# Thanks to the non-US'ers for your patience **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 23, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493 "2010-03-23T16:17:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/1 "2010-03-23T16:17:28Z")
Now that we’ve finally jumped the big hurdle here in the US, and brought the largest remaining portion of our society out of the 19th century and into the 20th (we still have some catching up to do yet, but later), it’s time to express some gratitude where it’s due. I can’t even start to name names here, but: Thanks to all the Canadians, Aussies, Yurpeens of all stripes, and anyone I’m missing who has taken so much time here to educate the more obstinate of us about what quasi-universal health care is, how it works, and how well it succeeds out there in the real world. The task has obviously taken incredible patience and no small amount of forbearance on the part of all of you who have helped here. You needed to control your incredulity and suppress laughter, and you managed to do so. Much, much ignorance needed to be fought, and still does, but you have fought it well, in the highest traditions of Cecilianism. This Merkin is grateful to you all. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/2 "2010-03-23T16:19:18Z")
The ass-kissing is fine, but could you suppress the loud smacking sounds? ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/3 "2010-03-23T16:19:39Z")
In gratitude, I propose that we forgo the yearly rent hike! ---
**Author:** ![C3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/c3/32/3108_2.png) [@C3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C3)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/4 "2010-03-23T16:24:37Z")
I’mma let you finish, man, but Cuba HAS THE BEST HEALTH CARE OF **ALL TIME**!!! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/5 "2010-03-23T16:44:51Z")
In gratitude, could you guys hold off on incessant complaining when your cobbled-together, worst of all worlds system doesn’t work very well? Kthxbai. ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/6 "2010-03-23T17:09:38Z")
Sorry **CW** , no can do. We are proud of our Og-given right to whine, bitch and piss and moan loudly and in all forms of media, when even the least littlest thing does not go the way we want. And since we (as a nation) have multiple personalities, that means that some portion of us will always be bitching about something. You’re welcome. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/7 "2010-03-23T17:52:18Z")
You … you guys had something going on about health care? The Devil you say! And it’s been so quiet round here. GD’s like the tomb! Although there seems to be some sort of gravedance party here in the BBQ - I suspect Goth teenagers… ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/8 "2010-03-23T18:57:03Z")
I don’t understand what the non-U.S. citizens had to do with it, since American conservatives weren’t listening to them, particularly. If HCR had been presented as being “just like” National Health in the UK, or whatever they call it in Canada, Australia, etc., it wouldn’t have passed. IMO that’s not necessarily a criticism of those places, but just a recognition of a political fact in this country, regarding the way that proposed social legislation has to be presented. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/9 "2010-03-23T19:39:12Z")
I was only referring to Dopeworld, not the US in general. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/10 "2010-03-23T22:20:56Z")
The pity of is is that over time US healthcare costs will decline, healthcare provision will no longer be a tax on US employers, a certain amount of labour market inflxibility will be removed, it will be easier for smaller and innovative start up companies to attract the right staff, and you’ll probably end up reducing industrial costs and be more competitive. Why couldn’t you have kept things as they were, escalating costs, makes it so much harder for the rest of us now, damn you, damn you all. ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/11 "2010-03-23T22:51:08Z")
Shucks, and there was I thinking that the ignore button had become the default setting. One small crack in American exceptionalism, one small step for mankind. ---
**Author:** ![LonesomePolecat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a88e57/32.png) [@LonesomePolecat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LonesomePolecat)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/12 "2010-03-23T23:41:35Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Thanks to all the Canadians, Aussies, Yurpeens of all stripes, and anyone I’m missing who has taken so much time here to educate the more obstinate of us about what quasi-universal health care is, how it works, and how well it succeeds out there in the real world. . [Here’s an example](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1255858/Neglected-lazy-nurses-Kane-Gorny-22-dying-thirst-rang-police-beg-water.html#ixzz0ipvOZCqe) of how wonderfully the National Health Service is succeeding. > [@](#): > > A man of 22 died in agony of dehydration after three days in a leading teaching hospital. > > Kane Gorny was so desperate for a drink that he rang police to beg for their help … > > The tragedy emerged a week after a report into **hundreds of deaths** at Stafford Hospital revealed the appalling quality of care given by many of the nurses. (Emphasis added) [Here’s another](http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1255842/Mother-Aida-Los-fury-babys-death-crisis-hit-John-Radcliffe-Hospital.html). > [@](#): > > The grieving mother of a baby girl who died at a crisis-torn hospital demanded to know last night if the death could have been avoided. > > Aida Lo told of her shock at learning that a further three babies had died at the same hospital in the ten weeks since her daughter Nathalie lost her life. > > The John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford this week suspended all heart surgery on children while it was last night confirmed that Caner Salih, the surgeon at the centre of the investigation, had left his job at the hospital. Gosh, the Euros are just so much cooler than we are. