[jumping doris]

Just read this online about Obama's stepmother:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...o-the-NHS.html

[Pipmeister]

Originally Posted by Jerseygirl What many Americans don't seem to realise is Brits have the NHS which is free at the point of service for every UK resident...plus very low cost meds...but they can also opt for private healthcare either by paying for it themselves or by having affordable healthcare insurance. It's not a one or the other system...Brits have the choice unlike most Americans.

Thank the Lord for Jersey Girl- this is what I keep screaming at the radio every time the likes of Rush Limbar, Sean Hennerty and those other blind right wing talk show hosts bash the UK healthcare system i.e. you can opt to have your own scheme to and have all the same benefits as the US (and for cheaper .. way way cheaper to) but poor people or people who have been made redundant or people on low incomes don't have to worry about getting help when they are sick.

To give you my example - I was paying the top rate of National Insurance contributions to the Governemnti.e. £281 about $420 - this covers all my medical, my pension payments, all housing and social benefits I could claim, unemployment benefits, heating allowance when I get old plus care for the elderly etc etc... the only time I ever have to pay for anything is around £6 ($10) for ANY prescription and £14 when I visit the dentist. You never pay anything else, well sometimes there are some supplementals for dentisty.

Ok - yes waiting times for some operations can be many weeks but as Jersey Girl stated you can ALSO opt to pay private and many firms do this for employees (of at least junior exec level) or you can do it yourself. I had it paid for me in my last two companies and the only deductible I had was about 1/5 of what I have had in the US. When I did pay the monthly premium myself it was around $90 per month... so I guess a total of $510 for ALL BENEFITS OF ANY KIND.

Also this figure of 85-90% of Americans all having health care... really? Really? (but is it adequate health care with such heavy deductables most people can't have basics done)?

I have just been laid off, for the first time in my life ... I no longer have health care but have just been offered this wonderfully reduced option call COBRA... for $450!!! Which also comes with such hefty deductibles I couldn't actually afford (right now) to go to the doctor or dentist if I could even afford the premiums... don't make me laugh.

The problem with the US adopting a National type of health care is that the medical profession, the pharmaceutical companies and the insurance companies (not to mention the colleges who make a fortune in medical tuition) are too set in their business model they can't now change. It's like the British Government trying to convince the Brits to swap the £ for the Euro - even if it made sense most wouldn't do it out of principle.

Here is my only personal example of the US system in action:
Back in December I strained my back muscles. I went to my US doctor (whom I had to select from the preferred list from my insurers and not the same one as my wife) and saw him for 5 minutes (and was charged $40 deductible) - he gave me a prescription for a week's worth of pills (cost $45) but said I needed to go for an MRI scan too ($250 deductible). For this I had to wait 2 days. I then had to go back to the Dr 4 days later for results (another $45) he said my spine was fine - I told him that the pills cleared up the spasms in 3 days. He then told me that I needed to get an ultra-sound on my kidneys as there was a tiny cyst seen on the MRI. Terrified in went to the hospital... another $250 deductible later.. then back to the Dr for the results... another $25 deductible only to be told - yep you are ok - they couldn't actually find anything - (and according to most medical journals 50% of people over 35 have at least one kidney cyst!!! They are very common and harmless).

End results... having spent a total of $650 a total of around8-9 hours of my time all I needed was 3 days worth of anti-inflammatory tablets and some rest. Ok - so perhaps you could say the Dr was only being extremely careful (what.. to avoid being sued... nahh..) however, under the UK NHS system you would have been given the pill first (if deemed not to be in any real danger) to see if they cleared up the problem then come back in a week. Result.. I would be $600 better off and the Government scheme would have saved about $1500 in insurance payments... net result $1500 saving to the tax payer.

My point - in the US the medical professions (and all) treat health care just like any other service - like servicing a car - you take it in for an oil change and before you know it they've sold you a new set of wheels and some snow tyres even though you live in Arizona.

The only real problem with the UK system is that with the expansion of the European Union to allow basically 2nd World countries free access to our healthcare without paying in for it it is now so very underfunded. BUT IT STILL WORKS!

[Pipmeister]

Sorry for that rant - I just needed to get it off my chest - and it should have really been posted on a forum not full of Expats! hahaha!

[Jsmth321]

Canadian style system (being closest country to the US) where there is no or very limited choice in healthcare and you have to use the public system and have no other choice is where I think many are getting their fear from.

If I say need a surgery and the wait is 7 months, my only option is to wait 7 months or go to the US or another country and pay cash, assuming one has that kind of money.

Just about everyone knew though that healthcare would be the single hardest item to reform.


I was paying the top rate of National Insurance contributions to the Governemnti.e. £281 about $420

Thats pretty cheap, here in BC a single person pays 672/yr and family of 3 pays 1,296 (CAD)/yr but that doesn't include anything like dental, vision, prescriptions or employment insurance or Canada pension which are all deducted seperate in addition to any supplemental insurance for dental, vision, medication that one may have.

Under 28k yr though receives premium subsidy ranging from 100% to 20%.

[Dan725]

Originally Posted by Pipmeister Sorry for that rant - I just needed to get it off my chest - and it should have really been posted on a forum not full of Expats! hahaha!

On the contrary, it's probably the best place to post it....I don't think you'll find too many people disagreeing with you on here!

If you want a real laugh, find yourself one of the right wing bigot US gun owner type forums, and post it up on there.....you'll get an altogether different response!

[saturn05]

As a native Italian, naturalized Canadian and American (currently living in Seattle) and having lived in England and Australia (what an anglophile uh??? ) I would like to chip in with my personal opinion in a wider context than just the healthcare issues.


America overall is an extremely selfish society...me, me and me...ohh and I forgot me....despite all the vaunted charity and philantropic organizations (many of them tax avoiding schemes)

The common mindset is that people are poor because they deserve to be poor...so why do I have to pay for their services???

What "we" consider selfishness, for "them" is healthy individualism

The American dream is to buy bigger cars (the domestic ones are mostly contraptions that self destruct after 3 years or so, just when your lease is up), bigger houses (construction quality in many cases it's just a notch above shoebox status), owning stuff....who dies with the most toys win...

Unfortunately the original "pioneer mentality" has been reinforced over and over by the ordes of desperados that arrived and continue to arrive to make America their homes.....the culture of extreme material accumulation is in the American DNA

Only in America a social reject joke like Ayn Rand could become a "philosopher"...there is even a think-thank dedicated to her.

I personally know people that lost everything (up to the point of pawning their wedding rings) that up to one year ago were flying high with 2 high end Range Rovers in their driveways, the usual by-the-book McMansion, etc..this particular family is the typical recurring common theme, brought down by reckless overspending..still they smile at you with sometimes idiotic optimism nowdays based mostly on nothing.... I will get everything back and then some...


Americans have the weakest safety net in the western world but, despite of this, they spend, spend and spend carelessly...As European I could never figure out this seemingly counterintuitive behaviour....little social protection should encourage savings (China is a good example).

Many middle-class Americans still believe in the "Frontier" myth (hard work and self reliance) and do not realize that the playing field is seriously tilted against them...I hope the wave of increasingly frequent financial scandals will wake them up.....the American economy increasingly run on the fumes of financial speculation

It makes my blood boil when the occasional dimwit tells me...."if we have all those issues why the "entire world" wants to come here??" My usual answer is...."I do not care if a piss poor Indian, Mexican or from whatever other third world country wants to live in the US, I can assure you that not many Europeans (Western), Canadians, Australians want to emigrate in America anymore....

Ironically, couple of years ago I was talking to an acquaintance of mine and he was veemently opposed to public healthcare "I do not want to pay more taxes"....typical "I got mine F*** You, thank you very much" attitude from the security of his over 6 figures Microsoft "some sort of Manager" position (everybody is a "manager" in Corporate America....when so many people draw 6+ figures salaries and are unable to explain to you what they really do you know that a country is in trouble) while sailing along Lake Washington with his 30 ft boat...

