So what did you think about the opening ceremonies at the Olympics in London? For the first few minutes I thought I had tuned in to an elaborate fire drill gone wrong. I guess they figured that they had a limited time to cram in a lot in order to showcase England’s progressiveness and cultural diversity, so they had to highlight the historically significant things that they were most proud of.
As it turned out, one of those things was their national health care system (NHS). They missed an excellent opportunity to engage in some real Olympic opening ceremonies ground-breaking by making the entire audience there in the stadium a part of the elaborate celebration. They could have had each member of the packed assembly represent part of a symbolic line of citizens waiting to receive health care in Great Britain. Of course the stadium wouldn’t have been large enough to hold all the members of the real line, but they could have done the best they could with what they had. Instead they just had legions of nurses attending to children bouncing on hospital beds. Apparently all of the doctors have already chosen other professions.
To me the strange selection of their health care system as an introduction to the Olympics was a case of protesting too much. It’s as if their message was, “It’s not as bad as everyone says.” (Perhaps a preemptive theft of the next Obama campaign slogan?)
It was all very moving. In fact it moved me to dredge up a recent Investor’s Business Daily article that provided some interesting statistics from a survey by the United Nations International Health Organization, as follows:
Percentage of men and women who survived a cancer five years after diagnosis:
U.S. 65%
England 46%
Percentage of patients diagnosed with diabetes who received treatment within 6 months:
US 93%
England 15%
Percentage of seniors needing a hip replacement who received it within 6 months:
US 90%
England 15%
Percentage referred to a medical specialist who see one within one month:
US 77%
England 40%
Number of MRI scanners per million people:
US 71
England 14
Number of seniors with low income who say they are in excellent health:
US 12%
England 2%
Hey, no wonder we have so many Americans going to England to get their health care. And for those worried about the disparity in these numbers, don’t be concerned. There is sure to be much less disparity after a few years of Obamacare.
Finally, if you are looking for a government-paid dentist in England, forget about it. It seems that when the government started allocating a certain amount each year for NHS dentistry, scads of dentists left the system causing almost a million fewer people to have access to an NHS dentist. The Daily Telegraph reported that some people have resorted to using pliers to pull out bad teeth.
Thankfully, none of these scenes of self-desntistry were a part of the opening ceremonies.
- Fred Thompson
I watched the opening ceremony, and though I was taken aback at the two hours devoted to the NHS, I was appalled at the slobbering done over it by Meredith Vieira and Matt Lauer.
I lived in Australia for 3 years and with the free health care you get exactly what you don’t pay for which is NOTHING!
I should have gone to the paid doctor in my town of Atherton, North Queenland and gotten good health care.
Susan Jean
Thank you for telling it like it is.
Unfortunately the Obamabots refuse to see what’s right in front of them.
The old adage is true: There are none so blind as those who will not see.
I wonder how long the Queen and her family have to wait before they get treatment for any of their medical needs?
Touche!
And here I thought she was just constipated. She sure looked mighty unhappy, one way or another. Well-done, Fred!
Does these per centages include those who received no care in the USA because they have no coverage…leaving them out would skew the statistics?
“Don’t have any coverage” is a misnomer. Anyone with a serious problem can simply go to the ER. And the percentages with no coverage are quite low; not enough to account for the differences.
Furthermore, some of the statistics are independent of what percentage have coverage, such as “Number of MRI scanners per million people” and “Number of seniors with low income who say they are in excellent health”.
Thought it was the worst Olympic opening I have ever seen..The guy must be a friend of Obama’s…My cousin who lived in outside of London always went to a private doctor, does that tell you something..
Thank you,
Doesn’t look solemn to me. Looks angry. Maybe they told her it was ostentacious
of her to wear all those diamonds when people are dying because they can’t get the necessary medical care they need. Shame on her!
No Kryste the Queen and family do not wait for medical attention, it comes to them.
That’s why our prez wants to be a Royal.
Agreed…Years ago a friend of mines Father died in England while on a business trip. Left the US in great health…then poof.
I thought the opening ceremonies had a certain devilish, cultist look to them…what do you suppose they were trying to portray with that?
Thank You for all you do!
PLU from SSF
So, what are Conservative capitalists supposed to do to fight back against this tide of Socialism? We can’t succeed in anything with them tearing down everything we try; and we aren’t going to convince them that Universal Healthcare, and too many of their spread the wealth programs, don’t work – because, as far as they are concerned, they do – or would if we would get out of their way! Should we try to compromise with them? Why should we be giving up our way, which worked pretty well until we started caving to their agenda, only to be forced to accept what we don’t want just to make them happy with freebies that WE are paying for? Enough is enough! We on the right need to understand that the only thing that will please the left is for us to get in line, shut our mouths, and fork over our wealth to them!This election, and what the new Government does after, is the make, or break, test for the future of this Nation!
