Thread: Germans Baffled by American Attiude Toward Health Care

Originally Posted by Graffias

German Attitude Toward Barack Obama's Healthcare Reform - SPIEGEL ONLINE



Yet another reason why I believe Germans are a superior people.

I wonder why the Germans think religion has anything to do with the healthcare issue.

Originally Posted by Mycroft

I wonder why the Germans think religion has anything to do with the healthcare issue.

Maybe it's because political polarization in America often appears like a culture war with a good dose of emotion, rather than a boring debate.

Originally Posted by German guy

Maybe it's because political polarization in America often appears like a culture war with a good dose of emotion, rather than a boring debate.

Well, I'd say that religion is only a part of our culture and, depending on any particular American's point of view, it could be a large part...or a small part. But I would also say that Americans don't really like to be boring when they debate things. Heck, just watch our Presidential debates when they kick off.

Originally Posted by Leo

There is no such animal as 'a superior people', and I am sure the poster did not mean that being of German nationality makes one intrinsically superior.

I would agree that Germany is one of the leading nations in the world today, and historically has been one of the greatest contributors to western civilisation. And before anyone leaps in regarding the era of Nationalsozialismus, may I remind him that was 11 years of aberration out of a thousand years of proud history.

While no one is intrinsically superior at the personal level, the Germans have built an enviable reputation for technology - there would be no space programme without German research, and German manufactured goods are second to none. Added to which are the astounding contributions to the arts, music, and philosophy, over hundreds of years. They have also built an enviable society, with social justice, and a high standard of living, allied to some of the most beautiful architecture in the world. Germans are, in general, a cultured, polite, understated, and self-effacing people of considerable ability. They are not perfect, but which of us is?

But but but....they're SOCIALISTS !!!

That's commie-socialist heresy you moron.

They believe on social programs that pay for higher education and health care.

FVCKING SOCIALISTS!!!!!

AGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[/sarcasm]

Originally Posted by Graffias

German Attitude Toward Barack Obama's Healthcare Reform - SPIEGEL ONLINE



Yet another reason why I believe Germans are a superior people.

yeah hitler thought that too...and if I thought for one second any group of humans was superior to my fellow americans...I would immediately pack my stuff and get to them as quick as possible.....

Originally Posted by German guy

I'm German and I am indeed buffled by two things: First, that although the American healthcare system is obviously not very efficient, it's incredibly expensive. And second, the almost religious rejection of any reform by many Americans, although said system is so flawed.

Americans are incredibly ignorant, that's why. If Otto von Bismarck were alive today and lived in this country, he would be considered a communist for stating ". . .those who are disabled from work by age and invalidity have a well-grounded claim to care from the state."

Originally Posted by lpast

yeah hitler thought that too...and if I thought for one second any group of humans was superior to my fellow americans...I would immediately pack my stuff and get to them as quick as possible.....

Is this another way of saying Americans are superior?

Originally Posted by Graffias

Americans are incredibly ignorant, that's why. If Otto von Bismarck were alive today and lived in this country, he would be considered a communist for stating ". . .those who are disabled from work by age and invalidity have a well-grounded claim to care from the state."

very few Americans oppose the idea of care for the disabled or elderly.... but there is disagreement on how best to provide that care.

Yet another reason why I believe Germans are a superior people.

Wait....hasn't that theory already been tested?

This explains a lot of how others perceive us *wrongly*

The US comes across to not only Germans, but to many Europeans, as a religious country. God seems to be part of many US debates, especially ones surrounding the presidential campaign. In secular European politics, the Almighty is rarely if ever invoked.

The entire article is written with this notion that we're all religious - or that our religious views are a guiding force in our views on health coverage. They're basing what they 'think' we should do based on how religious they 'think' we are, here.

We're not a communal nation. Hasn't anyone noticed; no one wants to help their neighbor - they only want to help theirselves . . . that's the issue that many people have with insurance plain and simple - that's why people oppose raising taxes. No one wants to 'give' to others. That's how homeless people are beaten and left for dead in a ROAD and everyone just drives around them.

That's the issue that's really being picked over.

- The reality is that we are not a religious nation. In reality many 'religious' people only go for 'appearances ' - it's not a true value to 'love thy neighbor' - you know; **** your neighbor - they're in the way.

Not everyone - but MOST people are like this.

We were all raised with this belief that we're independent, individual and each-family-man for himself. . . not everyone else, too.

People are ignorant about insurance - the moment they realize *how* insurance works they **** a brick and go into shock over the idea that they've financially supported everyone else's healthcare meanwhile avoiding going to the dr because they couldn't (or didn't want to) afford the copay.