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UK's top doctors write letter to U.S. politicians

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posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 06:54 AM
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Article

So there you have it.

Put an end to the ignorance surrounding universal health care in America. Yes it would be socialized medicine. Why does that even matter in the first place? It wouldn't be the first thing that's socialized in our country. Damn, people; come on already, the tv talky people are BS'ing you on this one



posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 07:16 AM
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reply to post by patent98310
 



Healthcare in the US needs to be reformed. But the infrastructure and our own mind-set would make implementation of socialized medicine in this country a nightmare.

It just won't work here.

In my humble opinion. . .



posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 07:35 AM
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reply to post by mikerussellus
 


The fact that we need clearer debate on health care reform is what i was pointing at.
Too many ignorant "facts" that people are spouting off with and this isn't going to get anywhere. I just think it would be great if this country would have universal health care within the next 5 years. And it would work here if we made the necessary changes to implement it on the national scale. maybe even start out with optional coverage from state to state?



posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 07:37 AM
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Forgive my ignorance on this issue, but can someone from the USA, explain to me why there is so much controversy surrounding this health care reform plan?

It seems to me that is 70 - 80 MILLION people in your country can only get health care, in many cases life saving health care, according to how much money they have, that isn't really health care is it?

A social health care system, free for all at the point of need, funded by the state through a similar system to ours in Great Britain, has to be a better option than being turned away at the doctors surgery, or hospital because you have no money or private insurance to pay for treatment isn't it?

Or are you happy that millions of your fellows are dying or have zero quality of life simply because they cannot afford to pay?

That's despicable.

Human life is valuable...regardless of how many digits are in a bank account.



posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 07:42 AM
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reply to post by patent98310
 


Actually several states do have health care. Wisconsin has Badgercare. We are not quite in the crapper as far as some states economically, but we are getting there.

This whole argument is a diversion anyway. This has nothing to do with health care, it has everything to do with mandatory insurance or taxation.

Just my viewpoint.



posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 07:50 AM
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reply to post by spikey
 


For one thing your numbers are all wrong. The US has 340 Million people. The numbers by the Dems keep changing on the amount of people that do not have health care. It goes from 50 million one week to 47 to 30 on Obama's last speech. We cannot stand our government. We know we have the most corrupt system in the world. The dem this repub that crap keeps getting in the way of real reform. We know we are idiots but we are our own idiots.

Their is approximately 20-40 million illegal aliens in our country, has either party even thought of doing anything about that. Absolutely not, Mega Corps need their cheap ass labor to keep the Elites in Billion dollar mansions while the serfs cut their 40 acre lawns.

Their are maybe as many as 10-20 million without insurance. We could afford it if we follow are own laws. But, our government cannot be bothered with following the very laws that they stick us with.

This is why we are fighting with the Fracking Asshats.



posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 07:52 AM
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reply to post by patent98310
 


This whole mess isn't even about healthcare. If it were, there would be tort reform and interstate commerce would open between states so insurance companies could compete.
Tort reform (done in Texas with a decrease by 30% in costs) would limit the amout paid out by malpractice, would limit the amout paid out by doctors, would ease patient cost.
Opening up interstate commerce for insurance companies would allow them to compete for new business. Lower costs would occur as a result of competition. Right now, insurance companies cannot go across state lines. For our British cousins, that means that an insurance company in East Anglia couldn't compete or run, say, in London. These laws were put in place by the senate.

None of that is even mentioned except for some weak lip-service in speeches.

This is about more government control of how we live our lives. They just want more power. More say in how they can dictate what we do. It is an absolute erosion of our freedoms.
Arguing about this bill (or that bill, or another one) is only debating whether or not we get LOTS of government control or LOTS AND LOTS of government control.



posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 08:27 AM
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Originally posted by spikey
Forgive my ignorance on this issue, but can someone from the USA, explain to me why there is so much controversy surrounding this health care reform plan?

It seems to me that is 70 - 80 MILLION people in your country can only get health care, in many cases life saving health care, according to how much money they have, that isn't really health care is it?

A social health care system, free for all at the point of need, funded by the state through a similar system to ours in Great Britain, has to be a better option than being turned away at the doctors surgery, or hospital because you have no money or private insurance to pay for treatment isn't it?

Or are you happy that millions of your fellows are dying or have zero quality of life simply because they cannot afford to pay?

That's despicable.

Human life is valuable...regardless of how many digits are in a bank account.


Yes Human life is valuable, no matter color gender etc. But liberty is more important cause without it life has no value. The newest Healthcare bill in congress is a joke. For those who are to poor to afford insurance they will be placed on Medicaid. But if they have any property, Medicaid has a provision that when they die Medicaid will seize all their property regardless of any wills they have. They lose their freedom to choose who gets their stuff. I would rather suffer with no healthcare than let the government decide who gets my house when I die.



posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 08:29 AM
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reply to post by patent98310
 


Speaking of "putting an end to the ignorance surrounding universal health care in America", has anyone actually read the entire bill?

I hear a lot of "talking points" from both sides of the debate, but not a lot of FACTS! What's in the actual bill? What does the actual language say?

Is anyone reading the bill (or parts of it) at these Town Hall Meetings and Protests?

