Thursday, November 08, 2007

A Cautionary Message on Health Care

Most of us agree that there's a health care crisis in the United States, but we don't agree on possible solutions. Read this post from Grandad's Irish blog, "Head Rambles." To me, it suggests that we should be careful before we say that other countries have systems superior to ours. I have my doubts about that. Do I have a solution of my own? No, but I don't trust our government or any other to tell me where and from whom I can get medical care.

http://www.headrambles.com/2007/11/08/private-or-public/

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Just a note from someone who has lived in two countries with socialized health care - in neither Canada no the UK does the government tell citizens where to receive their medical care. You are free to change doctors any time you are uncomfortable. In fact, even people in the former USSR had this choice.

seniorwriter said...

I'm certainly not an authority on this. It seems to me that the issue is not whether choice is prohibited, but whether choices are available, especially for those without money. I assume that those of us who can afford medical care will always be able to get it under any system, but what about the poor? I don't claim to have a solution.

joared said...

Thanks for the link to "Head Rambles." Interesting to read anecdotal accounts of the health care experiences from a couple more countries to consider with those I have. I just wrote a piece on my blog on some issues about which we should all be concerned -- whether or not we have good personal coverage. We can all contribute some input on features that must be present in whatever plan is devised -- public or private.

seniorwriter said...

You're so right, Joared. I'm afraid too many people seem to think it will all come out all right if we elect the "right" government officials and rely on them. Personally, I believe in self-reliance.