-- A little disclaimer to start things off, I'm from the UK, and thus my view of the NHS maybe is a little tainted, for the good--

Now then, onto the matter at hand. The problem lies, well, the first layer thereof lies, as I'm sure everyone knows in that in the USA (a fine country though it is) people must get insurance in order to have decent healthcare. Now, the next layer of problem is that people see a plan to install free health care for the uninsured as unpatriotic, socialist and for many people whom I've heard quoted "too Russian". This is considered an affront to all things free market.

Yet the question must surely be "why?" Look at the Swedes, with a system similar to that of the UK, and also some of the world's most known companies, it is surely living proof that anything as "socialist" as free health care for citizens does not take away a right to make money, but surely on an individual rate, it would encourage it?

The next layer in this cake of problem of course is tax. Most "right wing" people (the world over) will demonise anything and everything that forces upon them the (apparent) burden of taxation. But why is this? The amount paid for top whack Insurance must be quite steep, otherwise it wouldn't be the best. Compare that to an annual tax-fee, which is likely to be taken from the source, then I really cannot see a leg to stand on for the "it costs the tax-payer too much" argument.

But then, maybe most of us Europeans and the Canadians (to name but a few) are all wrong, and hey maybe the Cubans are wrong too, despite being some of the healthiest people in the Americas. Maybe our state subsidised schools are also too socilaist, because they dare to lay out a curriculum, which must be followed when taught, but not to the letter...

Regardless of that though, I'm glad Churchill lost the first post-War election, I'm glad that the Labour government of 1948 dared to introduce a health system, which has become not a privilege for citizens of the UK, but a right we vehemently defend whenever it is challenged.