Stephen Hawking: He's Doing Science And He's Still Alive

[bloodyrosemccoy]

I keep wanting to post this, but every time I try to I wind up laughing in a disconcertingly maniacal fashion until I fall down, and the laughs morph indistinguishably into sobs.

My favorite argument ever for why healthcare reform is going to bring about the end of the world has arrived, in the form of an editorial the Investor’s Business Daily.

In a nutshell,* the author notes that if Stephen Hawking lived in the UK, he would be dead.

Because, you see, their National Health Services would have deemed him unworthy and never have given him health care.

Eventually, of course, some more informed soul tapped the editor on the shoulder and discreetly notified him that Stephen Hawking is British, and he corrected the editorial.

But I think it’s already damaged their case a bit, frankly. Top that, daft arguments!


*Har.

Comments

[die-monster.livejournal.com]

I don't claim to be an expert on foreign health care, but wouldn't he gave just...gone to a private doctor? Idk why people are flailing so wildly about this issue, we aren't gonna become Nazis if we do it, wtf. Do they think Canada is full of Nazis? All porn, legal weed and booze there, not a luftwaffe in sight.

[kiaransalyn.livejournal.com]

Speaking as an Englishman married to an American, we have a fairly informed viewpoint on the NHS and American healthcare. In the UK, prescription birth control is free or cheap. In the US, Kate says she would have to pay for it. When Kate has appendicitis, she was in Scotland, which meant she was treated for free. The idea was basically, this woman may die let's save her, not this woman is American and won't pay for the treatment. What does free mean in this context. Basically, all of those who work pay National Insurance, this sum is matched by the employers.

We've been monitoring the latest Republican scare-stories and their attacks on a close ally. Quite why the British haven't the guts to stand up and clearly say that an awful lot of falsehoods are being uttered is beyond me. But perhaps they knew that all they really had to do was wait.

Last year, when I was flying back to Germany from Denver, I was sat next to an American woman. We were both parents of one year old daughters, so we had something to chat about. At some point, she started on about how socialist Europe was. I took this in good humour then mentioned that as a consequence of living in Germany, Kate and I received €150 a month Elterngelt, this was money for the first year of Gwen's live to help us buy a stroller and a crib amongst other things. We also receive a further €150 a month Kindergelt, which we use for Gwen's clothes and nappies/diapers. She went a bit quiet, then said she got nothing from her government.

I've been to America many times. Most Americans are lovely kind people who work very hard. Yet they get a very raw deal from the plutocrats in power. Ben Franklin and George Washington would be dismayed by what their country has become. Yet they would still see that the American spirit is still there and that means all is not lost. They just need a leader with backbone. I hope Mr Obama is that leader.

[fenmere.livejournal.com]

You are the first person outside of my Grandparents to identify the U.S. system of Government is plutocratic. That may be part of problem over here. We've forgotten what these words mean, and in fact a lot of people are immediately dismissed as conspiracy nuts for using them.

[pandoras-closet.livejournal.com]

I think at least part of the problem is that American mindset is grounded rather firmly in the idea of we the people.

That is, we beat the biggest empire in the world to win our independance (with help from France), we have a unique goverment, and anyone can be anything if they work hard.

So the idea that we need some sort of help is repugnant.

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

I think if I were British I'd just be kind of staring dumbfounded at the whole fiasco at this point.

Hell, I'm AMERICAN and I'm kind of staring dumbfounded. I'm less shocked by the raw deal the guys on top give the rest of us (angry, but cynically unsurprised) than I am at the way those getting screwed think these crazy policies are beneficial. It's dishearteningly obtuse.

I think Obama will help, but he is having to fight the whole way. And I do think distrust in the concept that a black guy might be the voice of reason is a very big part of the problem.

[shriekingsnape.livejournal.com]

hahahaha. That article made my day.
Editorial Fail.

[ravenofdreams.livejournal.com]

Somebody was making that same Hawking-based argument on my bus home yesterday, and was Very Shocked to have their pontificating disrupted by my pointing out that Hawking is British. The look on his face was BRILLIANT.

...And people wonder why a) I'm for national healthcare, and b) think that a large number of my "fellow Americans" are morons.

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

I'm kind of amazed that they actually listened to you on that. I'd half-expect them to snap, "Well, that's YOUR opinion!" when you pointed out he's British.

[ravenofdreams.livejournal.com]

Jasper and I are pretty well known (to be colossal nerds) on this bus. It also may have helped that I was blatantly reading Science.

[gwalla.livejournal.com]

Damn, I wish I could have seen that. I don't think I would've been able to keep a straight face.

[killabee886.livejournal.com]

What cracks me up are Republicans trying to scare us of these "death panels" that are going to come. When the truth of the matter is: they're already here.

You could pay medical insurance for years, but get sick, and your insurance company will find any way they can to walk away from you. Any excuse, any documents you fail to fill out correctly, you went to the wrong doctor, etc. to make sure they don't have to pay for your care and it's disgusting.

Anyone who claims these "death panels" are coming has probably never been/or had a loved one get sick.

[neintales.livejournal.com]

Or were ground into believing that somehow they DESERVED what happened. The whole "I.. really was too stupid to realize I needed a 508c form in triplicate, I should have read that fine print...so..."

Or are indeed being suckered into thinking the government IS and always HAS been to blame (ignore that it was republican sometimes too people!). After all some of these stupid gits are in fact from areas with huge unemployment, which means huge gaping holes in health care, and also education about health care because the lobbyists want to be SURE they don't see the truth, ugly as it is.

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

VERY YES.

[renshai.livejournal.com]

I like how they seem to be misinterpreting what "end-of-life care" means. I'm pretty sure it refers to the choice to have care come in, have housekeeping come in, leave your home, go to a seniors residence, assisted living, a hospice, live with relatives, etc etc.

Since, you know, I'm pretty sure euthanasia is actually still illegal in the States. And Canada. And the UK.

[tay421.livejournal.com]

I'd say that people need to study before making great claims, but then it wouldn't be quite as funny when they did things like this.

That said, I can't wait until I'm able to apply for British citizenship. D:

[queenlyzard.livejournal.com]

Your tag is perfect. Also, yes, brilliant.

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

*grin* I love that quote. Oh, Morbo. Probably my second favorite newsman, after Jon Stewart.