Comments on: Anti-health-care loon says Stephen Hawking wouldn't stand a chance under British health care system http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 03:18:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-564226 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-564226 to those who live in countries that have sane health care policies and know very well that they work, having lived successfully with them for generations: I have a warning. Be wary of the organized power of evil emanating from America. Do not presume your past success protects you from an aggressive, top level, well financed and highly organized all-out assault on your own health programmes led by insurance companies and other vested interests. Never forget that your own government has no doubt sold you out in the past in the name of oil and other trans-national business. Be on guard and keep a tight leash on your elected "representatives". It is far easier to go backwards than you think. to those who live in countries that have sane health care policies and know very well that they work, having lived successfully with them for generations: I have a warning.

Be wary of the organized power of evil emanating from America. Do not presume your past success protects you from an aggressive, top level, well financed and highly organized all-out assault on your own health programmes led by insurance companies and other vested interests. Never forget that your own government has no doubt sold you out in the past in the name of oil and other trans-national business. Be on guard and keep a tight leash on your elected “representatives”.

It is far easier to go backwards than you think.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-563715 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-563715 Yes Stephen Hawking does have private health insurance through Cambridge University. But I doubt they would have hired him as a beginning professor if he had not been already covered under the national plan, yes he was diagnosed before being hired as a professor. The private plan offers him more nursing help and better equipment. Yes I know we are not suppose to discriminate under the law, but all the very qualified disabled people I know are NOT working because they can not get any health insurance if they work. And since they have a previously existing condition they can not get insurance under an employers plan. I often wonder how many outstanding people spend their days at home doing nothing just so they can get medical care. How much brain power are we wasting? Yes Stephen Hawking does have private health insurance through Cambridge University. But I doubt they would have hired him as a beginning professor if he had not been already covered under the national plan, yes he was diagnosed before being hired as a professor. The private plan offers him more nursing help and better equipment.

Yes I know we are not suppose to discriminate under the law, but all the very qualified disabled people I know are NOT working because they can not get any health insurance if they work. And since they have a previously existing condition they can not get insurance under an employers plan.

I often wonder how many outstanding people spend their days at home doing nothing just so they can get medical care. How much brain power are we wasting?

]]> By: arkizzle / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-564484 arkizzle / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-564484 OneGod.. do you get it? 'Nice' has little to do with whether I say 'fuck' or not. Disliking the American health system is not anti-American, any more than you dislikng the NHS is anti-British. 404 came back and apologised for his initial tone and comments, even though they were descriptive of an attitude rather than personally or nationally attacking anyone. Some Americans agreed with his comments. There is no need to personally attack anyone here, least of all sniping over spelling errors. OneGod.. do you get it?

‘Nice’ has little to do with whether I say ‘fuck’ or not.

Disliking the American health system is not anti-American, any more than you dislikng the NHS is anti-British.

404 came back and apologised for his initial tone and comments, even though they were descriptive of an attitude rather than personally or nationally attacking anyone. Some Americans agreed with his comments.

There is no need to personally attack anyone here, least of all sniping over spelling errors.

]]> By: Teresa Nielsen Hayden http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-564996 Teresa Nielsen Hayden Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-564996 Oh, and Arkizzle? Congratulations on the new title. Oh, and Arkizzle? Congratulations on the new title.

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-563978 Stefan Jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-563978 Look at it this way: If your goal is to prevent health care reform, you have to convince a critical mass of people that it is a bad idea. It is far easier to convince stupid people using emotional arguments and hit-and-run anecdotes than to lay out a logical argument. Even stupid people are probably aware of Dr. Hawking. He's appeared on <i>The Simpsons</i> and <i>Family Guy</i> (mmmm, or was it <i>American Dad</i>?). If you can catch just a few idiots, the editorial has done its job. Other idiots will respond to other specious arguments and anecdotes. The Army of <i>Duhhhhh!</i>ness marches on. Look at it this way:

If your goal is to prevent health care reform, you have to convince a critical mass of people that it is a bad idea.

