This is a very interesting thread. I agree with part of why my liberal friend, kat, had to say. I really am surprised that so many of you sound like (Horrors!) U. S. Republican conservatives. Her take on the U. S. Welfare system differes a bit from mine though. I think the revisions in the welfare program were positive and I believe a lot more people who depended upon our welfare system to sustain them are working now than before the revisions.

I agree totally with so many of you that if a person can work, they should work rather than depend upon the kindness of those who do. I guess kindness is not the word, though, because they are tax funds (welfare) and we have little to say about that.

kat is right in that the health insurance companies in the U. S. have a lot to say about patient treatment. The reason for that, though, is they are private companies and there are lots of them. You can choose which one you want, pay the premiums, but then you must abide by their rules. I, myself, have not had any problems with the company that I am insured with, but I know many people have had problems. The only government health program we have is Medicare and Medicade, which is available primarily to citizens 65 years of age or older. Medicare does not pay for prescription drugs, but many people participate in HMO insurance companies affiliated with Medicare, and prescription drug allowances are usually available through those programs.

I agree totally with Swirlygirl on the alcholic situation. I can't imagine why an alcholhic would be paid to be one, and that is essentially what is happening, it seems to me. And it is a real puzzlement why Swirlygirl, who was born with only one hand, would not be considered disabled. Boggles my mind.

I hope a lot of our liberal friends on the Mudcat read this thread because if they had their way, our economic sytem would be dumped in favor of a system more akin to yours. No thanks, I say.

DougR