Darkling Wood

The United Soviets of America

I bought the marketing messages of the USA:

"Land of the Free; Home of the Brave"

"We hold these truths to be self-evident...liberty..."

"Bring me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free"

Sure, I came here five years ago because it made sense for my business, but there was more to it than that. I've always been a fan of this place and the ideals on which it was founded. In fact, if Kennedy was ein Berliner, then I am, and was for years before I moved here, "an American", where "American" means, "lover of, even defender of, freedom". But now, after five years, I feel a bit foolish. Suckered. Just plain sad.

A Tale of Two Healthcare Systems

Apparently something earth-shaking happened yesterday. Something about US healthcare. Finally, the world -- or the USA at least -- is going to be fine. To paraphrase Annie Lennox:

"Hey hey, Obama saved the world today, everybody's happy now the bad thing's gone away, and everybody's happy now the good thing's here to stay..."

Now I don't really have a say in any of this; I have no vote, no representation (despite taxation). So you guys need to decide what you want for yourselves. But I can maybe do you a favour by telling you a little bit of what it's like on both sides of the socialized medicine wall. Let me tell you a tale of two healthcares.