My recent experience of the UK National Health Service (long post)

[CaptainHaplo]

Mothballs - good point, though not entirely true. If you need lifesaving, emergency surgery, you get it, then get a bill. Hospitals save the life first, then ask you to pay - in emergency situations. Thats required by law. They cannot refuse to take lifesaving emergency action.

However, if its non-life threatening, then yes, they will insure your ability to pay first. If your life isn't in danger, if your not going to die from not having a health procedure done, go out and get a job so you can pay for what you WANT done. Why does it become the responsibility - unasked for, of people that work hard for what they have, to take on the additional requirements and costs so that someone who doesn't want to pay should get something that they don't have to have to live?

I know this sounds harsh, but its the way I see it. It is not my responsibility to pay for you to get your leg mended after you went and broke it riding your ATV. Its not my responsibility to pay for a 17yr old on the other side of the country to have a baby. Its not my responsibility to pay for the illegal aliens who get a sniffle and decide to clog up the emergency room. Its not my responsibility to pay for the treatment of a whacked out druggy who OD'd and will just get halfway healthy just to go shoot up again. Its not my responsibility to provide STD medication to people who can't keep their pants on.

I could go on and on.

I have 2 kids, a lovely woman and myself. THAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY! And I take care of what I am responsible for. Its about time people started taking responsibility for themselves, instead of trying to push it off on the rest of us when it comes to health care!