As Congress wrestles over the parameters of a health care bill,
amidst maddened catcalls of 'death panels' and 'socialism!', I am
reminded of the experience of John Black, an old trade unionist,
revolutionary activist and journalist.
Black, a fervent supporter of the Cuban Revolution, joined the
Venceremos Brigades, an annual trek of foreigners to the island, who
assisted in harvesting the sugar crop and other agricultural work.
Although he was in his mid-to-high seventies at the time, Black did
his part, until the searing tropical heat, or perhaps the work (or
both) took its toll.
Black was taken to a nearby hospital, and received what he called
"excellent treatment." As he was leaving, he reached for his wallet,
and began pulling out some bucks. The doctor looked at him
quizzically -- and then told him to put his money away.
"We treated you because you were sick, Senor," the doctor explained,
"Not for the money."
These words blew Black away, and this experience with socialist
medicine moved him deeply.
What is even more remarkable is that Cuba was doing this during its
'Special Period:, a time of economic chaos when its biggest trading
partner, the Soviet Union, stopped bartering things for things (as in
oil for sugar, for example) and began demanding cold cash for trade.
As of 2006, Cuba had a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $45 billion
dollars--about the same as the Congo, or the Sultanate of Oman ($44.1bn).
The GDP measures the market value of goods and services purchased
within a nation over a given period of time -- usually a year.
Do you want to know what the U.S. GDP was for 2007?
Over 13 trillion dollars. 13 trillion.
Guess which country provides free medical care?
<http://www.zmag.org/zspace/commentaries/4089>Link
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Posted By johannes to
<http://www.monochrom.at/english/2009/12/wealth-care.htm>monochrom at
12/27/2009 09:33:00 AM
