Country's with socialized medicine vs the USA (Personal Income Tax)

http://helpglobe.com/answers.aspx?qid=152

Notice the countries with the highest personal income taxes are those who have adopted universal health care plans. Do you really want $.50 of every dollar you earn being turned over to the government?
Claude Castonguay is the architect of the Canadian health care system. He championed this system in the 1960's and now says that it is in ruins. His solution: "We are proposing to give a greater role to the private sector so that people can exercise freedom of choice."

To the initial post. I don't mind paying higher taxes as long as I get a return, i.e. Universal Healthcare.

If I got hit by a bus, my first concern would be getting adequate medical treatment (which I could get in any developed nation) and then, my second concern if I was lucky enough to recover, would be calling a bankruptcy attorney.

What I really want is help stop Americans from dying from lack of health insurance....

Here is a chart showing what other countries really pay in taxes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tax_rates_around_the_world

Here is a great website showing how other countries have implemented national health care: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/s...oryId=91972152

We have socialized education, socialized police and fire, and socialized postal system. Why not socialized health care?

So when have you made enough money? How about I cap your income at say, $35,000 per year. That is more than enough to live on because I said so. Do you realize how dangerous it is limiting a private corporations profit? This isn't the USSR, or do you want it to be the Communist States of America?

Ok - so you dont mind paying more MONEY in order to get a SERVICE. Why not pay that money that you would pay in taxes to a private insurer for insurance? I love it when we talk taxes and there is always one or two people that say "I dont mind paying higher taxes if i get something for it", there is always at least one - its like they wouldnt shell out money on their own accord to pick up private insurance but if the government forces them to, they dont have a problem with it? Does this make any rational/logical sense at all? By the way, nothing stops you from writing a check to the federal government, you can, should you choose, pay more income taxes and make a donation to uncle sam at the end of the year if you think that he can spend your money better than you can. I dont know, perhaps some people actually would rather give the government money and expect them to spend it rather than spending that money themselves - for me, it makes no sense whatsoever.

It makes plenty of "rational/logical sense." I am another who would much rather pay taxes for non-profit, universal healthcare coverage than pay premiums to a private insurance company -- because a) the actual $$ amount would probably be significantly less than current insurance premiums, and b) the for-profit insurance companies suck ~1/3 of our premium dollars "off the top" to pay for shareholder dividends, bloated executive salaries & bonuses, and advertising, and then turn around and refuse to pay claims when the poor schmucks who paid for the insurance in good faith need it.

What I cannot understand is how anyone (outside of the Big Insurance and Big Pharm lobbies, that is ) can still defend the current healthcare system in this country.

No it doesnt make rational logical sense -- And what kind of government insurance are you going to get from Nancy Pelosi? You probably will pay less money, premium wise, for your socialist insurance but you will no doubt in the end be paying higher taxes and if the care you get from your bloated government insurance is anything like UK or Canada you can keep it. You might pay less premiums but you are not going to recieve timely care when you want it(unless you have the sniffles) but god forbid you have a real medical problem you can wait 6 months to get an MRI or see a specialist - then you can fly to another country to pay cash to see a specialist or get surgery(like all the canadians do). Do you think MD"s want to make 80 grand a year after putting themselves 300 thousand and debt and spending 10 years in school? I am sure you think 80 thousand a year makes people "rich" but news flash, it hardly is. MD's will be making 80 grand grand a year once nancy pelosi and BO have things their way - lets control costs more, reduce money paid to providers and you think the DR/Nursing shortage is bad now??? Wait till this garbage passes - but I guess as long as you want universal healthcare so that every man woman child and illegal alien has healthcare (that sucks) that is all that matters. I am happy and satisfied with my private insurance company, ill take it anyday over the government - medicare sucks bad enough as it is you think that I want them running healthcare? Oh and how can you be so nieve to assume the government wont limit services to people? Its like you just think the once the government takes over they are going to cover everybody for everything no matter what - that is just stupidity and ignorance. Keep your socialist garbage - ill take the private.

People are not "stupid" or "ignorant" simply because they don't share your views. I'm out of here -- this type of "discussion" is a waste of my time.

We have socialized education, socialized police and fire, and socialized postal system. Why not socialized health care?