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Why why why do you put up with this in America?? I live in the uk and health has always been free at point of use. The cost is spread amongst all tax payers an

Why why why do you put up with this in America?? I live in the uk and health has always been free at point of use. The cost is spread amongst all tax payers and costs kept low. I honestly don’t understand why not every single American is screaming for access to health services that are literally on their front lawn. I cannot fathom this is any way shape or form.

garmaine 8y ago
> Why why why do you put up with this in America?? What do you suggest we do? > I honestly don’t understand why not every single American is screaming for access to health services that are literally on their front lawn. You think we aren't? You think it matters?
- darkwizard42 8y ago
  Look at the last election... results speak for themselves, that is why people are confused why this isn't the single largest issue for American people.
  - zanny 8y ago
    For many Americans, their single largest issue at the moment is whatever their choice of conservative talk radio host told them to hate today.
  - garmaine 8y ago
    Which election? Neither Hillary nor Trump were in favor of socialized medicine. Bernie was, but the rigged system made sure he wasn’t an option.
themagician 8y ago
We have 11 nuclear powered aircraft carriers in service in four more on the way. No money for healthcare.
- austincheney 8y ago
  Nuclear powered aircraft carriers are cheaper than diesel powered aircraft carriers.
  - saagarjha 8y ago
    I believe the point was that aircraft carriers are more expensive than no aircraft carriers.
    - austincheney 8y ago
      Possibly, but the point was poorly formed, lacked specificity, and is outside the scope of conversation.
      - DangitBobby 8y ago
        A common talking point is about how we spend y on the military_thing when we could be spending on y on problem_x. Seemed fairly obvious in the context of this discussion.
        austincheney 8y ago
        It's not in scope merely because cliche stupidity is common.
- mcv 8y ago
  It's not that there's no money, there's just not enough will.
koolba 8y ago
Because the vast majority of people have coverage through work and the fear of unknown changes in coverage is greater than (potentially) saving some money. Throw in Medicare (old people) and Medicaid (poverty) and I think you’re somewhere around 85% of the populace covered. The vocal minority of people who do not have health insurance through work, not receiving subsidies, not receiving Medicare, and not receiving Medicaid are the ones clamoring for universal healthcare. Just because they’re loud doesn’t mean they reflect the will of the masses. Vocal minorities don’t win elections. They just get a lot of news coverage.
- closeparen 8y ago
  People get stuck working for corporations because it’s the only economical way to get healthcare, even if they could otherwise pull off entrepreneurship/freelancing/retirement. Others get stuck as subservient to parents or spouses who control their access to healthcare. I wouldn’t assume that having coverage means you’re happy with the situation.
- DangitBobby 8y ago
  Hello, just thought you should know that you're completely incorrect. I make a decent income and have an excellent healthcare plan which costs me about 7% of my pre-tax income. My copays and out of pocket max are low enough that I can use this plan at will when I feel like I need to. However, since my friends and family do not all have decent insurance and cannot cover their high deductibles if things go even slightly wrong, and since I personally was in a place not so long ago of delaying treatment on an ongoing health problem I've been having due to a lapse in coverage due to a job change, and since my loved ones have recently been in financial situations that disincentivize them from getting treatment to improve their quality of life, I would be happy to pay (ahem) higher taxes (what's a premium again?) in exchange for peace of mind regarding my future health and that of my loved ones. And the health of people that I do not even know.
ipad23 8y ago
Many of these articles exaggerate the price of healthcare in the US. I'm an independent contractor and pay for my own health insurance. My wife and I together cost less that 500/month (universal care would take way more in taxes) Checkups are covered, prescriptions are mostly free or very inexpensive, and if I do have an emergency, I don't need to wait 6 months to get treated, like in the UK or Canada. I also get some of the best doctors in the world. A good test of a country's quality of healthcare is where people that don't have to worry about money go to get treated....that's currently the US. It has problems, but sacrificing quality for nationalization is not the solution.
- chrisseaton 8y ago
  > Many of these articles exaggerate the price of healthcare in the US. I'm an independent contractor and pay for my own health insurance. My wife and I together cost less that 500/month Do you think $500 a month is cheap? That's insane - that's about a quarter of my entire income tax in the UK. > It has problems, but sacrificing quality for nationalization is not the solution. But both life expectancy is lower and infant mortality is higher in the US than in the UK. What quality do you think you'd be sacrificing? I'm getting better life expectancy and infant mortality than you are, and I'm paying a lot less than you are.
- rrrrreeeee 8y ago
  That's some blatant misinformation. In Canada you don't wait for treatment. If you need treatment, you will be treated. Stop spreading some garbage myth.
  - mattigames 8y ago
    Yeah, is clear him and thousands of others like him around the internet have a very clear agenda posting about how they believe the US health care system is great, that going bankrupt for healthcare services (or dying because they couldn't afford meds[0]) is just an acceptable and normal part of American society. [0] https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/alex-smith-died-couldnt-afford-insulin/ https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/alex-smith-died-couldnt-af...
  - 8y ago
ghufran_syed 8y ago
Because Americans think it will be about as effective as the VA. I used to work in the NHS, and it has a lot of good points, but rationing is an inevitable part of care when "everything" is free at the point of use: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/elderly-go-blind-as-nhs-ignores-eye-surgery-rationing-advice-bp5x77t0g https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/elderly-go-blind-as-nhs-i...

