I'm English and live in the US. I cant vote obviously, but if I could I'd definitely be a democrat. Not trying to start an argument here, just saying that I am fully in favour of some kind of social healthcare system. Like it or not, most other western countries have lower infant mortality rates and higher life expectancies than the US and they all have 'socialist' healthcare. I was born in the UK and lived there until I was 25 (I'm 27 now) and I've never wanted for healthcare. For my whole life I had private healthcare due to my Dad's job, and then my job. However most of my family use the NHS and have had amazing care. My uncle recently had a triple heart bypass and is currently making a good recovery. I was born in an NHS hospital and was born not breathing and my mother lost half the blood in her body, so you could say i owe my life to the NHS. When I was in a car crash I was picked up by an NHS ambulance, taken to an NHS hospital. It kind of upsets me to hear so many Americans who confidently say that the UK has a terrible healthcare system, or to hear Fox news spread complete and utter lies about our healthcare when they havent experienced our system. Not wishing to sound confrontational, but most Americans simply have no idea about other healthcare systems so its very annoying to hear people with such strong views on the healthcare standards in other countries. I guess we just have different outlooks on it and I'm not expecting everyone to simply accept a new form of healthcare without question, but I'd prefer if the debate didnt have to involve badmouthing my country, and also countries such as France which actually has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. I guess it just comes down to a fundamental difference in outlook. I had employer provided private healthcare, but I also didnt mind my taxes going towards a healthcare for all. The simple truth is that we see healthcare as a right, and you do not. I guess its going to be hard to ever come to a conclusion.
Anyway, I came here to make the point that even as a so called 'liberal', I think the huge fuss being made over Wilson is completely disproportionate to the offence. OK, he shouldnt have said it, but its hardly the worst thing in the world. He simply let the moment get the better of him. I'd prefer it if it were more like Parliament with everyone yelling insults and jeering eachother! I really hope this blows over quickly as I think stupid events like this distract from the real debate.