NHS branded 'evil' and 'Orwellian' by high-level US politicians

[Laila]

Professor Stephen Hawking has defended the NHS after its severe criticism during the American political debate over health care reforms.

The physicist spoke up for the NHS after the Republican Right claimed it was 'evil' and 'Orwellian' in a direct attack on Barack Obama's plans to overhaul health care in the U.S.

Critics of the president have said his plans would introduce a 'socialist' system like Britain's.

Prof Hawkin, who suffers from Lou Gehrig's disease, said: 'I wouldn't be here today if it were not for the NHS.

'I have received a large amount of high quality treatment without which I would not have survived.'

He was in Washington last night to be awarded America's highest civilian honour, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

An American newspaper claimed: 'People such as scientist Stephen Hawking wouldn't have a chance in the UK, where the National Health Service would say the life of this brilliant man, because of his physical handicaps, is essentially worthless.'

However Professor Hawking - who as recently as April was treated in an NHS hospital - was quick to rubbish the claim.

NHS branded 'evil' and 'Orwellian' by high-level US politicians | Mail Online

It is quite pathetic using UK NHS for their own advantage and lying about it as well. Why bring up the domestic issues of another country?

Cameron on NHS The fact that in this country you can go to a hospital, you can go to a family doctor, and they do not ask you how much money is in your bank account is one of our great national institutions.”

 

[American]

Obama brought the example of Europe into this debate. Don't blame Republicans.

 

[Laila]

Obama brought the example of Europe into this debate. Don't blame Republicans.

Europe is not UK.
Why not bring up France? Holland? Belgium?
Why just UK? It seems lying is something people can't get off.

If Prof. Hawkins was born in US. He would have probably died under a US "healthcare" system or wouldn't have recieved the same amount or level of care.

Republicans are trying to smear the health service to block President Barack Obama's plans for reform by using UK. Absolutely pathetic.

 

[American]

Europe is not UK.
Why not bring up France? Holland? Belgium?
Why just UK? It seems lying is something people can't get off.

If Prof. Hawkins was born in US. He would have probably died under a US "healthcare" system or wouldn't have recieved the same amount or level of care.

I'm sorry, I always thought the UK was part of Europe.

 

[Laila]

I'm sorry, I always thought the UK was part of Europe.

I don't recall Obama singling out UK and you yourself just said he mentioned Europe.

I didn't realise UK was the only country in Europe.

 

[American]

Irrelevant, Obama opened the door to European healthcare.

 

[Laila]

Irrelevant, Obama opened the door to European healthcare.

Great.
So i assume American, we can dip a toe into US domestic policies now and lie about US?

 

[Arcana XV]

I wouldn't worry about it too much Laila. The rest of the world knows it's all a bunch of BS. Who cares what Americans think? If they chose to believe the idiotic lies they're being told about the state of healthcare in other countries, let them. It's no skin off our European backs, right?

 

[Laila]

It's no skin off our European backs, right?

Very true Arcana.

The only person i am seriously annoyed with is Hannan. A british MEP bashing a british institution for what? 20 seconds of fame in US.

 

[Arcana XV]

Very true Arcana.

The only person i am seriously annoyed with is Hannan. A british MEP bashing a british institution for what? 20 seconds of fame in US.

Yeah, but even that's not so bad. We get plenty of Americans coming over here and bashing their own country too. I don't take them seriously either.

 

[creation]

Very true Arcana.

The only person i am seriously annoyed with is Hannan. A british MEP bashing a british institution for what? 20 seconds of fame in US.

Hannan is a British Euro MP, not even a ranking member of the opposition. The conservatives have been on the defensive since.

Obama is right to bring in Europe to the debate though, as there they often use a private insurance in the system.

 

[Harry Guerrilla]

I wouldn't worry about it too much Laila. The rest of the world knows it's all a bunch of BS. Who cares what Americans think? If they chose to believe the idiotic lies they're being told about the state of healthcare in other countries, let them. It's no skin off our European backs, right?

I think your a pretty good poster but when people start pulling the Pete garbage of EU vs. U.S. it's really annoying.

Using world examples of health care is just fine and if the guy from the U.K. wants to "warn" people about the pitfalls of a UHC system he has the right to do so.

