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

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Aye. personally I think the American Dream is the most pernicious and damaging thing about american culture. It seems to poison everything in the States, and given its at the root of global consumerism, in a sense it has poisoned the world.

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

Yeah :( As an American, I have a hard time balancing a love for my country and what it's provided for my family with the realization that it fought for its freedom and then turned around and conquered other people. Is it possible to recognize this and still be proud to be a member of a particular community?

(personally, idk. I travel so much that I have close friends and work associates from Japan to Iceland to Egypt, so I've come to find titles of citizenship just that, titles.)

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Well, I tend to think of communities as these totally false illusionary constructs, because when I think about the human race, my training is as an archaeologist. So i think about that one small tribe that came out of Africa and populated the entire rest of the world, meaning that every single human being alive today (who lives outside of Africa) is related.

And in this sense? What a farce and a tragedy it makes of every single one of our wars. Because all we are doing, is killing our own blood and family.

So personally I don't really consider myself proud to be Scottish, because the idea of being a particular nationality is... an odd one to me.

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

Yes.

Do you mind if I add you? You're neat.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

He is neat!

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you kindly.

[aesiron.livejournal.com]

I friended Simon a long time ago after a similarly engaging conversation with him. You find some great people in Mel's journal.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

Including yourself!

And ME!

/narcissism.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

Of course, please do! I have very much enjoyed our conversation.

[gonzo21.livejournal.com]

(Though I feel I should warn you that much of my journal lately has been about me trying to deal with some moderately unpleasant health news.)

(Hopefully normal service will be resumed shortly.)

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

There are many Tribes and unfortunately the way we've developed via hierarchies trickles down and translates that some Tribes have the "right" to poach other Tribes... not even getting into the hierarchies within the different the "Tribes".

That came out far more abstract than I meant.

[eumelia.livejournal.com]

I could make an entire post with that comment as a prompt, though I'll refrain because it would be long.