Jason Margolis

Jason Margolis

Jason Margolis is a Boston-based reporter who regularly files stories throughout the U.S. about politics, economics, immigration issues, and environmental matters.

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The U.S. Healthcare Debate Viewed From Abroad

August 14, 2009 ⋅ Post a comment
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The debate over U.S. healthcare reform has turned into a shouting match, of sorts. Phrases like “socialized medicine” and “death panels” are being bandied about on TV and online. If it’s hard for Americans to understand what it’s all about, imagine what people in other parts of the world are thinking!health2

In this podcast, we turn to Britain, which is often dragged into the American debate because of its National Health Service. The NHS is a fully government-run system. By contrast, the so-called “public option” being considered in Washington would exist alongside the current, employer-based system. Yet, some U.S. critics are suggesting the NHS is bureaucratic and inefficient, and that’s the system Americans would get stuck with if healthcare reform passes in the U.S. Those are fighting words for some in Britain who champion their National Health Service.

And how is the healthcare debate playing out in France and Germany? Also aging doctors in Japan. And the recession in Europe is over! (Maybe.)

Discussion

3 comments for “The U.S. Healthcare Debate Viewed From Abroad”

  • Matthew

    I live in Seattle and I am very confused I hear a lot of anger over health care but it seems that the people who are on the TV and are still arguing to not reform our health care seem to be people who have benefited directly from the Health insurance industry or pharma industry. How can we have leaders who have a monetary interest in these industries to make sound decisions? Isn’t this a conflict of interest? It is like asking someone to choose to make less money that person will never do that and will fight their hardest to keep that stream of income no matter who it hurts. I don’t see us in the USA getting health care till we have campaign finance reform and remove the private money out of our elections.

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  • STEPHANIE

    I DISAGREE WITH MATTHEW ABOVE. ME I LIKE MY HEALTH CARE I DO NOT WANT THE GOV. IN MY HEALTH ISSUE. IF OBAMA WANTS TO HELP THE ONE’S WHO DON’T HAVE IT FINE WITH ME. BUT YOU DON’T HAVE TO CHANGE EVERY-BODY’S IN ORDER TO DO THAT. MY FRIEND IS FROM ENGLAND AND OTHER PEOPLE I KNOW DO NOT LIKE THERE HEALTH CARE THERE. THERE GOVERNMENT GETS TO MUCH OF THERE MONEY.