I asked my mother on the phone tonight, how do I explain to the Canadians I'm talking to online - why Americans don't want to do an universial health insurance program.
Her response? Because they are afraid it will be like Canada's. Most Americans do not understand Canada's health care system. We think it is nothing but red tape and low quality care. Michael Moore's Sicko was filmed partly to kill that assumption. Unfortunately a good percentage of Americans think Moore is crazy and didn't take his documentary seriously.
Another thing - there is a percentage of Americans who do not pay anything for health insurance. Government workers don't. And they can see any doctor they want, whenever they want, more or less. It depends on who you work for. Oh, and Americans are allergic to taxes. We hate them. I honestly think we hate them more than any other culture on the planet - could be wrong about that. The reason for this may be that a good portion of our population ended up here way back when because of the tax problem. My great-great-grandfather was imprisoned in Wales for income tax evasion and fled to the US the moment he got out. And well, the American Revolution came about because of taxes.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2008-02-26 12:43 am (UTC)Want to hear something funny?
I asked my mother on the phone tonight, how do I explain to the Canadians I'm talking to online - why Americans don't want to do an universial health insurance program.
Her response? Because they are afraid it will be like Canada's. Most Americans do not understand Canada's health care system. We think it is nothing but red tape and low quality care. Michael Moore's Sicko was filmed partly to kill that assumption. Unfortunately a good percentage of Americans think Moore is crazy and didn't take his documentary seriously.
Another thing - there is a percentage of Americans who do not pay anything for health insurance. Government workers don't. And they can see any doctor they want, whenever they want, more or less. It depends on who you work for. Oh, and Americans are allergic to taxes. We hate them. I honestly think we hate them more than any other culture on the planet - could be wrong about that. The reason for this may be that a good portion of our population ended up here way back when because of the tax problem. My great-great-grandfather was imprisoned in Wales for income tax evasion and fled to the US the moment he got out. And well, the American Revolution came about because of taxes.