Starving the beast: the U.S. Military

[Hauldren Collider]

America has great healthcare for rich people and ****ing terrible healthcare for a ton of poor people. What's so complicated about that?

What I'm trying to tell you is that this is false. The fact that we spend more on healthcare doesn't mean that the poor are paying all that much--in fact, usually, the poor don't pay anything. Our healthcare system is inefficient. From that standpoint, it is worse. But "efficiency" is not a good standpoint, by that logic, the best healthcare system would just put the old people out to grass.

[Hauldren Collider]

One more thing--it is entirely reasonable to say that rich people have more access and better care than poor people, in fact, it's essentially a tautology if you understand the true meaning of the words "rich" and "poor".

[kentonio]

What I'm trying to tell you is that this is false. The fact that we spend more on healthcare doesn't mean that the poor are paying all that much--in fact, usually, the poor don't pay anything. Our healthcare system is inefficient. From that standpoint, it is worse. But "efficiency" is not a good standpoint, by that logic, the best healthcare system would just put the old people out to grass.

Dude, it is not false. I know numerous Americans who simply cannot afford to visit a doctor, and when they get sick they spend as much time worrying how they can afford to miss work/pay for treatments/pay for transport to get to medical facilities etc as they do actually getting better. Over here an unemployed person can get full treatment for any illness for free, no bills, no fear of getting fired etc etc. When it comes to healthcare its a different world.

One more thing--it is entirely reasonable to say that rich people have more access and better care than poor people, in fact, it's essentially a tautology if you understand the true meaning of the words "rich" and "poor".

Spoken like a true rich person. Here you can pay for private care too, but we ensure that EVERYBODY has a decent rate of care. It's called humanity.

[Hauldren Collider]

Dude, it is not false. I know numerous Americans who simply cannot afford to visit a doctor, and when they get sick they spend as much time worrying how they can afford to miss work/pay for treatments/pay for transport to get to medical facilities etc as they do actually getting better. Over here an unemployed person can get full treatment for any illness for free, no bills, no fear of getting fired etc etc. When it comes to healthcare its a different world.

I should hope an unemployed person would have no fear of being fired. Fired from what? A cannon?

PS: They also don't have to worry about that here, because we actually have medicaid. It's hugely inefficient, and way too many people are eligible, but we have it.

[kentonio]

I should hope an unemployed person would have no fear of being fired. Fired from what? A cannon?

/golfclap

[Hauldren Collider]

[Elok]

I'm giving one vote for Spartan America

I understand that, as an aspiring soldier, you want someone experienced covering your rear in a tight spot. But most of us don't see our armed forces getting into that kind of sticky situation with any real frequency.

Also, on a totally unrelated note, you is gay.

[regexcellent]

We have by far the highest rate of cancer survival in the world.

Difference in life expectancy between the US and, say, Britain, is explained entirely by death by non-natural causes.

[kentonio]

We have by far the highest rate of cancer survival in the world.

For richer people, sure. Here's a little snippet from a study comparing survival rates between the Us and Canada.

RESULTS: There were significant associations between SES (socioeconomic status) and survival for most cancer sites in both the U.S. and Ontario, but the magnitude of the association was usually larger in the U.S. In the poorest communities, there were significant survival advantages in favor of cancer patients in Ontario for many disease groups, including cancers of the lung, head and neck region, cervix, and uterus. However, in upper- and middle-income communities, there were significant survival advantages in favor of the U.S. for all cases combined and for several individual diseases, including cancers of the breast, colon and rectum, prostate, and bladder.

[kentonio]

Difference in life expectancy between the US and, say, Britain, is explained entirely by death by non-natural causes.

20,000 people a year are estimated to die from a lack of healthcare each year in the US. You have a serious problem, and if you want to ignore that then you're being willfully blind.

[giblets]

We have by far the highest rate of cancer survival in the world.

Difference in life expectancy between the US and, say, Britain, is explained entirely by death by non-natural causes.

What percentage of Americans diagnosed with cancer are on Medicare and consequently are included in a universal health care system of sorts?

[MrFun]

We have by far the highest rate of cancer survival among the upper class in the world.

FTFY

[Felch]

His statement didn't need fixing MrFun. It was factual. It's strange how the Huffington Post didn't feel the need to share it with you, maybe they're more interested in promoting an agenda than providing you with all the information.

[MrFun]

His statement didn't need fixing MrFun. It was factual. It's strange how the Huffington Post didn't feel the need to share it with you, maybe they're more interested in promoting an agenda than providing you with all the information.

That linked article does not compare cancer survival rate between upper class, middle class, and lower class.

[MichaeltheGreat]

Since when do they have drones, stealth aircraft, nuclear subs, and air craft carriers?

Drones are low cost, and becoming very common. Multiple nations have advanced aircraft. Nuclear subs aren't really necessary unless you're in the business of hunting someone else's nuclear subs - that's why we've gotten rid of most of ours from the cold war days. Aircraft carriers are the most expensive mobile targets in the world, but they're useful in the geopolitical big dick contest, which is why China wants to piss away money on one.