(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

[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.

If you've got a problem that your regular doctor can't deal with, you're referred to the hospital, usually a consultant, the best in their field, they'll investigate and treat your problem, free of charge. You know you're in the hands of the best there is.

For instance, in the case of my eye surgery in August. My optician referred me to hospital in late April and 4 months later I was on the operating table, and this is for a non-urgent, cosmetic improvement. That's very fast. My surgeon was the consultant I'd seen throughout the process and he was excellent. My anesthetist was an Iraqi gentlemen and he kept me alive, and inserted breathing support and kept me going when I slowed RIGHT DOWN mid-way through the op.

If I'd had to pay for my surgery, it would have run into thousands of pounds, and I probably wouldn't have had it done at all. But what about my broken elbow last September? That would have been unavoidable expense. A trip to A&E, 2 trips to see the fracture consultants, 2 trips to physiotherapy, would have cost a fortune. I could probably afford insurance (or I like to think so), but what if I couldn't? I'd be screwed.

The idea of objecting to healthcare, to us at least, is just UTTERLY MENTAL. And why we have such a terribly low opinion of the republicans. They are all "well we can afford it!" Well, ain't that just fucking brilliant for you? And those who unfortunately can't? You just leave them to die on the street? We honestly just don't get it. For a country that imagines itself to be the best in the world, that comes across as APPALLINGLY backwards and unfair.

[doom_cherries]

Thank you for your response!

I voted for Obama in the last two elections. I see universal health care as a good thing! No longer can insurance companies prevent people from receiving care because of pre-existing conditions. My best friend's mom had to legally stay married to her abusive husband solely so she could continue getting insurance to cover her cancer medications. Had they divorced, any insurance company would have turned her away for having cancer. That's appalling!

There are far too many people in this country (kind of myself included despite having pretty decent health insurance) who don't want to go to the doctor/ER because of cost. When I found that lump in my breast, I really thought about doing nothing because I was scared of how much it would be costing me even though my insurance covers at least 70%. I still ended up paying about $500 (or rougly 314 British pounds).

I got into an argument with my mom over universal health care because both she and my father voted republican (I'm one of two democrats in my whole family) and all she could complain about is having to pay for EVERYONE. "I don't think I should have to pay for the crack-whore on food stamps and medicaid who keeps poping out babies every year." Okay, on the flip side, what about the single mother of two working three jobs to make ends meet, on food stamps and medicaid, should we fuck her over simply because you don't want to help pay for it?

I haven't researched cost per person in America to cover universal health care, but my parents are convinced it's going to cost me $6000 a year more in taxes from my paychecks (so an extra $165/mo) to help pay for this. For them a little bit more because of the tax bracket and now they're both freaking out about being able to retire on time. In terms of cost person people to help fund your health care system, is it really that bad?

[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.

Including the brother whose health insurance is TWICE as expensive as anyone else's (even my mom's) because he has asthma/ allergies/ thyroid issues/ sports injuries.

The issue seems to be that they believe people are "lazy"- and that they don't want to pay for people who don't want to work. Never mind the people who can't work, can't find work, or THE KIDS of anyone without enough money for insurance. I taught in a school where kids went months or YEARS without healthcare. Yes, there are programs in place for them to get healthcare- IF parents have the language skills, time during certain hours, and care enough to apply for the programs and wait sometimes months. AND it usually takes information about both parents, and when a huge number of kids live in divorced families or families where one parent isn't even present... well, it complicates the process a lot. I have seen a kid who had trouble breathing and focusing due to constant congestion and what was likely asthma and that translated into him being YEARS behind in school and getting in trouble for not paying attention- and it went untreated for two whole school years before he FINALLY got some medicine in summer school. And then, when that medicine ran out, Mom couldn't afford or didn't care to get a refill, so it was back to square one.

I don't agree with, but I can at least understand the Republicans thinking it's unfair to have freeloaders who aren't working. But even IF someone is lazy and depending too much on social programs, I cannot condemn their children to that.

I'm happy to pay more in taxes for it, particularly because I will probably end up paying less than I do for healthcare right now. But some people (including most of my own family) are being incredibly selfish.

And in the political party that most consider to be the "Christian" party.