THRIVE

There are a few notable nations which grace our globe and display excellent socialized health care systems: France, Canada, Cuba, and England used to be a part of this list.  However, there are a few key reasons why they are able to fund such a costly universal service.

1. They spend very little on national defense - the US spends VERY much
2. They are relatively protected nations with allies who will defend them should another nation attack
3. They keep a keen eye on their borders and have very little illegal immigration (or any kind of immigration for that matter)
4. Their population is much more involved in politics and do a much better job of keeping their government leaders in check (IE: their media contains less bias and the people lobby and march more)
5. The general population values “solidarity” where as the general US population holds to “every man for himself”

For these five reasons I believe socialized health care of any kind (even Barack’s “public option”) simply will not work in the foreseeable future unless the US makes a concerted effort to address and change accordingly in regard to each reason.  Even in my optimism, this seems unlikely.AMERICA: prove me wrong, I dare you.