The Failed experiment with Socialism in the U.K.

I think of healthcare as a service industry. Doctors and hospitals are no different than car mechanics and garages. Both provide a needed service for which we must pay. However, the single difference is that we are ethically and morally bound to provide medical care for anyone who needs it regardless of their ability to pay (and as current U.S. law already provides). There is nothing ethically or morally binding upon us to ensure that everyone has a car that operates properly. But we digress. we can start a new thread on healthcare if you'd like. But for here let's go back to the discussion of the topic of the OP.

 

I guess no one cares to attempt to refute that democratic socialism results in failed national economies and is in fact bad for nations that attempt to embrace it.

 

In other words, I'm gonna cram my fingers in the ears and close my eyes real tight and yell LA LA LA LA and keep right on doing what I want no matter if it can be reasonably shown to be bad for my country in the long run. My children used to behave like this when they were in their toddler years. I think you are about to join poncho on my ignore list. Now would anyone who is serious about discussing politics like to talk about this issue?

 

Would anyone who is serious about discussing politics like to talk about this issue?

 

Yep,

Here ya go:

The federal Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1985 (EMTALA) is landmark legislation that mandates that all patients seeking emergency treatment receive an adequate medical screening examination and that they not be discriminated against because of inability to pay.

Source: http://psychservices.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/53/10/1301

So if you don't have medical insurance all you have to do is go to the local Emergency Room and request medical care. The hospital can not turn you away based on your inability to pay. They must treat you.

I experienced this very situation in 1989. My wife became very ill. I was at work (out in the field) and my office had no way to contact me (we did not have radios or cell phones). My sister-in-law just happen to stop by my house and found my wife crawling to the door. She took her to the Emergency Room. The small company I worked for did not offer medical insurance that would cover my wife. The hospital treated her. I came in and met with someone from the business office explained my financial situation, and set up a payment plan. I paid the hospital $25.00 that day. The total bill was huge. It would have taken me twnety years or more to pay off the total at $25.00 per month. However, the Hospital had access to state progarm that allowed them to write off a significant amount. I paid some, the state paid some, and the hospital wrote off the rest. This is why some of the debate tactics used to push the idea of nationalized healthcare are false and misleading.

 

Ken,

We have debated American politics over and over again. I researched and wrote this material in an attempt to reasonably demonstrate that the idea of democratic socialism does not work in the long run. The best way to make this case is to study nations that have given democratic socialism a good long and hard try. The U.K. is the best historical example of a 30+ year experiment where a democratic government tried to nationalize everything including all the means of production in the country. The system failed.

 

I'd still like to talk about this topic. So Bump....:wavey:

 

Nope. Just two.

I was away for several days over Christmas. I just thought I'd like to continue the discussions I started. Do you have any thoughts on the failure of Socialism with respect to the UK's 30+ years of experimentation?

 

If that is the case, why did the UK return just about all of its means of production to private hands during the 1980s (i.e. Why did the UK do away with socialized/nationalized industry)?

Likewise, why was the UK economy so bad during the 1960s and 1970s that it was known as the "sick man of Europe?"

Finally, why did the UK economy turn for the better once they returned their industries to private hands (i.e. no longer socialized/nationalized), lowered taxes, and took steps to deregulate its industries?

 

Then there is no need for you to comment in the thread. However, if you are going to try to sing the praises of socialism and endorse its use here in the US you need to take the time to research these issues and be able to address them rather than just dismiss them due to lack of interest.