Quote (fender @ May 26 2019 02:49pm)

i already explained it: because healthcare policy is made on a national level, not a continental one. i know this information might surprise someone who went through the us education system, but germany also has its richer and poorer regions. we have a population of more than 80 million people and 16 different states - it's not like we're some tiny country that could survive or excel by just relying on just one or two specific industries that finance our whole system - in which case your insistence on not comparing country to country would be legitimate - no, germany is one of the world's biggest economies, and a comparison is absolutely valid.

so by all means, compare our life expectancy, hdi, crime, health, freedom, happiness, education... and then tell me again how america 'compares favourably'. we beat you in every single one of those categories, so tell me again how americans live better lives. the top 1%? sure, but the overwhelming majority of the population? laughable, pure fiction...

also, you might want to look up what income inequality means, because your conclusion suggests the exact opposite of what is true in reality. here's something that might help you put that into context: compare poverty rates.

Quote (bogie160 @ 26 May 2019 21:11)

Germany's population is a quarter of the United States compressed in a very small area. It's important sometimes to understand where we stand in the world.

Healthcare is regulated at the federal and state level, but that's really beside the point. The difference in economic and social outcomes in the United States are driven by deep, geographic / economic / cultural lines that are centuries old. When looking to understand why Alabama is poorer than Massachusetts, healthcare is absolutely nowhere on the list.

The German economy has a natural export advantage vis a vis the rest of Europe, helped in large part by the rebuilding effort that the United States funded after the war, and by the abysmal economic failure of socialist rule in Eastern Europe, which has left them ready consumers of German products.

Crime is largely a function of demographics, but crime in the North-Eastern United States is comparable to European levels, even accounting for the ethnic heterogeneity. As a statistical reality, more heterogeneous nations experience more crime than homogeneous ones. As a fervent supporter of immigration, I'm sure that you'll experience that soon enough.

Quote (fender @ 26 May 2019 23:04)

another pivot. the simple fact is that america COULD afford universal healthcare, but simply doesn't WANT to. and i'm not talking about the majority of the population, they actually do - i'm talking about those that have the power to change it, your politicians. and do you know why? because they couldn't give two shits about you, republicans even less than dems, because you don't pay them, their donors do - and they profit from the current system.
it's outright laughable that they managed to indoctrinate a certain percentage of the population (you included apparently) to uncritically repeat their stupid excuses, deflections, and propaganda of why americe, the self-proclaimed greatest country on this planet, can't manage what significantly poorer and smaller countries can. yay, late stage capitalism!

Quote (Black XistenZ @ 26 May 2019 23:21)

sure, america could afford universal healthcare. but someone would have to pay for that, and the people who would benefit from it do not really outnumber those who'd end up worse off because they had to pay more.

the true root of the problems of the american healthcare system is not the lack of coverage, it's the costs. from drugs over treatment to facilities, everything is ridiculously overpriced when you compare it with other developed countries.
that's where the pharma lobby is really influencing politicians to prevent a true change which would leave the population at large better off while cutting into their profits.

once healthcare becomes more affordable due to lower prices, coverage under the current system will automatically go up, and increasing taxes/redistribution to close the remaining gap will be a lot easier to sell to those who would have to finance this solidarity.

Quote (ampoo @ 26 May 2019 23:31)

thats the thing, you cant compare our understanding of solidarity to that of the us
many simply dont want to pay anything for others, while its pretty normal here to steadily contribute to be safe when you need treatment

by the way, since the german system appeared in the discussion here

our solidarity will face a serious test in the future, because our healthcare system isnt exactly healthy itself
quality goes down, people pay more and more, but get fewer services for the buck as the insurance companies are struggling
the number of beneficiaries is rising dramatically, but not the number of people who actively contribute thanks to the migration crisis and our demographics

cant say i was pleased to pay 2k myself for a rehab program for my knee that was fully covered until 2 months before i needed it

Quote (fender @ 27 May 2019 02:20)

that's just one more of those idiotic narratives the public gets fed about american uniqueness, aimed to make idiots vote against their own interest.

americans have no problem with 'solidarity' when it comes to bailing out farmers when their idiot in charge is too stupid to negotiate reasonable trade deals.
there is no problem with 'solidarity' when it comes to enabling some of the richest corporations in the world to save taxes, so they aren't 'forced' to outsource jobs.
there is no problem with 'solidarity' when it comes to bailing out banks after their ceos and traders made billions destabilising the markets.

no, this particular and unique american trait of lacking solidarity only appears when the discussion revolves around social programs - only then is it just not in their nature to care about their fellow americans. funny how that works, isn't it?

Quote (ampoo @ 27 May 2019 01:25)

got any proof for that? otherwise its typical fenderp talking about things he does not want to understand again

Quote (fender @ 27 May 2019 02:28)

read the three lines below the one you bolded, it's literally right there.

and should you seriously struggle to understand what the farmer subsidies / corporate taxbreaks / bank bailout refer to, you should seriously consider stop posting here altogether...

Quote (fender @ 27 May 2019 02:20)

that's just one more of those idiotic narratives the public gets fed about american uniqueness, aimed to make idiots vote against their own interest.

americans have no problem with 'solidarity' when it comes to bailing out farmers when their idiot in charge is too stupid to negotiate reasonable trade deals.
there is no problem with 'solidarity' when it comes to enabling some of the richest corporations in the world to save taxes, so they aren't 'forced' to outsource jobs.
there is no problem with 'solidarity' when it comes to bailing out banks after their ceos and traders made billions destabilising the markets.

no, this particular and unique american trait of lacking solidarity only appears when the discussion revolves around social programs - only then is it just not in their nature to care about their fellow americans. funny how that works, isn't it?