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2010, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/13 "2010-03-23T23:57:42Z")
> [@LonesomePolecat](#): > > Gosh, the Euros are just so much cooler than we are. Nobody ever claimed that other nations’ healthcare systems didn’t have any problems whatsoever. But anybody who imagines that the existing American healthcare system hasn’t had plenty of the same sort of problems is kidding themselves. > [@](#): > > [A Utah woman](http://www.aboutlawsuits.com/utah-hospital-infection-lawsuit-settles-1723/) who lost three limbs and multiple organs as a result of a hospital infection after the 2005 birth of her daughter, has reached a settlement of her medical malpractice lawsuit against the hospital. > > [The Tribune article detailed an outbreak of staphylococcus infections at Bridgeport Hospital](http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/27/nyregion/hospital-drops-legal-action-to-stem-tide-of-bad-publicity.html?pagewanted=1) in late 1996 and 1997. According to the report, the infections were the result of numerous unsanitary practices and conditions. Among other problems, The Tribune reported that a faulty ventilation system allowed dust and flies to be in the air during surgery and some doctors wore dirty clothes and did not wash their hands. > > After trying to do a good deed, [a Palo Alto man](http://www.justicenewsflash.com/2010/01/19/man-develop-infection-donating-blood-stanford-hospital-sued_201001193037.html) who donated blood at Stanford Hospital developed an infection, was denied medical care by the hospital when he couldn’t afford the costs anymore. Only an idiot would imagine that a non-UHC system is somehow magically superior to UHC systems when it comes to avoiding malpractice and failures of care. ---
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/14 "2010-03-24T00:50:20Z")
Who specifically are these superior foreigners who so patiently educated us? ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/15 "2010-03-24T00:52:28Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Now that we’ve finally jumped the big hurdle here in the US, and brought the largest remaining portion of our society out of the 19th century and into the 20th (we still have some catching up to do yet, but later), it’s time to express some gratitude where it’s due. > > I can’t even start to name names here, but: Thanks to all the Canadians, Aussies, Yurpeens of all stripes, and anyone I’m missing who has taken so much time here to educate the more obstinate of us about what quasi-universal health care is, how it works, and how well it succeeds out there in the real world. The task has obviously taken incredible patience and no small amount of forbearance on the part of all of you who have helped here. You needed to control your incredulity and suppress laughter, and you managed to do so. Much, much ignorance needed to be fought, and still does, but you have fought it well, in the highest traditions of Cecilianism. > > This Merkin is grateful to you all. This may be the most laughable, most pathetic, most stroke-seeking thread the board has ever seen. It oozes obsequiousness; reeks of desperation and the need for a hug. Pablum of the finest sort. Congratulations. and thanks for the giggles. The only question is how long before you feel embarrassed by it. (Note: quicker is better.) ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/16 "2010-03-24T00:57:58Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > If HCR had been presented as being “just like” National Health in the UK, or whatever they call it in Canada, Australia, etc., it wouldn’t have passed. It also would have been a lie, since what passed isn’t just like any of them. It’s ridiculous. Here we have all these health systems out there that give better results for lower costs than ours does that have been operating for decades, that have discovered by experimentation what works and what doesn’t. We had an unparallelled opportunity to cherry-pick the best of health care systems (including what is good in our current one) and we wind up arguing about death panels and communism. Sheesh. Sometimes I think we’re the world’s stupidest country. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/17 "2010-03-24T01:03:17Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > In gratitude, could you guys hold off on incessant complaining when your cobbled-together, worst of all worlds system doesn’t work very well? Kthxbai. I suspect the next complaint will be about the cost of the whole thing. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/18 "2010-03-24T01:11:19Z")
I hate to say it, but when it comes to debating UHC, it almost feels like I’m debating with a Flat Earther or a Creationist. Even though there are mountains of evidence that shows it works, no amount of evidence is going to be enough for those who oppose it. Now that the struggle is over, I should take a break for awhile just to preserve my own mental health. I don’t need to keep pushing this rock up a hill forever and ever like the legendary Sisyphus was forced to do. What makes me happy is the knowledge that their numbers are doomed to dwindle over time. 50 years from now, the notion of abolishing universal health care will be a lunatic fringe position akin to privatizing the roads or abolishing Fire Departments. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/19 "2010-03-24T01:21:37Z")
> [@magellan01](#): > > The only question is how long before you feel embarrassed by it. Well, if he doesn’t feel embarrassed by referring to himself as a “merkin”… ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2010, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493/20 "2010-03-24T01:23:42Z")
\*\*DEAR FELLOW NATIONS: :)PLEASE PARDON OUR DUST!🙂 WE ARE CURRENTLY UNDER RENOVATION We apologize for any inconvenience caused by our past backwardness and hope you’ll excuse the commotion as we attempt to approach the civility of the rest of the developed world! These exciting improvements will help us become better neighbors, and will result in a much higher level of service! (for ourselves, mostly) JOIN US FOR OUR GRAND RE-OPENING SCHEDULED FOR JULY 4, 20\*\*!! \*\* \*(\*\*NOTE: Date is contingent on the die-off rate and/or emigration to Somalia/Iran/North Korea of the traitorous fools who have been sabotaging our improvements. \*Check back often for updates!) THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thanks-to-the-non-users-for-your-patience/533493.md?page=2)