"Evil and Orwellian"

[Eskay]

I've been leafing through the newspapers today and found this lovely little article:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/aug/11/nhs-united-states-republican-health

Something about this annoyed me greatly. The Republicans used to love us as the one country stupid enough to go along with their plans. Now they're out of power it seems they'll start attacking old allies to boost their propaganda machine.

I think the real issue I have is the factual errors. Fair criticism is all very well and good, I welcome it. No one here would deny that the NHS has a long way to go, but this isn't what is going on. Insulting another countries system to grab a few political points is one thing, making up outright lies to do so is another entirely.

Can anyone justify this, or is it the standard "faux" news spewing drivel I'm starting to expect from the Republicans?

 

[walls of cetepedes]

No-one gets to insult the NHS except us Brits!

Although it has it's problems, at least it's free.

 

[Jirlond]

Tax funded health care is better than no health care or care you cannot afford, and wont get as a result of not being able to afford it.

 

[LongAndShort]

shit, Australia's 32 on the WHO list. Oh well, still better (and cheaper) than being in America.

 

[L4hlborg]

Tax funded health care is better than no health care or care you cannot afford, and wont get as a result of not being able to afford it.

The idea of a working health care is that:

You have free tax founded health care

AND

Expensive private health care.

This way you can get service in an equal and free, but slow way, or you can pay more for immediate care for stuff that even doesn't necessarily need immediate attention. I think this works, as long as both of them have good quality.

 

[DrunkWithPower]

No-one gets to insult the NHS except us Brits!

Although it has it's problems, at least it's free.

*sigh* free healthcare, too bad it's considered socialism (a sin) in America. I hate the right wing sometimes.

 

[El Poncho]

A dental patient to mend his teeth with superglue?

Are they retarded or something seriously. They are just jealous because it is free

 

[Casual Shinji]

I think America is a great country.

But if I lived there, I'd be SOOOOOO sh*t outta luck!

 

[Dahemo]

I'm British but this is just typical Republican scare-mongering, what saddens me is that it's never been this bad before. The Republicans were out the door five minutes then started loudly decrying everything Obama did, creating horrific fallacies to fool people into believing the outlandish tales, of which this is but a drop in the ocean. I don't think Clinton ever got such strong opposition so early, I'm sure his plans weren't greeted as conspiracies or evil.

Obviously with a lower rated healthcare system (consistent throughout the Bush-era) than the UK, it is exceedingly rich to cast aspersions from a US perspective, especially one vehemenently opposed to reform.

The only thing that worries me here is that Obama's approval ratings have dropped. This actually beggars belief, and means that after months of "No Stimulus!", "No Healtcare!", "No Abortions!" the people are starting to listen to the party of no. The party with no ideas of it's own, just a staunch opposition to whatever the President is doing. I can't think of a sadder indictment of western politics than Michelle Bachmann, Sarah Palin, Mark Stamford, Bobby Jindall, Cheney, Bush...the list goes on, but unfortunately, it never stops. There is always a new moron, or worse, a new intelligent fear-monger whipping up the crowds with lies, half-truths and barely concealed racial slurs...

 

[Avernus]

Politics through fear, ugh.

I'm used to a socialist system here in Canada, but I think DVSAurion has the right of it when he mentions the two tier system. (and no, I wouldn't be one of those to afford the good stuff)

 

[Eskay]

No-one gets to insult the NHS except us Brits!

Although it has it's problems, at least it's free.

*sigh* free healthcare, too bad it's considered socialism (a sin) in America. I hate the right wing sometimes.

The Democrats spin issues as well I'm sure, just the Republican stuff always seems worse. The arguments just preclude the idea of any genuine debate. Theres no concept of two sides to an argument.

This annoys me as its fundamentally patronising; the idea that if your supporters are exposed to a conflicting idea of any form they'll defect. this is a weakness in itself and I feel far nore likely to push people away when they finally experience other points of view. They won't know how to defend their positions, simply spew the party line.

I also despise any politician willing to use the word "evil", it shows a desperate need to grow the fuck up.

 

[DrunkWithPower]

No-one gets to insult the NHS except us Brits!

Although it has it's problems, at least it's free.

*sigh* free healthcare, too bad it's considered socialism (a sin) in America. I hate the right wing sometimes.

The Democrats spin issues as well I'm sure, just the Republican stuff always seems worse. The arguments just preclude the idea of any genuine debate. Theres no concept of two sides to an argument.

This annoys me as its fundamentally patronising; the idea that if your supporters are exposed to a conflicting idea of any form they'll defect. this is a weakness in itself and I feel far nore likely to push people away when they finally experience other points of view. They won't know how to defend their positions, simply spew the party line.

I also despise any politician willing to use the word "evil", it shows a desperate need to grow the fuck up.

Oh yeah, they do, but I agree with "war is bad." I like the "I also despise any politician willing to use the word 'evil'", it's ironic. Politician = evil.

 

[lenin_117]

No-one gets to insult the NHS except us Brits!

Although it has it's problems, at least it's free.

OOOOOOHH. It isn't though. You pay for it with your taxes. Didn't you get the brochure?

 

[lenin_117]

A dental patient to mend his teeth with superglue?

Are they retarded or something seriously. They are just jealous because it is free

Not free. Comes out of your taxes.

 

[walls of cetepedes]

No-one gets to insult the NHS except us Brits!

Although it has it's problems, at least it's free.

OOOOOOHH. It isn't though. You pay for it with your taxes. Didn't you get the brochure?

Yep, it's INCLUDED in the tax. America has to pay separately.

 

[lenin_117]

No-one gets to insult the NHS except us Brits!

Although it has it's problems, at least it's free.

*sigh* free healthcare, too bad it's considered socialism (a sin) in America. I hate the right wing sometimes.

NOT FREE

 

[Kevvers]

Yeah, I saw Glen Beck on basically comparing proponents of public healthcare to eugenicists and nazis. Its not true, in Britain all of my Grandparents had NHS care, including my nearly blind grandmother who is in her 90s. So all their talk about people killing off the very old and young is untrue, in Britain everyone gets treated the same by the NHS, especially the elderly.

I suspect the real reason they don't like it is because everyone gets equal treatment rather than a system where the amount of health care you receive is proportional to your ability to pay - they don't like the idea that resources might be being diverted away from those who can afford it to those who can't. I don't agree with that underlying premise that money indicates your worth to society.

 

[lenin_117]

No-one gets to insult the NHS except us Brits!

Although it has it's problems, at least it's free.

OOOOOOHH. It isn't though. You pay for it with your taxes. Didn't you get the brochure?

Yep, it's INCLUDED in the tax. America has to pay separately.

Thats my point. Your taxes are approximately one health insurance fee higher then they would be w/o it.

 

[walls of cetepedes]

No-one gets to insult the NHS except us Brits!

Although it has it's problems, at least it's free.

OOOOOOHH. It isn't though. You pay for it with your taxes. Didn't you get the brochure?

Yep, it's INCLUDED in the tax. America has to pay separately.

Thats my point. Your taxes are approximately one health insurance fee higher then they would be w/o it.

Yes, but you're paying the government directly, rather than a greedy third-party company.

 

[lenin_117]

No-one gets to insult the NHS except us Brits!

Although it has it's problems, at least it's free.

OOOOOOHH. It isn't though. You pay for it with your taxes. Didn't you get the brochure?

Yep, it's INCLUDED in the tax. America has to pay separately.

Thats my point. Your taxes are approximately one health insurance fee higher then they would be w/o it.

Yes, but you're paying the government directly, rather than a greedy third-party company.

And you get shit coverage as expected. Good coverage would cost too much.