american healthcare vs british healthcare and socialism

I suppose that the number of people with experience of both is limited: at one time I'd intended to do research in America, but I was warned that for a man with a young family it was madness: I could end up bankrupt. Certainly I have heard a whole host of (not publicly spread by media) anecdotes which make the US system sound horrific. Notably, the (American) friend of one of my family had a sort of fit in the street, and up came an ambulance, at speed, but the friend, coming round, said she couldn't possibly afford their vulture attendance, so they drove away and left her. There are a lot more where that came from. The key point, for me, was the truly MONSTROUS lies about the NHS put about by the Republicans: they convinced me that such people should never be believed by educated people, ever, about anything.

i will say that here in britain we actually find it pretty amusing how the conservatives in america keep wailing about how obama is communist for wanting universal healthcare, dont u guys realize that ur neigbour canada and ur closest ally britain also have universal healthcare and does that make us communist. i find it amazing that in america people are okay with a system that allows peole to become bankrupt or die simply because they cannot afford to pay for insurance. after reading the article i would like to read peoples thoughts regarding which system is better

I fully appreciate the linked article but those who write about very good experiences with socialized health care are not representative of the subject as neither are those who had terrible experiences with socialized health care. The truth is somewhere in the center as with most systems.

I know of people from both Britain and Canada who are forced to pay for additional insurance because of the occasional inadequacies of the governmental system. Essentials are what is usually treated and if you want much beyond that you need to go to another country. So, attitude is linked to experience and potential need.

While there are good doctors everywhere, those who are looking to making the most money will leave the socialist system for the free system offered in the US. Kuwait for example did not have a single resident neurosurgeon.

The health care debate is not isolated to the single issue of health care. We must and can regulate the power government has over its citizens. And that power is dictated by money in the form of taxes. The more programs we permit, the more permission we have given them to tax us, which opens the door to more waste, abuse, fraud and corruption.

What people in Canada and Britain should do is list what they have sacrificed for adopting, maintaining and fueling the concept of Socialism.

Highly taxed socialist countries lack what we take for granted. For example in Italy owning a clothes dryer, is a luxury because energy costs are enormous compared to what workers net after taxes. This is why post cards depicting Florance or Italian fishing villages always show full clothes lines.

As for communism is concerned, our government can regulate corporations but not take ownership or overtly place independently owned business out of business by offering better competition. Private ownership of property and business is a crucial difference between our system and communism. When Obama offers a government based health plan, he has just proposed taking business out of exclusive control of the private sector and made it government controlled. You now have a segment of communism. And in many ways, socialism looks and has the same effect with many people as does communism. There is no pure single ideology in practice.

So, for an American, there are many issues to consider having nothing directly to do with health care.

It is odd to talk to Americans who insist on describing rather right-wing-capitalist systems as 'socialist'.

Socialism is a method of tax redistribution through entitlement government programs. The U.S. is a mixed culture having social programs within a capitalist economic and political substructure. Also, "right-wing" is not linked to "capitalism" which is not linked to "socialism." These are as related to each other as apples is to cows and fish are to rocks.


The NHS is not perfect, but it is enormously more popular than any other British insititution, including the monarchy, and it costs half as much as the American system.

When I was in England, people opened up and explained in great detail the downside of NHS. But again, there attitudes were based on the type of individual experiences they had which lends to the overall view.


Admittedly doctors do not actually swear the Hipoocratic oath, but the number of greedy hypocrites who run off to make a bit more money out of people's misery is small.


Greed has nothing to do with it. If your an English neurosurgeon, you can live like a British dignitary here in the U.S., making infinitely more money. Now, wanting to provide more for your family and give your children extended opportunities is not greed--is it?


The Government does not run the NHS: it helps organise the resources paid for by national insurance, so that it is under democratic control.

Here is a quote you should consider: "NHS costs are met, via the PCTs, from UK government taxation, thus all UK taxpayers contribute to its funding." So, you should look this one up. This IS why Americans debate socialized medicine.


I admit I have no experience of the US system, but I've never met anyone here other than someone very rich indeed who thought it was better, lots of Americans who think it's immensely superior.

If you have an adequate wage, there are a multitude of programs you can buy here. There are only a small number of people who don't have health care and it is most often due to reasons that has followed them all their life.


I have had wonderful service myself, and I am not a man inclined to hyperbole.

'Socialism is a method of tax redistribution through entitlement government programs. The U.S. is a mixed culture having social programs within a capitalist economic and political substructure. Also, "right-wing" is not linked to "capitalism" which is not linked to "socialism." These are as related to each other as apples is to cows and fish are to rocks.'

Socialism is control of society by the working class, capitalism control of society by the bourgeois, for profit. A typical example of where you people use human words in Martian

The reason why we are at odds appears to be caused by you confusing ideologies. Socialism is a political ideology whereas capitalism focuses on property ownership and the dynamics of economics.


'Greed has nothing to do with it. If your an English neurosurgeon, you can live like a British dignitary here in the U.S., making infinitely more money. Now, wanting to provide more for your family and give your children extended opportunities is not greed--is it?'

Yes, obviously.

Well, that was my point. People who want a better life, travel the world to find it--regardless of where it is.

'Here is a quote you should consider: "NHS costs are met, via the PCTs, from UK government taxation, thus all UK taxpayers contribute to its funding." So, you should look this one up. This IS why Americans debate socialized medicine.'

What is 'socialised medicine'? A national insurance is socialized medicine. You really need to study these concepts before commenting. Paying into a national fund to be governmentally disbursed is a Socialistic practice.


We pay national insurance, as you know, so I don't know what you are talking about. It is just an immensely better form of insurance than yours, because not run for profit.

Again, we are talking about ideology, taxes, and democracy, as it relates to effectiveness. Just saying" ...an immensely better form of insurance than yours..," supplies only bias and certainly not information. You have your right to your opinion, but that's all it is.


'If you have an adequate wage, there are a multitude of programs you can buy here. There are only a small number of people who don't have health care and it is most often due to reasons that has followed them all their life. '

Many, many millions we hear - and vast numbers of bankruptcies. Since there is no reason for people to tell lies about the matter here, I prefer to believe those who don't have an axe to grind.

Ah--now your talking about our very Liberal media. We are at war here but it is an ideological theater of battle. Many here simply refuse to buy insurance knowing that no one will be turned away at a hospital--and that's the law. Others are young and healthy and can't see the importance. Others, are illegal aliens and do not have the documentation. However, there are people here who have lost jobs and their insurance with it still--there are inexpensive programs that are available. Also, keep in mind that the best economic climate demands a 5% unemployment rate. So, when we are at 9% that means that 91% of the countries workers ARE employed.

While many of the bankruptcies created innocent victims that is not all the story. Many knew that by depending on a future economy, buying a house was a risk. Most blamed themselves and just did not read the economy accurately.

So, you are not one for hyperbole? Those words in bold above in your comments indicate otherwise. In fact, exaggerated statements are throughout your posts. But you must revisit how NHS is funded and what percentage it represents of the overall tax burden in England.'


I don't live in England ,and the NHS is not paid for by tax, as you know. I never exaggerate.

Socialism is control of society by the working class, capitalism control of society by the bourgeois, for profit.