quote:

ORIGINAL: Sanity


The UK has got all kinds of socialist programs. And the UK has gone totally broke, too.  I believe it was Thatcher who once said that the problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other peoples money.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DCWoody

@BKsir, americans already pay more for healthcare from the govt (ie taxes), to cover...whatever% of the population than we pay in the UK altogether, to cover 100% of population and privately.

@willbe "There is no such thing as a large scale well run government system."
This is, to me, obviously incorrect.....but it is the most logical argument against, usa govt isn't exactly famed for competence. Realise however, that things do not have to be that way. There are....as has been mentioned.....many people, from all wealthy nations...who do have UHC systems....even the badly run ones are better than the american system. Just to mindlessly say 'it wouldn't work' for whatever reason is rather missing the point that it DOES work. Everywhere. Of the ~200 nations in the world, you can not name even one, which has a worse system for the money put in.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Aneirin

I suppose it all depends on your point of view as to what money and resources are for, the good of the singular at the expense of the many, or the good of the many and not much money around, me personally I feel there is no point in resources if we cannot all share what there is. I am for a poorer, but happier country than a wealthy country with extremes of rich and poor.

The UK might well be is shit street regards finance, but from all we hear here, Americas is in it deeper than us, which is worrying, because of what happens in America happens later everywhere else, the US economy has it's victims world wide.

quote:

ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lucylastic

Sounds like you need a better run government system

There is no such thing as a large scale well run government system.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sanity


Whats happening in the US is worrying to everyone, primarily because the children in charge here seem to think that the answer to everything is even more and more of these insane levels of deficit spending.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Sanity


Whats happening in the US is worrying to everyone, primarily because the children in charge here seem to think that the answer to everything is even more and more of these insane levels of deficit spending.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Aneirin

I suppose it all depends on your point of view as to what money and resources are for, the good of the singular at the expense of the many, or the good of the many and not much money around, me personally I feel there is no point in resources if we cannot all share what there is. I am for a poorer, but happier country than a wealthy country with extremes of rich and poor.

The UK might well be is shit street regards finance, but from all we hear here, Americas is in it deeper than us, which is worrying, because of what happens in America happens later everywhere else, the US economy has it's victims world wide.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DCWoody

In case you didn't notice I'll repeat with figures: The UK govt spends 15.8% of revenue on the NHS, a high quality UHC system. The usa govt spends 18.5% of revenue on covering a minority of the population.

quote:

ORIGINAL: rulemylife

quote:

ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy

quote:

ORIGINAL: Lucylastic

Sounds like you need a better run government system

There is no such thing as a large scale well run government system.

Unless it is something you approve of.

quote:

ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy

quote:

ORIGINAL: DCWoody

In case you didn't notice I'll repeat with figures: The UK govt spends 15.8% of revenue on the NHS, a high quality UHC system. The usa govt spends 18.5% of revenue on covering a minority of the population.

Usually "minority" means <50%, not the >90% of those who want to be covered and are not illegal.

quote:

The usa govt spends 18.5% of revenue on covering a minority of the population. You can't criticise our system for costing too much because it is MUCH cheaper than yours.

quote:

ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy
Usually "minority" means <50%, not the >90% of those who want to be covered and are not illegal.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DCWoody

quote:

ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy

quote:

ORIGINAL: DCWoody

In case you didn't notice I'll repeat with figures: The UK govt spends 15.8% of revenue on the NHS, a high quality UHC system. The usa govt spends 18.5% of revenue on covering a minority of the population.

Usually "minority" means <50%, not the >90% of those who want to be covered and are not illegal.

I literally do not understand what you are trying to say.
It might help if I tell ya that AFAIK the USA government programs cover ~30% of the population, which is a minority.

quote:

ORIGINAL: DCWoody

You appear to be sort of agreeing with me in a way which makes it seem very much like you're disagreeing with me. :)

quote:

ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy

quote:

ORIGINAL: DCWoody

quote:

ORIGINAL: willbeurdaddy

quote:

ORIGINAL: DCWoody

In case you didn't notice I'll repeat with figures: The UK govt spends 15.8% of revenue on the NHS, a high quality UHC system. The usa govt spends 18.5% of revenue on covering a minority of the population.

Usually "minority" means <50%, not the >90% of those who want to be covered and are not illegal.

I literally do not understand what you are trying to say.
It might help if I tell ya that AFAIK the USA government programs cover ~30% of the population, which is a minority.

18.5% of GDP is not just the government portion that is the total expenditure on health care, (A statistic which is misleading to start with). I believe the 15.8% is NHS only, which isnt the total UK expenditure, there is some privately paid care, but close enough to total. Saying our 18.5% is only for 30% is simply wrong.

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

The Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index reveals that currently 29.0% of adult Americans who have health insurance get their coverage through the government, a percentage which has increased since early 2008.
.............

In June, 77.2% of those aged 65 and older report getting health insurance coverage through a government plan versus 15.0% of those ages 18 to 64.
...........

government health coverage in both age groups has been increasing, pushing the current total percentage of Americans aged 18 and older with health insurance through a government program to 29.0% in June.

http://www.gallup.com/poll/121970/Nearly-Insured-Government-Coverage-2008.aspx

quote:

ORIGINAL: tazzygirl

quote:

ORIGINAL: DCWoody

You appear to be sort of agreeing with me in a way which makes it seem very much like you're disagreeing with me. :)

Thats because i am, but im not.

Preventative care is by far the cheapest way to give health care. Governments with a national health care system can keep costs lower by giving prevention, instead of curative.

20% of health care dollars in the US is paid out for administration. Leaving 80% for health care. In recent years we have seen billions spent by health care industries in many forms to battle the Health Care Law. IF that money was so readily available to battle a political entity, why wasnt it available to those who paid into their systems for their actual health care problems?

Our health system is so crooked its not even funny. Comparing it to any other just wont work because our system is too into the profits and not into the care of the population as a whole.