(Untitled)

[destiny2909]

UK people will know that next week there will be elections taking place to elect "Police Commissioners". From what I can gather, these will be extremely well-paid civilian roles, in which they get to tell the police big-wigs what to do and will "represent public views

Comments

[doom_cherries]

HEY. You're from a country with universal health care, tell me your point of view. Because half of my country is FLIPPING THEIR SHIT over Obama care and how totally horrendous universal heatlh care is going to be.

Thoughts?

[destiny2909]

See, we find the objection to universal heathcare utterly bizzare! We've had it for so long that it's just the way it is. If you are ill, you go to the doctors, he tells you what's wrong, you say "thanks very much doctor" and go to the pharmacy and by the drugs you need. Yes, you have to pay for perscriptions, which are about £7 each, but that's literally ALL we pay for healthcare-wise. However, we do fund the health service through taxes, but NO ONE MINDS because if we all share the burden of paying for the service, it's fair, but then also available equally to all, poor, rich, children, the elderly

[doom_cherries]

Thank you for your response

[destiny2909]

The cost to the individual varies depending on the amount you earn. It comes directly out of your monthly paycheck as taxes and national insurance. And so obviously, the only people who pay taxes are the people who are working. The workers fund the service for everyone who isn't. Children, the unemployed, the elderly.

I just checked a recent payslip, and the government take £115.11 from me per month. This pays for the NHS, but also ALL other government services, education, welfare, defense. And I'm totally happy to pay it.

[destiny2909]

Why are your parents freaking out about more being taken from their paychecks though? If healthcare becomes universal and is paid for out of people's wages, then they WON'T NEED to pay insurance premiums any more! They are paying for the same thing, just out of a different pot.

[bnb]

The thing is once you look beyond the rubbish scaremongering unfounded figures that the tea party like to pedal you'll discover that for nearly everyone a British style system is actually cheaper. Once you get rid of all the bureaucracy and the madness associated with heath insurance, and have a system which doesn't benefit from useless unnecessary operations and pills that have no proven benefits, you can reap in the savings.

[doom_cherries]

See, this is exactly what I thought. I mean, I am concerned about the extra cost a month, but does universal health care mean I stop paying into social security/medicare or does that continue? Honestly, I'm for universal health care, but the thought of losing an extra $6000 a year does concern me. :/

[luckey_me]

The rest of my family believes that people are "greedy" and that if someone wants healthcare, they should work and have money and have healthcare. Bam