I once had to shout aggressively at a Harry Chrishnan for accosting and patronising me. He looked totally bewildered about how to react. Poor fellow had been brainwashed.
General Election 2010 Page 6
Quote: DaButt @ March 14 2010, 5:19 PM GMTSimilar to Europeans' distorted view of health care in the United States.
You have to pay for it, I know that, in a more direct way than we do. I assume it all adds up if you have to have a lot done? The amount you pay might go up each year, like any other form of insurance? I know you have lots of medical dramas where people don't have insurance, or it's ran out, or only covers so much, or whatever, and there's a big hoo-ha over whether they're going to get treatment. Seems to come up in every hospital based show.
Anyway, we have private medical insurance over here too, where you can choose to pay into programme and go private, rather than use the national health.
Quote: Matthew Stott @ March 14 2010, 5:47 PM GMTSeems to come up in every hospital based show.
Television isn't reality. 
The costs are always rising, of course. My insurance costs me $46 per month. It's certain to increase dramatically if the government gets involved.
Things that should be fixed first:
1) Eliminate the waiting period for corporate health plans. Many businesses make new hires wait 30-90 days before they are eligible for coverage. I can see them not wanting to hire someone who heads to the hospital for $300,000 in surgery on his second day on the job, but there ought to be a way to fix it.
2) Do away with the pre-existing condition clauses. Maybe the government could kick in some money if the premiums are too expensive.
3) Set a maximum limit on medical bills that an individual is expected to pay out of pocket.
Quote: DaButt @ March 14 2010, 5:58 PM GMTTelevision isn't reality.
I think you'll find that isn't true.
Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ March 14 2010, 5:34 PM GMTI once had to shout aggressively at a Harry Chrishnan
Shame on you, Mr Kipper! SHAME ON YOU!
Quote: DaButt @ March 14 2010, 5:32 PM GMTIs there a political system that isn't flawed?
Inherently not, no. But they're all f**ked in different ways and to different extents.
Quote: DaButt @ March 14 2010, 5:58 PM GMTTelevision isn't reality.
But it's got to be based in reality or no one would identify with it and it wouldn't get made.
And that.
Quote: Aaron @ March 14 2010, 4:51 PM GMTAside from the terminology, that's the same with our Prime Ministers, except the term is 5 years. They're just more likely to "resign". I would also be surprised to see the Messiah take a second term. The hyperbole has died down and the novelty has worn off.
Blair, the White Obama, still managed to win a third term despite being deeply unpopular and mired in a massively controversial war. The shine's certainly gone off BO, but to write him off at this stage is naive. Not least because the American system favours the incumbent.
But was the third term Blair, or the ineptitude of the opposition parties? (Plus, to a lesser extent, the still largely Labour-pro media at the time.)
No opposition ever won a general election. The governments lost them.
I'm just waiting for the next revelation to hit the tabloids - I predict this election run up to be the dirtiest in history - It is so close now that one little skeleton could turn the tide in one party's favour. All the investigative hacks are working overtime at the mo going through the primary school reports of every junior minister and each party has its own ex tabloid dirt digger camping on the steps of some opposition MP's house. Who's going to be the first to slip up I wonder? Can't wait for the dirt to start flying, I think it's great fun.
Quote: DaButt @ March 14 2010, 5:58 PM GMT1) Eliminate the waiting period for corporate health plans. Many businesses make new hires wait 30-90 days before they are eligible for coverage. I can see them not wanting to hire someone who heads to the hospital for $300,000 in surgery on his second day on the job, but there ought to be a way to fix it.
2) Do away with the pre-existing condition clauses. Maybe the government could kick in some money if the premiums are too expensive.
3) Set a maximum limit on medical bills that an individual is expected to pay out of pocket.
DaButt though's are the things that make health expensive! And even without them your health system is more than twice as expensive as ours, with about the same poor results. You should be looking to the European model which works.
Governments are there to do certain jobs which are frankly beyond the individual or business. Putting health in the hands of individual is like having a whip round when you want to goto war.
Oh and you missed out the 4th problem 46,000,000 with no medical cover.
What a waste of time and effort. None of the parties appeal to me so I will not be partaking in the whole charade, or spoiling paper.
Quote: zooo @ March 14 2010, 1:15 PM GMTHa, what sort of food was it?
There were some Hare Krishnas bouncing about en masse at my uni the other day. But there was no food!
They give away vegan curry and rice at Kings Cross most lunch times.
Quote: Gavin @ March 15 2010, 9:40 AM GMTWhat a waste of time and effort. None of the parties appeal to me so I will not be partaking in the whole charade, or spoiling paper.
None? c'mon help some one keep their deposit. Vote green, socialist or UKIP what ever.
Make some enthusiastic politican's day.
Quote: sootyj @ March 15 2010, 9:42 AM GMT
None? c'mon help some one keep their deposit. Vote green, socialist or UKIP what ever.Make some enthusiastic politican's day.
I could sell my one vote I suppose.
And that is exactly why we should not be forced to vote, as they are in Australia - the low turn out should serve as a message that current MPs are not trusted. It is up to them to change, not the electorate.