We've been trapped Inside a Bad Health Care System So Long,

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

That's why the US lags behind many other developed countries when it comes to things like life expectancy and infant mortality.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

That's why the US lags behind many other developed countries when it comes to things like life expectancy and infant mortality.

At least we don't have the socialism

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well it says it in the article - people are so used to the status quo that they can't imagine life any other way.

[Der Bücherwurm 1]

if canada is so great, why are so many people coming to the states for elective surgeries?

The question is, if the US is so great, then why are so many Americans going to Mexico, a third world country, to buy the medications they need to keep themselves healthy and alive.

And forget all the Americans that are without health insurance. That isn't the only problem. There are many that have health insurance and the insurance companies cut them off when it is no longer cost effective for them to treat your cancer and save your life! If American insurance companies were as honest and reliable as German insurance companies and American doctors weren't in the pockets of the pharmaceutical companies taking kickbacks to prescribe expensive pills that you don't even need then I might be more satisfied with the American system. I've experienced the US, German, Norwegian, UAE and Turkish health care systems and I prefer the German and Norwegian models by far.

Someone else mentioned Ukraine. I think it is sad that Americans have to compare themselves with 2nd and 3rd world countries before they start to look good. Why can't we compare ourselves with other 1st world nations with an equal or better standard of living? Americans have gotten lazy and afraid of change even when it is apparent that what we have is not working. Adaptation to a changing world is necessary for survival if you don't want to go the way of the dinosaurs. I'm not content with a nation that is comfortable with just throwing it's hands up in the air and just saying, "Well, at least we're better than Botswana!" The US can do better than that. Otherwise, we can quit shouting USA no. 1...permanently. It has been quite a while since the US has been no. 1 in the western world in something other than violence, crime, illiteracy, teenage pregnancy, infant mortality, maternal mortality, heart disease, obesity, etc.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

How can anyone justify a system that has people afraid of getting sick because of how much it will cost?

The free market.

People worth treating will demand a pay rate that makes those people able to seek treatment. When one can not afford to seek treatment, that is nothing more than the free market setting a value on that persons life/health.

People are commodities. That's how it's justified.

Proud your statement makes Yoda.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

if canada is so great, why are so many people coming to the states for elective surgeries?

Elective surgery doesn't have all that much to do with health care, does it? There are scores of people in the US that can't get necessary surgery because they can't afford it. That is the concern. The opportunity to get a ####### or nose job done doesn't say much about the quality of a health care system.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Well it says it in the article - people are so used to the status quo that they can't imagine life any other way.

Those that know that there's a better (and much less expensive) way because they've seen and experienced it are all the more frustrated with the sorry excuse for a health care system that this country has allowed to take hold. It's amazing how there are still so many in this country that practically worship this cancer that is killing this nation.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Well it says it in the article - people are so used to the status quo that they can't imagine life any other way.

Those that know that there's a better (and much less expensive) way because they've seen and experienced it are all the more frustrated with the sorry excuse for a health care system that this country has allowed to take hold. It's amazing how there are still so many in this country that practically worship this cancer that is killing this nation.

People who are "worth it" can afford it. Those who aren't, can't. Do you really want an America where resources are spent prolonging the life of people of lesser worth? Sounds inefficient to me. No way to run a country by free market principles.

[AlHayatZween 2]

Well it says it in the article - people are so used to the status quo that they can't imagine life any other way.

Those that know that there's a better (and much less expensive) way because they've seen and experienced it are all the more frustrated with the sorry excuse for a health care system that this country has allowed to take hold. It's amazing how there are still so many in this country that practically worship this cancer that is killing this nation.

People who are "worth it" can afford it. Those who aren't, can't. Do you really want an America where resources are spent prolonging the life of people of lesser worth? Sounds inefficient to me. No way to run a country by free market principles.

All those people who are "worth it" suck.

Have you ever had to have a conversation with those kinds of people?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Well it says it in the article - people are so used to the status quo that they can't imagine life any other way.

Those that know that there's a better (and much less expensive) way because they've seen and experienced it are all the more frustrated with the sorry excuse for a health care system that this country has allowed to take hold. It's amazing how there are still so many in this country that practically worship this cancer that is killing this nation.

People who are "worth it" can afford it. Those who aren't, can't. Do you really want an America where resources are spent prolonging the life of people of lesser worth? Sounds inefficient to me. No way to run a country by free market principles.

All those people who are "worth it" suck.

