You get what you pay for
In view of the continued discussion/debate/hysteria surrounding the health-care reform effort, I would like to relay what I learned on a recent trip to Europe. Three men, two Swedes and one German, brought up the topic of this discussion in the US. They were unanimous in expressing shock that the US is the only industrialized western nation which does not have some form of universal health coverage, such as they have. They were all proud of the fact that their countries look after those who fall on hard times. They acknowledged that their tax load is higher than what Americans pay, but they felt that they get their money’s worth. Lest one get the idea that these higher taxes keep Europeans impoverished, one should walk through the shopping district of most any European city and look at the high-end shops there. Additionally, the fact that they don’t have to pay the ever-escalating health insurance premiums we do helps to offset the higher taxes.
One of the Swedes is a 37-year-old middle school teacher. He has been to the US eight times and has traveled our country from coast to coast and border to border. He and some friends own an apartment in Berlin, Germany, which they use for vacations. Additionally, he owns twelve antique cars and has a share of a large building where he restores and stores them.
The biggest shock we received on this trip was, after traveling on excellent European highways for three weeks, driving down pot-holed I-55 from Chicago.
William Klopfenstein
Edwardsville
–Why is it mutually inclusive that because most Americans don’t want government run health care, they don’t want reform?
–We simply don’t want government controlled health care in the name of reform!
–What is so hard about that? There are numerous plans that Democrats won’t consider that are put forth by Republicans that the Democrats won’t consider because they don’t put control in government hands.
sorry for the oops…
Bill, if you are so unhappy here, move to Europe.
I have friends in Germany, play golf with Canadians, etc. I have yet to meet a person from Canada or Europe who will admit that their system is not ok. They just refuse to admit it. They always think that their way is better than the unpolished Americans. I had dinner in Austria a few years ago at a nice restaurant. Chatted at length with young lady whose parents owned the restaurant. She couldn’t wait to get out of Austria and come to the U.S. According to her, the personal income tax rate is over 70%. There is absolutely no incentive to work hard, because you CAN’T get ahead. I noticed that there is no new construction or growth going on throughout the country. Like living in the 1800’s while there. No thanks, I’ll take the brash, exciting, entreprenural freedom we enjoy in the U.S.
Why do you think our ancestors left Europe in the first place?
“There are numerous plans that Democrats won’t consider that are put forth by Republicans that the Democrats won’t consider because they don’t put control in government hands”
Binky,
Are you talking about HR 3218?
There are many things in the plan that I like or don’t have a problem with, but there is no provision to protect those in the ‘high risk pool’ from being priced out of insurance.
We do have the worst roads even after all this expensive highway work. What a rip off! I wish they would copy the highways of Florida and Georgia who have such smooth and great reflectors or maybe it is reflector paint on the highways for easy nighttime driving even in heavy rain.
Walker
You are just as stupid and uninformed about highways, as you are about EVERYTHING.
“I wish they would copy the highways of Florida and Georgia who have such smooth……..”
Florida and Georgia don’t have anywhere near the freeze-thaw cycles, if any, as the midwest. Some days, they freeze, thaw and then refreeze in a 24 hour period. Our roads are in pretty good shape considering….
You advocate for government run healthcare by pointing out the poor job they do with our roads?
“You advocate for government run healthcare by pointing out the poor job they do with our roads?” - jmas
That is priceless. Could not have been said any better and could not be any more accurate.
SoCoBoy and jmas
They are kinda following “Their Messiah’s” lead on comparing FEDX to the USPS.
They run their mouth, before engaging brain.