The Selfishness of the USA

[stepanstas]

Originally Posted by Hannia

Stepan,

Don't buy into the exaggerated numbers of those on welfare rolls. Do your own research and you are very apt to be surprised. Make sure to look at these stats before the economic crises, as the figures now are somewhat distorted by current conditions.

My sister works for social services. I don't know the numbers, but the people are rude, disrespectful, and think that their bills are not their responsibility.

[Zbyszek]

I really do not know much about the health service system functioning in the USA so I wonder what the medics do about poor people who suffer from mental disease like schizofrenia which is potentially dangerous the environment of the inflicted ones. Such disease should be taken seriously and treated using expensive drugs of course. Could anyone put some light on this issue?
Going back to our topic - the most of European countries, including Britain, take social access to medical services for granted and in many countries the insurance is paid by the employer as default. I realize that such system makes human labour very expensive so countries extensively look for new solutions which would not hurt competitiveness of companies.
I am sure Obama managed to accomplish something really exceptional but the Americans need to show patience in waiting for positive effect of the heath bill. After all, countries like Ukraine are still going through much more dramatic and risky social experiments.

[AkMike]

The bottom line is thqat most think that this health care should be free but someone has to pay for it. Who do you think the government is going to get the money from? The answer is you! Nothing in this life is free. I have never seen any government handle money in a reasonable fashion. It can'tbe done! This government has not and will not ever do anything except grow bigger and less efficient.
It has anot and will not have a healthcare plan that works. Britian and Canada have healthcare that is great until you get sick or need an operation. Then you're put on a list and wait until they get around to seeing you. But id you want it done you'll pay for it w/o assistnce from the existing plan.
The insurance companys have gotten a bad rap here. Sure they are in business to make money but they spend most of the money with the hospitals and Drs. Should you or they pay $5 for a single asprin? It's done. Drs. are getting several thousand per hr for time in the O.R. Is that realistic? Not in my book.

[AkMike]

Here's where the basis for this 'free health care' comes from.
Despite the polls that show that the large percentage of Americans are angry at this. The reps just do that they want.


Two internet sources on who pays taxes; http://WWW.american.com/.../guess-wh...pays-the-taxes. and www.ntu.org/tax-basics/who-pays-income-taxes.
Went to Google and typed in "Who pays income taxes" got all sorts of sources that says top 10% pays more than 50% of taxes and bottom 50% pays less than 5% of taxes.
Not sure that common sense says that the rich should pay more taxes. They may be able to pay more but if the bottom 50% paid more then maybe the would vote for less government and lower taxes for all. The bottom 50% can afford to believe in a free lunch.

[dobko]

a little reading for you Stephan

Health care in Canada - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[sjoyce]

I can't comment on the American health system and its workings, I just know, that my cousin, a specialist in a risky field pays over $500,000.00/year in insurance premiums + office staff + office rent. If those figures were reduced, could he charge less?

[Hannia]

Joyce,

You have a exc point. Physician's liability insurance has played a huge role in the rising cost of health care.

Although I haven't read thru the entire bill, it does look like Washington has not addressed the crucial issue of tort reform. Without tort reform nothing will change. For all intents and purposes this is merely another Obama dog and pony show, for which the Tristate area will be footing 20% of the entire tax bill.
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Z,

There is a bio-pharma company called Vanda that has recently obtained the go ahead from the FDA (Federal Drug Adm) to manufacture a drug called Fanapt. One injection per month will keep many forms of schizophrenia in check. It addresses the biggest problem w/patients suffering from this disease, which is getting them to take their meds consistently, so they can function w/o having to live w/ mental demons.

Most people w/schizophrenia are covered in USA, if not by private insurance, than by govt insurance, medicaid. It is considered a physical disease.