It is far easier to convince stupid people using emotional arguments and hit-and-run anecdotes than to lay out a logical argument.

Even stupid people are probably aware of Dr. Hawking. He’s appeared on The Simpsons and Family Guy (mmmm, or was it American Dad?). If you can catch just a few idiots, the editorial has done its job. Other idiots will respond to other specious arguments and anecdotes.

The Army of Duhhhhh!ness marches on.

]]> By: Akula971 http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-563724 Akula971 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-563724 I'm British, My father is British. We have in our lives both paid our national insurance contributions when we where working. It is not as much as income tax. My father is now 81 and is suffering from Motor neurone disease. To help with his care, so he can stay in his own home, he had a stair lift fitted (free). He has a chair, with controls for position (free), he has a medical bed with similar controls. Now that he can no longer walk, he has a hoist to get him from his bed to the chair. He now has two care assistants that visit in the morning to get him up and wash him. Another two arrive in the evening to see to his toiletry needs and put him to bed. He has to pay for the care assistants, but because of his condition he gets an allowance from the government, which covers the cost. He can spend the allowance on what he thinks suits him and his condition best. For his medication, he gets free drugs as he is retired. There are a whole raft of other pieces of equipment that he can have when the need arrives.ALL FREE!!! He recently had fitted pneumatic cushions that move the weight of the body about to avoid pressure points and bed sores. My mother feeds him and the rest of the family do their best to keep him amused. It is not really free, as we ALL pay into the fund when we are working, when we are not working and sign up for unemployment benefit, the government pays our contributions, whilst unemployed we get free prescriptions, dental care, etc. This saves us having to pay the standard charge for prescriptions that is £7.20 regardless of how expensive the drug is. When we see the Americans argue about national healthcare, it just confirms to us that America is the land of greed and stupidity. Corporate greed! Civil stupidity. I’m British, My father is British. We have in our lives both paid our national insurance contributions when we where working. It is not as much as income tax. My father is now 81 and is suffering from Motor neurone disease. To help with his care, so he can stay in his own home, he had a stair lift fitted (free). He has a chair, with controls for position (free), he has a medical bed with similar controls. Now that he can no longer walk, he has a hoist to get him from his bed to the chair. He now has two care assistants that visit in the morning to get him up and wash him. Another two arrive in the evening to see to his toiletry needs and put him to bed. He has to pay for the care assistants, but because of his condition he gets an allowance from the government, which covers the cost. He can spend the allowance on what he thinks suits him and his condition best. For his medication, he gets free drugs as he is retired. There are a whole raft of other pieces of equipment that he can have when the need arrives.ALL FREE!!! He recently had fitted pneumatic cushions that move the weight of the body about to avoid pressure points and bed sores. My mother feeds him and the rest of the family do their best to keep him amused. It is not really free, as we ALL pay into the fund when we are working, when we are not working and sign up for unemployment benefit, the government pays our contributions, whilst unemployed we get free prescriptions, dental care, etc. This saves us having to pay the standard charge for prescriptions that is £7.20 regardless of how expensive the drug is.

When we see the Americans argue about national healthcare, it just confirms to us that America is the land of greed and stupidity. Corporate greed! Civil stupidity.

]]> By: mccrum http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-564236 mccrum Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-564236 Error404, I thought you were actually right on target with your earlier comments, as angry as you think they might have been. I have awesome health insurance through my job, I love it. However, if the we can get coverage even half as good to everyone out there and I have to pony up a little more to keep my awesome insurance, then let's do it. I have massive taxes already from those that use the ER as free medical care without the proper care and treatment from a consistent doctor, I'd like to put that same money to better use, namely to all my freelance friends who skate a dangerous edge walking out their front door. Error404, I thought you were actually right on target with your earlier comments, as angry as you think they might have been. I have awesome health insurance through my job, I love it.

However, if the we can get coverage even half as good to everyone out there and I have to pony up a little more to keep my awesome insurance, then let’s do it. I have massive taxes already from those that use the ER as free medical care without the proper care and treatment from a consistent doctor, I’d like to put that same money to better use, namely to all my freelance friends who skate a dangerous edge walking out their front door.

