Posted on 05/26/2026 5:13:31 AM PDT by MtnClimber
The failures of socialized medicine stem not from malice, but from inherent incentives: monopolistic structures, political allocation of resources, and suppressed innovation.
I am regularly astonished at how many people -- often younger folks -- praise the supposed benefits of socialism and single‑payer health care. Despite extensive evidence to the contrary, and despite daily tragedies in systems that have adopted these models, the calls for more government intervention never seem to stop.
Socialized medicine, exemplified by Britain’s National Health Service (NHS), was founded on noble ideals: universal access to care “free at the point of use,” funded collectively as a national treasure. Yet the system now struggles with chronic shortages, soaring wait times, and structural failures that disproportionately harm the elderly and the disabled. Similar patterns are emerging in Canada with Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD). These systems illustrate how government monopolies -- despite high spending -- often produce rationing, inefficiency, and desperation rather than dependable care.
Millions of people in England sit on waiting lists, including “unseen patients” referred by general practitioners (GPs) but never contacted for treatment. This is not a temporary post‑COVID anomaly; it is a systemic breakdown. Thousands wait more than 12 hours for emergency admission, and ambulance response times for strokes and heart attacks routinely exceed targets, contributing to rising excess deaths.
Elderly Britons are especially affected. Reports describe seniors feeling “fobbed off,” struggling to access GPs, facing canceled operations, and falling through gaps in social care. Surveys show that two‑thirds of people over 50 doubt the NHS can cope, and many express despair. Patients battle phone queues and online portals, often without ever seeing a doctor.
Backlogs also endanger older patients with sight‑threatening conditions such as macular degeneration or glaucoma. Many must wait months -- or pay privately -- to avoid permanent vision loss.
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
“Britain’s NHS was doomed from the start.”
The NHS system is now 78 years old.
The Brits had a system of health care cost coverage for workers since 1911 as I understand things.
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