That's sort of hard to work out (it depends how what you mean by the average - the average of the taxed population or the average per capita, for example and the NHS's bill isn't separated off from the rest of it on your payslip).
Interestingly however, it's probably less than a US taxpayer pays. According to the WHO in 2006 (latest figures I could find with a quick google) the US government spent $3,076 per capita, whereas the UK government spent $2,457 (using price purchase parity). For reference the total per capita healthcare (i.e. both public and private) was $6,719 for the US and $3,332 for the U.K.
If you say you need antibiotics for something, chances are in the US you can get them for whatever weak reason, with socialized healtcare if you have a non-common illness the answer will always be to wait longer.
Again, bullshit. If I need antibiotics for something, my doctor writes me a prescription for antibiotics, and I go get it filled. Of course, if I don't actually need antibiotics, my doctor doesn't have an incentive to feed me medication that I don't actually need.
And this is a very good thing. Over-prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics leads to drug-resistance emerging (at best) earlier than it would otherwise do. This can be compounded by not completing the course (which is a lot more likely if you weren't that ill in the first place - you may well stop when you start to fell better).
Which means that not only is it not true that you can't get antibiotics when you need them under a "socialised" health care system, but it's also the case that we're all better off because you don't get antibiotics when you don't really need them.
That and being underpaid. If you don't earn enough to live on (or feel you don't) you'll take advantage of your position so that you can (via bribery, theft or fraud, whichever is most appropriate). In public service it becomes a kind of informal tax system, and was prevalent everywhere until relatively recently (e.g. the Elizibethan English navy were expected to suppliment their income by piracy, private voyages, and awarding supply contracts to themselves).
This is particularly important in the police force where they become almost nothing more than a legally sanctioned gang, for sale to the highest bidder. This makes the neutral rule of law somewhat problematic.
M: So 007, I see from our logs you spend most of last month playing second life.
007: I was... uhhhh looking for terrorists - yes that's it they're using second life to train. And World of Warcraft, in fact I plan to spend next month doing a detailed survey of their training techniques, so if the department could see it's way clear to paying for my account...
All staff are reminded that all agreements encouraging distributors to distribute Microsoft products are illegal and should not be offered to partners. Specifically the practices and strategies listed here: "Extra_Legal_Expenses_for_Beginners" should not be used, and staff are specifically not to offer inducements based on the scales listed here "Hospitality_and_Discounts", and absolutely should not use the codes listed here "Expense_Codes_666" when submitting their expense claims.
Thank you for you co-operation, and remember the motto of the week : "Service them with a Smile"
I remember hearing Rodger Waters talking about this. He likened it to the government taking away your house after 50 years, quietly ignoring the fact that he'd managed to sell said house 14 million times in the interim, and still possessed the house.
Slashdot Mirror
That's sort of hard to work out (it depends how what you mean by the average - the average of the taxed population or the average per capita, for example and the NHS's bill isn't separated off from the rest of it on your payslip). Interestingly however, it's probably less than a US taxpayer pays. According to the WHO in 2006 (latest figures I could find with a quick google) the US government spent $3,076 per capita, whereas the UK government spent $2,457 (using price purchase parity). For reference the total per capita healthcare (i.e. both public and private) was $6,719 for the US and $3,332 for the U.K.
If you say you need antibiotics for something, chances are in the US you can get them for whatever weak reason, with socialized healtcare if you have a non-common illness the answer will always be to wait longer.
Again, bullshit. If I need antibiotics for something, my doctor writes me a prescription for antibiotics, and I go get it filled. Of course, if I don't actually need antibiotics, my doctor doesn't have an incentive to feed me medication that I don't actually need.
And this is a very good thing. Over-prescription of broad-spectrum antibiotics leads to drug-resistance emerging (at best) earlier than it would otherwise do. This can be compounded by not completing the course (which is a lot more likely if you weren't that ill in the first place - you may well stop when you start to fell better).
Which means that not only is it not true that you can't get antibiotics when you need them under a "socialised" health care system, but it's also the case that we're all better off because you don't get antibiotics when you don't really need them.
An ultimately I believe from Terry Pratchett. I can't remember which one though..
That and being underpaid. If you don't earn enough to live on (or feel you don't) you'll take advantage of your position so that you can (via bribery, theft or fraud, whichever is most appropriate). In public service it becomes a kind of informal tax system, and was prevalent everywhere until relatively recently (e.g. the Elizibethan English navy were expected to suppliment their income by piracy, private voyages, and awarding supply contracts to themselves).
This is particularly important in the police force where they become almost nothing more than a legally sanctioned gang, for sale to the highest bidder. This makes the neutral rule of law somewhat problematic.
Hope you're including a copy of the relevant version of Windows and a virtual machine that will run it in that archive
M: So 007, I see from our logs you spend most of last month playing second life.
007: I was... uhhhh looking for terrorists - yes that's it they're using second life to train. And World of Warcraft, in fact I plan to spend next month doing a detailed survey of their training techniques, so if the department could see it's way clear to paying for my account...
From: sb@microsft.com
To: All staff
All staff are reminded that all agreements encouraging distributors to distribute Microsoft products are illegal and should not be offered to partners. Specifically the practices and strategies listed here: "Extra_Legal_Expenses_for_Beginners" should not be used, and staff are specifically not to offer inducements based on the scales listed here "Hospitality_and_Discounts", and absolutely should not use the codes listed here "Expense_Codes_666" when submitting their expense claims.
Thank you for you co-operation, and remember the motto of the week : "Service them with a Smile"
SB
You got there before me. Based on my experience this should lower the figures by a factor of about five.
I remember hearing Rodger Waters talking about this. He likened it to the government taking away your house after 50 years, quietly ignoring the fact that he'd managed to sell said house 14 million times in the interim, and still possessed the house.