Compromise kills!
The problem with Socialism (the reason why it will always fail) is that they run out of other people’s money.
If we aren’t able to convince people and push back Socialism through the political process, then the whole house of cards will collapse. It is not sustainable. I am not referring just to health care, but to the whole tower of regulations and taxation on everything.
So if we fail in the political arena, our job will be to direct the new rebuilt nation, rising from the ashes of food riots and martial law, toward freedom rather than Fascism, which historically is the other possibility after the kind of financial and moral collapse we are going through.
Bravo Mr. Bergman
I was born during WW2. I have never been as worried about the future of this Great Nation. At least in the past, whether you were Democrat or Republican, you knew that an American was going to win the election.
Hi Fred,
I had been waiting for someone to mention this in the media. I’m surprised it took so long. Perhaps others brought it up and I missed it. I saw the entire opening ceremony and the part about their National Healthcare System looked as much like a commercial for Obamacare as it did a coverup for their failed system. Worse yet, except for the routine by “Mr. Bean” (Roland Atkinson) and the Queen’s fake jump into the stadium, I thought it was boring. That bit about England leading the industrial revolution looked to me as it had been produced by Karl Marx. They used to say the “Sun never sets on the British Empire.” Well, sorry to say, it has now and the USA won’t be far behind if we reelect Barack H. Obama. I also thought the Queen looked horrified. No wonder! She has presided over most of the debacle.
THE BRITS PUT OUT PERHAPS 100-200 HOSPITAL BEDS TO CELEBRATE HEALTHCARE IN ENGLAND IN THE OPENING CEREMONIES. TAKE A LOOK AT THE BEDS. THEY LOOK LIKE SOMETHING OUT OF THE 1940′S.. JUST THINK OF THE HOSPITAL BED IN GODFATHER 1 WHEN MICHAEL WHEELED HIS FATHER OUT OF HIS ROOM FEARING HIT MEN WERE COMING IN TO KILL HIM.
IS THIS WHAT ENGLANDS HEALTHCARE HAS TO OFFER ?
Careful Fred you might upset our friends in G.B. by telling them the truth like Mitt Romney did. As long as the Brits have a “Queen Bee” with a large family of drones G.B. will never be able to enjoy a life equal to the middle class in the U.S. The people there have to funnel millions of pounds a year into that family which at it’s best is nothing more than ribbon cutters. No wander the nation can’t afford decent health care without resorting to some government run program that began to fail in the early 60s when it was started.
Sure their citizens can get “free” government healthcare if they manage to survive long enough to get through the red tape and the long lines. In that failed system doctors or would-be doctors have little incentive to get through the extended education required and then, put in the long hours expected of doctors. There are too few doctors and nurses in G.B. due to government controlled fees to care for too many people. Sadly, we ourselves are on the cusp of having that system tried here. Why can’t we learn from the Brit’s mistake and leave well enough alone?
I offer up the following “conspiracy’” theory: What if the this portion of the olympic opening was requested by the Obama administration to, at least publicly, bolster the Obama “don’t” Care health plan. I am not sure whether Obama himself would have been smart enough to think of this but he certainly has enough unscrupulous characters as advisors that this might be a thought.. After all millions of Americans will have seen this and maybe thought “well, if the English people really “”like”"(sic) this, maybe our healthcare future won’t look so bad after all.
I made comments along the same lines in another place and you should have seen the freaks come out of the woodwork looking to string me up. Of course it might not have helped when I mentioned I didn’t like the statue of Churchill turning aournd and smiling at the the camera. I called him a mass murderer of innocent men, women and children and old people by burning them to death. As I saw them patting themselves on the back I could not get passed the centuries of blood on their hands and no amount of good deeds is going to erase what has been done to millions of people minding their own business and trying to live their own lives in peace.
Fred, thank you for your insightful analysis, but some of your followers have completely missed the point. In fact, they sound like Democrats trying to foster class envy. Most folks know that Her Majesty is head of state and above politics, and while she has never said so publicly, it is widely held that she prefers Conservative governments and prime ministers over Labor (the equivalent of our Democrat Party). It was Labor that put their National Health Care system into place, just as the Democrats are attempting to put Obamacare into place in the U.S.
As for the compensation the Royals receive, it actually comes from revenues generated by the Crown properties that were reallocated to the government many years ago in exchange for greater self-rule which is in the hands of the two politcal parties in Great Britain.
