The Brits’ outpouring of ‘ilovetheNHS’ is compelling
Just a smattering of the Twitter testimonials (”Twittermonials”? Nah… ) to Britain’s National Health Service posted in the last couple of minutes. By the time I was finished copying and pasting these, another 100 new ones were queued up.
Seriously, these folks seem more than a little content with a service that the American right wing has used for years as an example of the worst in “socialized medicine.”
SamiraEdi You need 2 have the mental level of a Republican in a Coma to believe the garbage talk about the NHS. I mean, a party led by Rush Limbaugh?
bigbew I love the NHS cos it fixed my mothers broken legs and supported my Grandad as he bravely fought lung cancer #welovethenhs
HavTuf #welovetheNHS I’m alive because of the NHS. I doubt I would be if I had to pay for the treatment I recieved.
noldo #welovethenhs For all its faults, the NHS makes the USA look like a third-world country; I propose medical missions in condescending tones!
Smoozles #welovetheNHS – Many of my family would have no quality of life without the wonderful work of the NHS and the hardworking staff. Thanks!!!
Seriou RT @CamdenTownUnltd: the NHS saved my mum when she had less than 1% chance of survival #ilovethenhs #rebelleft #hcr
GeraldineGentiA went private when I was rich, used NHS when I’ve been poor. No diff in level of care whatever. Happy to pay taxes for it. #welovethenhs
torkelh The NHS is like democracy – not perfect, but better than the alternatives.
IanExton Why are we justifying the NHS to the yanks? They took our language. They’re bound to see sense about our healthcare eventually #welovethenhs
Stoolydotcom Way the go guys! Rooting for the NHS deserves a thumbs up! The NHS does a brilliant job day in and day out #welovetheNHS
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480 comments Add your comment
I Report/ Evil-Monger/ Mob :-) You Whine :-(
August 13th, 2009
3:59 pm
OMG, I can’t believe bookman is citing foreign bloggers who are obviously tuned into the most radical left wing moonbat propaganda for their “information.”
Is this the best you got?
These people have probably heard nothing but horror stories about America, horror stories that were made up from whole clothe.
How truly sad this is.
TnGelding
August 13th, 2009
4:00 pm
It’s probably what you know and come to expect that drives your opinion. It certainly appears to be adequate for their needs.
Mrs. Godzilla
August 13th, 2009
4:01 pm
Most striking is the lack of disruptions in town hall meetings all over Great Britain….seems no body is screamin for American style healthcare.
No pictures of the Queen with a Hitler mustache or demanding to see her birth certficate either.
Same in Canada….Sweden…..etc.
Wowee wow.
I Report/ Evil-Monger/ Mob :-) You Whine :-(
August 13th, 2009
4:02 pm
SamiraEdi You need 2 have the mental level of a Republican in a Coma to believe the garbage talk about the NHS. I mean, a party led by Rush Limbaugh?
Hell, this could be Michael “A Whole Lot” Moore, fat pinko typing for all bookman knows.
Credible, indeed.
TnGelding
August 13th, 2009
4:02 pm
I Report/ Evil-Monger/ Mob
You Whine 
August 13th, 2009
3:59 pm
What’s sad is the demonization of anything that would cast doubt on our claims that we’re number one in anything; pick the topic.
ByteMe
August 13th, 2009
4:03 pm
Aw, Jay, you think evidence is going to change their crazy little minds. Bless your heart.
TnGelding
August 13th, 2009
4:03 pm
I Report/ Evil-Monger/ Mob
You Whine 
August 13th, 2009
4:02 pm
If only we were all as good a citizen as Mr. Moore.
Mrs. Godzilla
August 13th, 2009
4:04 pm
…..and the Queen ain’t a white guy either!
I Report/ Evil-Monger/ Mob :-) You Whine :-(
August 13th, 2009
4:05 pm
The mob gets bigger-
WASHINGTON — The raucous protests at congressional town-hall-style meetings have succeeded in fueling opposition to proposed health care bills among some Americans, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds — particularly among the independents who tend to be at the center of political debates.
The moonbats get smaller.
he he
Irregular Paul
August 13th, 2009
4:07 pm
“OMG, I can’t believe bookman is citing foreign bloggers who are obviously tuned into the most radical left wing moonbat propaganda for their information.”
Well he certainly seems to have you well and truly hooked, because you keep coming here.
Stan
August 13th, 2009
4:07 pm
Yeah!!! They love their government!! Good for them. I’m not so loving of mine. I don’t need my Government to take care of me.
ty webb
August 13th, 2009
4:08 pm
twitter? really? okay, that’s settles it, my mind is made up. Jay can you give us an update on Ashton Kutcher’s or Paris Hilton’s tweets? What is Miley Cyrus tweeting about? Please, give us more.
