ugacrew

This makes me happy knowing that we still have sensible people out there that aren't led by the likes of MSNBC or Fox News. It makes me feel hopeful that we aren't either just blue or just red. There are those that are purple out there. The last election really made me question some of the American voting population.

Tracym

Sorry to disappoint you, but I don't really listen to the radio - other than in the car, I don't think I even have a working one.

Furthermore - I'm not sure I've personally used the term "socialist medicine", although I suppose it's possible.

Until I joined this board - I really knew very little about it. I started to hear a little from my fiance, and his and others experiences with the NHS. Then I joined the board. And subsequently, in addition, have talked with various people who've used both systems.

So your thinking I've been greatly influenced by the media is certainly not true - I get most of my news from the New York Times headlines online - not a big fan of news on TV either. And until recently, I haven't seen much stuff on NYT. That's a fairly left rag btw.

You'll need a different argument here.

another bloody yank

I quit watching TV news a long time ago. It seemed it was all biased, one way or the other. It's only purpose is to sell commercials anyway. I hate being manipulated, and that's the one great thing about TV, you can turn it off.

And the last election made me question a lot of things.

fatbrit

Er...no I don't. Your friends, colleagues, family listen to neocon talk radio. Or their friends, colleagues, family, etc. You cannot escape the propaganda of the neocon movement.

Tracym

I've mostly talked to Brits about it - here and there.

And a few Canadians.

Unless you're including all of them in that characterization.

Still need to get a different argument.

fatbrit

So you're so detached from your environment that it doesn't influence you?

tamms_1965

That is one thing I stopped a long time ago.....talking no politics with friends and talking very little about it with family (esp. know-it-all BILs). Some people turn into *ssholes when you don't agree with them. They ask you your opinion and then get offensive when it doesn't agree with theirs.

Roland Hulme

What bollocks.

fatbrit

Well okay. But you need to expand a little if you want a reply.

Tracym

Honestly, I've never been a big fan of politics. I didn't have any particular opinion of govt run healthcare before I met my fiance. Although, I am innately suspicious of anything govt run, yank that I am.

My friends and I (family is pretty much dead) don't sit around and discuss universal health care all the time. As you may have noticed, many of the yanks don't like to discuss politics. Other than one friend, I really don't know what my yank friends views on the subject would be.

I really didn't hear much about it (other than Hilary tried it, and it didn't work) before I started talking about it with you all.

My big issue with the NHS is wait times. Some people try to say it doesn't/rarely happens. Sure, if I go hunting, I can find some articles that say it does. But I've also heard it from many people, personally, that there are waits. Even from people who've worked for the NHS.

But I'm really not trying to just bash the UK's system. Or even say which is better or worse.

What nothing has convinced me of is that the US govt could do a good job of it. I've seen a VA hospital with my own eyes. One of my rare relatives (cousin) worked for one for years. I know the limitations of medicare.

I don't tend to be that influenced by other people all that easily (as you might perhaps have noticed yourself).

Roland Hulme

It was the bit about Tracy. She has an opinion about nationalized medicine - one I actually share and that comes from 25 years experience with the great and glorious NHS.

Commercial radio has a long established conservative bias. TV generally has a liberal bias. However, personally I think Tracy's proven time and time again that she's smart enough to make up her own mind on the subject.

tamms_1965

Can't give you any more karma 'til I spread some love around.

DH had to wait 3 months for sonogram of gallbladder and one year for surgery to remove it!! It was horrible for him. Our GP here thought he was lying when he told her.

Leslie

And now the people posting on this thread are acting just like those two.

Steerpike

Since the healthcare issue is debated to death in just about every thread, why don't we at least touch on foreign policy in this one? . Besides, personal attacks on Tracy are getting me down ...

I'd like to know from Tamms how she can support a war-supporting Republican in view of the actions of the current president, and again I ask,what's so bad about Obama?

fatbrit

It's an environment that is very easy to manipulate. Basically there is no discussion of real politics here in the US. Consequently, you can easily manipulate by appealing directly to people's prejudices rather than having to detail out your policy and explain it.

I lived behind the wall straight after the wall came down. A population that had survived by accepting the propaganda and avoiding politics was suddenly set free. Endless discussions in dark coffee houses full of smoke were the order of the day. A population of less than six million people had a half-dozen major national newspapers with page after page of political dialogue, opinion and commentary which were read. Male, female, young, old it didn't really matter. Everybody knew what this matter or that matter stood for, what its potential benefits or pitfalls might be. They made the right choices (after a few wrong turns) and are now a thriving economy. Strikes me we might be in need of a revolution over here.