But how are basic measures of health and happiness looking in countries with even MORE socialized medicine than the UK?
About 10 years ago we visited family in NZ, where, of course they have health care similar to NHS. One of the people we were staying with needed a procedure that he couldn't wait on, but there was a waiting list, because this is govt run HC. So he tells me he as a supplemental, private HC plan, so he was able to have the procedure done. But he's paying for both a govt and a private HC plan. The other thing that struck me about NZ was that the govt controls the price of gas. While we were there the price was adjusted and every single station was selling gas for exactly the same amount.
Anecdotes on some rag are just an appeal to the low IQ. the only numbers "fiscal conservatives" should really care about this racket:
Dudes, we have a for-profit health care system. It will always be expensive. I explained this years ago in another thread. Here's the most basic rundown of it... ----------------- Hospital buys a brand-spanking-new MRI machine. It costs 2 million dollars. They charge $2000 per MRI, and they use it 5 times per day. Assuming 200 days of usage at that rate, they have pulled in $2,000,000. So. The machine has been paid for in it's first year of usage. Now, they use it for another 15 years. If they charge the same rate, they could earn $30,000,000 over those 15 years, or they could simply cover the costs of the machine, which includes power, staffing and incidentals. After that first year, they could simply charge 10% over the cost of running the machine (which is paid for), and make money. Your $2K MRI could cost only $100 a year or two later. But what do they do? They keep charging that same $2K rate, so they rake in the money for the admin's pockets. Do you people understand this? A for-profit health care system cannot ever work. Period. It's so easy, a caveman can figure it out. Hundred-dollar bandages and shit like that. $270 for a day's worth of Jello-like meals in an in-patient room. REALLY? Unbelievable. F 'em. Invest in Amazon.
The NHS has been under continued attack by the UK Tory conservatives who want it broken up and sold in pieces for personal profit. They have been in power continuously since May 2010. Because its very popular they have to use some stealth but over a decade of rot and its crumbling.