Fine by me, Grey. It would be a boring old world if we all agreed with each other, wouldn’t it?:)

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

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.

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.

And I agree totally with your third paragraph and your fourth, which I was not discussing in any case.

No we pronounce j as j and y as y(it is a vowel after all:cool:);)
You guys just pronounce y as j and j as “tse”

How do you pronounce “ja” and “joulua”? We pronounce “y” as “ye”, as it is spelt. And “j” more as “dzay”.

I was just wondering, hearing interviews with desperate, starving, people how the hundreds of media and and NGO representatives are surviving.

Where is their shelter, food and water? And if they have it, why have they?

Shouldn’t every resource be focussed on the survivors, only? Apart from the US servicemen and logistics, isn’t there an argument for everyone else to leave the country until some order, food, water and sanitation is restored?

hehhe silly englanders…in here H is pronounced H…like every other letter as for that matter, pronounced like written. Makes life alot easier:rolleyes:

But you pronounce “j” as “y”……….;)

I saw this elsewhere posted by a US citizen, Republican obviously, but nevertherless that point of view is fairly clear.

“His health care plan has been a disaster. The majority of Americans are against it. The buy offs to states like Nebraska and unions is a disgrace. Our health care cost will go up, not down or even stay the same and not to mention bankrupt the nation. Our quality will go down as well. The way the Democrats have handled this issue is a disgrace.”

Grey Area

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

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.

Frankvw

“While a socialised healthcare works and is necessary here.”

Mmm – up to a point, but it doesn’t half need a make-over! But your comments about the differences in culture are well made. Most Brits are seeing the problem through their eyes and whereas there would always be a majority vote here for a form of NHS, the split is close to 50/50 in the USA.