Originally Posted by Steve_

I was on a sharp downhill slope going into Butte and I was pretty much standing on the brake because of the gradient. Anyway behind said mountain was a State Trooper who clocked me at 85mph.

Originally Posted by Steve_

This is American fantasy talk, and fantasy talk from someone who clearly hasn't had many health issues that needed to be dealt with.

I am a very unhealthy person and have been in hospital literally more times than I can recall, including in various US states, the UK, Canada and various European countries.

The worst place was Florida, they seemed to assume that because I'm white I had health insurance, but I hadn't so the bill came to me rather than the insurance company and when I got it, basically every procedure in the ER that day was listed on the bill, which was clear fraud and after I threatened to go to the police all I had to pay for was the ambulance ($1,500).

I've had problems with the NHS, but they pale into insignificance to dealing with any problems I've had in the US. For example one of my prescriptions costs $30 over-the-counter in Canada (i.e. without a drug plan), in the US the cheapest I've found it is $125 (and that was a struggle, usually it's around $150+) and with a pre-existing condition only the PCIP would cover me (Obama's socialist plan), and the max coverage on that plan is 50% of drug costs. And that is something I use a lot of.

Trust me I've had some shitty healthcare, I remember in Wales once I was dumped on a bench in the back of an ambulance and woke up in some tiny hospital. Or one time I was in an NHS hospital that was truly filthy.

But on the other hand the GP I had in Florida was featured on Penn & Teller's Bullshit for inventing the condition of "adrenal stress".

I went into a clinic in Phoenix not long ago and because I only had travel insurance they quoted me $250 to have my ear syringed, FFS.

If you want to say I'd rather have quality and be bankrupt, quality varies from place to place in the US, I had excellent care in California for example, okay care in Georgia, but Florida was really bad and this is in a State with a massive healthcare industry.

Talk to people on Medicare who can't get a family doctor in various rural areas of the US and see if they think US healthcare is the best in the world.

Originally Posted by paranoidandroid

They've been brainwashed into American laziness.

Originally Posted by paranoidandroid

Plenty of good points there.
It always makes me laugh that the ignorant people that blab on about the high quality of US healthcare, seem to forget that if you actually want to pay for Health Insurance in the UK and go private, it's always an option.

Originally Posted by SultanOfSwing

As far as the standard/quality of the care provided by the doctors (or if we're honest about it, the nurses) goes - there is really little difference. In my opinion, where the UK is superior is in the method of delivery of that care.

Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. If that makes me a socialist then I guess I'd better go pick up a copy of Das Kapital and start buttoning my shirts all the way to the top button ...

Originally Posted by SultanOfSwing

I've never encountered a speed limit that is too high but we haven't the kind of terrain in Illinois that would ever lead to that really.

Originally Posted by zargof

I always hate driving in IL as the price of petrol shoots up 30+ cents and the speed limit drops to 65, not to mention the utter dullness of the place, roughly on a par with Nebraska.

Originally Posted by SultanOfSwing

Get this close to Chicago and the speed limit drops further to 55. I'd say the petrol probably goes up a few more cents as well ...

Originally Posted by Uncle Ebenezer

55??? How the hell do you deal wih that?

Originally Posted by SultanOfSwing

Get this close to Chicago and the speed limit drops further to 55. I'd say the petrol probably goes up a few more cents as well ...

Originally Posted by Macca67

I can't remember the last time I was on the Dan Ryan or Kennedy and got anywhere near 55.

Originally Posted by SultanOfSwing

I rarely find myself on the interstate, which is where it becomes annoying. When I do, I try to keep it under 70 and noticeably slower than the other drivers. Actually, when I do find myself on an interstate, I'm usually also driving into Wisconsin as well, which is nice because it goes up to 65 just over the border (albeit with a small 55 zone in the bypass around Milwaukee).

Most of the time the 55 roads I'm on are back roads. Usually I potter along at 60 or so, never been pulled over yet for that.

Originally Posted by SultanOfSwing

Unless you mean I-55, right ?

My interstate driving within IL is usually limited to a stretch on I-94 if I need to get to O'Hare in a rush, or I-290 if I want to be arsed with going into Chicago (which I rarely do). I don't like paying tolls so usually I find an alternative route on surface roads. I like the freeways in Wisconsin much better ...

Originally Posted by Uncle Ebenezer

The ordinary roads round here are 55 - 65 ... highways and interstates are 70 or 75 - I'm usually nudging 10mph over whatever the limit is.

Originally Posted by Macca67

32's a nice drive north if you've got the time. Have you stopped off at the new Mars Cheese Castle yet? Surreal.

Originally Posted by Uncle Ebenezer

The ordinary roads round here are 55 - 65 ... highways and interstates are 70 or 75 - I'm usually nudging 10mph over whatever the limit is.

Originally Posted by Uncle Ebenezer

55??? How the hell do you deal with that?