Congratulations America

[Ufo Believer]

I really have no idea of why they don't, but it was on the History Channel. The street it was know by was skid row, I think.

[Michelle]

It must be vastly different where I am. My brother-in-law has just recently started going to the VA and he has been absolutely amazed at the speed and efficiency that he's been taken care of.

[Tiggs]

It must be vastly different where I am. My brother-in-law has just recently started going to the VA and he has been absolutely amazed at the speed and efficiency that he's been taken care of.

I wouldn't be surprised to see lots of variation throughout the US. The media, however, by it's nature generally only highlights issues, rather than applaud working systems.

[SilverCougar]

That's the part I don't understand...vets don't have to have health insurance. All of that is supposed to be covered for the rest of their lives and everyone that I've know has been.

My mother is a vet from 'Nam.. she isn't covered at all. She had to fight to get care from the VA. It's a failed system. It may work for some, but it doesn't work for all.

[jaylemurph]

I have several relatives that were there and they get excellent health care. In fact, I don't know one person that has ever been in the military that doesn't get excellent health care. Why don't they get it there?

You clearly have never been to some of the older VA hospitals.

--Jaylemurph

[eqgumby]

Maybe they don't in rural/suburban Florida, but I can assure you they do in urban areas. The homeless often freeze in winter. And the homeless are often given second-class care in ERs that leads to misdiagnoses or no treatment and they're streeted.

--Jaylemurph

This is NOT about homeless addicts and alcoholics. The perception is that normal working class people or the working poor don't have insurance, and that they die in the streets, and that is NOT TRUE!.

These homeless only go when they HAVE to, and they NEVER GO BACK FOR FOLLOW-UP. You can't treat a person that REFUSES TO BE ADMITTED.

Sorry, but when I have relatives that get ELECTIVE SURGERY because it's EASIER THAN PHYSICAL THERAPY, and they have not worked in 20 years...I have a hard time imagining that anyone that WANTS medical can't find it. How the hell did my relative get carpal-tunnel anyway!!!??? She doesn't WORK!

But assorted libs want me to believe, and even worse tell other people from other countries, that we have people laying in the gutter dying, as people WITH insurance step over them! UTTER BULL and left-wing PROPAGANDA! Why? Because I have witnessed it PERSONALLY!

Is there a need for health reform? YES! Because insurance companies make BILLIONS and then provide half-*** coverage. NOT because we need socialized medicine.

[eqgumby]

Happens all the time in Chicago, NYC, Bosten, even here in Seattle on those few winter days that get down right frozen. It happens in pretty much every major city that have freezing cold winters. *is agreeing with Jey here*

So Yes, Eggs.. it happens. It's not a lie.

Homeless meth addicts freezing on the streets is NOT going to be solved by socializing medicine. THAT was what this was about, NOT homeless people SC. That does happen, I agree. It's NOT insurance that does that, it's a by-product of addiction and freedom. I have the freedom here in the US to throw my life away and become an addict and die in the streets, and addiction is a disease in many ways. I'm not some cold-hearted b******, I just don't think my relative DESERVES the same health care as I do! I served my country, and have paid taxes on a full-time basis since I was 16! she's been a welfare-whore since she was 16! Her lazy A$$ can wait in line an hour longer than me. I earned it, and I PAY for it.

[eqgumby]

My father in law is a vet and he gets minimum health care to cover seizure medicine, but can't get any dental and has to use free clinics a lot. Some people just can't get health care, some get it but not full health care and the lucky ones get really great health care. It varies from case to case, but the point is there really are people out there who need it and just can't get it.

Egg you can choose to be ignorant, that's fine. You can ignore the problem, that's fine too. But do us all a favor and do it in quiet. Your only making yourself look bad.

Riiiight.

So, I look bad because I expect people to get a job? Or I expect them to use the system in place already? Like my Grandma, who was a diabetic with severe back problems and hadn't worked in over 40 years? Hmm, I wonder how SHE managed all those years?

If anyone looks bad, it's you, who swallow the BS as it's handed to you, and believes stupid crap like people dying in the streets. I already asked, and NO ONE has been able to prove it. I get a video of a person in an ER falling down dead, and some woman in a PSYCH ward that dies. Has ANYONE shown they died due to a lack of health insurance? NO! Inept care maybe, but NOT because they didn't have an insurance card.

