Submitted by Frank Olbris (not verified) on Fri, 08/15/2008 - 4:24pm.
Opponents of single payer inject "socialized medicine"--as a tactic to fear--into the U.S. debate; and yet socialized medicine is a success compared to the U.S. system.
The United Kingdom (U.K.) has had genuine socialized medicine since the late 1940's. A grand historic experiment has occured, since the U.S. was forced into a multiple payer, somewhat commercialized system over those 60 years. The results:
U.K. spends about 8 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on healthcare.
U.S. spends 16.2 percent of GDP on healthcare.
U.K. supplies healthcare to whole population.
U.S. has 47 million people without healthcare insurance, and a large part of those with insurance could not financially weather a serious illness (underinsurance) according to Consumer Reports.
U.K. ranks in the top 5 or so in health outcomes in international comparisons.
U.S. ranks 37th in health outcomes in international comparisons.
The American system is failing, and this failure is caused by ignoring the lessons of history.
Opponents of single payer inject "socialized medicine"--as a tactic to fear--into the U.S. debate; and yet socialized medicine is a success compared to the U.S. system.
The United Kingdom (U.K.) has had genuine socialized medicine since the late 1940's. A grand historic experiment has occured, since the U.S. was forced into a multiple payer, somewhat commercialized system over those 60 years. The results:
U.K. spends about 8 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on healthcare.
U.S. spends 16.2 percent of GDP on healthcare.
U.K. supplies healthcare to whole population.
U.S. has 47 million people without healthcare insurance, and a large part of those with insurance could not financially weather a serious illness (underinsurance) according to Consumer Reports.
U.K. ranks in the top 5 or so in health outcomes in international comparisons.
U.S. ranks 37th in health outcomes in international comparisons.
The American system is failing, and this failure is caused by ignoring the lessons of history.