The US is a democracy and so is denmark.. we can call it a comparison between a small apple and a very LARGE apple.. but apples they both are.

The point still remains that in spite of the logistical challenege involved, there is every reason to believe that your nation as a whole will BENEFIT from it. TO say as Observer did, that it will lead to some authoritarian stalinist regime is ignorant, to say that laziness will abound is undervaluing your own citizens, and to say that the current system is better than universal healthcare is to stick your head in the sand.

Implementing a system like this is all about logistics. You americans do everything "king size", so what's so daunting about this?

Of course it matters not to me one way or the other as i am a danish citizen and totally covered in the event of sickness. But i do get riled up when universal healthcare is condemned as a "communist conspiracy" and when it is completely disregarded as a beneficial option for the average american.

The fact is that the ABSENCE of universal healthcare is DAMAGING to the average American. THE ONLY and i mean ONLY segment of your society that BENEFITS from its absence are the corporations and wealthy individuals.

I once suggested that the top 5% earners of the US should be taxed an extra 5%, and that money should go directly into the public healthcare system. This would not destroy the lifestyles or economies of the super rich, it would not chase them ( and their dollars ) away from the US, it would certainly not drive them to the poorhouse. All it will do is dent their profits marginally ( mind you i'm talking 5% of PROFITS ) making very little difference to their lives, but perhaps save hundreds if not thousands of lives and livelihoods.
Some may argue that it removes the incentive to work hard and get rich. THis is a completely inane argument. Anybody who wants to get rich will do so, whether or not he has to pay 5% extra in taxes. He willstill be a millionaire, and he is certainly not going to NOT WANT TO earn that million because he can get a free checkup at the hospital.

I have noticed that conservative americans in particular are very scared of the so called parasitic bums that seem to abound in your society. And they are willing to sacrifice the genuinely needy just to make sure the parasites don't get anythin for free.

I find this truly sad. Firstly, it is based on the assumption that most people who do not have access to healthcare are lazy bastards ( unsubstantiated and VERY unlikely - unless of course the US had a higher proportion of lazy bastards among their citizens ). Secondly, i don't know about you, but i would gladly pay for 9 lazy bums to get a free chekcup ( that's all they get - nobody's handing out cash, housing or booze for free) if it meant that the 10th and genuinely needy person could be healed. TO me healing the needy is higher on my list of priorities that preventing the innumerable bums from getting anything for free.

I have read a bit more about Denmark and find their "welfare state" economy intriguing. Their healthcare system is but a small part of an entire system dedicated to taking care of their citizens. I find that commendable and prohibitively expensive.

I disagree that the richest people should be taxed an extra 5%. It sounds like punishment for being rich. I realize they "have it", but I don't think it's "mine" to take from them. It seems to some people "equality" goes out of the window if you are either poor or rich. I don't think like that.

I know life is hard. I grew up in a 1 bedroom cinder block apartment (barely). My mother worked at it and we did end up buying a house, but it was a process. Some people just don't want to wait out the process. I think we should help the very young who's parents weren't responsible, the sick, and the old. And there are programs for most of them. But if you are healthy and working age, we should have temporary assistance for any temporary setback and then you should find your own way.


The governments is here to protect and serve, not nanny and dole to otherwise healthy people. That's just my opinion though.

You are aware, I hope, that there are 40 million WORKING Americans that don't have health insurance? Why? Because it isn't required by employers and private insurance is too expensive.

For example, my employer offers insurance coverage for their employees, and they cover 80% of the cost. I pay $56.00 per week for this coverage, that's my part. That means the total cost of health coverage for me and my family is $280.00 EACH WEEK!!! If your employer doesn't pay that, how the heck is someone making $9.00 / hour supposed to afford that? And that's not even for great insurance, just Blue cross 80/20, with a $1000 deductible.

Even 'otherwise healthy' people need check ups. That's the point, to get people into the doctor's offices instead of waiting until an emergency then going to the ER. And even healthy people have accidents, break bones, need stitches.

My 'otherwise healthy' son for example. He's young (17), in excellent health, and ended up having to be in the hospital for 4 days last Spring due to a spontaneous pneumothorax (his lung collapsed for no apparent reason).

Are you aware that the majority of bankruptcies are due to medical bills?

You and Catus either have defective genes or something. You guys have some f'd up health horror stories. Just damn...

But anyway, as you pointed out, YOU have a decent jod and insurance. It is up to the individual to do what he has to to support himself and his/her family. When I joined the military, my plan was to learn a trade(electonics) , finish my education and be successful. It didnt work out the way I planned. My wife, had by the age of 25 become the manager of her department, with a demo automobile and a $60K salary with no more than a GED because her racist private school was unaccredited by the state. I say BULLSHIT. You can be successful if you want to.

