, let's put corporations who only want to make money in charge of "helping" those who have very little...great idea!) and we'll be back to square one.
gah!!!! this whole topic just makes me soooo mad.
i blame dubstep. 
