The World Health Organization’s ranking of health care around the world is often cited in the arguments for ObamaCare specifically and socialized medicine in general, after all the U.S. ranks a dreadful 38th even though we spend more money than anyone else. Most of the top-ranked nation’s have some form of socialized medicine.
Here in today’s Wall Street Journal column by Bret Stephens is why that is a bogus argument. Stephens interviewed Greek politician Alexis Tsipras and wrote the following:
Bret Stephens
“The World Health Organization puts Greece in 14th place in its global rankings, though per capita health spending is relatively low. By contrast, the U.S., which spends the most per capita, comes in 38th place in terms of overall quality, behind such health-care paragons as Morocco and Dominica.
“From such statistics was the case for ObamaCare made. But Mr. Tsipras takes a dimmer view of health delivery in his native land. ‘Why in a public hospital, in order to have an operation, do [patients] have to slip [doctors] an envelope with a certain amount of money?’ he asks. Why indeed? I ask back. ‘Because the state gives low wages to doctors thinking it’s completely natural for them to add to their salary’ by accepting those cash-stuffed envelopes.”
Any questions?
I get it, politicians want doctors to get what they can under the table in addition to their base salary the same way they do. It’s not exactly the same, though, politicians can bank their base salaries as they have established expense accounts to cover everything they do, they sign and their functionaries/flunkies find the account that covers the expense. Is there a reason for any politician to carry actual cash?
I will be very happy to have a healthcare system that operates like the universal healthcare systems in France, Germany, Australia, Canada, UK, Japan, Switzerland …. All of those countries spend on healthcare a small fraction of what the US spends as a percentage of GDP. Yet you don’t read about people in Australia slipping cash envelopes to their doctors on their way into surgery. And their overall level of care is equal to or higher than that in the US. And, if you lose your job and you or a loved on get terribly sick, you don’t have to worry about having your life savings wiped out or having to declare bankruptcy, like “Athos” had to do.
Any questions?
Why don’t you move there instead of trying to create a socialist state here?
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You know, when some conservative praises the Chilean social pension system, I don’t reply “So, wise-guy, if you like Chile so much, why don’t you move there?”
In any event, I rarely see Australia, Germany and Switzerland described as “socialist states.” Perhaps they are to Thomas Mitchell.
Reminds me of the story about people complaining to Lincolh about U.S. Grant’s alleged drinking problem. “Is that so?” Lincoln is said to have replied. “Then find out what he drinks, and send a barrel to each one of my other generals.”
Nyp is correct, we conservatives lost on ACA. But it is NOT Obamacare. For that to be true it would have to be Single Payer not the abortion of ACA we have now.
The Affordable Care Act is not ObamaCare? Hmmm…
Knew you would like that
I belive very firmly that the Affordable Care Act is ObamaCare, and I think Republicans are going to be running away from the term ObamaCare as fast as they can by 2016.
‘Why in a public hospital, in order to have an operation , do patients have to slip doctors an envelope?”
Interesting question, since that’s the way it is here also – unless you’re one of the few (such as Congressmen) that have no insurance deductible. The fact is, WHO ranks us 38th and Greece 14th, warts and all, unless someone can show that WHO did not account for the extra costs covered by those envelopes (which is entirely possible). If that’s the case, then all of the WHO rankings are thrown into doubt until further information is forthcoming. Until then, I have to ask why we’re 38th. Could it be that we belong there? I hope not.
Nice to see Nyp has beliefs.
Obama wanted single payer, he did not get single payer, hence ACA is not Obama Care. In fact ACA being based on Massachusetts points to Romney Care or even more accurate MASS CARE.
But Nyp is fully entitled to those beliefs.
Ah, so if the Affordable Care Act turns out to be popular as millions of people finally manage to get health insurance, the Republicans will be able to take the credit.
How clever!
More accurately, Massachusetts will be able to take its due.
I almost forgot Nyp! Thanks for reminding me!
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/15/health/policy/health-care-mandate-was-first-backed-by-conservatives.html?_r=0
You are absolutely correct. Obama shamelessly plagarized the idea of a healthcare mandate from conservatives. After all, the notion that people should not be able to free-load off of a great healthcare system that takes care of them when they land in the E.R., is a conservative idea, not a liberal one. Obama ripped it off from the Heritage Foundation and from a whole bunch of GOP politicians who had originally proposed it.
When the stone hearted witch, Hillary Clinton, runs for president she will boast of her 1993 attempt that came to fruition under Obama and those like nyp will genuflect. She wrote a book declaring It Takes a Village to Raise a Child, her next will be entitled The Village Called, They Are Missing an Idiot. Millions of people will declare, “It’s me!”, the rest of us will have a suspect.
My sarcasm aside, health care, in and of itself, is a minor part of this program, the influx of funds in amounts never before seen to the Washington gang is the purpose.
Decided it IS ObamaCare. Nyp, you guys can keep it. I bet there’s bunches more like this to come.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/30/obamacare-glitch-priced-out-of-health-care_n_2585695.html