93 Year Old WWII Vet Freezes to Death at Home...

[Aliantha]

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

My point is the comparisons are not so easily transferable. That is a fact.

Well, I don't think comparisons are meant to be an exact science. When making a comparison, you acknowledge both the similarities and the differences in order to reach some conclusive thought.

For example, many people have compared my extended family to that of an Italian or Greek family structure, but we're definitely not the same. For one thing, we speak a different language and eat different food, and there's not the same strict heirarchy, and we have a different religion, and a different culture, but there are definitely some striking similarities in that we all know our second and third cousins and associate regularly, and in general, any minor feuds are patched up pretty quickly for the sake of 'the family' at large in order to create a good environment/example for the kids. We've stuck together when lots of other families are becoming very nuclear.

[HungLikeJesus]

I'm more disturbed that the population of the world doubled in just 40 years.

[TheMercenary]

For example the population of Sweden is aproximately 9,045,389, the UK 60,943,912, Australia' 21,007,310. There is no way in hell you can compare those countries healthcare systems, based on various tax schemes, politics, social issues, demographics, etc based on a country like the US with a population of aproximately 303,824,640. No way.

[Aliantha]

Plenty of others seem to manage to compare various health care systems world wide.

For example, you could say that compared to the US, the current health care system in Somalia is very bad.

Anyone can make a comparison of any two (or more) things. Just because you don't agree, doesn't mean the comparison is invalid.

[classicman]

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

We as Americans do share a general culture, but that doesn't mean their aren't variations or subcultures between them. "Rural culture", "suburban culture", and even "urban culture", while different, share the same basic values as opposed to Arab culture, where the value system is much different.

What about the ethnic subcultures. They have very diverse value systems and care for their ill, elderly or infirm in many different ways.

Originally Posted by Aliantha

Plenty of others seem to manage to compare various health care systems world wide.

Most of them would be politicians. Just like statistics, they make their point and then use a comparison, good or bad - valid or not, to justify it.

[Aliantha]

Originally Posted by classicman

Most of them would be politicians. Just like statistics, they make their point and then use a comparison, good or bad - valid or not, to justify it.

Well I was implying that everyday people don't seem to have a difficulty in making comparisons. It happens on this board all the time.

We very rarely have reports of our health care system being compared to that of other countries in the media here. Mainly it's reports about what's wrong and what should be fixed and how much it will cost according to what person.

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by classicman

What about the ethnic subcultures. They have very diverse value systems and care for their ill, elderly or infirm in many different ways.

Explain what you mean.

Ethnic Somalis living in the United States usually practice Somali culture with obvious American, more African-American in this case, traits. If you are using their value systems I wouldn't call it American.

I don't know if we are on the same page or not.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

Explain what you mean.

Ethnic Somalis living in the United States usually practice Somali culture with obvious American, more African-American in this case, traits. If you are using their value systems I wouldn't call it American.

I don't know if we are on the same page or not.

Dude, you are drifting out to sea.

[TheMercenary]

No, Somalia's health care plan has never been floated in this country as something to behold and to be emulated. The others have and they would not work in the same way with the same set of rules that those countries have as the basis for their plans.

[Aliantha]

I think the reason Australian and UK health care systems are compared to that of the US so often is simply because as nations we do share similar (multi) cultures and the basic structures are also very similar.

I'm sure there are some great things about the US health care system, but from what I have learned, I definitely prefer the one we have here because medical assistance seems so much more accessible and affordable for everyone. In saying that though, I have to acknowledge that it is a biased view. If I lived in a rural area I doubt I'd feel the same or if I were an indigenous person living in a remote community.

Each has good and bad points, and I think the point of making the comparison between different countries is to inform ourselves on what we're failing in and what we're succeeding in.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Aliantha

I think the reason Australian and UK health care systems are compared to that of the US so often is simply because as nations we do share similar (multi) cultures and the basic structures are also very similar.

I'm sure there are some great things about the US health care system, but from what I have learned, I definitely prefer the one we have here because medical assistance seems so much more accessible and affordable for everyone. In saying that though, I have to acknowledge that it is a biased view. If I lived in a rural area I doubt I'd feel the same or if I were an indigenous person living in a remote community.

Each has good and bad points, and I think the point of making the comparison between different countries is to inform ourselves on what we're failing in and what we're succeeding in.

It reminds me of the time on active duty and while on exchange with UK forces. They marveled at how big our forces resources were while I marveled at the simplicity of their structure. Great observations and there is much we can learn from each other, but to think that we can simply solve each others problems by adapting the others process and structure is pure fantasy. Same goes for our health care systems.

[Aliantha]

I agree. We have a totally different economic structure here and the UK is different again. I see Australia as being somewhere in the middle of the US and the UK as far as health care goes.

[classicman]

No PH, I wasn't talking about Somalis at all.

[piercehawkeye45]

Originally Posted by classicman

No PH, I wasn't talking about Somalis at all.

I was using them as an example. Why didn't you define ethnic subcultures as I asked?

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

Explain what you mean.

Do you mean Chinese-American versus European American, do you mean rural America versus suburban America, or do you mean something completely different?

Either way, since the Oakland County police officers dealt with the problem, we can conclude that he lived in the bay area. That either means he lived in a urban or suburban environment. In either of those environments, there sometimes is no safety net for people who are alone and this is the result. The government doesn't have a responsibility, the utility company doesn't have a responsibility, his family doesn't have a responsibility.

In both suburban and rural areas, people live a very independent lifestyle so it is no surprise that something like this will happen every once in a while. Precautions should be taken, but they cannot be guaranteed 100% effective.

[HungLikeJesus]

Originally Posted by piercehawkeye45

...
Either way, since the Oakland County police officers dealt with the problem, we can conclude that he lived in the bay area. That either means he lived in a urban or suburban environment...

Just a point of clarification - he lived in the small city of Bay City, Michigan, which is in Bay County, and which is located right on the web (that area where the thumb meets the rest of the hand). Incidentally, this is the town which the Bay City Rollers named themselves after.