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"JR" wrote in message ...
wrote:

And please define "poor." And to save time, "poor by US standards"
ain't gonna impress me much - YMMV.

For the sake of this particular argument, let it mean anything from
"lower middle class" (and, yes, that can be relative across societies)
to "penniless."

Regardless of nit-picking definitions, I stand by my statement, slightly
rephrased, that I'd rather be a poor Italian sick in Italy than a poor
American sick in the U.S. I suspect I'd also rather be a poor German
sick in Germany than a poor American sick in the U.S., but I don't know
the medical system there--nor the economy--well enough to say with much
confidence.

The statement is based on experience. If you disagree, that's fine with
me.





I would rather be a sick destitute American than a destitute Italian.
Having used the Italian health system as a US citizen on vacation, I have
high regards for their health system. But the system is paid for with high
taxes. $3+ a gallon on fuel, and high tax rates. How many MRI machines per
capita? In the 1970's there were 7 in the San Francisco Bay area, there was
one in British Columbia. How long to wait for a major procedure? If you
are poor in America, you have excellent access to medical care. No
hospital will or can turn you away. The State and Federal government's
transfer your tax money to the providers to pay for the care. If you are
middle class, and have assets, then you can be in trouble. If no insurance,
the providers will take your assets if you can not pay. After the assets
are gone, then you join the first catagory and get the taxpayers to pay for
your care. And with more facilities available, then you are more likely as
a poor person to survive a dibilitating desease or injury here than in a lot
of other countries with socialized medical care. Is why Canadians with
money come to the USA for care. No 2-3 year wait for a knee replacement, or
a 9 month wait for an MRI. For the poor, we have socialized medicine.
MediCal in California, called something else in every other state.