Bill Sykes' - In Retrospect
XIX.
(September 2009)
Bill
Sykes looks back in retrospect at material which has
been published in previous editions of "View from
America", in an attempt to determine whether the
subject matter written then is still applicable in
today’s world.
Article #19D. (September 2009 Edition).
Presidential Promises #2. Controversial subject:
Seeing that American health care is such a controversial subject, and the proposal by President Barack Obama to make radical changes to the current health care system, which many Americans consider to be superior to the British health care system (NHS) and have been known to consider the British system to be a poorly run socialistic system controlled by the British Government.
Many Americans unfortunately maintain that the British NHS is inadequate and inferior to the American system, which I find in many ways to be a total misrepresentation of the actual facts.
So I decided to consult a British compatriot by e-mailing a basic version of the American comparison in order to get his on the spot evaluation of the British system versus the American system.
I requested his opinion, as to how he sees and views the American health care system in comparison to the British NHS, and how the British people view the current American health care system.
Readers Letters:
Mark writes from the UK:
Yes we have heard in some detail on this side of the pond how ordinary Americans perceive the NHS.
They do indeed see it as a very socialist idea, and that fact apparently means that I live in a place that’s little better than communist Russia.
I have to say that I’m quite baffled as to why it’s seen as such an evil to aspire to a universal health care system. I would have thought that it’s quite reassuring to think that if I succumbed to an unexpected illness, as most illnesses are, then I wouldn’t have to worry about health insurance, (which doesn’t insure you for everything), and the phenomenal medical bills that go along with it.
The British National Health Care system - NHS - does indeed have its faults, the major one being that it becomes a political football and politicians constantly feel the need to mess around with it in order to create an illusion amongst the general public that they are doing something, but I really can’t see anything wrong with the basic principle that, "If I’m ill, I get cured for free and sent home".
So I have no idea why the Americans object so strongly, I can only guess that it’s part of the, "I’m all right Jack mentality", in a capitalist type culture that their country was built upon.
I find it ironic though that the United States is considering the idea at a time when Britain appears to be in the process of dismantling the NHS system. (*)
All of our politicians fiercely deny it of course, but they’re increasing part privatization.
It’s the same slippery slope that we saw with the dental system, and now you have a major difficulty if you require the services of a NHS dentist anymore.
My Comment:
Seeing that my wife and I lived the first forty years of our lives in Great Britain under the NHS system, and my wife and I return to visit the land of our birth normally once a year, where of course I read the local newspapers, listen to the local television news, and also discuss with English friends the various subjects that affect the life of the ordinary local citizens I was surprised to see you say that the British politicians were considering dismantling the National Health Care system, which from what I’ve seen and heard works more than adequately.
Mark’s reply to my comment:
One thing that I must point out, is that when I said that the British National Health Care system is being dismantled, (*), it’s not something that any British politician would ever admit to as it would be a guaranteed kiss of death to their career. So it is only my personal opinion, rather than something which is definitely taking place.
Disclaimer:
Some of the information gathered for this news letter
has been gleaned from American and International
media sources, (Including the Internet), and as such
is quoted as accurately as possible. I try to obtain
confirmation on each subject from several outlets,
so the text is a mixture of composite news items
and my personal comments and therefore the reader
must make his/her own judgment as to the reliability
and degree of accuracy of the subjects discussed.
Eric (Bill) Sykes, (Southern California).
September 2009.
We welcome feedback about any of the contents
of these articles. Please send all correspondence
to bill_sykes@huddersfield1.co.uk
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