- there is another downside to "universal health care" too prof and that is as we have found here in the UK ( we pay for ours via "national insurance" deducted from earnings through out ones life ) that because of the accursed EU , we are having to support the health care of thousands ( if not millions - depends which part of the government lies on the subject one believes 
) of immigrants both legal and illegal - at the expense of the indigenous population - and also the cost of drug treatments ( especially for things like cancer drugs ) is an open chequebook for the pharmaceutical companies to exploit and whilst i DO NOT agree with your system of "ability to pay " - as if say i was to live in the states i would be screwed bigtime with my health problems , i do believe that the fundamental right to BASIC health care for the citizens of a state is paramount PROVIDED they have contributed towards that in some way -( according to means ) but for those who have NEVER contributed , then sorry , we ain't running a charity here
mind you this is a very UN PC viewpoint here , and it seems that many regard it as our duty to support every waif and stray that enters the country ( by what ever means ) - and yet they moan like hell about taxation levels - although many of those so vehemently supporting the "rights " of these people are themselves the very ones who have never paid into the system - TAKE yea - contribute not on your Nelly
when i was forced to give up work ( because of a stroke which caused my other problems as well ) - I felt guilty for for the first time in my life ( and i started working at 15 years old ) having to ask for help - but now realise that i should not feel guilty as I have paid my whack ( more than actually as we used to get REALLY screwed by the system for having a "second job - that of community fire fighter ) - but even now don't abuse the system as there ARE those out there with greater needs than I
so what the answer is for the states i don't know - certainly i am not advocating the free treatment of things like drug addiction etc - we do this here and yet I and other disabled people get stigmatised as being a "drain" on resources - yet your druggie who is costing the state thousands a year - and probably stealing and robbing to feed the habit - oh they are creatures who deserve "sympathy" -( i tell you our priorities are REALLY screwed up here
) - and yet we get frequently abused by people who seem to think the state provides thins like my mobility scooters - they don't of course !! - but the perception is there any ways sorry for the rant - but this is a subject that REALLY gets my back up - as i see the injustice of the system against those who are ill and disabled through NO fault of their own - yet WE are in our crazy mixed up PC looney tunes country are regarded as the villains of the piece - where as the feckless and lazy just walk in and every one is doing the bleeding harts bit over them
better stop now or my blood pressure will go through the roof
) Anyway, the British Gov't gave her 20 quid a week and an appartment to live in, even though she was quite able to work, but didn't. I never understood that, but she was quite happy with it. Don't know if they still give handouts like that and I'm not sure I could agree with it if they did.
