Comments | zell_unit01: "The Envy of the World"

zell_unit01

"The Envy of the World"

Jul 28, 2007 23:57

Last night I saw Michael Moore's latest film "Sicko." Like his previous films, it made me wonder if there was something fundamentally wrong with this country. And whether or not you like Moore, or his style of filmmaking, you have to agree that the health care system in the United States is seriously screwed up ( Read more... )

Comments 4

the_rammy July 29 2007, 16:31:30 UTC

You know, I always thought efficiency was a red herring...I mean, it's good, but it's not the ultimate value its fanatics make it out to be.

joygirl007 July 29 2007, 17:34:16 UTC

The thing about socialized health that you should remember is this:
"Just because it's FREE doesn't mean it's GOOD."

Yes, my friend in Canada can have her OBGYN appointment and birth control prescription for free - and mine, with insurance, costs $30 (without, the whole deal would cost me $120). BUT whereas I call, make my appointment and am seen in short order and get the prescription for the birth control I WANT, SHE gets to call, make her appointment and then HOPE that she gets seen the day she scheduled and HOPE that the prescription he writes is for the birth control she wants instead of for the cheapest possible form (which usually has shitty side-effects).

I'm not against socialized medicine - I believe everyone in a first world country has a right to health care even if they don't have a fucking dime. BUT, I'm all about having private health care for those who can afford it - because when it comes to MY body, I don't want to take any chances that I can't go back and sue later.

Just my take.

zell_unit01 July 30 2007, 00:30:29 UTC

A two-tier system probably would be best. If there's a free system that's garuanteed to provide some health care, even if it's cheaper, then the insurance companies have a legitimate competitor. I bet nobody would put up with all that crap if they could get it for free elsewhere.

dainasplashes July 30 2007, 05:02:04 UTC

Hope you don't mind me wandering by via a friend's page. I appreciate your thoughts on health care and your NZ experience. I did want to note, though, that some fire departments are more socialized than others: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1580164/posts (Sorry, I couldn't find the original article.)

Most of the fire companies here in Southcentral PA are all-volunteer, which means they get only a fraction of their money from taxes and fundraise to make up the rest. And they're not exactly state-run. Some do bill in certain situations, mostly in response to auto accidents (and if they provide ambulance service, of course). Some have contemplated billing for fire calls as well, and I think one somewhere in the state has started that, but state law isn't too clear on the matter. No reports of any PA fire companies just letting buildings burn, though, thank goodness.