I Report/ Evil-Monger/ Mob :-) You Whine :-(
August 13th, 2009
4:08 pm
Michael “Picture Of Healthy” Moore, a one man burden on the entire US health care system, hates his country, TN.
But that doesn’t keep him from amassing the capitalist money he rages about.
Typical freaking lib.
rcs
August 13th, 2009
4:08 pm
with all this support, why doesn’t the democratic majority in the House and Senate have a bill on Obama’s desk?
TnGelding
August 13th, 2009
4:08 pm
From the White House:
8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage
Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.
Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays: Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.
Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.
Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.
Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.
Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.
Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.
Guarantees Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won’t be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.
Citizen of the World
August 13th, 2009
4:11 pm
Jay, no matter how much evidence you present, or how many testimonials you share, the die-hard dittoheads will never admit that perhaps other countries do better at something and perhaps we can, too.
For those who aren’t diehard dittoheads, I’m curious as to whether any of this has altered your position at all?
ty webb
August 13th, 2009
4:12 pm
Yes, it’s changed my position. Now, what has brittney spears tweeted about?
Citizen of the World
August 13th, 2009
4:15 pm
Stan, they love their National Health Service, which just so happens to be run by their government.
You know, they say “you get the government you deserve.” If we have such crappy government, as so many of you always insist, is that maybe because we’re crappy? And if we’re crappy, well, how can that be, because aren’t we the greatest country on earth in every way? Something’s not adding up here.
TnGelding
August 13th, 2009
4:17 pm
I Report/ Evil-Monger/ Mob
You Whine 
August 13th, 2009
4:08 pm
Public enemy #1:
http://www.gop.com/News/NewsRead.aspx?Guid=094849a7-c479-45c2-846c-10b3de3ddb66
Mr. Moore’s response:
Dear GOP:
That is so cool! I knew you guys were more than just all Lee Greenwood and Pat Boone. Let me expand on my remarks.
You see, Obama is LeBron and you are the Clippers. The Clippers know that LeBron is going to fake right and go left, but it doesn’t matter — they’re still the Clippers and he’s LeBron and he’s going to make the basket. Even if he shouted at the Clippers as he’s coming down the court, “Hey, I’m gonna fake right and go left when I get to the basket,” they still aren’t going to stop him. And you, the GOP, are not going to stop Obama and you are not going to stop the will of the American people. Just as the Clippers can somehow still get thousands to come see them play, you are able to pack town hall meetings with your fans. Good for you! Keep it up!
Now, what do you know about Obama’s hook shot?
– Michael Moore”
http://michaelmoore.com/links/index.php?linkType=How%20to%20support%20the%20American%20soldiers%20and%20help%20the%20people%20of%20Iraq
The Beagle
August 13th, 2009
4:18 pm
Number of UK patients denied coverage: 0
Number of UK patients made bankrupt due to medical bills: 0
Number of idiots here in the U.S. who enjoy being denied coverage and going bankrupt due to medical bills: depends on how many Rush Limblow fans there actually are
rcs
August 13th, 2009
4:20 pm
Also from Camden Town Unlimited:
“Free booze at the Private View of “we cannot say what we cannot think” at C22 from 6pm tonight – come on down!”
After a few free pints, I’d love it too.
md
August 13th, 2009
4:22 pm
For a little balance to a listing ship:
Public satisfaction with the National Health Service is lower than when Labour came to power, according to a poll published today.
Four out of 10 people believe the NHS is “getting worse”, and the same figure would prefer to go private if they could, a Gallup survey for The Daily Telegraph found.
And the number of people who think the NHS has been a failure has doubled since 1997, the results revealed.
When Gallup asked voters four years ago whether “taking everything into account has the health service been a success or failure”, 10% said it had failed.
But today’s poll, which is one of the largest on the subject in recent years, found the number had doubled to 20%.
Nearly two thirds of those surveyed said they reckoned the NHS was “in somewhat failing health” or “very poorly indeed”.
A tiny proportion said they think the NHS is “in peak condition”, only 33% said it is “in reasonably good health”, and only 13% reckoned it is “getting better”.
Jake
August 13th, 2009
4:23 pm
TnGeld – Wonderful. But don’t you realize all those great changes you list, with the possible exception of child coverage until age 26, will increase the cost? I thought there were twin goals here, universal coverage and cost control. I don’t see the cost control other than some nebulous promise about reducing waste.
Jake
August 13th, 2009
4:26 pm
I forgot, there’s some $50B in cuts to Medicare funding. But I’m confused, will that provide more/better healthcare for seniors or less/worse?