Well, I heard that he lost his job 6 months ago and he's still looking...I wonder what he would think of "socialized medicine" if he gets a heart attack and he has to sell his house and boat to pay the bills....

Even many ignorant poor are against a more progressive taxation because in their fantasy world, in the La-La land in their heads they think "I will be rich one day, so I do not want to pay more taxes!!!" (Joe The Plumber docet...)

Sometimes friends in Europe ask me how is life in America and if it is worth moving here....my usual response is "If you have some extraordinary skills heavily in demand then you can really do well and you will receive red carpet treatment, but God forbid you are not so special anymore you can be chewed and be spit out in no time with no mercy.....a smile and an "I'm sorry..now get out of the way".
And definitely is not a place where you want to be an employee....is good for entrepreneurs, again, with a solid plan and something of real value, if you look for work-life balance go elsewhere...You can fly high one day and brutally crash on the groud the next...unless you are a member of the privileged protected class...yes they do have classes in the American society despite whatever they say about the Brits...

Originally Posted by Dan725 ..... Some people I have met here really do think of Europe as communist,.....

One of the myth (or better say Bull****) is that the American capitalist system suffers from less "chronic" and "lower" unemployment rate than "sclerotic" old Europe...A little dislaimer...in America, according to the BLS, if you work one hour a week you are considered employed....I don't know in Britain but in Italy you have to work at least 20 hours a week to be considered employed....talking about lies, damned lies and statistics....


Sorry for the long rant but I'm pissed at the continuous attempt to be sold crap for Swiss chocolate....and America does a wonderful job of selling itself abroad for what is not


Someone did ask me few days ago if quality of life overall is better in USA or Australia (a Canadian looking to escape the harsh winter), I replied to him "There is even a contest???"

[Jsmth321]

Originally Posted by saturn05 As a native Italian, naturalized Canadian and American (currently living in Seattle) and having lived in England and Australia (what an anglophile uh??? ) I would like to chip in with my personal opinion in a wider context than just the healthcare issues. America overall is an extremely selfish society...me, me and me...ohh and I forgot me....despite all the vaunted charity and philantropic organizations (many of them tax avoiding schemes) The common mindset is that people are poor because they deserve to be poor...so why do I have to pay for their services??? What "we" consider selfishness, for "them" is healthy individualism The American dream is to buy bigger cars (the domestic ones are mostly contraptions that self destruct after 3 years or so, just when your lease is up), bigger houses (construction quality in many cases it's just a notch above shoebox status), owning stuff....who dies with the most toys win... Unfortunately the original "pioneer mentality" has been reinforced over and over by the ordes of desperados that arrived and continue to arrive to make America their homes.....the culture of extreme material accumulation is in the American DNA Only in America a social reject like Ayn Rand could become a "philosopher"...there is even a think-thank dedicated to her. I personally know people that lost everything (up to the point of pawning their wedding rings) that up to one year ago were flying high with 2 high end Range Rovers in their driveways, the usual by-the-book McMansion, etc..this particular family is the typical recurring common theme, brought down by reckless overspending..still they smile at you with sometimes idiotic optimism nowdays based mostly on nothing.... I will get everything back and then some... Americans have the weakest safety net in the western world but, despite of this, they spend, spend and spend carelessly...As European I could never figure out this seemingly counterintuitive behaviour....little social protection should encourage savings (China is a good example). Many middle-class Americans still believe in the "Frontier" myth (hard work and self reliance) and do not realize that the playing field is seriously tilted against them...I hope the wave of increasingly frequent financial scandals will wake them up.....the American economy increasingly run on the fumes of financial speculation It makes my blood boil when the occasional dimwit tells me...."if we have all those issues why the "entire world" wants to come here??" My usual answer is...."I do not care if a piss poor Indian, Mexican or from whatever other third world country wants to live in the US, I can assure you that not many Europeans (Western), Canadians, Australians want to emigrate in America anymore.... Ironically, couple of years ago I was talking to an acquaintance of mine and he was veemently opposed to public healthcare "I do not want to pay more taxes"....typical "I got mine F*** You, thank you very much" attitude from the security of his over 6 figures Microsoft "some sort of Manager" position (everybody is a "manager" in Corporate America....when so many people draw 6+ figures salaries and are unable to explain to you what they really do you know that a country is in trouble) while sailing along Lake Washington with his 30 ft boat... Well, I heard that he lost his job 6 months ago and he's still looking...I wonder what he would think of "socialized medicine" if he gets a heart attack and he has to sell his house and boat to pay the bills.... Even many ignorant poor are against a more progressive taxation because in their fantasy world, in the La-La land in their heads they think "I will be rich one day, so I do not want to pay more taxes!!!" (Joe The Plumber docet...) Sometimes friends in Europe ask me how is life in America and if it is worth moving here....my usual response is "If you have some extraordinary skills heavily in demand then you can really do well and you will receive red carpet treatment, but God forbid you are not so special anymore you can be chewed and be spit out in no time with no mercy.....a smile and an "I'm sorry..now get out of the way". And definitely is not a place where you want to be an employee....is good for entrepreneurs, again, with a solid plan and something of real value, if you look for work-life balance go elsewhere...You can fly high one day and brutally crash on the groud the next...unless you are a member of the privileged protected class...yes they do have classes in the American society despite whatever they say about the Brits... One of the myth (or better say Bull****) is that the American capitalist system suffers from less "chronic" and "lower" unemployment rate than "sclerotic" old Europe...A little dislaimer...in America, according to the BLS, if you work one hour a week you are considered employed....I don't know in Britain but in Italy you have to work at least 20 hours a week to be considered employed....talking about lies, damned lies and statistics.... Sorry for the long rant but I'm pissed at the continuous attempt to be sold crap for Swiss chocolate....and America does a wonderful job of selling itself abroad for what is not Someone did ask me few days ago if quality of life overall is better in USA or Australia (a Canadian looking to escape the harsh winter), I replied to him "There is even a contest???"

