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Bring your weak, your sick, your downtrodden, your oppressed? Have so many of your countrymen already forgotten the principles for which your country was, not only founded upon, but became famous for?
Your chagrin at that post is understandable given that were the tables indeed turned; Phil would have indeed emigrated to Europe and he would have indeed been covered by THEIR Health plans regardless of his personal wealth or lack thereof.
It would seem charity and compassion cannot be afforded but another destroyer or weapons for Syrian rebels, who will one day turn and bite you all on the azz, is well within your available budget.
Priorities people, priorities, it's all about those pesky priorities!
First off, you have no clue how her parents are here. Immigrants or what. IF I had ever immigrated to Europe, or anywhere else, I would have already planned out my healthcare issues. Its called prior planning. I would have KNOWN what was available too me, what I would need to purchase, and have planned/budgeted for it. Of course, again, personal responsibility isn't in a liberal's mindset. Just go, just do it, let the government take care of you.
Second, you are also partially wrong. I've already posted, several times, in 1996 my wife and I were London. You know, that capital of socialism and National Healthcare? She had a compound fracture, her bone was sticking out of her left arm. The hospital REFUSED to treat her, see her, provide ANY pain relief, until I GAVE them 2 thousand pounds UPFRONT. As a non citizen, they were (it has since changed) under no obligation to provide me anything. But you know, the compassionate brits. That would have NEVER occurred, anywhere in the US.
The United States is not a bottomless pit full of money to dole out, anytime, anywhere, anyplace because someone gets sick. Sorry, the ailments she described don't just creep up in a "few years." Most of them she mentioned can be looked at as poor dietary choices, overweight, dad probably smokes too. He hasn't live in the US long enough to pay much in taxes and now all of a sudden wants a million dollar plus in medical treatment paid for by the rest of us.
This issue has nothing to do with war, Syria, or anything else. There is a finite amount of resources out there and yes, like it or not, I would prefer my tax dollar go to a US CITIZEN. There are plenty of elderly AMERICAN's, with the same issues, with no money, who have been paying taxes and contributing to THIS society for 60+ years. But let's just drop the world, stop the tides, because some immigrant from another country waddles in here and wants millions of dollars.
They have avenues, many have pointed them out. Get on a plane, go back to YOUR country, get the medical care you want. Its a simple prospect.
I don't see you paying the OP's father's medical bills.
Health care should not depend on how wealthy you are. The idea that poor people should simply die if they get sick puts us back in the Middle Ages. A civil society takes care of its poor and sick people. Anything else is barbaric and inhumane.
You should have stayed in Europe. We don't need more bums on foodstamps.
America is the land of opportunities, not guaranteed outcomes and "cradle to grave" security. If you believe otherwise, you should not have left Europe.
Further, if we believe what you believe, pretty soon we will become the nation you chose to leave!
Oh wow so people who need help are bums ? I hope you never find yourself needing foodstamps especially with that silver spoon planted in your rear .....
Such compassion from some of you! 50 million Americans are also without insurance and face the same plight as the OP's father. America is a disposable nation and that includes the uninsured! So much for the greatness nation on Earth BS!
Most people don't have insurance by choice.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ellemint
It's a conservative myth that government health care is inefficient and private health care is efficient. It is in fact just the opposite. The over-head for Medicare is about 3 %. The over-head for private health insurance companies is about 27 %. About one-third of the health care costs Americans pay, and we pay more than anywhere else in the world, is over-head.
Off topic, but...
Private insurance subsidizes the medicare patients. When medicare payments drop the private insurance premiums go up because hospitals raise the rates. Private insurance results are alos better than medicare/medicaid results.
Health care should not depend on how wealthy you are. The idea that poor people should simply die if they get sick puts us back in the Middle Ages. A civil society takes care of its poor and sick people. Anything else is barbaric and inhumane.
So do your part and get an address to send money to.
As much as I love America, the wonderful people, the diversity, the climate, the beauty, the diverse landscape, the shopping opportunity, excellent and diverse food, and almost everything.... It is very very very very sad that we are basically the only western/industrial nation with no national health care *Seriously crying now*
My parents moved from Western Europe few years ago, and my dad was recently diagnosed with bad cancer, and he has high cholesterol, high blood pressure, etc. and has been under disability. He cannot work at all, and he is 63 years now. My mother does not speak English, and she is willing to work but nobody is hiring her. She goes to school to learn English, but since she is almost 60 years it is difficult for her to learn English especially when you speak other multiple languages and different language at home.
The other day we went to NJ county Board of Social Security Office, and since my father gets payed only $1000 from Europe due to early retirement/disability which is not even enough for the 1 bedroom apartment rent, he did not qualify for any health insurance (medicaid) because he had to make maximum $950 no matter what other expenses. Neither did my mom get any since she is not 65 years old yet Now my dad canceled his important doctor appointments due to no health insurance, and they do not take charity either. He cannot afford going to doctor since it's extremely expensive. They receive food stamp, but we hope it will not be taken away, then they are risk of being without food.
Why is America, the world's wealthiest nation like that? Since they have nobody left in Western Europe and all family and kids are here, they are trying not to move back.
I wish we could help them out, but since medication is expensive and we could barely make it ourselves I don't know what to do. This is depressing. I myself pay very high taxes!
Yes, our healthcare system sucks for the people who don't have insurance and have chronic illnesses, or a serious illness and go bankrupt, lose a loved due to lack of insurance. It also sucks for millions of Americans who have crappy insurance that results in the same outcome if they should fall ill.
We spend too much, We pay doctors and hospitals too much relative to other nations and don't get better healthcare outcomes.
Why people are wedded to this accident of history that we have employer provided government subsidized health insurance makes no sense to me. This system we have is not planned.
The government placed strict price controls on income during the war, so employers to keep workers asked the government could they provide some benefits tax free and that is how our health insurance system was created.
It was not planned or thought out. Why do we cling to it?
Same here. And I just might have to do it again for my parents. I wish it didn't have to be that way, but it is what it is.
It doesn't have to be that way! Americans have accepted the conservative right and corporate profit maker's propaganda that health care is a privilege to be doled out only to the well-off.
In the rest of the world, health care is a right.
Americans are so blinded by propaganda that they can't see that lack of access to health care and high medical costs represent a huge Achille's heel for the U.S. and hurts everybody, not only those who suffer the most from America's inadequate healthcare system.
The European immigrants to America in the 19th century didn't step off the boat and ask for free stuff.
They went to work, saved their money, took advantage of oppurtunites, and contributed to the republic.
They improved their standing and passed on a better life to their children.
Now it seems that some people want to reverse that successful blueprint.
Quite a simplistic picture you've painted there Harrier. Now take a glance through photograph archives of arriving immigrants at Ellis Island and you'll see that fully 25% or more of them are of the elderly persuasion. Did they all tote that barge and lift that bale?
So all that bumpf in your history was just fluff for the masses: "Bring us your tired, your weak, your sick your downtrodden"........ where and when did "but you must pay your own way and pick up a shovel when you get here" get added onto those lofty words you seem to have forgotten.
Near as I can tell these folks aren't asking for free STUFF unless of course in your eyes necessary medical care is classed as mere "STUFF". If that be the case please indicate that necessary medical care rates right down there with an Obamaphone and I'll retire to the bleachers, as debating that point with you would be ~ well, pointless!
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*Seriously crying now*