Now, who needs it and can't get it? I mean, CAN'T get it, not those not willing to WORK for it or get off there a$$es and do the paperwork to get it.

[eqgumby]

It is supposed to be. From the New York Times:

Tens of thousands of reservists and National Guard troops, whose jobs were supposedly protected while they were at war, were denied prompt re-employment upon their return or else lost seniority, pay and other benefits. Some 1.8 million veterans were unable to get care in veterans’ facilities in 2004 and lacked health insurance to pay for care elsewhere. Meanwhile, veterans seeking disability payments faced huge backlogs and inordinate delays in getting claims and appeals processed.

The biggest stain this year was the scandalous neglect of outpatients at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center and a sluggish response to the needs of wounded soldiers at veterans clinics and hospitals. Much of this neglect stemmed from the Bush administration’s failure to plan for a long war with mounting casualties and over-long tours of duty to compensate for a shortage of troops.

And yet people want the GOVERNMENT to control their health-care! The same people that can't manage a microscopic percentage of the populations health-care! Good luck. I hope you get what you asked for. The only people that will be happy with the "new" health-care, will be habitual welfare cheats!

[KyrusRose]

Are you done yelling at people, Egg? If you want your stories to be taken as truth, you can't call everyone else a liar. It doesn't work that way.

Just because its never happened to you doesn't mean it never happens.

[Ufo Believer]

yeah, you just need to relax.

[jaylemurph]

This is NOT about homeless addicts and alcoholics. The perception is that normal working class people or the working poor don't have insurance, and that they die in the streets, and that is NOT TRUE!.

These homeless only go when they HAVE to, and they NEVER GO BACK FOR FOLLOW-UP. You can't treat a person that REFUSES TO BE ADMITTED.

That's a /huge/ generalisation. And like all generalisations, it's truth is inversely proportionate to its generality.

Sorry, but when I have relatives that get ELECTIVE SURGERY because it's EASIER THAN PHYSICAL THERAPY, and they have not worked in 20 years...I have a hard time imagining that anyone that WANTS medical can't find it. How the hell did my relative get carpal-tunnel anyway!!!??? She doesn't WORK!

Anecdotal. If you're not even aware there are homeless freezing to death in urban areas (and you seem to be the *only* one not aware of this) I'm not sure how reliable your anecdotal observations are.

But assorted libs want me to believe, and even worse tell other people from other countries, that we have people laying in the gutter dying, as people WITH insurance step over them! UTTER BULL and left-wing PROPAGANDA! Why? Because I have witnessed it PERSONALLY!

Is there a need for health reform? YES! Because insurance companies make BILLIONS and then provide half-*** coverage. NOT because we need socialized medicine.

The fact is we do have people dying like that. If you don't want to acknowledge that, that's fine, but it seems absurd to me that you feel this need to contradict people's first-hand observation. Clearly, you're lucky enough to live in some wealthy area without a serious homeless problem. I guess that's a reason to live in the suburbs: you can convince yourself the poor and the needy live like that by choice since you don't actually interact with them.

Just out of curiosity, do you think racism is a made-up problem, too?

--Jaylemurph

[BlindMessiah]

Just out of curiosity, do you think racism is a made-up problem, too?

I'd say it's an exaggerated problem.

[KyrusRose]

I'd say it's an exaggerated problem.

I'd say its a regional problem.

Sadly, I live in a very raciest area, but I've lived in some places where the minorities where the antagonists, which is kinda sad.

[BlindMessiah]

I'd say its a regional problem.

Florida is an interesting place to live. It's really got a combination of so many different types of people.

[Michelle]

I've lived in some places where the minorities where the antagonists, which is kinda sad.

Why do you think that is so sad? A racist is a racist no matter who they are.

[KyrusRose]

Why do you think that is so sad? A racist is a racist no matter who they are.

because these are the types that blame everyone else when they're the ones causing the problems. I'm sure you know the type I'm talking about.

[momentarylapseofreason]

There are just some Vets that were at the hospital and then the hospital finds out that they don't have health insurance. Then their put into an ambulance and are taken to a street and are dumed there.

Yes, I saw that on german TV. They were being filmed doing it.

Alot of news bits & documentaries were made about the U.S. and it horrendous social ills.

And why ?

Because german government is more & more emulating U.S. policies & politics.