I'd go with Australia myself. But I am tired of North America in general.

Much of what you say in the longer post can and does apply to Canada as well.

Our safety net isn't much better.

[saturn05]

Originally Posted by Jsmth321 I'd go with Australia myself. But I am tired of North America in general. Much of what you say in the longer post can and does apply to Canada as well. Our safety net isn't much better.

Maybe...however in my 3 years spent in Vancouver I noticed that the safety net, to me, diud seems better than in US...to me the Canadian society appeared more "fair" than America.


Of course, in Vancouver a regular job cannot even get you an apartment but that is a different issue that affects Vanvouver in particular (huge internal and external immigration influx)

If I could I would go back to Australia in a heartbeat...

[Jsmth321]

Originally Posted by saturn05 Maybe...however in my 3 years spent in Vancouver I noticed that the safety net, to me, diud seems better than in US...to me the Canadian society appeared more "fair" than America. Of course, in Vancouver a regular job cannot even get you an apartment but that is a different issue that affects Vanvouver in particular (huge internal and external immigration influx) If I could I would go back to Australia in a heartbeat...

Guess it depends on what one calls a safety net.

I dont notice much difference then what was offered in California, suppose depends what state your familiar with.

Once I am working again, I am going back for a visit, never be able to move there, but I can visit...

[saturn05]

Originally Posted by Jsmth321 Guess it depends on what one calls a safety net. I am going back for a visit, never be able to move there, but I can visit...

If you do not mind me asking, Why not???


I don; tknow but the health care issue alone is already an huge differentiation with the US....

[Gepa]

The NHS that we have in the UK has its good points and bad points. As depending on what NHS Trust you fall under can also dictate what treatment you are entitled too as they have a budget to try to stick too. I live in Scotland so I benefit from Free Dentist check ups and Free Eye check ups. If I need treatment it is heavily discounted. I am due for a filling to be put in this will cost me around £16 which at the current exchange rate is $26.50. I belong to a good Medical Practice I can see the doctor generally the same day I phone for an appointment as there is 6 of them in the practice. I called the other week at 2:30pm in the afternoon and I was sitting speaking to the Doctor at 3:35pm Appointment was for 3:20pm but you got to wait sometimes. The prescription I got cost me a grand total of £4 which is around $6.60 for a months Supply to buy that over the counter it would have cost me £49.95 or $82.75. By 2011 in Scotland there will be no charge for Prescription medication.

