Perfect....Just overheard some Canadian and Brits laughing at the USA.....

[KansasVoter]

I was on the Xbox tonight playing online and between games some Canadians and Brits were really cracking about the USA trying to decide if we wanted government run health care.

Some comments I remember:

"Can someone explain why this is even a discussion in that country?"
"Do they like insurance companies? Do they like the way the insurance companies run health care?"
"What do people with no insurance do? Just die?"
"It is like trying to decide if you want a police department or fire station or a Military....it is a no brainer!"
"No longer a world leader. Definitely not a government for the people living there."

I started to get involved in the discussion but really was so disappointed in this country. They were honestly laughing at the USA.

I was not even mad at them. Just mad at our government.

Unbelievable!

[Zodiak]

1. Yes, I found the same thing in Britain

All of us raised a pint and cursed our US "wanker" government and their British National Party.

Both are the butt of a lot of jokes in Norwich, from my experience.

[Captain Hilts]

2. Yes, their governments are more highly evolved than ours. Less selfish individualism.

[FormerDittoHead]

28. Those other countries actually *function* as democracies, ours does NOT.

Checking the definition of democracy, it means democratically elected representation, so others reading, let's not go into the 'we're not a democracy' BS.

But the fact is that in order to have something *like* national health care, it would require putting THE PEOPLE (as in "We the People") ahead of rich people (represented by their disproportionate ownership of corporations).

The framers didn't give rich people more votes than the poor. Conservatives DON'T GET THAT.

OUR system today, from everything I'm gathering, seems to be AN AUCTION - where the one with most money wins.

I've stopped giving money to the DCC, DFA, etc., etc.. I'm now telling them - IT'S NOT AN AUCTION.

Our "representatives" KNOW what we want, what's best for us, what works in most other countries, etc.

IF THEY REPRESENTED THE *VOTERS*, THIS WOULDN'T BE A PROBLEM.

[truedelphi]

34. + 1. n/t

[BrklynLiberal]

36. Exactly right...

[vaberella]

3. I was living in England during the time of Bush...it was the worst time to be American. n/t

[KansasVoter]

5. Wow, what an experience that must have been. Sorry!!!!

[vaberella]

13. It wasn't good. People were very verbal and had no problem telling me to my face.

As though I was Condie Rice or something.

[rollingrock]

4. Actually, yes

'they just die.' or go bankrupt trying to pay for the care.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

18. people from over there do ask what happens if there is no coverage

[hootinholler]

24. Or???

In my experience, they go bankrupt and then they die.

-Hoot

[snagglepuss]

6. HEADLINE: Thanks America! US saving Canadian Public Health Care.

Canuck here. I think that should be plastered in Freeperville, maybe that will get their heads out of their asses.

Alot of Canadians who were clueless about expensive American healthcare have now woken up to the reality of for-profit care and how good we have it up here.

Alot of US healthcare companies are dying to get into the Canadian healthcare and there has been a slow creep in some provinces but many once clueless Canucks are now more wary.

[Oregone]

9. Interesting perspective

Maybe US lunacy will discourage creeping privatization

[parasim]

7. It sure can be weird sitting amongst folks from other countries talking about the US...

Reminds me of back in 2000 when I found myself working on a huge project and ended up in Switzerland sitting around the table at a restaurant with a regular United Nations of folks. Belgian, French, British, Japanese, Dutch, German, Canadian... and me, the sole American.

Finally, at one point, the Brit turns to me and goes, "So, what is up with your country and this... Bush?" The entire table looked at me awaiting my reply. I shrugged my shoulders and said, "Look, I voted for the other guy!"

And after a few uncomfortable minutes of trying to answer everybody's questions, I finally thought it best we drop the whole topic. I did so by coming up with a game. I said, "Hey, everybody think of the craziest tongue-twister in your country and recite it in your native language."

Man, we had a blast.

and drank a lot of beers.

[KansasVoter]

11. Nice story!!

[Oregone]

8. Canadians are incredibly forgiving of Americans' stupidity in my experience

So you probably found an exception.

[GreenPartyVoter]

10. I'm mad at out "government" too. And yes, we are a freaking laughingstock among

the truly civilized nations.

[depakid]

12. Australians think the same thing

As I'd venture to guess, people in most western nations do.

[AspenRose]

16. I've heard from friends in New Zealand, Italy and France.

Yep.

[Romulox]

14. Do you your halo buddies get that we're talking about mandatory, for-profit insurance?

Their comments suggests that they don't...

"Do they like insurance companies? Do they like the way the insurance companies run health care?"

:shrug:

[earth mom]

15. Hey, but it's ALL GOOD when Obama allows it. nt

[NYC_SKP]

19. Right. No good sonnofabitch Obama ain't doin' nuthin'.

Damn Nigerian Born Islamic Fascist Commie.

:eyes:

[Lilyeye]

26. Thank You!

[Lilyeye]

27. Thank You!

[Cha]

35. Your sour puss grapes hate on for President Obama

is ugly.

We wouldn't be this close without him winning.

[rockymountaindem]

17. Whatever. They didn't win World War Two. We did.

So har dee har har.

[Joe Chi Minh]

33. Not much cop if you weren't around to enjoy the benefits which accrued to the US, i.e. a

baby-boomer.

[BrklynLiberal]

37. HUH???

:silly: :crazy:

[Joe the Liberal]

20. I'd probably be saying the same thing if I was them......

What those two don't understand though is that the US has so many fascist, ignorant, paranoid and fearful people here that just hinder progress.

[Puzzler]

21. The "Why is it even a discussion?" question pretty much sums it up

[Golden Raisin]

22. Excuse me. "Dancing With The Stars" is on.

Gotta' go. :sarcasm:

[Puzzler]

23. Then go without "Delay"

[KansasVoter]

39. I agree!

[Joe S]

25. I don't blame 'em one bit!

We're morphing into a banana republic! (With apologies to banana republics everywhere!)

[polichick]

29. I'm with them - it's a no brainer. nt

[quiet.american]

30. Actually, I'm mad at Republicans. They are determined to keep us a laughingstock.

Lets' face it, when people laugh at "Americans," they are essentially laughing at the teabaggers et al. -- and we're all lumped in with them as the "crazy Americans."

When I first saw footage of the screaming teabaggers at the townhalls, I said to myself, this is the image of our country that will play around the world...the ugliest part of us will be the face of the country.... disgraceful.

I thought the days of being embarrassed for the country would ease after the former pResident was out of office...but nope, the Republicans don't seem to be happy unless they are making absolute fools of themselves on the world stage.

[dipsydoodle]

31. It's not that we laugh at you -

it's more that we're bemused that you're so successfuly treated as being mugs.

[bvar22]

32. But WE must have a "Uniquely American Solution".

And that solution is...

..Transferring Mega-Billions in Public Money to the For Profit Health Insurance Industry while throwing a few crumbs to the American People.
(Individual Mandate to BUY Health Insurance + weak/restricted Public Option)

THAT is a "Uniquely American Solution".
:patriot:

[BrklynLiberal]

38. It surre is puzzling that something that seems so obvious should be a matter of discussion.

Our health care sucks..and it is primarily due to the practices of Insurance Companies and Big Pharma.
Health care should NOT BE AN INDUSTRY!!! It should be a service of the govt and a right of every citizen.

Why the hell do the very people who suffer the most feel that they are doing the right thing to fight reform?
The only ones who have a reason are those that are getting lots and lots of money from those in the health care INDUSTRY!!!


Everyone else should be out in the street with pitchforks and torches...demanding health care reform...

[Vidar]

40. We are an international joke.