I lived in Italy for 3 years and saw how convinced they are about the value of their national health system. I also heard people compliment the system, but add how they bring along an envelope with 70 euros as a gift to the doctor. I also saw the emergency ward when a friend broke her back. She received very effective and quality care – but she paid extra to the surgeon who came to her home to get extra payment. I took an American intern to the local hospital for care, and he was given a standard prescription that actually would have been harmful. I took him to the US Navy hospital where he was interviewed, examined, and given appropriate medicine for his condition. I also saw building after building at the local hospital complex. Elevators didn’t work. People had to bring their own silverware. Family members had to operate the hand cranks on the beds. The doctors perform very well, but perhaps best when you’re an American diplomat or you have a special reference from an important person. Rue the day the US winds up with a dual level health system – poor and late care for the majority, and excellent care for those who can pay (or who have special “connections”). That’s how the health system works in Brazil, by the way. Excellent care for those able to pay or who have quality health insurance. Absolutely poor and spotty care for the great majority.
Dear Fred:
As they say on the other side of the Atlantic… Very well said, chap!
Thanks to the Global Media, every one throughout the World already knows about the U.K, and other socialist Health Care System, reason why, whener their Citizens – and Political Leaders look for dependable, professional and timely HealthCare, they all travel to our United States.
Suppose WE, do not have to explain yet, the excellent quality of our healthcare system, they all know… yet, wait till ObamaCare takes over! WE might find ourselves traveling to Panama, or who knows where…
One comment that really caught my attention was, “it is not as “bad” as everyone says”… and Fred, I dare to ask, “describe BAD”!
Thank you for such a brilliant analysis.
VTR
I only have a question and a comment; What type of Health Care does our Congress and President and government employees have ?
Throw Obama out !!
It’s amusing, the opening ceremonies they were; I I read it was the 1st “propaganda” opening since Berlin ’36.
1st, all the bucolic, then, all the robber Barron’s, then, all the war, then, all the socialized medicine, then, all the Boogermen. Later Bond and Bean.
Where the hell was Benny Hill???
Gimmie synchronized Chinas war machine or the cute Norway sprites anyday.
And NBC cut out the tribute to the London BombingsThat occurred just after this fine city was chosen. NBC said it was too local, with no American casualties.
Well I got a casuality! Watching that socialized medicine ballet made me wanna puke!
My wife recently broke her leg. She went to her GP doctor who referred her to an orthopedist. How long did she have to wait? Two hours.
obama and Great Britain can kiss my a s s .
IF you had run a Country for 75 years, and were MAYBE feeling your age, would you have been all smiles. Being a Queen demands SOME modicum of seriousness, don’t yuou thjink?
Interesting to me that they touched on the war on their soil, not really relevant to the Olympics, but oh well. But – neither their “show director” nor the Olympic Committee would honor the Israeli’s slaughtered at the Olympics in Germany.
And that, my friends, was a world wide Olympic moment worthy of a moment of Olympic silence to those athletes, whether you embrace or like their country or not.
Fred, would you please post a link to the Investor’s Business Daily article that you cited?
You all have heard the much repeated comments, but I have lived in Uruguay and have many friends who live in more socialistic countries. Uruguay also has “free” healthcare, the poor know that hospitals are mainly for those ready to die, everything is stolen, patients go unfed, the wrong medication is given. The private hospitals are for the wealthy who can bribe the MD’s.Brasil, very similar. In China, MD’s are called White Dogs, which is not a term of respect. They not only have to bribe the Dr., but do it in a way which ‘saves face’ and doesn’t appear to be bribery. Romania: Antiquated equipment (WW I or II?) dirty conditions, bribery also takes place. The best briber gets to go first….
Socialism always fails because men are not angels. We have a human nature that appreciates reward for work. Why go to medical school & work so hard, then get paid like a garbage man? One dirty little secret: many socialistic countries would have collapsed much sooner if the USA had not sent them $$$ & supplies out of compassion for the people.
Fred, the stat that stood out from your posting was this one:
“Percentage of men and women who survived a cancer five years after diagnosis:
U.S. 65%
England 46%”
In 2010, I lost two wonderful friends to Colorectal Cancer.
One was a vibrant US citizen, a young, computer engineer not much into his 40s, who got the best treatment available to him as a US citizen with good health insurance provided by his company’s insurance carrier. He fought valiantly to the end and never gave up hope, but eventually succumbed to his disease. His out-of-pocket costs were high, but he was still able to get some assistance from his health carrier throughout his illness, allowing him to still retain some air of hopefulness during the last few months of his life.