garmaine 8y ago

> Why why why do you put up with this in America?? What do you suggest we do? > I honestly don’t understand why not every single American is screaming for access to health services that are literally on their front lawn. You think we aren't? You think it matters?

darkwizard42 8y ago
Look at the last election... results speak for themselves, that is why people are confused why this isn't the single largest issue for American people.
- zanny 8y ago
  For many Americans, their single largest issue at the moment is whatever their choice of conservative talk radio host told them to hate today.
- garmaine 8y ago
  Which election? Neither Hillary nor Trump were in favor of socialized medicine. Bernie was, but the rigged system made sure he wasn’t an option.

themagician 8y ago

We have 11 nuclear powered aircraft carriers in service in four more on the way. No money for healthcare.

austincheney 8y ago
Nuclear powered aircraft carriers are cheaper than diesel powered aircraft carriers.
- saagarjha 8y ago
  I believe the point was that aircraft carriers are more expensive than no aircraft carriers.
  - austincheney 8y ago
    Possibly, but the point was poorly formed, lacked specificity, and is outside the scope of conversation.
    - DangitBobby 8y ago
      A common talking point is about how we spend y on the military_thing when we could be spending on y on problem_x. Seemed fairly obvious in the context of this discussion.
      - austincheney 8y ago
        It's not in scope merely because cliche stupidity is common.
mcv 8y ago
It's not that there's no money, there's just not enough will.

koolba 8y ago

Because the vast majority of people have coverage through work and the fear of unknown changes in coverage is greater than (potentially) saving some money. Throw in Medicare (old people) and Medicaid (poverty) and I think you’re somewhere around 85% of the populace covered. The vocal minority of people who do not have health insurance through work, not receiving subsidies, not receiving Medicare, and not receiving Medicaid are the ones clamoring for universal healthcare. Just because they’re loud doesn’t mean they reflect the will of the masses. Vocal minorities don’t win elections. They just get a lot of news coverage.

closeparen 8y ago
People get stuck working for corporations because it’s the only economical way to get healthcare, even if they could otherwise pull off entrepreneurship/freelancing/retirement. Others get stuck as subservient to parents or spouses who control their access to healthcare. I wouldn’t assume that having coverage means you’re happy with the situation.
DangitBobby 8y ago
Hello, just thought you should know that you're completely incorrect. I make a decent income and have an excellent healthcare plan which costs me about 7% of my pre-tax income. My copays and out of pocket max are low enough that I can use this plan at will when I feel like I need to. However, since my friends and family do not all have decent insurance and cannot cover their high deductibles if things go even slightly wrong, and since I personally was in a place not so long ago of delaying treatment on an ongoing health problem I've been having due to a lapse in coverage due to a job change, and since my loved ones have recently been in financial situations that disincentivize them from getting treatment to improve their quality of life, I would be happy to pay (ahem) higher taxes (what's a premium again?) in exchange for peace of mind regarding my future health and that of my loved ones. And the health of people that I do not even know.

ipad23 8y ago

Many of these articles exaggerate the price of healthcare in the US. I'm an independent contractor and pay for my own health insurance. My wife and I together cost less that 500/month (universal care would take way more in taxes) Checkups are covered, prescriptions are mostly free or very inexpensive, and if I do have an emergency, I don't need to wait 6 months to get treated, like in the UK or Canada. I also get some of the best doctors in the world. A good test of a country's quality of healthcare is where people that don't have to worry about money go to get treated....that's currently the US. It has problems, but sacrificing quality for nationalization is not the solution.

chrisseaton 8y ago
> Many of these articles exaggerate the price of healthcare in the US. I'm an independent contractor and pay for my own health insurance. My wife and I together cost less that 500/month Do you think $500 a month is cheap? That's insane - that's about a quarter of my entire income tax in the UK. > It has problems, but sacrificing quality for nationalization is not the solution. But both life expectancy is lower and infant mortality is higher in the US than in the UK. What quality do you think you'd be sacrificing? I'm getting better life expectancy and infant mortality than you are, and I'm paying a lot less than you are.
rrrrreeeee 8y ago
That's some blatant misinformation. In Canada you don't wait for treatment. If you need treatment, you will be treated. Stop spreading some garbage myth.
- mattigames 8y ago
  Yeah, is clear him and thousands of others like him around the internet have a very clear agenda posting about how they believe the US health care system is great, that going bankrupt for healthcare services (or dying because they couldn't afford meds[0]) is just an acceptable and normal part of American society. [0] https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/alex-smith-died-couldnt-afford-insulin/ https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/alex-smith-died-couldnt-af...
- 8y ago

ghufran_syed 8y ago

Because Americans think it will be about as effective as the VA. I used to work in the NHS, and it has a lot of good points, but rationing is an inevitable part of care when "everything" is free at the point of use: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/elderly-go-blind-as-nhs-ignores-eye-surgery-rationing-advice-bp5x77t0g https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/elderly-go-blind-as-nhs-i...