Stats can be manipulated to suit a person's needs. I wouldn't give Stan too much credit by calling him a Socialist, he's nothing more than another blind Democrat with his hand on the seeing eye dog's handle, he goes where the dog (Democratic Party) takes him. Just another bobble head.

Ok Walter. Your argument is that WHO does an apples to oranges comparison. What happens to the numbers when they are normalized?

What the hell could a Doctor know about health care? Next time I am sick, I will go to Stan Guido for treatment.

Jon, you may have to wait until he regains his eyesight, I hear his seeing eye dog is a pit bull and you know how they bite. Just keep going to a Dr while they are available.

Oh, did you hear that the Government is now saying that women over 40 should not have mammograms once a year, they are now saying women over 50 should have them every two years. This is just another example of the improved healthcare, cut the services. Let's see how they gut Medicare. Is this the beginning of the Death Panel recommendations? if the cancer is found in an advanced stage, the patient will surely die thus decreasing the amount of health care required, is this where the savings are going to come from?

Go Obama, go. You really have to be a brainless, witless, blind follower to love this.

Loomis, You are correct. This is the beginning of our government run health care. They’re already starting to work on the European model. Europeans are 8 times more likely to die from breast cancer than Americans. They’re approximately 9 times more likely to die from prostate cancer than we are. The preventative care where socialized medicine is dominant is absolutely horrible. Our care here is second to none. We have the best. You will never satisfy 100% of the people. There will always be those few who will cry about everything that doesn’t go their way. They have done studies now showing that one of the reasons our infant mortality rates are higher is because our care is so GOOD. For example, an expecting mother that has experienced problems will go on to deliver a baby that in other nations would have been lost in the womb. Additionally, we are gluttons here. Our obesity rates are through the roof. It is a testament to the great care we receive here that we have been able to reach the mortality rates that we have reached. If this latest government report doesn’t wake up the bubbleheads in America, nothing will. Wake up people!

It's not the doctors. It's the medical groups they belong to, big Pharma and of course the insurance companies. Once these are gutted medical care costs will fall and those naysayers will be delighted. Everything else is arguing for arguments sake. P50 can I borrow your crystal ball?

God knows you need one. I notice you didn’t address any of the information provided. We can address the doctor groups, big pharma and insurance companies. We don’t have to have a failed government run, socialized medical system to have health care reform. We can have coverage for everyone, bring costs down and maintain the best quality health care in the world.

Chuxxr, the mammogram edict did not come from big pharma or medical groups or insurance companies it came from a Government committee. Maybe we're seeing the birth of the death of good medical care for the sake of "we all have access to crappy medical services". hey, they have to save money somewhere, this is just the start.

It still totally ignores the issue that 15 to 20% of the country is not in the medical insurance system and that there are 50 to 70 million people each year who don't have medical insurance, and thus must either do without , rely on charity, or go bankrupt to receive medical care.

Since there are other first world, civilized nations that are not as wealthy as ours is, per capita, yet they spend LESS per person (about half of what we pay in this country) and still have better overall stats for many different health statistics, AND they COVER EVERYONE, just what exactly is the advantage of arguing for the status quo other than to say:

health insurance companies can continue to run their lottery scams of denying 25% or more of all claims

and certain people don't "deserve" healthcare

and this country is not capable of having a BETTER system and should continue to force people to beg, while the insurance system and the pharma and other medical interests continue to game the system to drive up costs.

Here's a little info why the European rate is higher than the US for breast cancer. Stats from National Cancer Institute

All races 127.8 per 100,000 women

White 132,5 '' '''

Black 118.3 '''' ''''

Asian/Pacific Islander 89.0 '''''

American Indian/Alaska Native 69.8 '''

So if you are white you are in the top incident bracket.. Maybe that explains the Marin cluster.

When i looked at the UK sites they are very aware that they have a problem and they treat everybody.

Canyonrat purposely avoids the truth. Everyone agrees that everyone should be able to obtain coverage with no pre-x conditions. As usual Canyonrat’s numbers are quite different from everyone else’s, including the Democrats. We need some change to the system we have in place now, the greatest health care system in the world. P4V, nice try but no cigar, I realize this is just your surmising, but there is a very good reason for the European countries having these horrible stats; their government run system seeks to save money by watering down the preventative care. Does that sound familiar? Please look at what our government just attempted to shove down our throats, women beware.

Dear Patrick,

One of the best places to look for the effects of preventative care is in premature births and infant mortality. Healthy women don't tend to have premature births and their babies are stronger.

As we all know, the US is near the bottom of the international stats in this case.

Everyone agrees that the US is great at prolonging life in the extremities of disease. Having watched 3 relatives die of cancer (2 with maximum resources and health care coverage and one on Medical) I can say that, for me, the jury is definitely out as to how long I would want to fight my body in its death throes. I'm not for euthanasia, I'm just saying that I noticed their bodies would have given them an easier way out if they would have chosen to die of a lesser issue (ie blood clot) I won't mention a lot of details because it is all very sad and horrific. At some point in the cancer dying process living becomes a teter toter between lucidity and morphine. If the body is maintained by t medical technology the cancer just continues to eat away at it as long as it is alive. So where do you call it quits? That's everyone's personal decision and being personal I suppose culture does have a factor.

P4V, I have to disagree with your first sentence. Please see my 11/18 post. I do, however, agree with the rest of your post. It is a personal matter. Many continue to fight and ultimately win the battle against cancer. I actually am for euthanasia. I think it is a person’s right to end there pain if they wish. I am simply pointing out the problem socialized medicine has with preventative care. The fact that they are more likely to die from breast cancer and prostate cancer is telling. Thanks for the respectful post, BTW.

If I am to be labeled a Socialist, so be it. Here is the word socialism defined, and not by the WHO or the U.N.

political system of communal ownership: a political theory or system in which the means of production and distribution are controlled by the people and operated according to equity and fairness rather than market principles

Hmmm, controlled by the people and operated according to equity and fairness. What kind of person would want to live in a society with those ideals? Growing up in Santa Clara, CA. in the heart of Silicon valley, that bastion of communal ownership, I recall that the city owned and operated their own garbage collection, water services, police and fire depts. the dump, Parks and Recreation, the jails and much more. The county had the Sheriff's Dept, had balilffs in the courtrooms, ran all communications, dispatch of all emergency vehicles, the county fair etc.

Whatever wasn't handled by those two, the State and federal govt. took care of. Roads, freeways, expressways, bridges, virtually our entire infrastructure was dependent upon some form of Govt. Agency. Anything private was under the scrutiny of oversight or regulation and was taxed as a form of revenue, ostensibly to insure that services people rely upon are serving "THE PEOPLE" WHO THEY WERE INTENDED TO SERVE.

Not socialism, but capitalism within a democracy...

At least many of the Socialists here are starting to come out of the closet and admit being a socialist. I respect them for the honesty. I disagree with their politics, but I respect them for admitting the truth.