Considering the way information travels on the net? It’s best that I hold off.

Btw, just got back from Monterrey, Mexico…:-)

Too late!

I think those of you who are opposed to Obamacare, might want to stick to finding the numerous faults with it, rather than pretending that the current HCR proposal is equivalent in any way to universal government health care as implemented quite successfully in a number of foreign countries and then nitpicking this or that fault with country X’s health care system.

Just my two cents.

Regarding Sweden, this is my point: their healthcare system, given the trade-offs of cost, equality, and even technology, is likely better on net than ours.

But, and this is a big BUT, its better for uniquely Swedish reasons. To say it another way, the reason their healthcare system works is unique to their culture and environment, the same healthcare system would not operate the same here.

You agree with me that Swedes are much happier with their health care than we are with ours.

You agree with me that this does not come at the expense of future prosperity.

Now your argument is that Swedes are just not capable of recognizing how inferior their system is. Not to be insulting, but… Is that really all you’ve got? Is it worth debating? How could I possibly counter such a subjective argument?

Finding data is more work than I’m willing to do, but the ratio of doctors to people in North Korea is reportedly about 1 to 750. In Ethiopia it is 1 to 48,000. It’s fair to assume Somalia would be worse than that.

If I was sick I would definitely take North Korea over Somalia. I’m very, very surprised you don’t agree. On what data do you base that decision?

If we are to talk about Sweden specifically, I would argue point 1: different culture.

For example, Sweden can get away with paying its doctors much less than we could because of their cultural differences, see here.

Second, the USA would not tolerate Swedish wait times, see here.

In short, what works in Sweden would not work here.

It sounds like your argument is “Sure Swedes have great health care, but it’s bankrupting the country.” Fine, that’s a reasonable argument if you can support it with the data.

In particular, you might want to make the case (if you can) that Sweden is headed towards bankruptcy. Or at least has budgetary issues. Can you make that case? Because otherwise, your argument doesn’t really appear to hold water.