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No no no! Though I can understand your error. Our tax system is painfully difficult to understand. 0-6000 pounds is tax free, 6-12000 is 10p, 12-24000 (about) is 21p, 24-36000 is 38 or so. You only pay it on the relevent part of your wage. so for the first 6000 you pay nothing, for the second 6000 you pay 10p (per pound, 10%), the next 12000 you pay 21p on the pound. ETC. It’s all staged, you are not taxed on the top rate for your pay on all of your pay. I hope that’s clear as it can be!

That isn't much different than ours where we have deductions based on number of people in your household, etc. The net result though is that in the UK you have almost a double tax burden. (I was just using those numbers to keep the calculation clean)..
But the other point that everyone else is pointing out is that it is not ‘free’. You are paying for it with your tax dollars. Wouldn't you rather have the dollars in your hand to choose the type of service you have versus having the money taken from you and the service handed back with you having no choice in the matter? If your market was free and open for healthcare, you could choose the plan that fits your needs, maybe spend more, maybe spend less, but it is your plan.

Actually that was very clear, and an important distinction. However.. Having been in the military myself and being exposed to the miltary healthcare system which works in effect exactly the same as any other socialized miedicine system I can point out a few of it’s detractor’s.

1. We had no choice when it came to who our physician was, whoever happened to be on duty that day was who we got and there was no way to determine whether or not our caregiver was brilliant or just barely adequate.

2. Because people would use the system to get out of work, the doctor’s had a tendency to not believe you when you described your issues and would often tell you the equivalent of ‘take two aspirin and call me in the morning if it still bothering you’. I had a personal experience with this suffering from bronchitis and it was only after my lungs had become infected and I had passsed out on my commander that I was finally given appropriate treatment.

3. If caregiver’s are making a flat fee there is no incentive to put in extra hours or go above and beyond the call of duty.

RE: Your tax rates discussion, rates here in the US are marginal rates as well. As for health care; the downside of socialized medicine is related to quality and rationing. Health care in the UK is good but not great, that is why people who can afford it come to the US for treatment, it is why I never used the NHS when I lived in the UK, I didn't have to. We may all be faced with socialized medicine as the only alternative to deal with aging populations, but let's be clear, it is a sub optimal solution for patients.

Same here...it’s tiered.

So it’s gravy if you don’t make much in the first place.

So if being poor is a way of life, and you’re content off living off the backs of others...it’s all good.

And the more you make, the more is taken from you to cover the perpetually lazy, disabled...

Yup...we’re trying desperately to AVOID more of that over here!