tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758136207841405404.post5477402587839475436..comments2023-06-04T10:45:57.999-04:00Comments on Thoughts Askew: Health Tips(y)Alastair McCandlesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03002968674996153040noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758136207841405404.post-60569054279493233772009-06-25T12:16:39.564-04:002009-06-25T12:16:39.564-04:00Spot on, Skewer. A friend just came back from the ...Spot on, Skewer. A friend just came back from the UK (you know that Red country -- no not Ukraine, the United Kingdom) he cane down with a sinus infection and went to a London hospital for help. He had to wait a couple of hours to see a doctor, but then got excellent service at no charge for the visit and paid a total of 12 pounds (about $18) for two prescriptions. Of course the British taxpayers paid the bill in this case, but that underlines the fundamental humanity of the system. In 1948, the British people through their Parliament decided that health care was a right, not a privilege. Since then, they have modified the system but never deviated from the underlying principle. Yes, there are problems with the UK and other national systems. No system will be perfect. But Americans are always being asked to compare these "socialist" systems with some perfect scheme in which anyone cane get what they want, not with their own flawed "system." <br /><br />The US health system (an oxymoron if ever there was one), is a huge fraud committed upon the American public. The most ineffective, inefficient, and by far the most expensive in the developed world, designed to produce huge profits, not good health. Just as in the case of national defense (another oxymoron and sacred cow), Americans get the least bang for their buck. I wish I could say I see big change a-coming, but I fear that the special interests that profit from the present "system" will prevail and at most health care reform will be window dressing. At best it will probably be a patch-work adding some millions of the uninsured to the present mess. I hope I'm wrong, please tell me I'm wrong....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com