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I'm not sure you're considering all sides to the universal healthcare issues. The United States contributes the most money of any country by far toward medical

I'm not sure you're considering all sides to the universal healthcare issues. The United States contributes the most money of any country by far toward medical research (close to 10x of what the UK contributes). The benefit derived from that is that countries like the UK get all the benefits of that expenditure without having to make that expenditure. So what you get is a lopsided benefit in non-US countries. This creates free riding. So what happens is that as other countries free ride the United State's research, the US would have to not only foot hte bill for research and development (of which it is the biggest contribute in the world), but they would also have the bill for the fruits of that research - ie: the actual healthcare services and machines require to deliver those services. The United States doesn't get to pay a single bill and get great universal health care, it effectively pays twice for care while other countries pay once.

bryanlarsen 15y ago
The GDP of the US is about 7x the GDP of the UK. So the UK isn't freeloading. I'm also willing to bet the UK spends their medical research dollars more efficiently. In the States, big Pharma researches ways to make money. Elsewhere, research is done mostly by universities & hospitals, who are more interested in fame than fortune.
- SHOwnsYou 15y ago
  Not only is it free riding because the UK isn't spending a proportional amount of their GDP, but it could also be considered free riding because the quantity of research by the UK isn't the same; size notwithstanding. But you're next line is absolutely baseless. What makes you think the UK spends their research dollars more efficiently? I'd love to hear even a single reason. While you're thinking, here are some breakdowns of spending: US: 70.1% of spending is by private industry, 13.6 academic, 12.2 government. UK: 65.7 private industry, 21.4 academic, 9.7 government. I'd say they look much closer than you would have people believe.

bryanlarsen 15y ago

The GDP of the US is about 7x the GDP of the UK. So the UK isn't freeloading. I'm also willing to bet the UK spends their medical research dollars more efficiently. In the States, big Pharma researches ways to make money. Elsewhere, research is done mostly by universities & hospitals, who are more interested in fame than fortune.

SHOwnsYou 15y ago
Not only is it free riding because the UK isn't spending a proportional amount of their GDP, but it could also be considered free riding because the quantity of research by the UK isn't the same; size notwithstanding. But you're next line is absolutely baseless. What makes you think the UK spends their research dollars more efficiently? I'd love to hear even a single reason. While you're thinking, here are some breakdowns of spending: US: 70.1% of spending is by private industry, 13.6 academic, 12.2 government. UK: 65.7 private industry, 21.4 academic, 9.7 government. I'd say they look much closer than you would have people believe.