Tuesday, Aug 18, 2009
I don't often get a chance to blog about news stories. But Obama's plans for healthcare reform have made headlines on both sides of the Atlantic, thanks to Republicans (and a few of our own right-wingers) attacking the British healthcare system.
And the fascinating thing about the debate, aside from apparent willingness of Americans to spend tens of thousands of dollars on drugs whose efficacy barely exceeds a sugar pill, is that U.S. dramas often feature characters committing criminals acts in order to fund life-saving medical treatment needed by a loved one, but which the perpetrator cannot afford - either because they've lost their job or because the insurer refuses to fund the treatment.
It's makes good drama - introducing moral ambiguity into a plot and allowing scriptwriters to point a finger at the system. And while I don't imagine it happens that often in reality, it's the kind of plot that doesn't happen in British drama. Never. Ever. No amount of dramatic licence would allow it, because a character has only to present themselves to a doctor to receive treatment. Kinda puts things in pespective, doesn't it?
And the fascinating thing about the debate, aside from apparent willingness of Americans to spend tens of thousands of dollars on drugs whose efficacy barely exceeds a sugar pill, is that U.S. dramas often feature characters committing criminals acts in order to fund life-saving medical treatment needed by a loved one, but which the perpetrator cannot afford - either because they've lost their job or because the insurer refuses to fund the treatment.
It's makes good drama - introducing moral ambiguity into a plot and allowing scriptwriters to point a finger at the system. And while I don't imagine it happens that often in reality, it's the kind of plot that doesn't happen in British drama. Never. Ever. No amount of dramatic licence would allow it, because a character has only to present themselves to a doctor to receive treatment. Kinda puts things in pespective, doesn't it?
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Posted Aug 18, 2009 8:57 pm PT
Ok i haven't really looked into why some american's dont wont a free health care system, but i can't see why they wouldn't want one?! I love the fact that if i get ill or hurt all i have to do is see a doctor not worry about how much it's going to cost!! Plus at the moment as a student health care is completly free as i dont pay tax! lol!! :0)x
Posted Aug 20, 2009 10:22 am PT
TJ I didn't know about that show. But it was the kid of thing I was on about.
illegalferret I too (finally) have my HC1... I was even able to get some free dentistry - which is our bugbear.
illegalferret I too (finally) have my HC1... I was even able to get some free dentistry - which is our bugbear.
Posted Aug 21, 2009 12:48 pm PT
I know what you mean.I can't understand why they wouldn't want it,myself.Sure the NHS isn't perfect,nothing is,but it does a wonderful job.
My nan is in hospital at the moment getting all sorts of tests/help for a problem she developed,and she won't have to pay for a thing.Plus all her nurses and doctors are really lovely and treating her well.Hopefully she will be home soon,but what more could you ask for?
My nan is in hospital at the moment getting all sorts of tests/help for a problem she developed,and she won't have to pay for a thing.Plus all her nurses and doctors are really lovely and treating her well.Hopefully she will be home soon,but what more could you ask for?
Posted Aug 23, 2009 2:43 pm PT
Two things:
Republicans desperately want our president to fail.
Private insurance providers have things set up exactly the way they want it. And despite the fact that they've got the rest of us -- individuals and business owners -- bent over a car hood screaming "Sir, yes, may I have another?!" and people have been getting completely screwed by them, the insurers have enough money to fund entirely bogus scare stories, they frighten everyone into believing Impossibly Worst Case Scenarios.
Currently, they're having trouble convincing everyone that they are not, themselves, the Impossibly Worst Case Scenarios.
And recently, the minority leader in the Senate scolded Big Pharma for being blinded by greed and greater opportunities for profits into supporting reform. Which had to be the weirdest conversation a Republican has ever had ever.
Republicans desperately want our president to fail.
Private insurance providers have things set up exactly the way they want it. And despite the fact that they've got the rest of us -- individuals and business owners -- bent over a car hood screaming "Sir, yes, may I have another?!" and people have been getting completely screwed by them, the insurers have enough money to fund entirely bogus scare stories, they frighten everyone into believing Impossibly Worst Case Scenarios.
Currently, they're having trouble convincing everyone that they are not, themselves, the Impossibly Worst Case Scenarios.
And recently, the minority leader in the Senate scolded Big Pharma for being blinded by greed and greater opportunities for profits into supporting reform. Which had to be the weirdest conversation a Republican has ever had ever.
Posted Aug 24, 2009 7:22 pm PT
saj Believe it or not, there was a helluva of opposition to the NHS when Bevan introduced it - Doctors, in particular, opposed it. Hope your Nan is back home soon.
TJ lol. I've never understood how profit leads to a better system.
Anyway, it strikes me that there's more about this than wanting one particular president to fail. Successful healthcare reform would show "socialism" works; it would undermine the foundations of the American right, and begin a long-term shift towards the centre. And they seem scared.
Big Pharma is a whole other can of worms.
TJ lol. I've never understood how profit leads to a better system.
Anyway, it strikes me that there's more about this than wanting one particular president to fail. Successful healthcare reform would show "socialism" works; it would undermine the foundations of the American right, and begin a long-term shift towards the centre. And they seem scared.
Big Pharma is a whole other can of worms.
Posted Aug 27, 2009 3:06 pm PT
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Hell, you can make an argument that the entire premise for TNT's "Leverage" would've had to be altered entirely to make sense in the UK -- insurance investigator turns against his company when they won't cover life-saving surgery for his son, breaking up his marriage and driving him to drink on top of everything else.