RW-(the original)
August 13th, 2009
4:27 pm
So is Jay B trying to drive home the point that the Brits wouldn’t want HR3200 either?
These Twits remind me of that commercial about getting your kid’s eyes checked before they start school. They don’t know they have a problem because they all think everybody has blurred vision too.
RoloUK
August 13th, 2009
4:28 pm
Stan August 13th, 2009 4:07 pm
Yeah!!! They love their government!! Good for them. I’m not so loving of mine. I don’t need my Government to take care of me.
Sorry mate, as a Brit, I hate my government for all their media twisting, thieving and incompetence and frankly the opposition are even worse. However, the NHS is truly one of the greatest institutions in Britain. Doctors and nurses here do great work and I will never forget how much they help so many in both big and small ways.
I don’t think there is anything particularly right or wrong about the NHS or the US system; they serve different purposes and different priorities. The reason so many Brits are coming out and fighting our corner is to counter the flat out lies from some Americans which are flat out wrong.
If America wants to reform its healthcare then good luck to you but don’t start insulting the NHS to make a false point.
I Report/ Evil-Monger/ Mob :-) You Whine :-(
August 13th, 2009
4:29 pm
According to a September 14, 2007, article from CTV News, Canadian Liberal MP Belinda Stronach went to the United States for breast cancer surgery in June 2007.
When Robert Bourassa, the premier of Quebec, needed cancer treatment, he went to the US to get it.
A January 19, 2008, article in The Globe And Mail states, “More than 150 critically ill Canadians – many with life-threatening cerebral hemorrhages – have been rushed to the United States since the spring of 2006 because they could not obtain intensive-care beds here. Sarah Plank, a spokeswoman for the British Columbia Ministry of Health, said a spike in high risk and premature births coupled with the lack of trained nurses prompted the surge in mothers heading across the border for better care.
But about an hour later, she was taken to a local hospital — and then transferred to Hôpital Sacré-Coeur in Montreal– after complaining of a severe headache. Her husband, actor Liam Neeson, 56, rushed to her side from a movie set in Toronto. The couple have two sons, ages 12 and 13.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the British-born actress lapsed into unconsciousness hours after the fall and ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~was flown to Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~` where she was surrounded by family and friends, including Neeson, her mother actress Vanessa Redgrave and her sister actress Joely Richardson.
Who you gonna believe, the tweets or the sick and injured?
lovelyliz
August 13th, 2009
4:30 pm
How about this, go to the UK talk to Brits who have been to the US. I’ve done it and while they can tell you of the headaches NHS gives them, not one would trade it for private health insurance only. grnted none of the ones I know are gazilllionaires, but then none of them are shiftless and none of them have declared banruptcy because of medical bills
lovelyliz
August 13th, 2009
4:32 pm
Football star Paul Konchesky in emergency dash to save baby daughter
A football star has praised maternity hospital staff after he had to make a dramatic emergency dash with his pregnant wife.
Shocked Fulham ace Paul Konchesky, 28, who has played for England, leapt into action after his hairdresser wife Lyndsey, 26, went into labour a month early.
The couple had planned for their first child to be born at a private clinic in central London.
But when Lyndsey went into labour a month early on 9 July, she was taken from their Ongar home to the Queen’s Hospital in Romford.
To make matters worse, midwives discovered the baby was in the potentially dangerous breech position.
The baby, who was born weighing only 4lb 14oz and has been named Tilly-Mai, spent four days in intensive care. She was allowed home on 14 July and is now blossoming.
Konchesky, who has a seven-year-old son, Connor, from a previous relationship, said of the hospital: ‘They were superb from the moment we arrived to the moment we left.
‘I can’t thank the midwives enough – they were all stars.’
The footballer branded private clinics ‘a waste of time and money’ after lavishing praise on the often-criticised £200m NHS hospital.
His wife, a hairdresser, added: ‘If we ever have another baby I wouldn’t go anywhere else. I would never go private, I’d go straight back there.’
A Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust spokesman said: ‘Paul and Lyndsey are a lovely couple who were treated like any other.’
mike
August 13th, 2009
4:34 pm
Wow! Positive comments about the NHS on a twitter list called #welovethenhs? Wo would have thought it.
Looks like a pretty intelligent bunch too. Visit their pages and see the Intellectuals’ other comments.
http://twitter.com/SamiraEdi
The above person tweets about every five minutes or so and it is nothing but an endless stream of outright partisan hatred.
And Jay thinks that we should take these folks opinions? They are clearly mindless partisans who are driven by their own hatred and intolerance. Who should we be taking our cues from next? Taxpayer?
