Sound Public Health Policy

Comment

Comment by Tina Glenn on July 16, 2010 at 10:16am

Ramsey, I appreciate as well your expression on the discussion. I love discussions such as these. Please, always feel welcome to start or join any discussion in this area. Many thanks to both yourself and Gerry.

Comment by Gerry Rae on July 15, 2010 at 10:49pm

Thanks to Ramsey for itemising "the other side of the argument". Sadly it all boils down to ingorance breeding irrational fear which breeds irrational logic. Both sides passionately fear the other system, yet, both sides hate their own system. This world is just too exciting to leave early!

Comment by Ramsey A. Bahrawy on July 15, 2010 at 6:01am

All:

I am a US citizen. I have relatives who live in Europe (Germany and Sweden). In addition I have lived in Germany and Switzerland. There is no doubt that the social safety net in Europe is very significant . There is also no doubt that these social services benefit the average person. In my opinion, the US health care system under which we have lived for the the last 20 years favored the extremes - the very wealth and the very poor. When will the Middle Class wake up and realize that this capitalist system does not work well for them? As regards Gerrys' comment about wanting to hear the other side, it is my understanding that the basis for opposing a single payer plan includes: The country can not afford another entitlement program; that government runs these programs very inefficiently with higher costs, that social systems have their flaws such as long waiting lists, rendering incomplete health services, poor delivery of health care services by a monopoly that has no incentive to improve, that patients will not be able to choose their physician or medical treatment regime and that a capitalist system encourages competition which will keep health care costs in check. This certainly is not a comprehensive list.

Comment by Tina Glenn on July 15, 2010 at 5:00am

Gerry,

Most other countries have their health care system set up under a social model. I loved hearing from you on this, and would love to hear many BA's/ others' opinions, especially who've also had first-hand experience receiving their health care services in socialized medicine settings. Thanks for bringing your comment to the table!

Comment by Gerry Rae on July 14, 2010 at 8:00pm

Long comment to follow. Sorry! There was a radio article on NPR this morning about the recognition by all major European governments of the need to reduce the cost of their various social welfare programs (NB no two Euro governments have the same programs). These cuts have had a predictable backlash reaction by beneficiaries in every European country. A Europe wide survey was commissioned to determine which social benefits were most cherished. The result was unanimous - socialised healthcare by a mile. Europeans think they are already paying for their healthcare through taxes. They FEAR a private payment system! I'm a European, married to an American and living in the States. Like most Europeans, I think the system here is barbaric. That's maybe because I cannot accept that profit should be realised out of someone else's misery and misfortune. I wasn't raised that way. I'd love to hear the other side of this opinion.

Comment by Jim Alvino on March 31, 2010 at 7:25pm

Very timely, Tina!

Comment by Martin D. Diano on March 28, 2010 at 11:22am

With US health care reform now the law of the land, this should be a very worthwhile group to follow. I look forward to reading the many varied opinions on this hotly debated topic.

Canadians and Europeans may also want to join in and comment. So many comparisons have been made with regard to heathcare delivery in Canada and throughout Europe.