The French are bemused and worried by the health care debate

America’s health care debate is being closely followed in Europe, and nowhere more so than in France, where the press carries daily updates on the situation and spin-off issues such as the Heath Ledger poster.

Understanding their reaction means understanding a little about the French context. The majority of French people, around 65 percent according to various polls, have a negative view of America, and their ‘Anti-Américanisme’ is analysed by specialists as being a mixture of envy, frustration at France’s relative decline as a world power, and fear.

France has a universal public health system which is funded by taxes. Everyone has access to it and private insurance is generally considered to be a complement to the health service and not a substitute. In other words, the complete antithesis of the American system as it stands.

All this may lead the reader to imagine that France is busy scoffing condescendingly at the debate and being openly scornful in a “See, what an ugly and violent place it is” kind of way.

Well, the reader would be wrong.
More

I don't think so.

Who wants a sick, scared, and broke population?

Oh, wait. Never mind.

The fact that we are arguing about something that would be so beneficial, now and in the long run, is mind-boggling to me.

They really do look to me like the hateful morons who were arguing FOR segregation back in the 50s and 60s.
But we are where we are.

poster, from the college kid who said he was just playing around with potoshop and didn't think anyone would notice.

they might all be speaking German today.