UK Defends Health System, "Untruths" Being Dealt Through The American Media
By N4life
@N4life (851)
United States
August 14, 2009 10:46am CST
While the UK NHS certainly has problems, as does any system or governemt, the UK has pointed out that many of the rumors about its' system are simply untrue. This article http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32398952/ns/world_news-europe/
details some of the claims the UK is disputing. They point out that health spending per capita, infant mortality rate, and life expectancy are all better in the UK then in the U.S. While I am all for a good debate on how health care reform should be done, why do some have to go to such an extent to exagerate and cause fear in the American people. I think this article is very revealing. What do you think?
4 people like this
6 responses
@katran (585)
• United States
15 Aug 09
You know what REALLY makes me mad? The fact that the arrogant Americans who are posting in this discussion seem to think that they know more about Britain than Britain does. Geez Louise. Is there no end to the stupidity of people? Is there no length they won't go to to defend their own ignorance? This drives me CRAZY! America thinks they know everything about the rest of the world. We think we are superior and everyone else is inferior or somehow broken. I'm so tired of it.
3 people like this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
15 Aug 09
I have lived a long time and I can attest to the fact that there is no end to the stupidity. I haven't decided what lengths I will go to to defend my own ignorance, but it's probably pretty far. And if Americans didn't act so smug and self-satisfied, it would be much more difficult for the rest of the world to find reasons to dislike us. Why make things harder for people?
2 people like this
@urbandekay (18278)
•
15 Aug 09
American education does not encourage critical thinking and many Americans seem to blindly and unquestioningly accept that everything about their country is best. Perhaps not too surprising from a culture where children sing the national anthem in class.
Secondly, Americans' overwhelming belief in the theory of free market colours their perception of the reality, allowing them to be duped by the propaganda of the insurance companies
all the best urban
2 people like this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
15 Aug 09
Irishidid, do I EVER wish I could give you double pluses for that comment and I mean that! I love my country as much as anyone else but I know we're not perfect because nobody or nothing is perfect. Nobody can be "Number 1" at everything but everyone should strive to improve in the areas where it's needed. To admit that I think we have room for improvement in some areas doesn't mean I don't love or I'm not proud of my country.
Annie
1 person likes this
@irishidid (8688)
• United States
15 Aug 09
Penn and Teller did an episode of Bullsh*t that covered the same sentiment. They went around with a paper that basically said America is the greatest nation of all, etc. It was amazing how many people agreed with it.
As an American, I think America needs to get over itself. We complain about countries occupying other countries but when we do, it's all right. No, it isn't. We try to enforce our laws and beliefs on other countries. We need to stop because it ain't all about us.
2 people like this
@N4life (851)
• United States
15 Aug 09
I think you hit on a major problem with the U.S. The arrogance of a portion of the population. I think this belief in a "free market", which there has never even been in the U.S., not from the beginning and extreme competition prevents both international and internal cooperation, that has lead to te lessening of Americas's standing in the world. This attitude is precisely why some are so easily mislead by the corporations.
2 people like this
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
14 Aug 09
So, I wonder how the victims of the British system that are telling their stories feel about the UK Government calling them liars?
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
17 Aug 09
So we're supposed to be the ones that totally trash our medical care system, even though no one else can say theirs is really any better?
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
15 Aug 09
The worst part about it is a system like UK's isn't even on the table here. I'm getting tired of hearing about the U.S. having the "best health care in the world" when we rank in the thirties on just about everything including infant mortality and life expectancy. Sure, the rich can get the best of the best but millions can't get any care until it's an emergency and thousands die needlessly each year because they lack insurance or the ability to pay for life saving treatment.
I'd love to know why some people are so determined to prevent any health care reform they'll resort to such blatant lies and exaggerations. It's all about money and profits which the insurance companies don't want to lose.
Annie
2 people like this
@rodney850 (2145)
• United States
14 Aug 09
N4life,
Here is another article on the same story, be sure to read the last paragraph as it is very telling!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090814/ap_on_re_eu/eu_britain_us_health_care
@rodney850 (2145)
• United States
14 Aug 09
Who is making things up? These things we who are not convinced our healthcare system needs scrapping are concerned about (rationed healthcare,undrstaffed clinics and hospitals, waiting lines and medicines being denied for being too expensive) are the very things that the Brits, by their own admission, are dealing with in their healthcare and have been dealing with for a very long time. I've said it before, oue healthcare system is not perfect but it is far from broken! There are more than 5 time as many people who are satisfied with their healthcare than the number Obama and congress throws out as the "uninsured" which is 40 million. This number of "uninsured" dwindles drastically when you weed out all of those who for some reason or another could afford insurance but elect not to have it and ilegals who don't have any right to it. Obama also ignores the congressional budget office when they tell him that this will cost much more than the 1 trillion he says it will and will only insure 1/3 of who he is saying it will. There are way too many flaws in this bill to let Obama and congress force feed it to us. Regardless of what other countries and Barack Obama says, we still have an exceptional healthcare industry, let's not rush to a cure that will be worse than the disease!
1 person likes this
