Bush Claims ‘We Have Fabulous Health Care’ Compared To ‘Other Systems Around The World’

[marmar]

from Think Progress:



Bush Claims ‘We Have Fabulous Health Care’ Compared To ‘Other Systems Around The World’


During a Q & A following his speech on the economy in Fredericksburg, VA today, President Bush declared that “we have fabulous health care in America“:

I’m going to tell you something — we have fabulous health care in America, just so you know. I think it’s very important — before people start griping about the health care system here — and of course there’s always grounds for complaint — just to compare it with other systems around the world.

Bush may not be aware, but U.S. health care has been systematically compared to other systems around the world. In many cases, the results are not good for Americans.

In 2002, the U.S. spent more on health care per person than other industrial countries like Britain, Canada, France, and Germany. But unlike those countries, which have universal health care systems, there are roughly 47 million Americans who lack health coverage.

In 2000, the World Health Organization (WHO) did a comparative assessment of the health systems of 191 countries. The WHO found that in terms of the five measured performance indicators, the U.S. ranked 37th:

The U. S. health system spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product than any other country but ranks 37 out of 191 countries according to its performance, the report finds. The United Kingdom, which spends just six percent of gross domestic product (GDP) on health services, ranks 18th . Several small countries — San Marino, Andorra, Malta and Singapore are rated close behind second- placed Italy.

In his recent documentary, SiCKO, Michael Moore illustrated clearly how U.S. health care ranked far behind much of the industrial world. Watch a clip: http://thinkprogress.org/2007/12/17/bush-compare-health-care/

[gratuitous]

1. Well, he's not talking about YOUR health care

What, you aren't the president too? Sucks to be you. Bush's health care is indeed fabulous!

[Horse with no Name]

3. And that, my friend, is IT in a nutshell

He has his. You don't have yours? Tough shit. Your fault for not being born rich.

[marmar]

4. "Well, he's not talking about YOUR health care"

True that.

[fishwax]

11. that about covers it

:grr:

[Karenina]

13. Please read this post from a DU Mensch.

I was not able to respond to it as I do cherish him so and simply fell apart reading it. THIS is the state of health care in America.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=7254272&mesg_id=7254272

[marmar]

14. That's heartbreaking.....

n/t

[Karenina]

17. Multiply it by factor x and what do you see?

:cry::cry::cry:

[fishwax]

30. yeesh

That really is sad and infuriating and heartbreaking ... and way too common in America today :cry:

[XOKCowboy]

18. "Everyone in America has access to health care"

I believe the craphound had the nerve to say that recently. All we've got to do is go to the Emergency Room. Heck we've got 911 so ya can even go to the Emergency Room in a big ol' shiny ambulance. Why's everybody bitchin'?

Just how detached from reality are the Bushies? Who actually still votes for these people?

[dysfunctional press]

29. everyone in congress has GREAT health care too...

and that's part of the problem- they don't feel everyone else's pain.

[AndyA]

2. If Bush says it, chances are pretty good it's a lie, misleading, and/or twisted.

So, I tend to disregard most of what he says. And I think many others do as well.

[marmar]

5. "So, I tend to disregard most of what he says."

Agreed, but he's got some brass ones for even daring to spew such BS.

[AndyA]

10. Either that, or his handlers just tell him what to say, and he's so stupid he

says it.

I'm really not sure which it is, but I seriously question that the man is intelligent enough to come up with this stuff on his own.

[marmar]

12. Can't argue with that....

He is President :dunce:

[HCE SuiGeneris]

6. He and his have-more base. Well, isn't that grand...

Thank you for those choice words Pretzeldent A-Wipe.

[jpgray]

7. We also don't torture

Big lies are easy work.

[Lasher]

8. And the tax cuts worked.

Must be so, the economy's booming.

[marmar]

9. "Big lies are easy work."

Then he's had the easiest job in the history of the world.

[CatWoman]

15. funny -- look at this email I just got:

Health Insurance has never been more affordable

http://www.fastquotefinder.com/index.php?c=89328828&o=&mid=&pid=&mpid=&forcelp=

[marmar]

19. Now that's funny.....

Wasn't Humana one of the stars of "SiCKO"....for all the wrong reasons?

[CatWoman]

23. I'm wondering if these emails aren't part of his PR offensive?

[supernova]

31. Humana has done some heave cable advertising recently too

Seems like every other daytime ad is a Humana one. (record some shows during the day.)

"Call for your brochure to see how you qualify."

:puke:

All I could think of was there's 60 seconds of pure marketing drivel, no healthcare about it. :eyes:

[XOKCowboy]

20. Thanks for the link...

I wonder what they're going to quote me. 54 yr old, working as an independent contractor after leaving my job of 21 years because I was going broke working there. I'm relatively healthy (knock on wood) but most things I'll be needing medical care for will be pre-existing conditions plus it's going to cost a ton.

What's it going to take to bring Big Pharma back down to earth? They're going to fight Universal Health Care with all of the money they have. I'll keep my fingers crossed and try not to get sick or injured.

[CatWoman]

24. oh come on

we all know what a strapping stud you are :)

:hi:

[librechik]

16. Rolling out the catapult

That's a big pile of shinola to get over. Keeps piling up higher, too.

[Trillo]

21. Funny the things he opens his mouth on that are riotous (lol)

and the other times all that's heard is the subtle sound of silence, so subtle you almost miss it. Yeah, sure, his spokespeople say something.

You'd think that as President and leader, he wouldn't be allowed to take his lawyers advice and shut the hell up.

[Poiuyt]

22. Well, our health care system is better than the Sudan

[marmar]

26. Teehee.

:)

[JBoy]

25. "just to compare it with other systems around the world"

But be sure not to compare it with other health care system around the world.

[blues90]

27. What would bush know about it?

He has lived a sheltered spoiled criminal life and has absolutely no idea what the average american deals with . Sure he has great health care and everything else anyone could even need .

Beside this he could care less about health care or the economy or millions of deaths he has brought upon this world . His only idea of health care is death .

[WinkyDink]

28. "Immediately after speech, advisors remind Bush to drop the 'fabulous'."

[qwertyMike]

32. Canada

Norway, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark, Ireland and so on .....???

[Rex]

33. Wrong.

George stop embarrassing us.