Also from the article:

"In the expedition to Knoxville, RAM saw 920 patients, made 500 pairs of glasses, did 94 mammograms, extracted 1,066 teeth and did 567 fillings. But when Stan Brock called the last number, 400 people were turned away."

I saw that on 60 Minutes tonight. It's sad that there are so many without health care. If health care was not so expensive, it would be easier to get things taken care of, but who really knows how to fix it?

Government take over of the system is not the answer....they screw up enough things already.

Amen to that!

Good post WG....I saw this in March on 60 Minutes....I know a lot of people who do not have even minimal health care, myself included. Also many companies are reducing the amount of coverage they offer their employees.



I second that!!!

Good, the govt has been RAMming it to me on healthcare for years.

You know whats even sadder....raise the cost of gas...a pack of cigarettes or anything else we use in our daily lives and everyone has a hissy fit....but spend trillions of dollars on a senseless war or to crash a billion dollar satellite onto a barren planet that will have no beneficial outcome to this planet...and no one says a word.

And even worse....impeach a president because he fooled around with a government page...but then when one outright lies to the people he is sworn to serve but ignores to carry out some personal vendetta or some lofty...unobtainable goal of ridding the world of terrorists and he's still in office.

When people wake up in this country and take it back and restore it to something more respectable and something you can actually be proud of again...only then do we have a chance of really getting the health care this country can more than afford to provide.

Whilst the British system is not perfect.......waiting times etc.......at least you can get care when you need it. Everyone contributes and can take out - in the way of care - during their lifetime. Yes, there are some injustices, not everyone gets care quick enough and the system has reached 'breaking point' from time to time...........but it's there for you when you need it.

I've been in the US for just over four years now and my only experience of the system came when my wife fell pregnant last year........Well, it really did open up my eyes!!!! One of the biggest issues I came across was the continual referral from one doctor to another to another............all the time the medical profession had their fingers in the insurance pie........and for what were very simple issues turned out to be a money making exercise for medical profession........To say I was appalled was an understatement......No wonder medical insurance is so expensive and insurance companies at putting up payments and reducing coverage.......Don't blame the insurance companies.....Look carefully at the medical profession and this little game.....and then perhaps healthcare will become affordable to the masses again   

I don't care if it was a stubbed toe....that's illegal...

Our National Health Service may have a few flaws, but no-one is turned away and everyone gets treated equally. It's been ok for me. Those who were around five years ago will remember I had heart surgery, which was a complete success and didn't cost a penny. How much would that be in other countries?

Yup.....everyone has they're hand in your pockets from beginning to end....the end being your empty pockets...then they can't show you the door fast enough.

Well lets see, we (if you are fortunate enough) pay the insurance companies to provide us with the best healthcare possible and their highest priority is profit. See the problem?

GREED is a root of all evil in American society I am sad to say. There are very few people left who would not do anything for the almighty dollar, and corruption runs rampant everywhere you look. The medical profession is one of the most serious offenders, right up there with oil tycoons. I just left my doctor because he kept ordering "just in case" tests that cost me an arm and a leg, and he did it for almost every single visit! (

I agree Lantec!

And here's a tip if you should even try to buy health care insurance. When they say all doctors will accept they're insurance...ask which ones actually participate! They play with these words. All doctors will accept any insurance...but they don't all participate. Big difference. I even had one sell me insurance knowing full well what my address was and played this game with me....I later found out that the only hospital that actually accepted the plan was 100 miles away!!!!!! Luckily I got my money back.

Another one stuck me for the enrollment fee of $135.00 even though I hadn't even used the plan once...after I found out the plan was useless.

Basically...unless the people of this country get off they're collective asses and throw these assholes out of government that spend billions on useless stuff that really benefits no one we will never have health care. Who gives a rats ass about whats in space....its space!....there's nothing there! Except now a billion dollar satellite that crashed! A lot of good that did for us huh?

And of course there's the Bush trillion dollar crusade to increase...uh...I mean...rid the world of terrorism. How's that working out so far?

We need a new government that actually works for the people....not against them!

Anyone with me!? OK!....Lets....Oh wait...look!....the simpsons and southpark are on! Never mind!

Well Zubaz....when you have a president spending trillions of dollars on a pointless crusade...then yes....he is most definitely part of the problem....like it or not. If may not have stemmed from his office....but he sure as hell used a sledgehammer to nail it into the ground. It yes it does help the situation because to many people have their collective heads in the sand and need to be woken up...or you can just die on the steps of the hospital.

Malpractice could be contributing to part of the problem but I think its just a byproduct of the bigger problem...but I don't see how student loans are though. As far as demanding to be healthy....we work ourselves to death in this country to pay for all these bonehead projects our witless leaders dream up...so you bet your ass I need health care when the time comes. They get it for free....why not us? "WE" are the ones that keep this country going....NOT the idiots on capital hill. And those idiots know we are all bigger idiots for letting them get away with the things they do...and you know what...WE ARE!

As far as the Drug companies...if you keep paying high prices for drugs they will keep selling them to you at even higher prices. They have drugs now for every itch you have. And they spend billions of dollars on schmoozing the doctors to push these drugs...not because you need them...but because they get kickbacks when they tell you you need them and you buy them. I've seen the drug rooms these doctors have in their offices...they are huge...stocked floor to ceiling with free drugs from the reps that get thrown in the garbage if they aren't given out. They are catered with lavish spreads of food just about every day...and not just for the doctors...the entire staff. And not just food...you name it...they got it...pencils...pens...pads...etc...etc.

And another part of the problem is they have people...especially children...so damn medicated they can't even think straight...and if you get an itch...well...that's serious...you need medication. Feeling a little down from life? Well....we got this great little pill for you to try...it may make you feel like jumping off a bridge while you have anal leakage and it kills all your organs...but you'll feel great on the way down!

But when it comes right down to it....its our fault for allowing it all to happen. Unless people get off their collective asses and stand up and say enough is enough....nothing...no amount of bitching here is going to do a damn thing to change it.