]]> By: jbad http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-564239 jbad Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-564239 um folks-- Your SENATOR! http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm um folks–

Your SENATOR!

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-563988 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-563988 @#35 Fearmongers about an expanded government role in healthcare say that not only can government not cover everyone for every possible problem (which is a straw man argument since no one is claiming it can) but also that government healthcare will crowd our or eliminate private options. The fact that Hawking can use his wealth to pay for additional services undermines the IDB's argument as well. @#35

Fearmongers about an expanded government role in healthcare say that not only can government not cover everyone for every possible problem (which is a straw man argument since no one is claiming it can) but also that government healthcare will crowd our or eliminate private options. The fact that Hawking can use his wealth to pay for additional services undermines the IDB’s argument as well.

]]> By: arkizzle / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-565018 arkizzle / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-565018 Thanks, I 'preciate that, mightily :) Thanks, I ‘preciate that, mightily :)

]]> By: buddy66 http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-564252 buddy66 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-564252 We are four countries bound together by a written constitution that few of us have actually read. One quarter of us are ignorant. One quarter of us are silly. One quarter of us are mean. (it is possible, indeed likely, to be all three) And one quarter of us struggle to survive and prevail in their midst. We are reluctant elitists paradoxically in love with democracy. We may be mad. We are four countries bound together by a written constitution that few of us have actually read.

One quarter of us are ignorant.

One quarter of us are silly.

One quarter of us are mean.

(it is possible, indeed likely, to be all three)

And one quarter of us struggle to survive and prevail in their midst. We are reluctant elitists paradoxically in love with democracy.

We may be mad.

]]> By: Nelson.C http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-565024 Nelson.C Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-565024 WizardofPlum, I was responding to OneGod's characterisation of Harley Street as the sole face of private medical care in modern Britain. Of course it's been around since Victorian times, and only as an option for the well-heeled. These days, though, Bupa is the more common face, by virtue of being accessible to the middle class, and Harley Street has relatively little currency in the popular imagination. It's likely that one would only refer to Harley Street at all if one's sole exposure to British culture were through old media such as the <i>Doctor</i> movies. Or been frozen alongside Austin Powers.... WizardofPlum, I was responding to OneGod’s characterisation of Harley Street as the sole face of private medical care in modern Britain. Of course it’s been around since Victorian times, and only as an option for the well-heeled. These days, though, Bupa is the more common face, by virtue of being accessible to the middle class, and Harley Street has relatively little currency in the popular imagination. It’s likely that one would only refer to Harley Street at all if one’s sole exposure to British culture were through old media such as the Doctor movies. Or been frozen alongside Austin Powers….

]]> By: Teresa Nielsen Hayden http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-564513 Teresa Nielsen Hayden Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-564513 OneGod, I strongly suspect that you've been lying about your experiences and your family history from the moment you showed up here. I have real trouble believing you're British. Every other first-world country has national health care. Their citizens are fiercely defensive of their health-care systems. All of them pay less than we do. You want personal anecdotes? I've been treated by both the Canadian and British systems. The quality of care was just fine. The random British ER I wound up in was easily better than three-quarters of the ERs I've known in the United States. Both the routine medical care and the high-end diagnostic procedures I experienced in Canada were as good or better as anything I've seen in the States. Here are the two biggest differences I've observed: 1. In their ERs and clinics, the first thing they ask you is what hurts, or what symptoms you've been having. 2. Their citizens don't have to beggar themselves to get their illnesses and injuries treated. OneGod, I strongly suspect that you’ve been lying about your experiences and your family history from the moment you showed up here. I have real trouble believing you’re British.

Every other first-world country has national health care. Their citizens are fiercely defensive of their health-care systems. All of them pay less than we do.

You want personal anecdotes? I’ve been treated by both the Canadian and British systems. The quality of care was just fine. The random British ER I wound up in was easily better than three-quarters of the ERs I’ve known in the United States. Both the routine medical care and the high-end diagnostic procedures I experienced in Canada were as good or better as anything I’ve seen in the States.