The NHS has it's bad points as depending on what you need if it is non Urgent or Life Threatening it could be 6-18 months for an appointment but if it is life threatening it is done in a very quick timescale. My Grandmother was Diagnosed with Breast cancer on the 22nd December 08 Lump was removed Mid February 09. not bad for a free system. As per other posts if you want to pay for Private you can.

I think the NHS is a great service offered in the UK and a similar system may well work in the USA. I

[Jsmth321]

Originally Posted by saturn05 If you do not mind me asking, Why not??? I don; tknow but the health care issue alone is already an huge differentiation with the US....

For living in Australia its a money issue as well as a I dont really have anything to offer Australia, granted I haven't researched much, but without a degree or specific skill doubt they'd take me, unless I end up marrying an Australian gal but thats not likely, although I did end up marrying a Canadian and never thought I'd be living here, but we are not married anymore.

As for safety net, I more thinking along the lines of assistance when one become unemployed or homeless, type services which are about on par with what was offered in California.

I dont use healthcare system much, very rarely but I suppose if something happend and I was ill, but I had insurance down south too.

I am having a liver biopsy eventually, first test of the healthcare system other then the walk in clinics, never had anything done here before, will report back in 5-6 months......

[Mummy in the foothills]

Originally Posted by Jsmth321 For living in Australia its a money issue as well as a I dont really have anything to offer Australia, granted I haven't researched much, but without a degree or specific skill doubt they'd take me, unless I end up marrying an Australian gal but thats not likely, although I did end up marrying a Canadian and never thought I'd be living here, but we are not married anymore. As for safety net, I more thinking along the lines of assistance when one become unemployed or homeless, type services which are about on par with what was offered in California. I dont use healthcare system much, very rarely but I suppose if something happend and I was ill, but I had insurance down south too. I am having a liver biopsy eventually, first test of the healthcare system other then the walk in clinics, never had anything done here before, will report back in 5-6 months......

Do you mean what you were offered in BC is pretty much the same as in CA?
Cause I know that CA safety net is full of big fat holes compared to UK.

[Cal 74]

Hi all,
I regularly check in on this website but not often do I feel the need to post something. Except when it comes to healthcare. The crap I hear spouted about the UK's "Evil system" makes my blood boil.

Having lived here now for two years in the capitol of the old confederacy, I can say that I agree wholeheartedly with saturn05's summary of American society.

I have seen ostensibly normal people working themselves up into a frenzy extolling the evils of "Socialized Medicine" - a phrase I'd never heard of until I moved here.

I have had Americans tell me to my face that the NHS is "terrible" and "uncaring" despite having never been to the UK let alone lived there. They say this even after I've told them half my family work for the NHS.

When I point out that the public school system, the fire departments, libraries etc etc are all examples of 'socialism' I'm usually met with a stunned silence and a kind of gormless expression.

The majority of Americans I know have effectively been brainwashed decade after decade by a media and government that equates anything organized for the benefit of society as a whole, as socialism. And socialism is only one step away from communism. And communism is evil. It's pathetic. A sad McCarthyism leftover. I'm surprised we still don't see 'Duck and Cover' ads on TV.

Americans fear and loathe anything that impedes the pursuit and acquisition of lucre. Things like 'socialism'. Tell them that a fair and humane healthcare system is 'socialism' and they'll hate it.

I fear that any plan Obama tries to get through Congress is doomed to failure.

Rant over!

Originally Posted by saturn05 As a native Italian, naturalized Canadian and American (currently living in Seattle) and having lived in England and Australia (what an anglophile uh??? ) I would like to chip in with my personal opinion in a wider context than just the healthcare issues. America overall is an extremely selfish society...me, me and me...ohh and I forgot me....despite all the vaunted charity and philantropic organizations (many of them tax avoiding schemes) The common mindset is that people are poor because they deserve to be poor...so why do I have to pay for their services??? What "we" consider selfishness, for "them" is healthy individualism The American dream is to buy bigger cars (the domestic ones are mostly contraptions that self destruct after 3 years or so, just when your lease is up), bigger houses (construction quality in many cases it's just a notch above shoebox status), owning stuff....who dies with the most toys win... Unfortunately the original "pioneer mentality" has been reinforced over and over by the ordes of desperados that arrived and continue to arrive to make America their homes.....the culture of extreme material accumulation is in the American DNA Only in America a social reject joke like Ayn Rand could become a "philosopher"...there is even a think-thank dedicated to her. I personally know people that lost everything (up to the point of pawning their wedding rings) that up to one year ago were flying high with 2 high end Range Rovers in their driveways, the usual by-the-book McMansion, etc..this particular family is the typical recurring common theme, brought down by reckless overspending..still they smile at you with sometimes idiotic optimism nowdays based mostly on nothing.... I will get everything back and then some... Americans have the weakest safety net in the western world but, despite of this, they spend, spend and spend carelessly...As European I could never figure out this seemingly counterintuitive behaviour....little social protection should encourage savings (China is a good example). Many middle-class Americans still believe in the "Frontier" myth (hard work and self reliance) and do not realize that the playing field is seriously tilted against them...I hope the wave of increasingly frequent financial scandals will wake them up.....the American economy increasingly run on the fumes of financial speculation It makes my blood boil when the occasional dimwit tells me...."if we have all those issues why the "entire world" wants to come here??" My usual answer is...."I do not care if a piss poor Indian, Mexican or from whatever other third world country wants to live in the US, I can assure you that not many Europeans (Western), Canadians, Australians want to emigrate in America anymore.... Ironically, couple of years ago I was talking to an acquaintance of mine and he was veemently opposed to public healthcare "I do not want to pay more taxes"....typical "I got mine F*** You, thank you very much" attitude from the security of his over 6 figures Microsoft "some sort of Manager" position (everybody is a "manager" in Corporate America....when so many people draw 6+ figures salaries and are unable to explain to you what they really do you know that a country is in trouble) while sailing along Lake Washington with his 30 ft boat... Well, I heard that he lost his job 6 months ago and he's still looking...I wonder what he would think of "socialized medicine" if he gets a heart attack and he has to sell his house and boat to pay the bills.... Even many ignorant poor are against a more progressive taxation because in their fantasy world, in the La-La land in their heads they think "I will be rich one day, so I do not want to pay more taxes!!!" (Joe The Plumber docet...) Sometimes friends in Europe ask me how is life in America and if it is worth moving here....my usual response is "If you have some extraordinary skills heavily in demand then you can really do well and you will receive red carpet treatment, but God forbid you are not so special anymore you can be chewed and be spit out in no time with no mercy.....a smile and an "I'm sorry..now get out of the way". And definitely is not a place where you want to be an employee....is good for entrepreneurs, again, with a solid plan and something of real value, if you look for work-life balance go elsewhere...You can fly high one day and brutally crash on the groud the next...unless you are a member of the privileged protected class...yes they do have classes in the American society despite whatever they say about the Brits... One of the myth (or better say Bull****) is that the American capitalist system suffers from less "chronic" and "lower" unemployment rate than "sclerotic" old Europe...A little dislaimer...in America, according to the BLS, if you work one hour a week you are considered employed....I don't know in Britain but in Italy you have to work at least 20 hours a week to be considered employed....talking about lies, damned lies and statistics.... Sorry for the long rant but I'm pissed at the continuous attempt to be sold crap for Swiss chocolate....and America does a wonderful job of selling itself abroad for what is not Someone did ask me few days ago if quality of life overall is better in USA or Australia (a Canadian looking to escape the harsh winter), I replied to him "There is even a contest???"

