In '93 I bent my thumb sideways while playing a rather rough game of frisbee football in Hyde Park. I was seen almost immediately by the Dr. She fixed my thumb, charged nothing and almost accepted a rendez vous, later.

Ah, that socialized option is no good!

And it is not just Europe. I lived in Argentina for 2 years after college and my whole family (none of whom had ever been outside the US) was shocked I was going to a "third world nation" and asked me if I would have running water down there. Well not only did I have plenty of running water in my apartment in Buenos Aires but I got sick twice (once for migraines and once a severe allergic reaction to flea bites from camping) and had to go to the local hospital for care. Both times I went to public hospitals, was treated and did not pay a dime!! In the case of the migraine I was even given a dark room to lie down in after taking pain medication until I was well enough to leave which is more than I can say from some care for migraines at emergency rooms in the US. I like you was SHOCKED and felt the same way, I could not believe all my life I thought healthcare was what it was, what I was used to in the US. Imagine my great surprise in a country that some of my family thought did not even have running water I was able to find good, free treatment.

Interesting follow-up note to my post. I traveled to Colombia right after I was treated for the flea bites but was still not feeling well at all and my family insisted I contact the US Embassy in Bogota to see if they could recommend a doctor, preferably an American doctor in the area to see. Funny thing though the US Embassy was useless and I went to a local health clinic in Bogota, yes Bogota!, and was treated right away!

I have been aware of the Scam known as healthcare in this country ever since my grandmother had to declare bankruptcy over medical bills.

I've known for a long time also that in europe in canada they pay for healthcare through taxes and not through direct visit.

However, I hadn't really given it much thought until I watched Michael Moore's documentary Sicko. I already knew about the differences in the system, but after seing it in context and seing the daily effects put into perspective it became a huge eye opener. Everyone I know who has watched it has had their eyes opened wide too.

Lee Stranahan gushed:

The experience was amazing - completely affordable, personal, and efficient.

Sounds to me like you're describing your experiencing in one of Amsterdam's famous red light district's sex shops -- one of the reasons why pervy American liberals go to Holland (besides getting stoned, of course).

Thanks for sharing.

-A

wow A you are a judgmental dude/dudette. Why do your wrong wingers automatically go to sex? are you that repressed that when speaking of health care your mind goes there? again, wow.

That is just sad. As they say in the south, bless your heart.

Lee, I've had the same experience... AT A V.A. HOSPITAL IN THE UNITED STATES.

The staff was courteous and efficient. The wait time was minimal. The care was excellent. The doctor was knowledgeable and took the time to answer my questions. I was charged $0 and walked out with a grin on my face, thinking: "Wait. Wasn't that socialized medicine?"

There is a name for an industry that comes between a doctor and patient and produces no value to the product. That name is PARASITE.

Vera - Yes, they are that repressed,

Funny thing that horrible European socialized medicine: It's good enough for our service members stationed in small, out of the way areas. My wife and I were both "forced" to use it when I was stationed in Scotland. We received quality care in a timely manner for our actual emergencies. My guess is this was because the emergency room wasn't packed with people who had to use it for routine, minor care.

I'll bet you a hundred bucks right now that Atanarjuat has never left the US.

"pervy American liberals"

As opposed to those fine upstanding Christian and Family Values Republican guys that keep getting caught soliciting blow jobs in men's rooms or trying to harvest twinks from the pool of pages.

Yeah, the Republicans stand on their record of pervy man on man action. They have mastered that art.

Bless his heart indeed.

Wouldn't it be clever if the wrong wing trolls picked a topic on which the Republican party has some credibility to attack with.

Oh wait. Nevermind.

Well, "affordable, personal, and efficient" describes the way the Dutch do a lot of things. Like a Dutch friend said, "We're like the Germans without a stick up our asses."

LOL Lee ty for the reminder. The Dutch do like that statement. I've heard it before myself. The really stunning thing is that the statement is frighteningly accurate. They really are just like the Germans except they don't have a stick up their asses. The dutch have the scary efficiency and strive for perfection while insisting on enjoying the hell out of every moment of it and not having an obnoxious attitude.