Here are the two biggest differences I’ve observed:

1. In their ERs and clinics, the first thing they ask you is what hurts, or what symptoms you’ve been having.

2. Their citizens don’t have to beggar themselves to get their illnesses and injuries treated.

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-565540 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-565540 as I was saying: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/13/internal-memo-confirms-bi_n_258285.html as I was saying:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/08/13/internal-memo-confirms-bi_n_258285.html

]]> By: Enormo http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-563749 Enormo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-563749 @Akula971 "When we see the Americans argue about national healthcare, it just confirms to us that America is the land of greed and stupidity. Corporate greed! Civil stupidity." So the UK is what? The land of hate and myopia? @Akula971

“When we see the Americans argue about national healthcare, it just confirms to us that America is the land of greed and stupidity. Corporate greed! Civil stupidity.”

So the UK is what? The land of hate and myopia?

]]> By: arkizzle / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-564005 arkizzle / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-564005 Blithering@36 Ha! They've actually removed the section about (and any mention of) Hawking, altogether; making the original point worthless and the editor's note nothing but a reminder of the lie (and an indication of shenanigans to anyone who didn't read the first draft). Even more brilliant! Blithering@36

Ha! They’ve actually removed the section about (and any mention of) Hawking, altogether; making the original point worthless and the editor’s note nothing but a reminder of the lie (and an indication of shenanigans to anyone who didn’t read the first draft).

Even more brilliant!

]]> By: noen http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-563757 noen Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-563757 Take heart Talia - They are a minority. They're mostly old, white and accustomed to their privileged status. That is going away. These old white racists won't be around much longer. Take heart Talia – They are a minority. They’re mostly old, white and accustomed to their privileged status. That is going away. These old white racists won’t be around much longer.

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-563761 Cowicide Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-563761 @ #7 http://www.demonbaby.com/pics/patriotic/reading.jpg @ #7

http://www.demonbaby.com/pics/patriotic/reading.jpg

]]> By: arkizzle / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-564538 arkizzle / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-564538 Hey T, how's you? :) Hey T, how’s you? :)

]]> By: Boba Fett Diop http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-564031 Boba Fett Diop Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-564031 I think now that I've moved back to Canada, I'll volunteer for one of the Death Panels. It'll give me something to do on a Thursday evening. I think now that I’ve moved back to Canada, I’ll volunteer for one of the Death Panels. It’ll give me something to do on a Thursday evening.

]]> By: Teresa Nielsen Hayden http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-564544 Teresa Nielsen Hayden Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-564544 Fine, thanks. Just back from the Worldcon. Fine, thanks. Just back from the Worldcon.

]]> By: arkizzle / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-565064 arkizzle / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-565064 ..or thought that the only surgery worth having, was plastic. ..or thought that the only surgery worth having, was plastic.

]]> By: arkizzle / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-564558 arkizzle / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-564558 Nice! I would have loved to get there. Nice! I would have loved to get there.

]]> By: Nelson.C http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-564559 Nelson.C Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-564559 "Harley Street" is a phrase one associates with the sixties and seventies, the era of <i>Doctor in the House</i> and <i>Carry On</i> movies. These days Bupa advertises private medical insurance on TV to the <i>hoi polloi.</i> I was offered a Bupa scheme at my last proper job (I turned it down, for ideological reasons). As far as anecdotes from decades ago go, my Dad mashed his face up pretty bad after an encounter with a jammed winch and a crowbar, back in '61 or so. When the trawler put into the nearest Cornish harbour, a Harley Street plastic surgeon who was on holiday there fixed his face up for free, so he ended up with nothing but a small, rafish scar on his lip. What does this story prove? Bugger all. “Harley Street” is a phrase one associates with the sixties and seventies, the era of Doctor in the House and Carry On movies. These days Bupa advertises private medical insurance on TV to the hoi polloi. I was offered a Bupa scheme at my last proper job (I turned it down, for ideological reasons).

