Another voice added to the din
So, people in the US are upset about the prospect of… what? Creeping socialism and not being able to choose which doctor they can’t afford anyway? And people in the UK are upset because… why? Some people, most of whom already have top quality, privately provided health care, have said that they don’t want a health care system like the UK has?
Perhaps I’m oversimplifying things, but the debate in this form is beyond stupid…The fact that average people in the US would take their opinions on healthcare from wealthy people who don’t have to rely the same system as poorer people, and will likely never have to worry about paying for any necessity, much less healthcare, is sad. Would you trust a fan of Pokemon for advice on animal care just because they’ve thought a lot about how theoretically to care for animals? Yet people seem to sincerely believe the platitudes of lawmakers who accept money in exchange for public influence. Let me say that again. People who are making noise about this, and the people who will make the laws about this, have been paid by members of the insurance industry. Who is likely to benefit in that situation?
Could the NHS be improved? Everything can be improved; pointing out room for improvement is an irrelevant criteria to decide if one supports the idea of universal healthcare or not. So to suggest that politicians in the UK somehow are failing in their solemn duty if they’re not seen as praising the NHS is akin to suggesting children are good because they’ve offered to protect mommy from Darth Vader. It would be nice to see an affectionate demonstration of idealized loyalty. But it does not tangibly serve any real interest to do so.
Does calling President Obama a socialist improve health care? Does a politician’s family sending Twitter-messages of support improve health care? Does suggesting that the head of the Tory party has been trying to hide some endemic, organizational hatred of the NHS improve health care? Does any of this energetic hand-waving and side-choosing do one damn thing to help protect and improve the health of the people?
Tags: madness of crowds, politics, signifying nothing, sound and fury