On a different note, I was interested and amused to see it advertised as “London” Oxford, this is in addition to other “London” airports such as Stansted, Lydd, Manston and in the pipline I believe Birmingham airport is also looking for the London title against their name once the fast rail link is in place.

You left out London Southend. 🙂

I wouldn’t say MOST.
Some certainly, but not most.

It’s certainly the case here in the UK, JB.

And that’s where I was talking about.

At the end of the day, it’s not a stupid liberal vs conservative argument…its common sense. Sadly, that’s in short supply in politicians of all parties.

On this, at least, we are in agreement.

I don’t follow your point. And you make exactly my point in your second paragraph.

I was trying to make the point that IF the 7 million did not use private care but used the NHS just how much would that extra burden reflect the NHS’ ability or inability to treat both them and the remainder of the population. I.e. it is fortunate for the NHS and the taxpayer that so many people are prepared to spend even more of their money privately.

I can see your point, but I don’t see the relevance and I certainly don’t accept it.

Not everyone who subscribes to private medical care falls ill, you know. And there are quite a number of types of medical condition that most private insurance doesn’t cover at all.

I also think you’re rather twisting what I said in my second paragraph to conform to your own political opinions. Which is, of course, something we all do.

Perhaps we’d best just agree to differ on this one, eh? 🙂

Stop wasting your keystrokes…on this topic…and many others…Grey Area knows what’s best for all. 😀
Let’s get him going on his athiest rant…that’s always fun. 😀

A highly constructive contribution to the discussion from JB, there. :rolleyes:

Indeed and where, I wonder, would the NHS be without the thriving private sector. At the last count 7 million people had health insurance and just to make sure our Amercian friends do not misunderstand, these 7 million pay twice, once through their taxes for the NHS and again for their health insurance. If the insurance is paid for by their employer then they are taxed on the benefit, anyway.

That’s something of a non-sequitur, if I may say so.

Your 7 million would still be paying the same level of tax and NI whether they chose to subscribe to private medical insurance or not.

If they’ve got the disposable income to do so, then good luck to them. What they choose to do with their own money is their own business.

Private medical insurance is not the only “benefit in kind” from employers that is taxable. Company cars and even car park spaces are treated in much the same way.

Even more fuel for the fire, Mr Halestead is involved…..:dev2:

Is that conjecture, or is there evidence?

Every American has health care….and all the illegals too. It is against the law for an emergency room to turn someone away who needs medical care.

It’s just not free, ie., it has a cost and the person receiving the care is supposed to pay for it.

Healthcare in the UK isn’t free either.

The NHS is paid for through direct taxation. We seldom think of it as compulsory medical insurance, for some reason.

By the way, people from the USA are often surprised to learn that there is also a thriving private sector in UK health care.

“one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

What are you? Some kind of communist? :diablo: