What's your favorite thing about the US?
Apr 20th 2012, 9:40 pm
#316
Misses Los Angeles
Joined: Dec 2010
Location: London
Posts: 436
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
(If someone spends their entire life unemployed, they're getting a free ride, but that's a bigger issue than just healthcare.)
Apr 20th 2012, 10:07 pm
#318
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,022
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
Apr 20th 2012, 10:16 pm
#319
Misses Los Angeles
Joined: Dec 2010
Location: London
Posts: 436
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
So, not quite everyone contributes, but it's as close to everyone as possible. Everyone who works or has worked!
Apr 20th 2012, 10:21 pm
#320
Misses Los Angeles
Joined: Dec 2010
Location: London
Posts: 436
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
In Germany, you can get in deep Scheiße for addressing a policeman with 'Du' (informal) instead of 'Sie' (formal). I think it's a 500 Euro fine or something. Although I doubt disrespecting the police in the States is a good idea, either...
Apr 20th 2012, 11:43 pm
#325
Misses Los Angeles
Joined: Dec 2010
Location: London
Posts: 436
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
Yup, okay: adults. And children receiving NHS care are assumed to work in the future.
I don't think that's outrageous. I know there are plenty of people in sporadic employment, and plenty who are long-term unemployed. But I seriously doubt there is a considerable proportion of society who will never, ever work, from age 18 to 65. I'd consider people in that position to be outliers.
Sure, people who've only done a bit of work haven't contributed a proportional amount to the NHS. But I don't begrudge them medical care, and if you're going to collect health funding via income tax (and, as Bob said, VAT) the fact that some people work very little has to be allowed for in the system.
I think one of the biggest excuses for the appalling American healthcare provision system is this assumption that there are already zillions of people doing f%ck all and getting a free ride, and that if healthcare were universally available, even more people would do so. If the UK is so full of never-worked-in-their-lives dossers, then I'm not sure how it has the world's 7th biggest economy.
I don't think that's outrageous. I know there are plenty of people in sporadic employment, and plenty who are long-term unemployed. But I seriously doubt there is a considerable proportion of society who will never, ever work, from age 18 to 65. I'd consider people in that position to be outliers.
Sure, people who've only done a bit of work haven't contributed a proportional amount to the NHS. But I don't begrudge them medical care, and if you're going to collect health funding via income tax (and, as Bob said, VAT) the fact that some people work very little has to be allowed for in the system.
I think one of the biggest excuses for the appalling American healthcare provision system is this assumption that there are already zillions of people doing f%ck all and getting a free ride, and that if healthcare were universally available, even more people would do so. If the UK is so full of never-worked-in-their-lives dossers, then I'm not sure how it has the world's 7th biggest economy.
Last edited by MoshiMoshi; Apr 20th 2012 at 11:49 pm.
Apr 20th 2012, 11:48 pm
#326
Misses Los Angeles
Joined: Dec 2010
Location: London
Posts: 436
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
My favorite, or favourite, things about the US are: California, lovely mid-priced restaurants, strong cocktails, Californian weather, dolphins, Californian beaches, coupons, the University of California, Mexican food, pulled pork, customer service, huge supermarkets, Californian wineries, Halloween costumes for pets, and palm trees.
If anyone wants to continue discussing healthcare, I'll see you on another thread. I have this weird feeling that everything we're arguing here has been said before...
Apr 20th 2012, 11:51 pm
#328
Forum Regular
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 66
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
Yup, okay: adults. And children receiving NHS care are assumed to work in the future.
I don't think that's outrageous. I know there are plenty of people in sporadic employment, and plenty who are long-term unemployed. But I seriously doubt there is a considerable proportion of society who will never, ever work, from age 18 to 65. I'd consider people in that position to be outliers.
Sure, people who've only done a bit of work haven't contributed a proportional amount to the NHS. But I don't begrudge them medical care, and if you're going to collect health funding via income tax (and, as Bob said, VAT) the fact that some people work very little has to be allowed for in the system.
I think one of the biggest excuses for the appalling American healthcare provision system is this assumption that there are already zillions of people doing f%ck all and getting a free ride, and that if healthcare were universally available, even more people would do so. If the UK is so full of never-worked-in-their-lives dossers, then I'm not sure how it has the world's 7th biggest economy.
I don't think that's outrageous. I know there are plenty of people in sporadic employment, and plenty who are long-term unemployed. But I seriously doubt there is a considerable proportion of society who will never, ever work, from age 18 to 65. I'd consider people in that position to be outliers.
Sure, people who've only done a bit of work haven't contributed a proportional amount to the NHS. But I don't begrudge them medical care, and if you're going to collect health funding via income tax (and, as Bob said, VAT) the fact that some people work very little has to be allowed for in the system.
I think one of the biggest excuses for the appalling American healthcare provision system is this assumption that there are already zillions of people doing f%ck all and getting a free ride, and that if healthcare were universally available, even more people would do so. If the UK is so full of never-worked-in-their-lives dossers, then I'm not sure how it has the world's 7th biggest economy.
How many horror stories do you want me to relay about my UK-based family who were either denied treatment (too old), weren't given simple medications (such as diuretics), could not get regular follow-up appointments, or had to wait ages for hip replacements, etc.
The American system is more expensive - but the quality of care here is second-to-none. If I had a choice of going into debt to pay for a procedure - or simply not having the option to have it done - I'd choose Option #1. Thankfully, those of us who plan ahead a bit are able to secure good healthcare from our employers. But again, personal responsibility is something that most Americans enjoy - and dare I say - why people who REALLY want to be here, came.
Apr 20th 2012, 11:53 pm
#329
SUPER MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 88,022
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
British healthcare is inferior. Period.
How many horror stories do you want me to relay about my UK-based family who were either denied treatment (too old), weren't given simple medications (such as diuretics), could not get regular follow-up appointments, or had to wait ages for hip replacements, etc.
The American system is more expensive - but the quality of care here is second-to-none. If I had a choice of going into debt to pay for a procedure - or simply not having the option to have it done - I'd choose Option #1. Thankfully, those of us who plan ahead a bit are able to secure good healthcare from our employers. But again, personal responsibility is something that most Americans enjoy - and dare I say - why people who REALLY want to be here, came.
How many horror stories do you want me to relay about my UK-based family who were either denied treatment (too old), weren't given simple medications (such as diuretics), could not get regular follow-up appointments, or had to wait ages for hip replacements, etc.
The American system is more expensive - but the quality of care here is second-to-none. If I had a choice of going into debt to pay for a procedure - or simply not having the option to have it done - I'd choose Option #1. Thankfully, those of us who plan ahead a bit are able to secure good healthcare from our employers. But again, personal responsibility is something that most Americans enjoy - and dare I say - why people who REALLY want to be here, came.
Apr 20th 2012, 11:53 pm
#330
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,847
Re: What's your favorite thing about the US?
One of the things I do appreciate about many in the US is a sense of optimism, that it's OK to try and better yourself, and that if you do, it will be celebrated, rather than berated by the butt wipes at the Daily Mail and other smegma rags claiming to be paragons of journalism.
What I also like is the crazy ways some people try to better themselves, and that the unbridled optimism that propelled them to giddy heights of utter failure provide sad people like me with some entertainment along the lines of "did he really, honestly think that would work, really??!!"
What I also like is the crazy ways some people try to better themselves, and that the unbridled optimism that propelled them to giddy heights of utter failure provide sad people like me with some entertainment along the lines of "did he really, honestly think that would work, really??!!"