Impossible Politics Options

[Existentialist]

The 'old' (current?) US health system is pretty much the laughing stock of the First World countries.

Well, that's somewhat justified, but not entirely. While for the average American, outcomes are generally not as good as in other countries for a higher price than in other countries, if you have money, our system is by far the most baller in the world. There are many US hospitals, mostly university affiliated, that offer care that's 10-20 years ahead of the rest of the world.

[jayda]

Yeah, they have a lot of specialist knowledge and great research going on but it's the system I'm talking about - too many would not/do not have access to that care unfortunately. Maybe that will change now.

[Sakhmet2]

Well, that's somewhat justified, but not entirely. While for the average American, outcomes are generally not as good as in other countries for a higher price than in other countries, if you have money, our system is by far the most baller in the world. There are many US hospitals, mostly university affiliated, that offer care that's 10-20 years ahead of the rest of the world.

With respect: The third world, maybe. There are a lot of countries who have specialists and can offer treatments that are the equal of anything in the United States, especially in countries where stem cell research is allowed to proceed unhindered by religious propaganda.

This post has been edited by Sakhmet2: Apr 16 2010, 11:10 am

[Existentialist]

With respect: The third world, maybe. There are a lot of countries who have specialists and can offer treatments that are the equal of anything in the United States, especially in countries where stem cell research is allowed to proceed unhindered by religious propaganda.

We are light years ahead of the third world. We are 10-20 years ahead of most other countries. For example, the standard of care in the US and in Canada is the same, but we have available to an elite few technology that is just not available in Canada. Think what you want, but if money is no object, I would choose to get treated in the US for any condition I may have.

This post has been edited by Existentialist: Apr 16 2010, 3:27 pm

[brandedwendy]

I;ve read through this (all of it) and just wanted to throw my 2 cents in from halfway across the globe.

Over here (in the Netherlands, apparently the 6th best country to live in and be happy about it), we have the healthcaresytem like they have in the UK/Canada. Everyone is allowed healthcare. Everyone has a 'basic' healthcare insurance that covers most of the common healthissues. For the more 'luxury' treatment, people can add things to their insurance (and obviously pay more $ for those extras). It's safe to say that our healthcaresystem works (and I am applying that to MY country specifically). For me (specific) that means I am not paying insurance for babycare and all that, since I already got 1 kid and decided that would be enough for us. To me, that sounds pretty much logical.

With that in mind I read this thread. I mention my specific background, cause it influences the way I read your points of view, just like you have your backgrounds when you read mine. In general some of the posts worry me. I find it hard to believe that someone would create an opinion based on what someone else says, without looking into things themselves. I am not judging anyones opinion, I'm merely stating the fact that I think that's not the most ideal way to go.

I understand the point of view that comes from working in a place where you see the mom with the cellphone and the 5 kids (from however much dads). I understand how that can influence your point of view. I also understand that from a parents point of view some of the political issues going on in the USA are scary to say the least.

Being a liberal from halfway around the globe, with a husband working for the government (which, how conveniently is also liberal) and paying tax like everyone else, while raising a beautiful girl, this is coming from someone that lives in a country where we grant 26 000 illegal immigrants national status and even the hookers pay taxes, that's probably the most opposite view I can provide.

If your interested in my view on specific subjects in comparison Netherlands - USA, I am happy to provide it. At this moment however, I chose to describe my point of view and not my opinion...

[Pokey]

Lol Gordon Brown, bigot and so forth. Do any of you Brits watch "in the thick of it"? How funny is it to think of Malcolm Tucker giving brown a bollocking for that and then manipulating the media to make him look ok.

[Pokey]

today is the big day in the UK!

[Merica]

... and I was too late to register to vote by proxy or post, which I needed because I'm away from home.

Shame. I have to hope the voting public does my bidding and keeps the Tories out.

[Pokey]

I must say that even though Cyclops Brown seems pretty much useless in a lot of ways .. I just don't like that David Cameron prick .. always looks so smug. He seems really upper class who tries to play himself off as being a commoner, is that the way it is? Oh and I don't care if he tried to introduce Barrack Obama to The Smiths, if I were a Brit then not even his Smiths fandom would get my vote

[Merica]

I must say that even though Cyclops Brown seems pretty much useless in a lot of ways .. I just don't like that David Cameron prick .. always looks so smug. He seems really upper class who tries to play himself off as being a commoner, is that the way it is? Oh and I don't care if he tried to introduce Barrack Obama to The Smiths, if I were a Brit then not even his Smiths fandom would get my vote

Yeah, David Cameron is a toff toss pot. He's trying to be like Barack Obama, but he's crap at it - and not just because he's white either. He's awful. A whiff of nothingness - just pure, marketing fizz.

Gordon Brown, fucked up mouth and all, is the man I'm backing. (As I detail here in a little blog I just wrote, plug plug plug plug.

[VoodooLady]

Yeah, David Cameron is a toff toss pot. He's trying to be like Barack Obama, but he's crap at it - and not just because he's white either. He's awful. A whiff of nothingness - just pure, marketing fizz.

Gordon Brown, fucked up mouth and all, is the man I'm backing. (As I detail here in a little blog I just wrote, plug plug plug plug.

merica- must admit to not following this election closely at all, but what do the polls going into this say for your man? will Brown win?

[Merica]

Well, it's a hung parliament. First in many, many decades. Quite interesting, really.

[brandedwendy]

Well, it's a hung parliament. First in many, many decades. Quite interesting, really.

Does that mean there's gonna be elections again soon?
I read a lot of things actually went pretty bad during the elections in itself.... people that couldn't vote... and such

Somehow I wonder if the LibDems & Labour would be a nicer choice for a hung parliament.... but with Brown.... I don't know....

[Pokey]

Well, it's a hung parliament. First in many, many decades. Quite interesting, really.

Should be settled in a bare knuckle boxing match between Brown and Cameron.

[Merica]

Right now it's pretty much all about what Lib Dems are going to do. They've pretty much said they'll talk to Conservatives first..... worryingly. Cause they're shit.