[Cape Blue]

Originally Posted by saturn05 As a native Italian, naturalized Canadian and American (currently living in Seattle) and having lived in England and Australia (what an anglophile uh??? ) I would like to chip in with my personal opinion in a wider context than just the healthcare issues. America overall is an extremely selfish society...me, me and me...ohh and I forgot me....despite all the vaunted charity and philantropic organizations (many of them tax avoiding schemes) The common mindset is that people are poor because they deserve to be poor...so why do I have to pay for their services??? What "we" consider selfishness, for "them" is healthy individualism The American dream is to buy bigger cars (the domestic ones are mostly contraptions that self destruct after 3 years or so, just when your lease is up), bigger houses (construction quality in many cases it's just a notch above shoebox status), owning stuff....who dies with the most toys win... Unfortunately the original "pioneer mentality" has been reinforced over and over by the ordes of desperados that arrived and continue to arrive to make America their homes.....the culture of extreme material accumulation is in the American DNA Only in America a social reject joke like Ayn Rand could become a "philosopher"...there is even a think-thank dedicated to her. I personally know people that lost everything (up to the point of pawning their wedding rings) that up to one year ago were flying high with 2 high end Range Rovers in their driveways, the usual by-the-book McMansion, etc..this particular family is the typical recurring common theme, brought down by reckless overspending..still they smile at you with sometimes idiotic optimism nowdays based mostly on nothing.... I will get everything back and then some... Americans have the weakest safety net in the western world but, despite of this, they spend, spend and spend carelessly...As European I could never figure out this seemingly counterintuitive behaviour....little social protection should encourage savings (China is a good example). Many middle-class Americans still believe in the "Frontier" myth (hard work and self reliance) and do not realize that the playing field is seriously tilted against them...I hope the wave of increasingly frequent financial scandals will wake them up.....the American economy increasingly run on the fumes of financial speculation It makes my blood boil when the occasional dimwit tells me...."if we have all those issues why the "entire world" wants to come here??" My usual answer is...."I do not care if a piss poor Indian, Mexican or from whatever other third world country wants to live in the US, I can assure you that not many Europeans (Western), Canadians, Australians want to emigrate in America anymore.... Ironically, couple of years ago I was talking to an acquaintance of mine and he was veemently opposed to public healthcare "I do not want to pay more taxes"....typical "I got mine F*** You, thank you very much" attitude from the security of his over 6 figures Microsoft "some sort of Manager" position (everybody is a "manager" in Corporate America....when so many people draw 6+ figures salaries and are unable to explain to you what they really do you know that a country is in trouble) while sailing along Lake Washington with his 30 ft boat... Well, I heard that he lost his job 6 months ago and he's still looking...I wonder what he would think of "socialized medicine" if he gets a heart attack and he has to sell his house and boat to pay the bills.... Even many ignorant poor are against a more progressive taxation because in their fantasy world, in the La-La land in their heads they think "I will be rich one day, so I do not want to pay more taxes!!!" (Joe The Plumber docet...) Sometimes friends in Europe ask me how is life in America and if it is worth moving here....my usual response is "If you have some extraordinary skills heavily in demand then you can really do well and you will receive red carpet treatment, but God forbid you are not so special anymore you can be chewed and be spit out in no time with no mercy.....a smile and an "I'm sorry..now get out of the way". And definitely is not a place where you want to be an employee....is good for entrepreneurs, again, with a solid plan and something of real value, if you look for work-life balance go elsewhere...You can fly high one day and brutally crash on the groud the next...unless you are a member of the privileged protected class...yes they do have classes in the American society despite whatever they say about the Brits... One of the myth (or better say Bull****) is that the American capitalist system suffers from less "chronic" and "lower" unemployment rate than "sclerotic" old Europe...A little dislaimer...in America, according to the BLS, if you work one hour a week you are considered employed....I don't know in Britain but in Italy you have to work at least 20 hours a week to be considered employed....talking about lies, damned lies and statistics.... Sorry for the long rant but I'm pissed at the continuous attempt to be sold crap for Swiss chocolate....and America does a wonderful job of selling itself abroad for what is not Someone did ask me few days ago if quality of life overall is better in USA or Australia (a Canadian looking to escape the harsh winter), I replied to him "There is even a contest???"

I'd have to say that's all pretty much bang on the money.