I watched the _Sicko_ last night. I wanted Michael Moore to have a good opening weekend so that he would keep on making these types of movies.
Health care in America is great if you have a good family doctor who can refer your to top-notch specialists, if you need them.
Otherwise, I agree with uncomfortably numb, the health system is geared towards keeping patients drugged for life.
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Some personal stories. My uncle (84 yo) lives in France. He had a stroke and he’s paralyzed on the right side. He’s able to stay at home because everyday a nurse comes and see him twice per day. Once a day, he has a helper help with laundry, cleaning and chores. It’s a big help to my aunt who also cares for her husband.
The French complain a lot but they are generally a happy bunch. They don’t complain because they are depressed. They complain because they are intellectually curious and they see the injustice. Big difference.
Middle-class French care about quality of life, but middle class Americans want that new truck and that big-screen TV.
France has some of the best doctors and some top Pharmas. Charlie Rose got his heart mitral valve repair in Paris. You’d think that with all his connections, he’d get the best doctors in America.
For sure, one makes more money as a business exec in America. Upper-Middle folks also do better materially in America. However, I’d much rather be middle-middle and lower-middle in France.
What’s funny to me is that the “heartland” Americans tend to vote against their economic interests for the rich. I guess, they can always pray for good health and hope for faith-based organizations to help them in tough times.
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A friend’s parents live in Vancouver, Canada. The dad has leukemia and never had to wait to see a doctor. He walks right in during appointment time. In fact, he jumps ahead of the line because of his health situation. It looks like he beat the disease and is he’s now in good health.
And at 80 years of age, he’s still healthy enough to take road trips to the USofA twice a year. And yes, they do buy temporary health insurance when they visit.
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The people with bad teeth or no teeth in America are the ones in the “Heartland” and the South. In San Diego that would be El Cajon, Santee, Lakeside and Ramona. Many of them are former enlisted/drafted military personnel, but they didn’t serve long enough to get dental coverage.