And the media are trying to warn it's fellow citizens & to get them to fight back & not accept these changes

(before this we adopted many good things from the U.S. too-not to be one sided or all negative)

[momentarylapseofreason]

It must be vastly different where I am. My brother-in-law has just recently started going to the VA and he has been absolutely amazed at the speed and efficiency that he's been taken care of.

My father was well taken care of too ,actually in an excellent way(as a Veteran). This was in the past of course.

I think it just depends where you are possibly.

Edited November 9, 2008 by momentarylapseofreason

[momentarylapseofreason]

I'd say its a regional problem.

Sadly, I live in a very raciest area, but I've lived in some places where the minorities where the antagonists, which is kinda sad.

Yes, I've seen/experienced both also.

[Borat]

Anyone seen that film .. 'Sicko' ? By Michael Moore :

Sicko is a 2007 documentary film by American filmmaker Michael Moore. The film investigates the American health care system, focusing on its health insurance and pharmaceutical industry. The film compares the for-profit, non-universal U.S. system with the non-profit Universal Health Care systems of Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Cuba.

Sicko opened to positive reviews, but also generated criticism and controversy. Some policy specialists have praised the film while others have criticized the film for its positive portrayal of the publicly funded health systems of Canada, the United Kingdom and Cuba, and for its negative portrayal of the health care system in the United States.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicko

I saw it a little while ago. When I was in the US I had the good fortune not to get sick or sustain any injury so I can't vouch for it either way going by my own experiences , but it sure does look like a shoddy profit driven racket to me , going by the film .

Edited November 9, 2008 by Borat

[AROCES]

Anyone seen that film .. 'Sicko' ? By Michael Moore :

Sicko is a 2007 documentary film by American filmmaker Michael Moore. The film investigates the American health care system, focusing on its health insurance and pharmaceutical industry. The film compares the for-profit, non-universal U.S. system with the non-profit Universal Health Care systems of Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Cuba.

Sicko opened to positive reviews, but also generated criticism and controversy. Some policy specialists have praised the film while others have criticized the film for its positive portrayal of the publicly funded health systems of Canada, the United Kingdom and Cuba, and for its negative portrayal of the health care system in the United States.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicko

I saw it a little while ago. When I was in the US I had the good fortune not to get sick or sustain any injury so I can't vouch for it either way going by my own experiences , but it sure does look like a shoddy profit driven racket to me , going by the film .

Sicko is the name of the movie maker actually.

[The Silver Thong]

Sicko was an interesting movie, it touched on the bare bones but it got a message out. However Michael Moore doesn't hold much water around here. I like his films but they are viewed as anti-American and most don't like the message he delivers. I have to say I think he can be way over the top on some issues.

[The Silver Thong]

Just to add, when I travel to the states I buy a crap load of insurance. The States does have very good care and spending a few hundred on travelers insurance is well worth it. However this relates nothing to the troubles inside the U.S.

[eqgumby]

Are you done yelling at people, Egg? If you want your stories to be taken as truth, you can't call everyone else a liar. It doesn't work that way.

Just because its never happened to you doesn't mean it never happens.

Are you done lying and making up stories about people dying in the streets BECAUSE they have no insurance?

It's NOT true, and NO ONE, despite me asking again and again, have shown it to be true. Yet, I am called a liar? WTF? Just because I call out a LIAR, that means you don't have to believe me? You're kidding, right?

There is NO REASON that these things should happen, and it is exceedingly rare that a SANE, UN-ADDICTED, SOBER person has health care and health insurance issues like you people are describing.

So, i will yell it ONE MORE TIME:

PEOPLE ARE NOT DYING IN THE STREETS IN THE US BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE. THE INSURED DO NOT STEP OVER THEIR DYING FELLOW CITIZENS TO GET INTO A HOSPITAL. THE MAJORITY OF THE HOMELESS AND UNINSURED ARE SO BECAUSE OF MENTAL ISSUES OR ADDICTION, AND CANNOT BE FORCED INTO SHELTERS OR FORCED INTO HOSPITALS. HEALTH INSURANCE IS A SCAM AND SHOULD BE REGULATED, OR AT THE VERY LEAST THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD PICK UP THE TAB FOR PEOPLE THAT MAKE UNDER A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF MONEY. DON'T TAKE AWAY MY HEALTH-CARE BECAUSE A DRUG ADDICT WANTS ME TO HAVE THE SAME HEALTH CARE AS HIM. I HAVE EARNED MY HEALTH-CARE