Have you ever had to have a conversation with those kinds of people?

They add value to the overall economy. The rest of us don't. If you wish to maximize our economic potential, you devote resources to them and keep them healthy.

That is, if you love America of course. But if you're just another liberal who puts him or herself over his or her nation, then by all means.... embark on a course of action that destroys this nation from within.

[AlHayatZween 2]

All those people who are "worth it" suck.

Have you ever had to have a conversation with those kinds of people?

[/color]

They add value to the overall economy. The rest of us don't. If you wish to maximize our economic potential, you devote resources to them and keep them healthy.

That is, if you love America of course. But if you're just another liberal who puts him or herself over his or her nation, then by all means.... embark on a course of action that destroys this nation from within.

i beg to differ, Brother AJ.

Those "worth it" people use up just as many environmental resouces as the rest of us; they buy their fancypants cars from foreign manufacturers; their kids are over-indulged, poorly behaved, and stupid because they were taught that sharing-is-caring shiznit in their private $1K/month daycare; they eat red meat & stinky cheese; and most of the time... they don't even know how to dance.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Well it says it in the article - people are so used to the status quo that they can't imagine life any other way.

Those that know that there's a better (and much less expensive) way because they've seen and experienced it are all the more frustrated with the sorry excuse for a health care system that this country has allowed to take hold. It's amazing how there are still so many in this country that practically worship this cancer that is killing this nation.

People who are "worth it" can afford it. Those who aren't, can't. Do you really want an America where resources are spent prolonging the life of people of lesser worth? Sounds inefficient to me. No way to run a country by free market principles.

We should then keep our ER's closed to the un-worthy population, too. Police and fire department resources should not be drained to protect or save those either. I guess if one is worth it, one can afford to order those services on a fee-for-service basis. Same goes for the schools - no pay, no play. Just so we don't stray from the principles of the free market.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Well it says it in the article - people are so used to the status quo that they can't imagine life any other way.

Those that know that there's a better (and much less expensive) way because they've seen and experienced it are all the more frustrated with the sorry excuse for a health care system that this country has allowed to take hold. It's amazing how there are still so many in this country that practically worship this cancer that is killing this nation.

People who are "worth it" can afford it. Those who aren't, can't. Do you really want an America where resources are spent prolonging the life of people of lesser worth? Sounds inefficient to me. No way to run a country by free market principles.

Sarcasm detected!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Well it says it in the article - people are so used to the status quo that they can't imagine life any other way.

Those that know that there's a better (and much less expensive) way because they've seen and experienced it are all the more frustrated with the sorry excuse for a health care system that this country has allowed to take hold. It's amazing how there are still so many in this country that practically worship this cancer that is killing this nation.

People who are "worth it" can afford it. Those who aren't, can't. Do you really want an America where resources are spent prolonging the life of people of lesser worth? Sounds inefficient to me. No way to run a country by free market principles.

We should then keep our ER's closed to the un-worthy population, too. Police and fire department resources should not be drained to protect or save those either. I guess if one is worth it, one can afford to order those services on a fee-for-service basis. Same goes for the schools - no pay, no play. Just so we don't stray from the principles of the free market.

Disagree on fires. An unworthy individual or a family of unworthy individuals may live in an underutilized piece of real estate. If the structure is on fire, it should be saved. To let it all burn would be throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Well it says it in the article - people are so used to the status quo that they can't imagine life any other way.

Those that know that there's a better (and much less expensive) way because they've seen and experienced it are all the more frustrated with the sorry excuse for a health care system that this country has allowed to take hold. It's amazing how there are still so many in this country that practically worship this cancer that is killing this nation.

People who are "worth it" can afford it. Those who aren't, can't. Do you really want an America where resources are spent prolonging the life of people of lesser worth? Sounds inefficient to me. No way to run a country by free market principles.

We should then keep our ER's closed to the un-worthy population, too. Police and fire department resources should not be drained to protect or save those either. I guess if one is worth it, one can afford to order those services on a fee-for-service basis. Same goes for the schools - no pay, no play. Just so we don't stray from the principles of the free market.

Disagree on fires. An unworthy individual or a family of unworthy individuals may live in an underutilized piece of real estate. If the structure is on fire, it should be saved. To let it all burn would be throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

OK, so just discontinue their access to ER's and police services across the board and don't send the fire truck if the burning structure happens to be a trailer. Yay, let's hear it for the free market!

Edited July 6, 2009 by Mr. Big Dog