The other was a fine British actor/director/producer, playing (ironically) a top-notch trauma doctor with the NHS in a hit TV series in his home country that presented a somewhat idealized portrait of life in a NHS-run hospital. But when he needed the NHS more than he’d ever needed it before, suffering from severe abdominal pain that made it nearly impossible to keep working, he, like all Brits, had to queue up and wait months to see a specialist. That long wait for the specialist likely cost him his life; by the time his colorectal cancer was diagnosed, it had reached Stage 3. He then had to queue up for surgery to remove the cancerous bowel, which bought him almost a year, but it soon turned metastatic, invaded his lungs, and left him with a terminal diagnosis. His only hope was to leave the UK and seek out the best treatment available in the world, which he found in the US. He spent nearly his entire fortune, hard-won from years of hard work in showbiz, but bought himself nearly 3 more years before the money–and hope–ran out once more, and he was forced to return to his home country and hope for the best from the “free” UK National Health Service.. He died in a London clinic just a few months later.
And the Brits are PROUD of this system.
I fear my British friend’s experience will become the norm for US citizens who need the best healthcare in the world but instead get the overtaxed services of a government-run mockery of the US’s finest hospitals and doctors.
The Queen was obviously disgusted at the horrible spectacle which did not show GB great history in a good light. It was very PC and multicultural and the last straw was the two black teenagers – would we see two white teenagers being given the lead part in an opening ceremony in Kenya??? This was crazy. Obviously the man who put this all together is a socialist, liberal type, and probably an atheist too – true art has to reflect God – it should be uplifting and beautiful; this was not. I am also of the opinion that since most countries are going bankrupt, spending all this money on some
crazy propaganda show should be stopped – just show us the athletes coming into the stadium – that’s what people really want to see – that way the whole ceremony would be over earlier so that the athletes could get to bed at a decent hour …. after all the whole purpose is about the ATHLETES – we have to get back to basics and stop spending what we do not have!
Middle America seems to think that just because they live well, that makes their country the greatest on Earth – pretty much ignoring the vast majority of Americans who live much worse than they do. Then again, even middle America is completely in the dark and tricked into thinking that they’re extremely well off, despite having the top 1% of people taking the vast, vast, vast majority of your nation’s income. The result is over 46 million Americans in poverty.
Your political system is NOT the most free and most democratic in the world despite what you all frequently espouse to other nations around the world. In fact, America’s political system is looking increasingly confused, inefficient and corrupted. On top of the structural problems, you also have the political campaigns and politicians that makes America the laughing stock of the world.
Despite your supposedly market-driven, efficient healthcare system, you still have much higher healthcare costs than all comparable countries while achieving similar or worse results.
You lock up over 2 million of your population and yet crime is still a huge problem in the US (probably due to the inequalities alluded to earlier)
The majority of the world utterly detests America because of its ignorance and prying manner (not because they’re jealous, as some of you will no doubt believe).
These are just a few faults I could think of from the top of my head. Your so-called ‘patriotism’ is actually causing more harm than good – being a true patriot requires the strength to question your own country and search for ways to improve and not just turn a blind eye to problems. America has the potential, it’s just not exploiting it.
The Royal family uses Homeopathy; which isn’t covered by the Royal health care …. they have to pay out of pocket.
I have used Homeopathy for over 30 years and haven’t had a need for prescriptions meds during this time I’m 67 and never go to any Dr. Yes, I am on Medicare with no suplemental insurance and no drug coverage ….. Why …… because I don’t need. My question is ….. Why isn’t Homeopathy included in our Medicare …. I have to pay out of pocket for all my health care; which by the way is VERY INEXPENSIVE. I will not be happy if ObamaCare goes into effect and I have to pay an extra $250 a month over my $220 that I pay for Medicare out of my SS benefits …. That totals$470; which was $100 more than I was paying with BlueCross/Blue Shield ….. I tried to go back on and they won’t take me cuz of my age. Interesting that Prince Charles couldn’t get Homeopathy into his health care in England so I haven’t tried here in the US if he can’t…… BIG PHARMA has bought our health care in USA ….. Medicare will only take care of you thru BIG PHARMA or fend for yourself ……
[...] cold, the British NHS will give you good treatment for free. If you have a serious health problem, you don’t want the NHS. A frightening look at our future under [...]
My first trip to China needed a Tuina treatment. While waiting my turn, I spoke with an English lady of some years. She was in China to get a knee replacement. She had been waiting 5 years in England and NOTHING! So, in China and affordable. Lived/worked in socialism and believe me giving up 50% of my income was not a pleasure just to cover those who did not take care of themselves or who had to work wherever just to eat. Obama is leading America down that road and there are so many truly stupid and ignorant people who don’t want to see it or acknowledge it. What they don’t know is that they will be even worse off in socialism and/or communism. Stupid is as stupid does!
Mr. Thompson, please support your statistics by providing a link to the “recent Investor’s Business Daily article” or even a link to the website of the “United Nations International Health Organization.”