For those that watched the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, it was proof positive that 1) socialized medicine can be very popular (9 minute NHS tribute) 2) you can have single payer healthcare and it does not mean the end of capitalism or freedom. (England clearly has free elections, private enterprise and as the LIBOR scandal has pointed out, a banking industry just as corrupt as ours.)
You might be able to have the country you want if you can somehow get it through the thick heads of us Americans there are 27 countries that have better and cheaper healthcare systems than we do and their people and companies are not in shackles. In fact companies in these countries enjoy a competitive advantage because they do not have the burden of providing healthcare.
This. As I grew up in London, socialized medicine (in a socialized Democracy, it is NOT communism/Marxism, what a hoot) does work. However, we have corporations such as health insurance companies, pharmaceuticals, and many lobbyists striving to keep a multi-billion dollar industry going.
Also, we're one of the few first world nations that spend more than half their federal income on our military... for oil...
As a diabetic since 12 (now 35), I take excellent care of myself (test 12-15 or more times a day, 10-12 shots of insulin depending on my BG, I run/weight train and compete). However, as I have friends in the pharmaceutical industry (Merck, J&J to name a few), I hear stories all the time on how money is spent on R&D for treatments and very little for cures. This is a business model, as a pharm company will make more money off of a lifetime of medications and supplies than even one [expensive] cure. As a diabetic, I pay $500/month for health insurance with Blue Cross Excellus and I'm in great shape (A1C's average ~5.5, which is non-diabetic levels) and yet with full coverage I have to fight with Blue Cross on simple prescription coverage for insulin (something I take daily since 12) to other smaller issues that cost me time and money. They are trained to wear you down, but I'm like a dog with a bone and eventually I will win what I rightfully pay for every month.
Back in the U.K., I'm not spending a fortune on taxes for military spending, much of it goes towards healthcare and education - two area's that help create a stronger nation which benefits everyone. People in the U.S. are behind in their mentality, we live in a greedy, selfish country and refuse to look at the big picture. I am not speaking about handouts, people should work for what they need. However, when teachers are spending their own time and money in book exchanges for public schools as funding is consistently cut, when students are not given the attention and materials necessary to prepare them for college/higher education, how can we have a nation of employable citizens? If someone can go bankrupt from cancer, or can't afford hundreds of dollars a month for the treatment to live, how can a sick nation work?
So how is having a business whose interests are making money off keeping people ill better than the so-called "evil government"? Note that corporations have BECOME our government in recent years, the lines between them are beyond blurred. Just examine what happened with a lack of proper regulation in our banking system. My father was an investment banker with Bear Stearns, I knew Greenspan and other game players through him. Derivatives, betting against defaults, short selling - to them it's a game of monopoly and it's with YOUR money. Goldman Sachs practically controls our Federal Reserve, my god they're selling bonds to us at three times their value and making a killing! Look what our system did to Iceland, one of the BEST government systems in banking, when the private banks convinced Iceland to privatize their system in 2008. In less than a year the country suffered the worst economic collapse in their history, and the players than came in and ripped them off made out with BILLIONS.
Watch "Inside Job", an amazing, eye opening documentary on what happened leading up to the financial crisis of 2008. Going all the way back to Reaganomics and the failed "Trickle Down" policies, it is amazing! All the headplayers of AIG/Goldman Sachs got out just before the shizz hit the fan. Bernanke sold his shares and made off with millions and was then appointed head of our Federal Reserve. He's a *** ****'ed crook! Worse yet, a lot of the old, white men (truth) that ran this nation (and world) into the ground for their own greed are now teaching at Columbia, Harvard, Yale and Brown while being paid thousands for lectures. Having almost gone into Investment Banking, following in my fathers footsteps, and he (being a Republican and myself a moderate) watched "Inside Job" together and we both were impressed with how spot on it was. It deserved that Oscar. Matt Damon narrated for free and put up his own money to support the film as his own brother lost his house. Amazing.
