(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]

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. :/