Since I started this blog, I've tried very hard not to get on my political soapbox (although what expat could resist expressing excitement last November?), but it can be difficult not to touch on the subject from time to time, particularly when the whole purpose of this blog is to share my experiences as an American in a "foreign" land and the differences I encounter on a daily basis. Let's face it, politics are a big factor in the expat experience.
But I couldn't help but be inspired by an interview I saw this week of Sarah Palin on Fox News (which is, without a doubt, the most biased, right-wing "news" source out there, but I digress). In the interview, the reporter asked Palin if she thought America was becoming more socialist, to which she replied, "We're headed that way."
That got me thinking: is socialism, in the true sense of the word, really such a bad thing? And why is it that as soon as that word is uttered, most Americans immediately equate it with communism?
I'm not even necessarily in favor of socialism as a whole, just one particular facet: the health care system. America could learn something from the U.K. and most other European nations when it comes to caring for its citizens (perhaps Obama will push the country one or two steps in the right direction, at least). In the almost three years since I have lived in the U.K., I have never had to make a medical insurance payment, never had to pay for a visit to my local G.P., and have only paid a nominal fee for medication. When I was pregnant, I would have gotten free prescriptions (if I had needed them) and even received free dental care (and that lasts until Crumpet is one year old). I'm not saying that the NHS is perfect (in fact, there are many people who would argue otherwise), but what I am saying is that, in my experience, I have had free access to everything I have needed.
It's not as if America doesn't already have socialist institutions in place. We have free, public education. We have free, pubic libraries. We even have free postal delivery. So why is it that we think that everyone is entitled to go to school for free, check out books for free, and receive mail for free, but somehow we don't think that everyone should be entitled to free health care (and those that do receive free health care, in the form of Medicare or Medicaid, are unfairly seen as second class citizens)? Since when is it okay for someone to lose their home in order to stay healthy or to have to choose between paying the heating bill and paying for insurance? As far as I'm concerned, basic health care should be a basic human right. And if that makes me a socialist, that's okay with me.
7 comments:
I agree with you. As an American woman living with my American family in England (Hampshire), I appreciate NHS. Sure, it has faults, but so do all health care systems.
I have lived in the UK for so long that I forgot about the medical nightmare in the States until two things happened:
My friend decided to not have any more children after her first because she couldnt afford the hospital costs ('what?!' I asked her, 'how could giving birth cost anything?!' and she looked at me like I had started speaking greek. 'Of course it costs!');
and
my mother became very ill and had real and scary trouble with medical costs to the point that I couldnt tell where the illness ended and the stress related issues began (how can those levels of stress help anyone recover from their illness?).
I felt both lucky to have the NHS and sick that people I loved were struggling because of the massively powerful insurance companies refusing to let the American government legislate for free health care. I was saddened by Obama's story about listening to his ill mother calling insurance companies and begging for more help, and I found I could relate. I hope he can do something about it, nut he's got a real challenge there.
I dont like the peeling paint in the hospitals and the worn out attitude of many NHS doctors, but I know the care is equal to the care in the States and I know its free. As it should be.
I promise to try to keep calm in this post, but it really gets me when people refer to "socialism" as if it's the road to hell. You pointed out that we have many "socialist" things in the US, like roads, street lights, police forces and fire departments, which are paid for by all of us for the use of everyone. I'm not allowed to pay a bit more so that my house fire gets put out quicker than my neigbour's - altho' this is Chicago, so maybe.
As Obama pointed out a few months back, when they talk about socialism, all they're really talking about is taking care of your fellow country men and women. It one big right wing scare tactic and most people haven't a clue what they're talking about.
Thank you - not too bad was I?
Not bad at all, Expat mum! I totally agree with you. I'm not saying that absolutely everything should be equal, but I think health care is one of those things that should be. Who are we to judge whose life is more valuable than another's? People who work hard should be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor, but what is wrong with helping your fellow citizens? I am perfectly happy paying a little more in taxes so that everyone has access to the NHS because I know that means that I get to take advantage of those services too. Okay, enough of my soapbox, but I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who feels this way.
Amen!:-)
I agree with all you say.
Free postal service? Don't they make money through stamps?
You have a point about stamps, Iota. If everything else rose at the same rate as stamps, we'd be in trouble! But taking that out of the equation, postal delivery is "technically" free.
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