The U.S. congress passed the Patriot Act after 9/11 because of the TITLE of it, and look what happened!

Americans should have Public Readings of the Bills before they jump on the band wagons and start chanting slogans and catch phrases.

That's called KNOWLEDGE. And THAT would end ignorance.

Am I right?

Yay? Or Nay?



posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 08:33 AM
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reply to post by spikey
 


States must pursue recovering costs for medical assistance consisting of:

* Nursing home or other long-term institutional services;
* Home- and community-based services;
* Hospital and prescription drug services provided while the recipient was receiving nursing facility or home- and community-based services; and
* At State option, any other items covered by the Medicaid State Plan.
aspe.hhs.gov...



posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 08:40 AM
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reply to post by sumgai
 



Yes. HR3200.

That's why I feel I can comment on it so voriferously.



posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 08:44 AM
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The opposition to National health insurance, such as the NHS, isn't because of ideology, nor the belief that a syatem such as that wouldn't work HERE.

The opposition exists because of the amount of money, special interest CASH. Too many wealthy people, who have enjoyed the benefits of a rigged system for too long, have just too much to lose if the US were to get it's collective chit together and do the right thing.

There's just too much money being thrown around, and American politicians are just too corrupt to NOT TAKE THE MONEY and embrace what's really best for the Citizens.

Corpocracy, when corporations run the government.



posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 09:05 AM
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reply to post by patent98310
 

As an Englishman, I have taken for granted our National Health Service and whenever I needed it, I got all the treatment I needed, free at the point of service.

The healthcare system of any country is open to criticism for any number of reasons, and you will always get people who complain about inadequate or negligent services.

I was genuinely astonished by a TV Documentary, where the cameras were at a football stadium in the USA, where people were queueing up waiting for the doors to open.

Who was playing? Nobody! The people; some of whom had travelled there for six or more hours, were waiting to see doctors, nurses and dentists, provided free by a charity, because otherwise they would not receive any form of treatment for their conditions.

My thoughts go out to those US Citizens who cannot afford medical treatment, and I hope by some means they will in future be able to receive free treatment, as I think it would be the civilised and compassionate thing to do.

Whether the current plans by President Obama are the right ones, I can't say, but how can any civilised society just let their fellow citizens rot as they do now?



posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 10:33 AM
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reply to post by spikey
 


The vast majority of Americans already have healthcare. Even the Obama administration puts the number of uninsured at 30 million or about 1/10th of the population.

The biggest issue I have are the mandates. Those people are going to be forced into the health insurance system and face a proposed fine of anywhere from $1,000 to 3,800 if they fail to do so. Needless to say, it is NOT free. There may be some exemptions, but inevitably, there will be people who don't qualify and who will be forced to cut back on their quality of life in order to purchase something many of them don't really need. I guess they're just screwed.

I'm also not convinced that the medical infrastructure is in place to handle the additional traffic. Aside from the possibility of lines, the increased demand for medical services with no corresponding increase in the number of doctors, nurses and medical facilities *will* lead to higher prices which will be passed on in the form of higher insurance premiums.

The good news? The insurance companies will soon be getting 30-50 million new customers, depending upon whether the administration is counting illegal aliens this week. At least they'll be happy.











[edit on 17-9-2009 by vor78]



posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 02:59 PM
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It's funny that none ever asks why ....

You now, I am all for Health Care reform.

I'm just not confident enough in the lobbyist-driven political machinery to do the job. Health Care is not about social engineering and votes. It's not about campaign funding and 'life after politics' golden parachutes. It's not about the country. It's about the individuals who need help and healing.

I think the reform should take place at the state level.

Once that is completed, a national level fusion can occur.

Right now, generally speaking, the people who are making the suggestions and driving the process are people who have never had a health care conflict, and never will. These are people who are rich and vested in the profitability of the corporations who have their ears.

Or do any of us think that the career-politicians and their politically appointed pals are really concerned about what's best for the common person - as opposed to the industry and corporations that 'own' it?

England and her NHS have nothing to do with America. That is just stupid politicians playing their stupid political games on TV. Some are driven by hubris, others by conspiracy, few - if any - are focused on the people that they are supposed to represent.



posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 04:54 PM
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I do beleive that the US will end up with a system it wants and need sin the End, not sure of Obama is the right man for the job..... However, when you delve into the beginings of the NHS, you end up with the same arguments thrown then as you are getting in the US today.

Tales of New Jerusalem


Vere Hodgson was, perhaps befitting a voluntary welfare worker, still more sceptical. ‘It seems to be all right if we could afford it,’ she reflected on the eve of the NHS’s start. ‘It seems to me just Bankrupt Hospitals being taken over by a Bankrupt Country. You pass on the baby.’


[edit on 17/9/09 by thoughtsfull]



posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 05:06 PM
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Why would I be surprised that a bunch socialist doctors want socialized medicine for other people? They remind me of evangelists assuming other people primitive and should be forced to adopt another creed.



posted on Sep, 17 2009 @ 05:12 PM
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I am all for healthcare reform.

As long as this new insurance isn't mandatory.

[edit on 17-9-2009 by sticky]







 
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