5 ms·

Why would you want to "pay" for any of that unconditionally and have your income delegated by someone else when the free market offers a superior solution?

arcticbull 9y ago
Well, thats because it doesn't if you can't afford it and many people can't. Further, we all live in a community of other people and helping them will improve your life too. You still have to walk by the sick, poor and homeless on your way to work. I know I still ride the subway to work.
rconti 9y ago
You wouldn't necessarily, but that's a false choice because taxes in the US are not 0%.
- notheguyouthink 9y ago
  Yea, that comment almost felt like a joke. 4% difference (53.8% in cali!? holy cow) and s/he's complaining about people deciding where that 4% goes?
Svenskunganka 9y ago
I think you may have just nailed the fundamental difference between Swedes and Americans. The majority of Swedes are fine with having their income delegated by "someone else" if it means they'll both live a happy, healthy life.
isostatic 9y ago
US Healthcare cost: 17% of GDP Sweden healthcare cost: 10% of GDP Which is superior?
- hnaparst 9y ago
  The U.S. health care system is much superior. When I was in Sweden, I asked my vet if she would take me on as a patient because vet care is better than people care. But at least the funerals are free.
  - isostatic 9y ago
    More hospital beds, lower infant mortality, higher life expectancy, lower chance of dying before 60, higher quality of healthcare overall. http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/Sweden/United-States/Health http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/Sweden/Unit... I can't see a single scientific measure supporting the statement that the US has a better health system than Sweden
    - hnaparst 9y ago
      You need to look farther than the sources you are quoting then. I would suggest talking to people who have lived in both countries.
- bjelkeman-again 9y ago
  Cost is not the only comparison. The US scores last in this study of eleven countries. Sweden third. Having received healthcare in the US, the U.K. and Sweden, I personally prefer Sweden. But as the US is a very large place it is hard to generalise. http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2014/jun/mirror-mirror http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/20...
  - isostatic 9y ago
    The UK spends a tiny amount on health care - $1400 a year less per head than comparative european countries like Germany, France, Belgium etc, and $5,400 a year less per head than the USA. Yet it has better healthcare than the USA.

arcticbull 9y ago

Well, thats because it doesn't if you can't afford it and many people can't. Further, we all live in a community of other people and helping them will improve your life too. You still have to walk by the sick, poor and homeless on your way to work. I know I still ride the subway to work.

rconti 9y ago

You wouldn't necessarily, but that's a false choice because taxes in the US are not 0%.

notheguyouthink 9y ago
Yea, that comment almost felt like a joke. 4% difference (53.8% in cali!? holy cow) and s/he's complaining about people deciding where that 4% goes?

Svenskunganka 9y ago

I think you may have just nailed the fundamental difference between Swedes and Americans. The majority of Swedes are fine with having their income delegated by "someone else" if it means they'll both live a happy, healthy life.

isostatic 9y ago

US Healthcare cost: 17% of GDP Sweden healthcare cost: 10% of GDP Which is superior?

hnaparst 9y ago
The U.S. health care system is much superior. When I was in Sweden, I asked my vet if she would take me on as a patient because vet care is better than people care. But at least the funerals are free.
- isostatic 9y ago
  More hospital beds, lower infant mortality, higher life expectancy, lower chance of dying before 60, higher quality of healthcare overall. http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/Sweden/United-States/Health http://www.nationmaster.com/country-info/compare/Sweden/Unit... I can't see a single scientific measure supporting the statement that the US has a better health system than Sweden
  - hnaparst 9y ago
    You need to look farther than the sources you are quoting then. I would suggest talking to people who have lived in both countries.
bjelkeman-again 9y ago
Cost is not the only comparison. The US scores last in this study of eleven countries. Sweden third. Having received healthcare in the US, the U.K. and Sweden, I personally prefer Sweden. But as the US is a very large place it is hard to generalise. http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2014/jun/mirror-mirror http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/20...
- isostatic 9y ago
  The UK spends a tiny amount on health care - $1400 a year less per head than comparative european countries like Germany, France, Belgium etc, and $5,400 a year less per head than the USA. Yet it has better healthcare than the USA.