brett636, where did you get such weird facts? How many of you have actually been to even Canada, let alone other countries?
Do a little research, its out there. The comment about Spain came directly from a Cancer specialist here in the states.
In my State of America, I wait an average 3-4 weeks for a doctor's appointment, unless it was scheduled 12 months in advance. Then I know that my appointment is confirmed for next Fall. Then, if I just call around to see any doctor for an unscheduled issue, there is absolutely no possible way to get in with anyone. Most doctors are booked with a long, long line of patients.
While this maybe true in countries with socialized medicine, I have a hard time buying that this is occuring here. If I need to see a doctor I can leave my house now and be seen by my doctor in about an hour. No emergency room visit required, and I bet no Canadian can say the same.
We only rely on emergency care. This is why everyone has a false sense that you can get immediate health care in America. ER is outrageously expensive. Lots of countries have ERs, and it's possible that they have better emergency service levels. I've been to one ER in the US. It took 3 hours to get a minor issue taken care of...
The problems with socialized medicine are apparent in those that already recieve free heathcare courtesy of our government. Its those same people that are running to the emergency room for a runny nose that causes long delays for those that actually need treatment. If I need to go to an emergency room I can go downtown and wait 3-5 hours to be seen, or I can go to an emergency room in the hospital in the next county where they have less people on government health progams and get treated almost immediatly. As far as your issue you described above if it was minor why were you at the emergency room?
Yes, Europeans pay a lot in taxes for medical care, but I had a hernia surgery in Germany. It was a mandatory 2-week stay in the hospital with meals provided (and beer downstairs). In the US it's a darn ambulatory surgery! How ridiculous!
I don't know of any surgeries that are regularly carried out in an ambulance, but I do know hernia surgeries are usually outpatient deals without too many complications. The 2-week stay you mentioned is a gross waste for such a minor surgery, and a very good showing of why we don't want government run healthcare here. That 2-week stay is using up hospital resources that could be going towards people who really need it.
Insurance companies have raised the cost of medical care to an absolute maximum in this country. Why do people keep taking it? Why do we keep paying these crazy insurance rates? They are a lot higher than what the government would charge for tax. But God forbid we pay money to the government. We would rather stuff pockets of private companies that in some cases are willing to backstab people.
I would much rather my healthcare monies go towards private insurance companies than a government that will waste it on people who feel its their right to stay 2 weeks in a hospital for minor surgeries.
Why is everyone so anti-government? The only time people support the government is when we pour money into the Pentagon. Don't you see this funny connection here?
National defense should be the government's only real concern, and why it was created. National defense is the only thing the government gets right.
Maybe Hillary's plan is not so good, but give nationalized health care an opportunity. Personal health is a human right. This is why so many of us are so unhealthy. You may have to wait for certain surgeries in certain countries. In the US, we wait because we have no choice. Millions of us are without insurance, after all. Some of you UPS grunts with lots of years may not understand this. Our company is one of very few to provide such great benefits. Life is tough on the outside right now.
Atleast you got something right, and that is that hillarycare is not such a good plan. There are a lot of people without insurance, but what most don't understand is there are government progams that will cover them. Need prescriptions when you don't have insurance? The drug companies have programs for people who need medication but can't afford it. Also you cannot be refused medical treatment in this country. If you show up at an emergency room you will get treated.
Canada and European countries try to practice preventative care. We wait until we can't wait no more to fix ourselves.
I am an immigrant, and I accepted my American Government as my own. It does a lot of great things for everyone. If only it had support from it's own people, it could set a truly inspiring and positive tone for the entire world.
Do you even know why America is such a great country? I'll give you a hint, it has nothing to do with our government. America is all about the individual. Individual rights foster individual acheivements, and everyone benefits from this. The government only takes a problem and makes it worse, and that is why we don't want them invovled in our healthcare decisions.
