THE UNITED STATES HAS THE BEST HEALTH CARE IN THE WORLD
The lie: The United States has the best health care in the world.
The liars: A slew of U.S. presidents, politicians, journalists, commentators, and everyday citizens
The debunking: There is one yardstick by which U.S. health care distinguishes itself: cost. The United States spends more -- in total dollars, percentage of GDP, and per capita -- than every other country on Earth.
On virtually every other broad metric, the claim that U.S. health care stands for global excellence is demonstrably false. The United States doesn't take a top spot in either the World Health Organization or nonpartisan Commonwealth Fund rankings. The American health-care system is not best in terms of coverage, access, patient safety, efficiency, or cost-effectiveness. It does not produce the best outcomes for diseases such as cancer, heart disease, or diabetes; for the elderly, the middle-aged, or the young; or in terms of life expectancy, rates of chronic diseases, or obesity.
Which countries do come out on top? Often -- France, Switzerland, Britain, Canada, and Japan. On the World Health Organization's list, the United States comes out 37th
Not saying I think Obama's system is going to work or that socialized is the way to go or anything like that, but I'm just tired of hearing about how great our system is. Phooey.
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A young man's quest for answers.. and good sushi.
9 comments:
No link to the original source (which doesn't have much in the way of references itself)?
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/08/18/the_most_outrageous_us_lies_about_global_healthcare?page=full
Tort reform has to happen before anything meaningful can be done about health care costs in this country. The omnipresent threat of malpractice lawsuits is the cause of much waste and unneeded tests and procedures. But that won't happen with Congress filled to the brim with lawyers.
The only point of the post, is that healthcare here isn't as great as some people are making it out to be. I am in no way saying this is the private sector's fault nor the government's. Simply tired of hearing empty gloating and I thought this little blurb summed it up.
I can't believe this. Every time I visit my friends in Britain they bitch about their health care system.
haha, paddy said "bitch"
my doctor always gives me excellent health care.
I'm going to pull a lame card and not defend my position because I frankly just do not care.
As it is said, and this too shall come to pass. In this case, the healthcare issue. It will eventually work itself out despite what I or anyone else thinks. Something will eventually change, we'll get used to it, and get on with our lives.
As is also the case with America. It will not continue indefinitely. It is just a thing that we have attached some massive amount of meaning to that has given us this grand superiority complex. It too, will pass with time.
I'm going to get flack for this post and I don't care.
The funny thing is people have been speaking out and are being heard on this issue. Opposition to the bailouts and stimulus fell on deaf ears. Now you've got members of congress going home to their districts and getting yelled at by constituents. So it actually does matter. Last time the Democrats tried this they lost control of Congress for over a decade. They know it and they see where the polls are going.
So you might not care about something like healthcare, but it is a big deal to many people. They aren't content to just sit back and let it "work itself out".
Obviously you cared enough about this topic to make a post about it. Has that changed? Why?
Our system saved you from SIDS.
Wait, how can you defend this when your "The Debunking" section has just been proven false?
just curious...
Hey Niall saw this the other day and thought you'd find it interesting.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_2SW2_lbrxgY/Ss5P01pBAZI/AAAAAAAAAns/ZZvRKDMZUzI/s1600-h/Table+2+and+3.jpg
Isn't it strange that higher rates of people die of cancer that live in countries with much lower WHO ratings than the US? Obviously we're doing something wrong, we should decrease the quality of our cancer treatment to be more in line with Denmark. Our rating implies twice as many men should be dying from Lung Cancer every year, don't you agree?
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