The Australian Broadcasting Company has this interesting commentary about the health care bill passed by the U.S. Congress on March 21. It is by Stephen Long.
The Australian Broadcasting Company has this interesting commentary about the health care bill passed by the U.S. Congress on March 21. It is by Stephen Long.
Thanks for the link, Richard; this commentary hits the nail on the head.
There are two other factors peculiar to the United States that drive both the for and against arguments on this issue.
One is the way in which people in the US confuse socialism with communism–despite the fact that thousands of young men from countries such as Australia and New Zealand, with their cradle-to-the-grave social welfare systems, were killed or wounded in support of US wars against communism in South East Asia. If social welfare equals socialism equals communism, you might have expected those countries would be on the communist side. They weren’t because it doesn’t.
And the other factor is the way in which prescription drugs are advertised on TV as if they are nothing more than house-cleaning products which patients should be asking their doctors to prescribe for them, and the senseless worship of more and more technology as providing some kind of instant fix that patients should be demanding, even if it’s not going to do them any good.
Other countries don’t allow that kind of advertising, nor do they necessarily promote technology as the answer–they prefer to channel their taxpayers’ dollars into promoting preventative health care.
I am reminded of a comment made in ’30 Rock’ where the right-wing, elitist character played by Baldwin says something to the effect [on health care reform] of the poor and working class are not suppose to live past 40 anyways.
Really explanatory – always spread your message. Looking forward to an update. For too long now have I had the urge to get started on my own blog. Guess if I wait around any more I will never ever take action. I’ll be sure to add you to my Blogroll. Thanks again!!