I'm not sure BD is claiming a direct link, maybe a more general statement. I certainly find it very amusing that such an advanced, prodigious and proud nation doesn't view universal health care as a firmly founded right of it's citizens. Especially when it looks to it's neighbours and friends and has nothing but sneers for them for caring for the sick and ailing.

In defence of the NHS: I'm glad I didn't break my leg in the US | Society | The Guardian

'Evil and Orwellian' – America's right turns its fire on NHS | World news | The Guardian

A little food for thought for you there. A couple of comments regarding the second article: the guy that glued the crown into his tooth was looking for a local NHS dentist to do the job but did it himself because he could only find dentists with books open to do this privately which he would have had to fully pay for. The situation is no different in America, except he wouldn't have had the opportunity to even look for an NHS dentist in the first place. Do a bit of digging and talk to the right people there's no doubt an endless list of Americans who take up home dentistry to avoid the cost. As for the brain tumour patient, even if the entire suggestion weren't a fallcious rumour he would still have the option to get his care from a private health service but would have to pay for it out of his own pocket. Which is already what happens in America ...

The anti-health care arguments being used by right wingers really baffle me.

On the same show i linked above (not the same clip mindyou) they had the congressional rep from Brooklyn on who is a shining example of how democrats can still have a spine (and balls). He's pushing hard for single-payer, he knows his arguments well, and it seems healthcare is his issue. One of the better statements I'll paraphrase is...

"What does an HMO do? What benefit does it give you with health insurance? Most people are conflating, because there has been Propaganda supporting it, Insurance companies and their doctors. Most people like their doctor, not their insurance company.

This business model doesn't work for insurance, people don't choose to get asthma and they don't shop around when they have it."

I saw him, he was very good. I liked when he was asked "but won't this support illegal immigrants?" and his response was basically "if an illegal immigrant walks into an emergency room they have to treat him. You're supporting them already, this makes no difference."

The interviewer is pretty good too. Pushy but without being negatively biased.

I love Chris Matthews, but some of the regulars are probably rolling their eyes at that one. I don't think he's infallable, he's just the best out there right now.

Since the dems are moving away from Public Option he's trying to see what, if anything, we'll get. The question where he listed 4 points and asked if he'd vote yes was a gem because he said no based on a lack of price controls.

The liberal democrats are the only one out there for the people on this. The Republicans have for some reason been against this since Eisenhower back in 1950. Their doing nothing but flying on Pfizers jet these days and doing everything they can to destroy a public option - which is at least fair.

That's just an observation. Like Fal said, there is no link between the two.

Dying for affordable healthcare — the uninsured speak | Society | The Guardian

"Many of the people I treat have already been in front of a death panel and have lost – a death panel controlled by insurance companies. I see people dying at least monthly because we have been unable to get them what they needed."

hm