I Don't Get It

[eumelia]

I don't get it.

Really, I don't.

I've been to the States and I didn't get it then. I've been reading up on the subject because the Interwebs are busting with the "health care" discussion.

My country has socialised medicine, we get the choice of four different HMO's, they compete with each other and have supervision and controlling rights over different hospitals.
There is a Health Basket that includes various kinds of medications that would have been unattainable for many people, but through prescription you can get your Insulin, your Xanax, your (practically) whatever you need for an affordable price.

We pay for this service along as well as for national security (so that in case we are unable to work we will still be able to afford health care) through our pay cheques or certificates if one is an independent.

Is it perfect? Hell, no. Most of the time, it is more aggravating than not.

However, this year due to an actual medical necessity I saw the health care system work and we actually got money back after the treatments my mother had to go through were done.

I understand that this sounds like luxury for some and it is. In Third World counties (not all) and in the United States.

That's really fucked up.

Also? Crazy Americans comparing Universal Healthcare to Nazi Policy, WHAT?!

Barney Frank says it better than me (via mizzpyx)

I mock.

That's what I have to say about this really, really redundant debate (it's a debate!!!).

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_yggdrasil/]

Barney Frank is my new hero. Holy shit.

As for the "debate", yeah, don't expect much more than conservative hysteria, parallel drawing between Obama and Hitler, and derailments with further inquiry into Obama's citizenship.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

It's bizarre isn't it. The Americans seem to be the only nation on the PLANET who are against free-at-point-of-service health care.

[kynn.livejournal.com]

Have you seen the craziness of the Israeli dude talking about Israeli health care and then getting a "Heil Hitler" shouted at him by a GOP thugette in an IDF shirt?

[aesiron.livejournal.com]

My impression is that it's a combination of "I got mine" callousness, racism, classism, and flat-out greed. The wealthier (and often whiter) middle and upper classes just simply don't want to pay for the minorities and poor whites who should just get a job and stop doing so many drugs, and they *really* don't like that an uppity negro is the driving force behind it.

Of course, they don't mind most of the socialized programs we already have, like WIC, food stamps, Medicare for the elderly, public roads, national defense, and local, state, and federal police forces.

[lishablog.livejournal.com]

I had a really disturbing discussion with an Israeli-American who lives in New York about exactly this topic day before yesterday. I'm so shocked by the fact that he would believe the nonsense about death panels and taking away existing health care for the under-2's and the over 60's... And he also compared Jews who support the health care reform bill with Jews who supported the rise of Hitler before the stat of the Holocaust.

I am most angry at myself because in my shock I was completely and utterly unable to set this man straight. I just kind of froze up in a moment of WTF?!

[mikebg.livejournal.com]

I'm from Canada, and I absolutely agree with you.

[quicksilvermad.livejournal.com]

I was denied Anthem BlueCare because of my "mental health status" but sent new forms for a slightly more expensive health coverage with the Virginia Standard Plan.

Still without health coverage here.

And I'm watching my mail like a hawk for that special big white envelope that'll have my cards in it so I can fax the info over to my doctors and I don't have to worry about, you know, ending up crazy or in the hospital because I did something stupid.

That's the danger here.

I just want coverage. I don't have a steady full time job (yet), and I'm not even sure the job I'll finally get will offer a health coverage package. And I'm sick to the teeth about all these "rumors" flying around and ready to just smack my dad across the face the next time he mentions how he considers everything Obama is saying is "wrong."

I HATE LIVING WITH REPUBLICANS.

I actually had to tell a DNC representative that I couldn't put his sign in my front yard despite the fact I'll be voting for him because (and I had to whisper this) "I'm living with Republicans."

*HEAD TABLE*