We in the Netherlands do have public healthcare. That said it also must bu mentioned that our society is radically different than yours. We too are a capitalistic country, but for most Americans we will be considered as a communistic state. I.e. government is all over the place
I will try to explain how that came. Don't feel like a history lesson, skip to the end....
In our history we see a certain development. Mid 19Th century we still had a king, but all over Europe things got wild. In order for the people to stay calm he offered to withdraw his powers for 'real' democracy. Liberal party became most powerful, but was run by the leaders of capitalism. When the Industrialization hit us late 19Th century -we were late, didn't really need it earlier- the situation of the poor became increasingly sad. Government was run by those who also ran industry and they were only about growing money, and becoming more rich. Not only did they pay low wages, also the workhours were awful (14-16 hours a day average), the working circumstances were ridiculously dangerous and everyone, even children age 6 had to help in the factories.
No one was able to do anything about this. No one cared for them cause we didn't have strong institutions to deal with it. Sure, the church would provide some help, but they didn't get political. The only people with the right to vote, were young man, that payed a certain amount of tax. That had to be rich people, hence people with well payed jobs IE, leaders of capitalism. So for years and years nothing happened.
In that time certain people rose against that. You had socialist people, christian people each with their own agenda. Socialist wanted equal rights for the poor, and they wanted the workers being able to also vote, that way being able to make altering in government. Christian parties wanted their schools to be payed by government also and they started to work together in order to get what they want. Due to pressure from society, like strikes done by the socialists, and huge political gatherings by the Christians, things changed. In 1917 everyone got the right to vote, well the men at least, 2 years later followed by women.
The changes made were obvious -in the eyes of the Dutch. Labor got protection from the government against the bosses they exploited their people. 8 hours work a day, minimum wage, some form of public healthcare etc.
After World War II the Netherlands had trouble getting back at their feet. We are a small country, and our economy is based on the service sector. Knowledge economy so you will. We got a lot of Marshall aid with which we were supposed to raise once again from the ashes. Well, what is the number 1 debit post on any company's balance? Wages. So government and companies made an agreement with the people. We will not raise the wages for years to come, in order for us to achieve some growth. In exchange for that they offered more social security. If you lose your job you get welfare, if you reach the age of 65, or have been employed for 40 years, you get welfare etc etc. We truly became a welfare state, but we chose it. That is important to notice. To pay all this we pay taxes, a lot of taxes. We pay taxes over the stuff we buy, over our wages, to drive our cars, etc etc. This to pay for the state we live in. It is built after the principle: we take care for eachother. History taught us that uncontrolled capitalism leads to the exploitation of men. Taught us, so I'm not saying that is will do everywhere (allthough my personal opinion is that it will)
End of history lesson.
Nowadays there are a lot of thing debates due to the crisis. Our society gets older, so the costs rise. We need to find money somehow to get it all payed. I can imagine that is odd in the eyes of some, cause it is troubling recovery from the crisis. On the other hand we all have benefits. We are secured of a base income, even without a job. Don't think that is fun, being unemployed even with the money, cause it is the absolute minimum, and you are obliged, in return of the welfare to take up any job you can.
We are secured of healthcare. The wife of a colleague of mine fell from the stairs and she has got weird complains. She is lying in a hospital, a good one, for over a week now. She's getting all kinds of scans, and she is likely to stay there for at least 2 more weeks. It will not cost her a thing.
The age at which you can quite working rose to 67 this week. Of course you can quite earlier, but then you have to pay for it yourself. Have you been successful, you can. Did you have normal wage, it is likely you are going to work till 67. After that you can retire, and you are 'rewarded' for what you have contributed to society.
I think capitalistic mechanism are not a good thing when it comes to healthcare. There should be no price on being healthy. Anyone should have the right being healthy without being ripped off. I know that it is debatable. But I dislike the growing power of insurance companies as much as I dislike the growing power of banks...still. I don't like it when people have to depend of things with as a maingoal to make the most money possible. Well.....I'll leave it to that. Hope that some one took the effort of reading,
EDIT:
Wow, made almost no mistakes in writing English
Topic: Public Healthcare (Read 2669 times)
