To the GWers that live in countries with "socialized" health care

[Ryllharu]

I'm from the US, have a chronic condition (asthma), and the US system has taken care of me quite well. If you have private insurance through an employer, spouse, or parent (or a lot of money so you can do without) the system is fine. None or minimal waits for largely any service, but it comes at a price: Cost.

I will not deny that our system is broken. My medication costs something like $140 a month if I didn't have insurance. People sue for anything and everything, and doctors overcharge in many cases. In turn, they get screwed over my malpractice insurance agencies. It is a vicious spiral, and I'm still trying to figure out who's fault it really is.

But if you have a decent job with a company that has a decent plan, you're fine. Do a lot of people fall through the cracks, yes, sadly.

However, I am no fan of our Legislature and President that are so dead-set on adopting the model that the rest of the world uses. The Welfare State it will create here will be a disaster for my country, the people, and the generations to come. The system is broken, but copying a system that people will only abuse will not solve the problems with the US system.

Our existing system has too many problems, and those problems have not been dealt with first.

A private system can work fine, but in all honesty, what it comes down to is that I have a job, and I don't want to pay for the people who are not willing to get one. Yes the system has major flaws, yes many people who do work their asses off can't get insurance, but giving them a handout at the expense of people who do is not the solution. Nor is taxing the shit out of the companies that offer people good plans..

/rage

[Sapphire]

A private system can work fine, but in all honesty, what it comes down to is that I have a job, and I don't want to pay for the people who are not willing to get one. Yes the system has major flaws, yes many people who do work their asses off can't get insurance, but giving them a handout at the expense of people who do is not the solution. Nor is taxing the shit out of the companies that offer people good plans..

/rage

^^

Also am afraid of something like THIS happening. Comments are also a bit scary.

I'm also not liking most of the things I hear from people who support socialized health care. A lot of it is about taking down those damn eeeeeviiil corrupt pharmaceutical companies that provide them with their ritalin and their prozac in the first place. The system is very screwed up yes - you have to show your insurance before you're even seen by a doctor in most hospitals - but blaming successful companies that provide them with their drugs and wanting to take them down doesn't make sense to me. Nor does the government forcing me to have the "cheaper" generic product when I want a choice (because it is now paid for by taxes).

PS - The fact that Obama wants to increase taxes for those who wish to opt-out of the public health care "option" and stick with their insurance companies is also highly disturbing.