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

[XabbaRus]

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Despite the serious overall state the UK NHS finds itself in, it is still admired/envied in many parts of the world.

That's what my local MP (Foreign Secretary) keeps telling me

Although I agree with you I pity you your (not maybe yours) choice of MP.

Milliband is a ****.

As for professional freeloaders, well the freeloader is a risk you take with national health care and benefit systems, however I think you will find they make up a small number of claimants.

I also have to disagree with statements about why you shouldn't have to pay for people who make no contribution.

What about someone who was in gainful employment (the majority of the population) who due to the recent crisis has lost their job. So for the time they are out of work they don't make contributions. If they are like most people they will be looking for work and eventually find work, thus they start making contributions again.

You see that is why we pay taxes and National Insurance over here in hte UK. I know that I have paid my way so if things go to rat**** I have contributed along with the majority of people to the safety net that is there if I should need it. Therefore I do not begrudge paying my taxes. True they need to crack down on freeloaders and in the UK they are starting to.

I do agree however you can make money out of being sick, but there are ways to crackdown. They are starting that here, and yes it is unpopular, but only amongst those who know they will be busted.

However on balance I am glad we have an NHS. BTW I don't see what being a Christian really has to do with it all.

[MothBalls]

Originally Posted by XabbaRus

What about someone who was in gainful employment (the majority of the population) who due to the recent crisis has lost their job. So for the time they are out of work they don't make contributions. If they are like most people they will be looking for work and eventually find work, thus they start making contributions again.

(not directed at you specifically, mainly Americans in general)
It's called being a responsible adult. Before buying a luxury car, iPhone, new computer and racking up 25,000 in credit card debt, people should have savings/investments/portfolios to back themselves up for an extended period of time. Too many lay blame on "circumstances beyond their control". Bullchit. The only thing beyond their control is their own spending habits.

Too many in the US live from check-to-check and can't even go a few weeks without a paycheck. Those are the people I have no sympathy for. I don't feel obligated to provide support for stupid people. Rainy days happen to all of us at one time or another. Not my fault if someone isn't ready for one. The ones who collect unemployment for 36-53 weeks, now will also collect heath care as well, on my dime.

[AVGWarhawk]

Too many lay blame on "circumstances beyond their control". Bullchit. The only thing beyond their control is their own spending habits.

That is an understatement if I ever heard one. There are many who blame it all on someone else. Most just need to look in the mirror to find the offender.

I don't think I've ever met an American who has lived in both US and Finland who would prefer the US health care. Or US anything. Well, weather maybe. The one in Florida, not Buffalo.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by OneToughHerring

I don't think I've ever met an American who has lived in both US and Finland who would prefer the US health care. Or US anything. Well, weather maybe. The one in Florida, not Buffalo.

Florida weather sucks.

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by OneToughHerring

I don't think I've ever met an American who has lived in both US and Finland who would prefer the US health care. Or US anything. Well, weather maybe. The one in Florida, not Buffalo.

Is the grub (steaks and submarines) really that good in Finland!!

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Is the grub (steaks and submarines) really that good in Finland!!

Well we've got reindeer stew if you're into that.

http://frozenreindeer.com/2007/05/21...w-with-photos/

And "mämmi" (a kind of malt pudding).

http://www.ahousecallednut.com/a_hou...ng-recipe.html

[Jimbuna]

Originally Posted by OneToughHerring

Well we've got reindeer stew if you're into that.

http://frozenreindeer.com/2007/05/21...w-with-photos/

And "mämmi" (a kind of malt pudding).

http://www.ahousecallednut.com/a_hou...ng-recipe.html

They both look okay....I'll be sure to try them if I ever visit Finland

I do not see this as a Christian dealing at all. Not sure how that got in the mix.

It's internet bingo, all that was missing was communist , liberal media and constitutional.
So close but no win yet.

As for the "christian" thing, that carpenter fellow was quite clear about taxes, he also had a lot to say about those who broadcast how religious they were and how responsible and generous they had been with their lives.
It appears the old adage is very true, the louder the "faithfull" shout the less their faith really is.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by Tribesman

It's internet bingo, all that was missing was communist , liberal media and constitutional.
So close but no win yet.

As for the "christian" thing, that carpenter fellow was quite clear about taxes, he also had a lot to say about those who broadcast how religious they were and how responsible and generous they had been with their lives.
It appears the old adage is very true, the louder the "faithfull" shout the less their faith really is.

Never heard of that old adage.

Never heard of that old adage

Its common over here, then again we have quite a history of very "religious" people. It must have been common in that carpenters time too as he tells tales of it.
So as a general guide when someone introduces "as a christian..." into a topic (especially where it seems irrelevant)there is a fairly high chance that they are really about as Christian as a toe nail clipping from bhuddas left foot.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by MothBalls

Bullchit. The only thing beyond their control is their own spending habits.

What about the millions of Americans who work hard and can't afford insurance, but don't qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP? Do they not exist despite the mountain of evidence to the contrary? Or is it perhaps easier to blame the individual rather than admit the system is flawed? Not everyone without health insurance is walking around with Prada clothes on and driving a $100,000 Benz.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

What about the millions of Americans who work hard and can't afford insurance, but don't qualify for Medicaid or SCHIP? Do they not exist despite the mountain of evidence to the contrary? Or is it perhaps easier to blame the individual rather than admit the system is flawed? Not everyone without health insurance is walking around with Prada clothes on and driving a $100,000 Benz.

I have never had a job that did not provide some form of health insurance. I would not accept a job that did not have a program for health insurance. If an individual does take a job that does not offer health insurance that is their choice. No one forced this person to take the job.

[mookiemookie]

Originally Posted by AVGWarhawk

I have never had a job that did not provide some form of health insurance. I would not accept a job that did not have a program for health insurance. If an individual does take a job that does not offer health insurance that is their choice. No one forced this person to take the job.

Being able to pick and choose which job to take is a luxury that many people these days don't have.

[AVGWarhawk]

Originally Posted by mookiemookie

Being able to pick and choose which job to take is a luxury that many people these days don't have.

How does BS grab you? The picking and choosing come down to two things...willing to work any job and will it pay more than my unemployment? Come on man, my wifes side of the family has more people working the system then I care to count. These are people who have been offered good jobs but they would prefer to sit at home collecting unemployment and have no health insurance that would be offered as part of the employment package. There is one person who works in my wife's aunt's house, her one cousin who did not qualify for unemployment checks by the state. She found a job at Best Buy that offers health care. She likes the job. She is covered for health. She is paying taxes.