Harry Pollard wrote: > > > Of course, > > > actually taking on the Fat Cats awash in privilege might be even more > > > worthwhile, but that's difficult so let's try something easier. > >[CR:] > >On the contrary -- the WTO represents the fattest cats and is the most > >difficult 'target'. > > Such as?
Such as representatives/puppets of the largest transnational corporations who "negotiate" behind closed doors and without any public accountability. > Your country is fortunate - like Sweden - not to be involved in a World > War. You cannot help but profit from others misery - for which I don't > blame either country, though perhaps the 'planes that bombed London > contained Swedish steel - as well as Russian fuel. > > But, without doubt, the two countries came out of the war in good shape, > whereas Britain and, I suppose, most European countries, were close to > bankruptcy. So, you invested in social services and they are good. The US also came out of the war in good shape (even benefited from it), but has no good health services (for the majority of citizens, anyway). Germany suffered much worse destructions in the war than the UK (and had to pay billions of reparations unlike UK), but has better health services now. It seems that your lame excuse can't explain reality. > Yet, my health services are also good - and probably as good, or better, > than yours. Of course, I have to pay for it - but I probably pay less than > you. Actually, the US spends more on health care and gets less for that money than any industrialized country that offers medical insurance for everyone: The US spends 74% more than France; 78% more than Germany, and 110% more than the Netherlands. However, the US rated worst in an international comparison of general healthcare quality, and 44 million Americans *lack* healthcare coverage. I've read that in the US, people die from appendicitis --a trivial complication in developed countries-- because they can't afford to go to hospital for appendectomy. > Service is excellent - the necessary rationing isn't particularly evident. > I remember having a suspicious sore. I called the doctor on Wednesday and > got an appointment next morning. He looked at it and immediately sent me to > the specialists. They checked it and put me through 'pre-op', which means a > trip through the hospital visiting everyone who has anything to do with > your operation. The anesthesiologist tells you the choices and offers his > recommendation, all kinds of nurses and doctors explain things. > > Monday morning - first thing - It was done and I left the hospital with a > wrapped rose. You're lucky personally, but what about your fellows who are less lucky ? > We don't have gurneys in the corridors either, Chris. Though, I can't speak > for the inner cities of New York, and Chicago, and suchlike. This statement symbolizes the recklessness of the "Free" Trade proponents. Chris