I'm very glad you see that. As far as i'm concerned, if all nations inculcated some of the scandinavian ethos in their governance, we would not see as much misery in this world. I'm very lucky to be a citizen of Denmark. I only wish others could enjoy the privileges i do.
Yeah but two things here. Firstly, opposition to universal healthcare sounds like punishment for being poor and uninsured. I say this because it seems that all those who truly do need and deserve assistance are being sacrificed to prevent the occasional exploiter from exploiting heatlhcare facilities ( something which will neither make him rich, it won't put food on his table and it won't give him a roof over his head ) even though lives would be saved, and money would be spent on HEALTHCARE rather than insurance company profits and salaries.

Secondly, you don't mind taking their money to fund the military, or to build roads or to fund any number of government initiatives and projects, yet balk when it comes to taking ther money to keep people healthy. Why is it that it's ok to take money for SOME things, but wrong to take their money for healthcare. Paying taxes is part of being a responsible citizen. It is not a punishment, it is a NECESSITY. To be responsible for the health and wellbeing of your fellow citizen is not a punishment, it is human decency.

You know other options are available. If the US slashes its military spending ( and doesn't invade any other country for a few decades ) it could spend tax dollars where they actually give BENEFIT. Even if the US redirects 50% of the military budget to healthcare, you will still have BY FAR the best equipped and powerful military force on the planet. The money is there you know.. there just seems to be some unseen force that prevents you from spending it on healthcare ( insurance lobbyists perhaps)
I agree. When you pay 50% in taxes it REALLY burns when you see somebody exploiting the system, trust me. However the healthcare system is not like public welfare. It doesn't give people money, it doesn't give them housing and it doesn't give them money for drugs and booze. It simply allows people to not have to think about paying medical bills. There are no free handouts involved. I mean how do you exploit a system like that? Get yourself a lobotomy for free? how about an appendectomy? or maybe a free colonic... or maybe 7 flu shots. It can not be exploited by anybody ( at least not if your doctors are qualified - i mean they should be able to see if a person is sick and needs treatment no?) In fact is it easier to exploit the insurance industry.. i mean how many fake whiplash payouts do you think the companies make a year?



The governmen'ts purpose is to protect and SERVE. How do they serve them? they do so by ensuring equal rights, equal opportunities, equal life chances, good public infrastructure, and equal access to health and education - the last two being INTEGRAL to ensuring the first 3.

This is a misunderstanding that people often have. Denmark is a welfare state and the government does look after you VERY WELL. This includes unemployment benefits, housing and or other services. But by the logic presentedby those who fear the "exploiters" most danes should be at home sitting on their asses. Yet a higher proportion of them are actually in employment and paying taxes. Now can you explain that if it is so true that welfare means laziness and lack of incentive.. fact is that it DOESN'T mean that.

A danish citizen can make 5000 Kroner a month (app.1000 USD) taking welfare.. but he can make 3 times that amount minimum if he works EVEN IF HE PAYS 50% taxes. THe welfare is there and it protects the poorest, BUT it does not take away the incentive to work hard and make money.

Spontaneous pneumothorax occurs in individuals with no known lung disease. It affects close to 9,000 persons in the United States each year- most often among tall, thin men between 20 and 40 years old. The cause of this type of pneumothorax is the rupture of a bleb or cyst in the lung.

Spontaneous Pneumothorax Fact Sheet - American Lung Association site

Perhaps you should do some research before shooting your mouth off.....







Yeah, like THAT'S gonna happen...

So you can only hope to be healthy if you/re successful. You are of course aware that a person can only do their best. Success is not an inevitable result of hard work. So how about those who work hard but never make much money?

Access to healthcare should not be contingent upon how well you do financially. It is an inalienable right of all humans. I also consider it a DUTY of any decent human being to contribute to the health and education of his fellow citizens.

Think about it thought.. an inner city ghetto sweller just does NOT HAVE THE SAME CHANCE OF SUCCESS as somebody born in a suburban affluent neighborhood. This has nothing to do with their desire or their dedication or their hard work.

Why should anybody's access to healthcare be dependent on how much money they make when everybody has different life chances.

For starters, I'm glad to see that I'm not really on ignore. Secondly I'm not talking about just this incidence. It seems between you and Catus, you have had or know someone who has had just about every conceivable malady known to man.

THAT was what I was shooting my mouth off about. I really don't know what the heck you are complaining about. Plus, I thought I was on ignore anyway.

Hkbajwa, 2 things, what the hell does that name mean, and I'll answer your posts later when I have more time. I'll admit this too is another topic that I haven't really researched and simply have my own ideas about. I'll holla back at ya.