Some Americans (like myself) have a problem with the government getting too big and powerful. This is a complicated issue, but rest assured that our 'representatives' WILL pass some kind of universal health coverage for everyone soon, possibly this year. It's inevitable. And then in a few years the US will go broke and we'll become a 3rd world nation. I'll need a place to stay then. Do you have any extra room in your flat?
LOL!I live in a castle, as all Englishmen do, so you're welcome anytime
Yes and we all live in log cabins. When you visit here, bring yer shootin irons just in case them injuns get uppity.
As I understand it the US is already pretty broke (the $10trillion debt I mentioned somewhere) - although, it's not that bad, only 100% of GDP).
The USA is broke, but not just because of the debt. Our system of deciding leaders is corrupt and all our problems stem from that.
I think the problem is Americans' innate dislike of the concept of tax.
We like tic tacs though.
I understand why many Americans think like that. You live in a vast country where, particularly in the sparsely populated areas there is a tradition of self reliance, and an understandable suspicion of outside inteference.
What a civilized way of saying we believe in the myth of the self made and self reliant man.
Unfortunately when you live in areas of high population density like some of your coastal states and most European countries it is simply not possible to have a functioning society without some kind of communal care system, be it social security or healthcare, or whatever because the disparaties in wealth and opportunities ultimately lead to rampant crime, anger and collapse of society.
It's possible for a bearly functional society to continue on for generation after generation. Isn't that how you Brits have functioned for the last 500 years?
This probably sounds like its coming straight out of 'Das Kapital', but it can't be argued that large inequities, and large numbers of poor people living on top of each other with a few very rich people has been the cause of most of the revolutions and subsequent misery that followed in the 20th century.
Not until the sheep look up, no. And with truly well designed propaganda one can expect a disc\fuctional society to last until some outside force causes even the terminally stupid to get it.
I don't see higher taxation as necessarily bad. It fosters social cohesion (yes you do get scroungers - but then there are plenty of them in the stock markets, media, sports etc., doing relatively little for the vast sums they make). It also allows you to shout even louder at public servents: 'I pay your wages'.
No better way to go to jail than to make a scene in a public office, actually.
As for the argument that the state always screws things up, heck, we have plenty of previously state owned companies in the UK who have made things far worse and expensive than was previously the case - public transport and utilities etc.
The state does not always screw things up.
Another thing that sickens me is the 'privatise the profits', 'nationalise the debts' modus operandi prevalent over here, and I guess in the US aswell, at the moment.
Socialism for the superwealthy, capitalism for the rest of us.
I think I'm woffling now. Anyway, you are welcome to come and stay anytime.
And your address is?
Provided you can stand to come and live in a 3rd world country (which by implication is what you were saying).
I have moose in my backyard. How 3rd world can England possibly be compared to that?
Although, I don't actually think the UK is quite in the 3rd world category yet, even after having had healthcare for all since 1948. Heck, we could afford a national health care system in 1948(!), when Britain was bankrupt, still on rations, with millions of bombed out homes etc. Surely you can't be serious when you think America will go broke under the staggering weight of paying for health care for the remaining 15% without the insurance!
Oh they can think that, alright..
Billions have been spend convincing them of that.