As far as anecdotes from decades ago go, my Dad mashed his face up pretty bad after an encounter with a jammed winch and a crowbar, back in ’61 or so. When the trawler put into the nearest Cornish harbour, a Harley Street plastic surgeon who was on holiday there fixed his face up for free, so he ended up with nothing but a small, rafish scar on his lip. What does this story prove? Bugger all.

]]> By: orangebag http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-563802 orangebag Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-563802 Difficult to m say this without sounding very anti American: It seems that no matter who the US public elects their government will not be allowed to change health care. Too much profit in private healthcare. Your government was designed to be near impotent (checks and balances) because your quasi-divine Founding Fathers feared the tyranny of a government. Shame they didn't (and could never from their position in history) foresee that the government is no longer the most dangerous enemy. Ho Hum. Difficult to m say this without sounding very anti American:

It seems that no matter who the US public elects their government will not be allowed to change health care. Too much profit in private healthcare.

Your government was designed to be near impotent (checks and balances) because your quasi-divine Founding Fathers feared the tyranny of a government.

Shame they didn’t (and could never from their position in history) foresee that the government is no longer the most dangerous enemy.

Ho Hum.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-564321 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-564321 @ #53 & #62 um, guys... "America" (USA) was FOUNDED on FUCK YOU!. We claim this land.., Whats that? Oh, there were Already people here?-FUCK YOU! What, pay tax to England?-FUCK YOU! All men created equal. What, Not a rich, white, male?-FUCK YOU! California/Vegas need water. Mexico was down-stream?-FUCK YOU! World won't help invade Iraq?-FUCK YOU! Control my gun-rights?-FUCK YOU! sorry to F*Bomb, But here is the point. We have always had a very independent, Look out for #1, Worry about yourself attitude. "I don't want MY money going to pay for OTHERS!" Many of us under 25 are waiting for the day that enough of those with that selfish opinion die off. (Don't worry, those still yet living will be well cared for under our NATIONAL HEALTH CARE) @ #53 & #62 um, guys… “America” (USA) was FOUNDED on FUCK YOU!.
We claim this land.., Whats that? Oh, there were Already people here?-FUCK YOU!
What, pay tax to England?-FUCK YOU!
All men created equal. What, Not a rich, white, male?-FUCK YOU!
California/Vegas need water. Mexico was down-stream?-FUCK YOU!
World won’t help invade Iraq?-FUCK YOU!
Control my gun-rights?-FUCK YOU!

sorry to F*Bomb, But here is the point. We have always had a very independent, Look out for #1, Worry about yourself attitude. “I don’t want MY money going to pay for OTHERS!”

Many of us under 25 are waiting for the day that enough of those with that selfish opinion die off. (Don’t worry, those still yet living will be well cared for under our NATIONAL HEALTH CARE)

]]> By: Stefan Jones http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-564066 Stefan Jones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-564066 #51: Sorry, you have to be a member of ACORN and a secular humanist to get on a death panel. * * * I'm thinking of sending out a fake chain letter with a list of totally unbelievable scare stories about the health care reform bill, like: <blockquote>"A hidden clause in the Health Plan requires white males in southern states to be castrated at age 13, supposedly to prevent prostate cancer but really because HILLARY CLINTON HATES NASCAR!" "Language inserted by Nancy Pilosi will allows illegal immigrants to approach American citizens on the street and demand they give up a kidney for transplant. They don't even have to have a need for a new kidney!" "When the health care plan is signed Obama will reveal himself as an arab and demand all government doctors to covert to muslim! They'll have to wear unhygenic turbans and you could die on the operating table when they interrupt surgery to pray to Mecca!"</blockquote> I need to think of some that involve Wal-Mart, pickups, and handguns. #51: Sorry, you have to be a member of ACORN and a secular humanist to get on a death panel.

* * *

I’m thinking of sending out a fake chain letter with a list of totally unbelievable scare stories about the health care reform bill, like:

“A hidden clause in the Health Plan requires white males in southern states to be castrated at age 13, supposedly to prevent prostate cancer but really because HILLARY CLINTON HATES NASCAR!”

