P.S.

[poliphilo]

Since I wrote the last post, David Cameron (the leader of the British Conservative Party) has had to undertake a damage limitation exercise after a Conservative MEP (Member of the European Parliament) went on American TV to rubbish the
National Health Service.

Over here, you see, even Conservatives (which roughly- very roughly- translates as Republicans) think socialized medicine is a good thing. 

Comments

[jfs.livejournal.com]

The other point, which seems to get lost in the debate.

Britain has a very strong private medical insurance industry. There is nothing stopping you getting your own medical insurance alongside the provision that the NHS makes.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Quite so.

My parents used to subscribe to a private health scheme called BUPA. When I came of age my father offered to keep on covering me and I said "no thank you" because (a) I'm a lefty and (b) because I believed and still believe in the adequacy of the NHS.