Yes. Does it take effort to be as completely clueless as you maintain yourself?
Primary difference between the two systems: in the U.S. the VAST majority of it is private funding. People are using their OWN money, either directly or as part of their compensation package at work, for their medical expenses. Being that (so far, though if asshole like you have their way, it won't be much longer) the private sector is a much larger portion of the economy, it is also able to absorb the higher costs of those treatment options your system says are "unnecessary" and "too luxurious" to pay for. There is the PRIMARY reason the U.S. spends more. Because we CHOOSE to spend more on "luxuries" like a private room, or deluxe easy chairs for visitor's comfort so parents staying the night with their child don't cripple themselves sitting long term in a crappy chair.
Exactly. The private sector, the citizens, have the money meaning they have the money to pay higher taxes or buy insurance so implementing a government plan is not going to bankrupt them.
A country's wealth is the wealth of the citizens. That is why it's absurd for anyone to suggest the US can not afford a government plan.
OTOH, your system is completely paid for through public funding. Good for you, except in going that route, you are forced to accept the idea that a private room is an unneeded luxury, and it is better to spend any available funds on another hospital bed than a dozen decent guest chairs. Also, when costs rise, it hits your system harder because the funding comes from a smaller and limited portion of your economy. Your comparison is not valid because there is more involved than your mere per-persons costs. We have more options, which naturally results in more AVERAGE costs, when some of those costs are ENTIRELY voluntary use of options unavailable in public systems.
There are options in Canada's plan. Some people have private insurance which pays for private rooms just as I had when I was hospitalized. (Actually, the rehab hospital was pissed because I refused a private room and they wanted the money from my insurance. I wanted a ward with other people. Why would I want to lie in a bed in a room by myself? Beside being bored to death there is less chance a nurse would come by. Being in a ward the nurses came by more often to check on other patients enabling me to get their attention.)
In any case the options in your system can remain options just like in other systems. If people want the options and can pay for them, great.
Want to have a valid comparison: compare your government system, to our GOVERNMENT system. The private system is doing fine for those in it - which is a VERY large majority. Fucking up that system for a small minority is utter foolishness. We HAVE a system which is SUPPOSED to fill the gap for those who have trouble affording private care. If it is not doing its job, the proper answer is to fix that portion which is actually broken. You don't put a new shortblock in a car to fix a failed alternator.
We all know what the proper answer is and that's a government plan. There are always options available for those who can afford it. There's no law against having a private rehab coach or slipping a doctor a few $$ if one feels like having a social chat.
As for fixing the portion that is broken that's been tried for generations and nothing happened. That's precisely why Obama said the time is NOW. It had been discussed up, down and sideways since WWII.
The bottom line is you are a totalitarian. You come out with all you bullshit, and delude yourself in believing that your "humanitarian" desires justify MAKING people do your bidding "for their own good". It does not matter that your "intentions" are "good". The road to hell is paved with good intentions. What matters is your sick, depraved hypocrisy that you are for freedom, yet support the idea that people have to be FORCED into accepting YOUR ideals, and support government doing just that.
My ideals? Are you saying a country has no obligation to look after it's ill citizens?
You see, that's where the hypocrisy really lies. People talk about wanting to help. People say there has to be a better way. People say it can be done. But it has never been done,
for generations. In other words they're full of crap. They don't want to help. They don't want to find a solution because if it concerned them to the degree they profess they'd embrace Obama's plan realizing nothing has been done,
for generations. They'd realize that people have suffered and died prematurely,
for generations.
Once the population grasps the idea everyone is entitled to medical care, once that concept is firmly embedded, then discussions can continue with the unstated understanding everyone must be covered.
Once the discussions about what is the best way to ensure the largest group for the least amount of money or what income level is entitled to help or similar topics are removed and replaced with what do we have to do to keep everyone covered then we'll be on the right track. It's no longer about "can we do it" or "should we do it".
HCR is a fundamental change. We're doing it. Now the discussions should revolve around the best ways, fine tuning the plan just like every other country does as times change. Unless, of course, one says to hell with the ill.