BTW: Is Jay ever going to get around to making a case for th Democrats’s plan? Or is he going to keep making the case for the NHS and making the case that conservatives are evil? If he believes in the plan, he should be able to make some argument for it. Just once would be nice.
Looks like liberal partisans are just “tolerant” and “intellectual” over there as they are here.
md
August 13th, 2009
4:35 pm
The NHS Utopia crumbling?
“Doctors are unhappy. They are not all unhappy all the time, but when doctors gather, their conversation turns to misery and talk of early retirement. The unhappiness has been illustrated in a plethora of surveys and manifests itself in talk of a mass resignation by general practitioners from the NHS.[1] The British government is rattled by the unhappiness of doctors, recognising that a health service staffed by demoralised doctors cannot flourish.
The most obvious cause of doctors’ unhappiness is that they feel overworked and undersupported. They hear politicians make extravagant promises but then must explain to patients why the health service cannot deliver what is promised. Endless initiatives are announced, but on the ground doctors find that operating lists are cancelled, they cannot admit or discharge patients, and community services are disappearing. They struggle to respond, but they feel as though they are battling the system rather than being supported by it.”
RealityKing
August 13th, 2009
4:38 pm
Funny how the Brits have suddenly found Jays AJC blog.., almost as if by some majical progressive design.
md
August 13th, 2009
4:40 pm
“Funny how the Brits have suddenly found Jays AJC blog”
USinUK must have been gabbing with her buddies at the local pub.
getalife
August 13th, 2009
4:40 pm
Breaking: Finance Committee drops “death panel” provisions from Senate bill.
There goes Isakson’s cause.
Score one for the deathers.
Geez.
mike
August 13th, 2009
4:42 pm
“Public satisfaction with the National Health Service is lower than when Labour came to power, according to a poll published today.
Four out of 10 people believe the NHS is “getting worse”, and the same figure would prefer to go private if they could, a Gallup survey for The Daily Telegraph found.
And the number of people who think the NHS has been a failure has doubled since 1997, the results revealed.
When Gallup asked voters four years ago whether “taking everything into account has the health service been a success or failure”, 10% said it had failed.
But today’s poll, which is one of the largest on the subject in recent years, found the number had doubled to 20%.”
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-94561/Public-unhappy-NHS–poll.html#ixzz0O65vvyTK
mike
August 13th, 2009
4:43 pm
BMA Poll Reveals The Public’s Fear For Future Of The NHS, UK
“A nationwide public opinion poll conducted by Hamilton Lock for the British Medical Association released has revealed how worried the public is about future funding of the health service in light of the recession.
Over three quarters (77%) of the public believe that cuts should be made in other government departments to protect NHS funding. When asked if taxes should increase to maintain the growth of NHS funding, four out of ten individuals (40%), agreed.
Around nine out of ten respondents feared that services could be cut (90%) and that waiting times for treatment could increase (89%). Over eight out of ten (85%) individuals believe there will be more charges for NHS services and eight out of ten (80%) thought the NHS should prioritise funding for the most important services. ”
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/155670.php
RealityKing
August 13th, 2009
4:47 pm
When Jay gets tossed aside like Cynthina he can just go to work for the BBC. He’d fit left in..
godless heathen
August 13th, 2009
4:47 pm
“From the White House:8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage”
All at no additional cost! Step right up ladies and gentlemen and get a liberal supply of Obama Snake Oil! But hurry, it’s going fast! This once in a lifetime opportunity will be gone by the end of September. Don’t bother to read the fine print, nothing in there of any importance. Do the American thing and sign up now!!! Act now and we will even through in a Sham Wow! and a set of Ginsu knives! Step right up!
GOP is Gone
August 13th, 2009
4:48 pm
Wow! mike arrives and calls everyone else narrow minded and a partisan hack. Who ever would have thought it?
The Beagle
August 13th, 2009
4:50 pm
Mike, apparently some aspiring PR stooge for the health-cost industry, forgot to add this penultimate paragraph from the medicalnewstoday article:
“Although the private sector has for many years played a role in providing NHS care, a majority of the public believe that the government’s dogmatic and misguided plan to commercialise the NHS has gone too far and is threatening the very future of the health service. The BMA would heartily agree and this bears out what doctors are telling us as part of our Look After Our NHS campaign.”
You got that? The UK public DOESN’T want an expanded private role in the NHS.
Sorry, but you get a failing grade on your Corporate Lickspittle 101 final exam.
Citizen of the World
August 13th, 2009
4:56 pm
If 20% of Brits think their health service has failed (as some posters have put forth here), but, like, virtually 100% of them would take their health care system over ours any day, what does that tell you about our system?
