At the heart of it I don't think it is actually privatisation that causes the problem. Heartlessness and the general malaise of the minds of a population who think if you are down and out you probably deserve it. all of the west European nations have a two tier system where those who can purchase private plans, but those who cannot are still covered and protected to a level of dignity well spelled out by the UN, and frankly a level to which all of the major religions subscribe.

At least in the US a person in dyer need cannot be turned down in ER, here they can for not having the proper coverage. Our health care plan is not free, nor universal, and the bottom line social assistance version is a cut far below acceptable. Is it the government's job, or that of our communities? After all, who voted the bastards in to begin with? We live in countries with tremendous wealth and there isn't the charity to keep people in need falling through the cracks.

It fell apart when medicine became an "industry", doctors became corporations, and everyone was more concerned for their bottom line than mortality rates and matters involving quality of life. Who is to blame? For started a media who does not cover through proper investigation the atrocius manner in which people in need, persons guilty of nothing but being the unfortunate stricken by disease or disability. Press covering matters of medicine are more interested in breakthroughs, celebrity causes, and big newsworthy research studies, many of which are entirely provided to the media by the pharmaceutical companies.

So where does a suffering mortal go? Let me know, because I haven't been able to find answers either.

In no small part, it also was affected by the political correctness that followed the age of disco and selfishness. Once we were no longer thought of as crippled, or sick, lame but instead given some correct term to hang on to, palliative rather than dying, disabled rather than crippled, we now have images as capable persons no matter what, making us persons who can manage just fine. What happens when we cannot take care of ourselves or be useful members of society because we are just too sick or crippled? Well it is unpleasant and makes society feel like they might have failed and they'd rather sweep those notions under the rug where no one will see and no one will feel responsible to do something about it.

Until kindness comes back into fashion, it will be a very hard and painful tie for all of us branded as losers within this society. It was a sign when the funeral of Mother Teresa was so heavily overshadowed by the funeral of Princess Diana. More is done in the name of the princess than the saint. What a shock.