Is it really hard to fathom why many people despise the US?

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 30 Jul 2015, 11:42

http://metro.co.uk/2014/06/20/this-twee ... s-4770029/

Just posted on my facebook feed by my brother-in-law, who has just become a father for the first time. $42,000 hospital bill for giving birth.

Apparently the average hospital cost of giving birth in the US is over $3000 and the total medical bill including the bits before and after averages $8000.

Total cost of all these things in the UK? Nothing.

And it must surely be the case that the bills being charged by private american hospitals are far higher than the state is charged by public hospitals in the UK for the same services, precisely because there is no profit motive.

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 30 Jul 2015, 12:20

UndercoverElephant wrote:Total cost of all these things in the UK? Nothing.

Not quite true. But I know what you're saying.

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 30 Jul 2015, 13:21

emordnilap wrote:
UndercoverElephant wrote:Total cost of all these things in the UK? Nothing.
Not quite true. But I know what you're saying.

As we both know...

It costs nothing at the point of delivery. It is paid for out of taxes, and it is precisely this system of providing healthcare that eliminates the profit motive and thereby keeps costs down.

I've had plenty of experience of the way lawyers operate (civil case, not criminal). They are in a position where they have all the power - you need their services, you have no choice and no control over what happens, and not only can they charge you whatever the **** the like, but it is in their own self-interest to drag things out and rack up the bill in any way they think they can get away with.

The idea of having a hospital and dental system that works the same way is the stuff of nightmares, but in the US it is the reality. And the poor bastards are even convinced by their own media and politicians that their way of doing things is the best!

vtsnowedin · Post by **vtsnowedin** » 30 Jul 2015, 22:07

UndercoverElephant wrote: Sounds like you are saying that dentists in the US are in a similar position to lawyers, and that is bad news

Well now that you mention it they are indeed similar.
They are both "professionals that can charge you whatever they like and you often need them in a desperate way where you have no opportunity to shop around for a competent person that charges a fair price.
There was a case a while back where a person with perfectly good teeth and a full set of Xrays went to some hundred dentist all across the USA and got 100 different estimates of the "work" he needed that ranged from nothing (The truth) to some exorbitant figure I've forgotten exactly but $75,000 comes to mind.
If you like your dentist and the quality of his work, fine your one of the lucky ones but don't think you are not paying you're share of his kids college fund and his retirement fund portfolio.

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 01 Aug 2015, 22:15

http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015 ... illo-texas

I can see that Texas wildlife has begun to evolve...

Mark · Post by **Mark** » 04 Aug 2015, 15:23

He fired three shots at the armadillo. At least one rebounded and hit the man in the jaw. The man was airlifted to a nearby hospital, where his jaw was wired shut, according to Cass County sheriff Larry Rowe.

Some potential work for that dentist lowlife........

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 04 Aug 2015, 15:43

Not just white Yankee males:

A beautiful creature (and its killer).

Source

snow hope · Post by **snow hope** » 04 Aug 2015, 17:03

Stupid smug bitch.

Snail · Post by **Snail** » 04 Aug 2015, 17:34

There's something wrong with her. She needs help.

The fact she's brazen enough to openly boast is just another example of America's sickness.

tpals · Post by **tpals** » 04 Aug 2015, 18:45

"America's sickness"? A quick google search shows that the British are not immune to big game hunting.

UndercoverElephant · Post by **UndercoverElephant** » 04 Aug 2015, 18:56

tpals wrote:"America's sickness"? A quick google search shows that the British are not immune to big game hunting.

Historically, the British liked their game hunting in Africa. These days it is almost (but not quite) unheard of.

We've got plenty of big game at home, if deer count as "big game." Perhaps if more people were interested in hunting them, they wouldn't be overpopulating the countryside quite as badly as they are at the moment.

Snail · Post by **Snail** » 04 Aug 2015, 19:21

tpals wrote:"America's sickness"? A quick google search shows that the British are not immune to big game hunting.

Travelling around the world to kill animals isn't considered normal here. Bragging about it definately isn't. It seems to be more acceptable/normal in the US. Eg. Sarah 'Real American Mom' Palin.

-----
UE:

if deer count as "big game." Perhaps if more people were interested in hunting them, they wouldn't be overpopulating the countryside quite as badly as they are at the moment.

Then hire people to professionally shoot them and sell the meat. I don't like the idea of people killing them for enjoyment - and justifying it by later saying conservation.

vtsnowedin · Post by **vtsnowedin** » 04 Aug 2015, 19:50

Big game hunting in Africa was practically invented by the British right after they got done market hunting for ivory.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._D._M._Bell
Deer and even wild turkey are considered "big game" in the USA but that has more to do with the license fees then the weight of the animal.

Snail · Post by **Snail** » 04 Aug 2015, 21:39

Just out of interest, I looked up the license fees. Surprised how cheap they are.

Little John · Post by **Little John** » 04 Aug 2015, 21:51

UndercoverElephant wrote:
tpals wrote:"America's sickness"? A quick google search shows that the British are not immune to big game hunting.
Historically, the British liked their game hunting in Africa. These days it is almost (but not quite) unheard of.

We've got plenty of big game at home, if deer count as "big game." Perhaps if more people were interested in hunting them, they wouldn't be overpopulating the countryside quite as badly as they are at the moment.

I'd hunt the buggers and fill my freezer if arsehole landowners would let me on their land to do so at less than a £700 a bloody day.