GOP is Gone
August 13th, 2009
4:57 pm
US/UK must be a real big mouth, or………they are aware of a search engine called Google.
mike
August 13th, 2009
4:58 pm
GOP is Gone –
Read the comments and tell me that the person is not a narrow-minded partisan. I know that you celebrate hate speech against conservatives, but normal people see hate speech for what it is: ignorant bleating from narrow minded and intolerant people like yourself.
rcs
August 13th, 2009
5:01 pm
“Breaking: Finance Committee drops “death panel” provisions from Senate bill.”
No problem, they can get Chris Dodd to sneak it in the final bill in the middle of the night just before they vote on it.
mike
August 13th, 2009
5:01 pm
The Beagle -
“Mike, apparently some aspiring PR stooge for the health-cost industry, forgot to add this penultimate paragraph from the medicalnewstoday article:”
Of course I am a plant from the health care industry. I disagree with your intrinsically correct views. Let me guess, you think I am a racist too. What other explanation could there be for anyone daring to disagree with you?
Keep on believing everything that liberal pundits tell you because that is what smart people do.
lovelyliz
August 13th, 2009
5:01 pm
Business Week’s Analysis on French Lesson in HealthcarePosted in August 7th, 2009 by Dr. Healthcare in Cost, Quality, and Speed, Policy and LegislationBusiness Week did an anlysis on French Healthcare sometime last year. They find that it is alot similar to US healthcare system. According to BW, the French system is a complex mix of private and public financing which offers a valuable lessons for US healthcare reform.
In France, one can choose one’s own doctor and see any specialist they want.
Many of the doctors in France are self employed
Doctors can prescribe any care they deem necessary
According to WHO healthcare ranking, France comes in first as compared to US ranking 37th.
France’s infant death rate is 3.9 per 1000 live births compared with 7 in US
Life expectancy in France is about 2 years more than that in America.
They have significantly higher number of beds and doctors per Capita than US
France is also experiencing runaway healthcare cost. They are also contemplating HMO type of system to control cost. Still 65% of French are happy with their system as compared to 40% of Americans. This is besides the fact that France spends about 10.7% of its GDP on healthcare as compared to more than 16% spent by USA.
France does not have deductible for Seniors. But they do have modest co-pay. The copayments are dismissed for chronically ills. Most of the French buy supplemental insurance to reduce out of pocket expenses.
French prenatal care is one of the best in the world.
On the other side,
France reimburse its doctors at a far lower rate than US
The medical education is free, so doctors do not have student loan.
Malpractice insurance is much smaller compared to US
Physicians net income is about 1/3 of their US counterparts. However government pays 2/3 of their social security tax.
Specialist who have spent at least 4 years in a hospital are free to charge what they want.
Many doctors, there also, earn more by increasing patient load and over prescribing diagnostics and treatments.
The healthcare system in France has been running a deficit for last 25 years. French are also trying to cut cost. They are are implementing changes to achieve that.
BW says that though French have no reason to make any fundamental changes in their system
Pogo
August 13th, 2009
5:01 pm
Wall Street Journal, August 7; French National Healthcare system is broke (they (the WSJ) stated it a bit more eloquently, but for the sake of expediency, I abbreviated). Services such as hospitals and clinics are being closed down on a nationwide basis because of shortage of money. This isn’t propaganda. It is the truth. Can anyone really tell us why we in the United States should listen to anything anyone in Europe has to say about Health Care? They are a fine example for, hummmm, NO-ONE!
Downstairs, Jay; YOU will be remembered as the Dollar Store Maureen Dowd, IF YOU ARE LUCKY! You are a liberal lackey who finds himself seeing their dream president and their dream congress going down the toilet. The movement in the polls proves the American people are smarter than the “Journalists” (and I am being exceedingly generous with the use of this term when talking about Jay), the plagiarist/cut and paster).
mike
August 13th, 2009
5:03 pm
I love how the left has no interest in making an argument for their plan. They just think that a name calling campaign against anyone who does not share their narrow views will get the American public behind this failing plan. Good luck with that.
Number1ninja
August 13th, 2009
5:04 pm
“narrow minded and intolerant people like yourself.”
Really? Right after whining about “hate speech”? Right after posting BS that disproves your own position because you’re too dumb to read the whole thing?
Stan
August 13th, 2009
5:05 pm
Also just to point out, While you may love the health ins* you get from Obama, Just think about how much you will like it when the Democrats are no longer in control of the Government.
And for as many folks that are perfectly happy with the NHS I’m sure there are at least almost as many that hate it.