“Language inserted by Nancy Pilosi will allows illegal immigrants to approach American citizens on the street and demand they give up a kidney for transplant. They don’t even have to have a need for a new kidney!”

“When the health care plan is signed Obama will reveal himself as an arab and demand all government doctors to covert to muslim! They’ll have to wear unhygenic turbans and you could die on the operating table when they interrupt surgery to pray to Mecca!”

I need to think of some that involve Wal-Mart, pickups, and handguns.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-563812 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-563812 He may be a loon, but he is sort of right. Hawking *was* written off by the British healthcare system because, frankly, he was expected to die relatively quickly. Also Professor Hawking does not exactly get standard healthcare, he is now a rich man and much of his support comes from that. His equipment is very far from the standard given by the NHS. Further, his celebrity status means he gets rather more from the NHS and other parts of the state than would a less famous person. For instance he has (successfully) demanded many changes to Cambridge pavements to allow wheelchair access. The NHS is vastly more cost effective than the US system, and healthcare is not the jobs destroyer that it is in America. But... Don't kid yourself that America can have a European style healthcare system. Britain got the NHS when it was already largely an atheist / secular /don't care society. America is vastly more religious, and superstitious people will lobby hard and effectively to screw it up. A large % of the NHS is reproductive issues, from infertility treatments, through contraception to abortion. Imagine how the Catholics and evangelicals will cope with that. The NHS treats criminals even if the injuries were incurred in the crime. Much of the US doesn't even allow them to vote, easy to see the horrors here. The NHS does a *lot* of medical research. Again superstitious people don't like stem cells, transgenic treatments, etc. For instance we have "Gillick Competence" where a girl under the age of consent can be given contraceptives. She is deemed to be competent to decide on medical treatment *because* she has demonstrated competence by asking for it. DominiConnor headhunter of old London Town He may be a loon, but he is sort of right.

Hawking *was* written off by the British healthcare system because, frankly, he was expected to die relatively quickly.

Also Professor Hawking does not exactly get standard healthcare, he is now a rich man and much of his support comes from that.

His equipment is very far from the standard given by the NHS.

Further, his celebrity status means he gets rather more from the NHS and other parts of the state than would a less famous person.

For instance he has (successfully) demanded many changes to Cambridge pavements to allow wheelchair access.

The NHS is vastly more cost effective than the US system, and healthcare is not the jobs destroyer that it is in America.

But…
Don’t kid yourself that America can have a European style healthcare system.

Britain got the NHS when it was already largely an atheist / secular /don’t care society.

America is vastly more religious, and superstitious people will lobby hard and effectively to screw it up.

A large % of the NHS is reproductive issues, from infertility treatments, through contraception to abortion. Imagine how the Catholics and evangelicals will cope with that.

The NHS treats criminals even if the injuries were incurred in the crime. Much of the US doesn’t even allow them to vote, easy to see the horrors here.

The NHS does a *lot* of medical research. Again superstitious people don’t like stem cells, transgenic treatments, etc.

For instance we have “Gillick Competence” where a girl under the age of consent can be given contraceptives. She is deemed to be competent to decide on medical treatment *because* she has demonstrated competence by asking for it.

DominiConnor headhunter of old London Town

]]> By: Teresa Nielsen Hayden http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-565093 Teresa Nielsen Hayden Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-565093 ...or knew that "toffee-nose" wasn't a complimentary term, but otherwise wasn't sure what it meant. …or knew that “toffee-nose” wasn’t a complimentary term, but otherwise wasn’t sure what it meant.

]]> By: blithering http://boingboing.net/2009/08/11/anti-health-care-loo.html#comment-563814 blithering Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-563814 Looks like the article has been corrected. There's an editor's note that states they've removed the portion "implying" Dr. Hawking doesn't live in England. Nice choice of words there. We were always at war with Eurasia... Looks like the article has been corrected. There’s an editor’s note that states they’ve removed the portion “implying” Dr. Hawking doesn’t live in England. Nice choice of words there.

We were always at war with Eurasia…

]]>