I remember Charles Krauthammer made a snide comment about Britain's NHS a few years ago on Fox News. I wish I could remember the exact quote, but it was something like this:
"Great Britain traded their Navy -- once the greatest naval force in the world -- for socialism and the National Health Service."
Very true, indeed.
Think of the words of Dickens's Mr. Bumble, of "the law is an ass" fame.
"I sold myself,' said Mr. Bumble, pursuing the same train of relection, 'for six teaspoons, a pair of sugar-tongs, and a milk-pot; with a small quantity of second-hand furniture, and twenty pound in money. I went very reasonable. Cheap, dirt cheap!"