We over here are constantly depicted by foreign media as having some arcane health system when in reality when have the best in the world.

 

[winston53660]

do so.

We over here are constantly depicted by foreign media as having some arcane health system when in reality when have the best in the world.

IMO at the top end we do have one of the best at the bottom end it is third world.

 

[Harry Guerrilla]

IMO at the top end we do have one of the best at the bottom end it is third world.

That's complete bull****, I'm sorry I have to be so frank but I get so tired of hearing that garbage.

You want third world, you have to actually go to the third world and see what it's like, I believe after experiencing that we would see a great change of tune.

 

[LaMidRighter]

IMO at the top end we do have one of the best at the bottom end it is third world.

Oh no, the bottom tier of Cuban healthcare that the average people have access to makes our worst care(and I mean quack doctors) look like a Cadillac medical plan. There are some problematic aspects of care in the U.S. but quality is not one of them at any level.

 

[LaMidRighter]

NHS branded 'evil' and 'Orwellian' by high-level US politicians | Mail Online

It is quite pathetic using UK NHS for their own advantage and lying about it as well. Why bring up the domestic issues of another country?

Actually Laila, look at it this way, the UK is pretty much the gold standard of the EU, which is why it is used moreso than not, it should be taken as sort of a backhanded compliment, not that it should make you feel better, but hey, I tried.:2wave:

 

[Ethereal]

If Prof. Hawkins was born in US. He would have probably died under a US "healthcare" system or wouldn't have recieved the same amount or level of care.

Speculation.

 

[Arcana XV]

I think your a pretty good poster but when people start pulling the Pete garbage of EU vs. U.S. it's really annoying.

Using world examples of health care is just fine and if the guy from the U.K. wants to "warn" people about the pitfalls of a UHC system he has the right to do so.

We over here are constantly depicted by foreign media as having some arcane health system when in reality when have the best in the world.

I totally agree. Which is why my problem is not with legitimate comparisons, but with the insane lies and misconceptions being used to scare your fellow Americans into rejecting UHC.

And also, your health system is not the best in the world. Mine is. :mrgreen: Switzerland FTW. We have the ideal compromise between the European style UHC system and yours.

 

[Harry Guerrilla]

I totally agree. Which is why my problem is not with legitimate comparisons, but with the insane lies and misconceptions being used to scare your fellow Americans into rejecting UHC.

And also, your health system is not the best in the world. Mine is. :mrgreen: Switzerland FTW. We have the ideal compromise between the European style UHC system and yours.

Bah, you Swissies are superior to everyone because of your awesome culture (seriously).

I agree that the lies should stop but we have a politically based economy and if one doesn't lie they are only putting themselves at a disadvantage.

 

[Arcana XV]

Bah, you Swissies are superior to everyone because of your awesome culture (seriously).

Well, of course we are. We did model our Constitution after yours, after all.

 

[Goobieman]

Republicans are trying to smear the health service to block President Barack Obama's plans for reform by using UK. Absolutely pathetic.

Whats absolutely pathetic is the initial premise that UHC is a good, necessary thing, and that any disagreement with that position is inherently, absolutely pathetic.

 

[PeteEU]

Actually Laila, look at it this way, the UK is pretty much the gold standard of the EU, which is why it is used moreso than not, it should be taken as sort of a backhanded compliment, not that it should make you feel better, but hey, I tried.:2wave:

Actually the UK NHS is seen as one of the "worst" of the systems in Europe, but hey it is still far better than the US.

 

[American]

Great.
So i assume American, we can dip a toe into US domestic policies now and lie about US?

You mean Europeans have never lied about America? :shock:

 

[Harry Guerrilla]

Actually the UK NHS is seen as one of the "worst" of the systems in Europe, but hey it is still far better than the US.

Prove it.

Or is this another one of your EU is always better than the U.S.?

 

[Laila]

Whats absolutely pathetic is the initial premise that UHC is a good, necessary thing, and that any disagreement with that position is inherently, absolutely pathetic.

I have no such premise.
I think UHC is good in my country.
What the United States decide to do is none of my business as it is not my country nor taxmoney.