What does the rest tof the world think about us?We let people die who could be saved by healthcare.

The insurance companies drop coverage for sick people, do not insure people who have been sick (isn't that the point of healthcare?), and deny life-saving operations for those who are covered. And yet the right-wing hypocritically accuses us of proposing death panels?

30,000,000 citizens that we know of do not have healthcare. Millions more have restricted healthcare or be tossed out of insurance programs at the first sign of sickness. We spend more money on healthcare than any other country. And yet, people who are affected by this are screaming with fear that any form of Government care would be bad for them.

How stupid have we become? People are making billions off this flawed system that leaves people DEAD.

Despite this, we have blue dog democrats holding up reform. We have repug leaders LYING about what is currently available and what reform would bring.

It's amazing that there even needs to be a debate, let alone a long and heated one. What does this say?

No one in the UK could get away with seriously trying to abolish the NHS.

That there is a lot of debate and complaints from other countries about their health systems. She said there are lots of wait times. Clearly our system is at least as good and possibly better because it's American! :sarcasm:

who hold ourselves out as the nation to be most emulated despite our preference for war over peace, corporations over people and profit over care.

"I got mine, fuck you"!

conceive, of a "health care system" that operates like ours.

Ever talk to someone from an "enlightened" country and talked about the system here?

They really do think we are insane.

And they are correct.

extending healthcare

The only one.

I just read a post on DU from a man whose wife was having to pay $900 that they couldn't afford for for a month's prescription medicine. Here, (UK) that would have cost me... £0. There is a small set fee for all prescriptions here - if you receive any benefits (e.g. I'm disabled) there is no charge. And I get 7 prescription meds each month.

The National Health Service isn't supposed to make a profit; it's a basic necessity for a civilised society.

Why does this seem so evil to so many Americans?

and the biggest, baddest fucking war machine on the planet?

And our capitalist masters just don't give a fuck (they're insured and they OWN our governments)?

And the people are trained to be sheeple?

And we are the land of Stupid?

Piss on all Flags...

We also think you have different priorities, like spending more on defence than the whole rest of the world combined.

We think you are being seriously misled by your politicians and your media about what universal health care could look like. I mean, Sarah Palin saying that her disabled son would have been denied care because of his Down's syndrome? If she'd done 90 seconds of research with the Google, she would know that's not true, but unfortunately, she says things like that and people believe her. (Present company @ DU excluded, obviously.)

(OK, I'm obviously just speaking for myself, not the whole rest of the world.:))

The war in Afghanistan, while Obama tries to decide if he should pay attention to the polls that explain we don't want that war, or instead listen to his Generals, who do want the war.

Our defense spending on wars amounts to 14% a year, which is exactly the amount needed for Universal Single Payer Health Care.

It should really be a no brainer -- but ...

Agreed. But if a bill passes without a public option, this could be a gift to the insurance industry. Requiring everyone to have insurance, but then only having the option of the overpriced, inefficient crap private plans would be disaster. PUBLIC OPTION - we go it alone like Bernie Sanders said.

you have a nice site

We think that you're all about to get a big dose of perspective about the US, its nature, its standing in the world, its direction and its hopes for its future.

We think that what's coming to you will be very painful, but hugely productive.

We're excited that this process is underway, because of what it promises.

Your empire is crumbling.

We're waiting for you on the other side.

Good luck.