I mean, he included Japan and South Korea, among others that aren't strictly "Western." They are all US allies, though, which makes sense for a US Senator.
Maybe he explicitly selected countries which declare in their constitution that access to healthcare is a basic human right. Again, this is just an assumption by my side.
I once collapsed on the streets in Russia when I was an exchange student there. Started seeing a message bubble over and over in one eye, then collapsed, I couldn't get "help" out. Idk what happened or how I got there but I woke up in the hospital. Someone must have called an ambulance and I had a CT scan of my head while I was out. They did blood work and whatnot. Got food, it was just oatmeal and bread, but I mean, it's something.
I had traveller's insurance and wackily tried to explain that this is common and a "I pay out of pocket they reimburse me" thing instead of Universal Basic Insurance so they decided nah not worth it just go home. I haven't paid a single cent. I'm not even sure I'm in their records, although I did show my passport.
I was in the ER on another trip to Russia, they really can't be bothered. Checked me for appendicitis and thankfully I was cleared for a flight home.
I mean they were hella rude and have that typical baseline of Russian angriness and annoyance but you know what, I got taken care of well.
I'd say Russian medics are less angry and more tired and overburdened a lot of the time. This does reflect on their attitudes, but that's not out of bad intent.
But yes, what you said is true, and that's how it should be. Honestly, I'd rather just have emergency medical service get free of all that insurance paperwork and just do their thing. It's not that they'll ever deny medical service anyway.
In my case I think they really were angry because I am a Russian (only) citizen but I have never lived in Russia. I don't hold an inner passport, only an outer passport (absolutely unfathomable to them), and I actually did at a point try to get the basic insurance set up, but I would have needed the inner passport for that. For them it was absolutely whack that I am a Russian citizen that has no Basic Insurance number and my very special circumstances (to add to that, at that point I was fluent in speaking and absolutely illiterate in reading and writing) were too complicated for them to follow and "every person has an insurance number wtf you're Russian wtf is wrong with you just go and get a fucking number what's your problem wtf why don't you have a passport everyone has a passport from age 14 onwards wtf what is wrong with you" was absolutely the attitude.
But really, I understand, my situation was very complicated and my reasons were valid but going into all these details in a clinic, let alone an ER setting, would absolutely tire and drain the last remaining energy out of them. I absolutely prefer them being not lovey dovey and hand holding while telling me with a compassionate smile that they cannot do a CT scan without an insurance number, but instead getting necessary treatment and analysis on the spot. I don't care if you call me names. I'll forever be grateful to them.
Medics are absolutely not prepared to see something like this. Your case is very much out of the ordinary, and honestly, I didn't know you can have outer passport without an inner one. Doesn't the consulate provide one? Or did you just never bother to? How were you legally present within Russia without an internal passport?
In Russia at least, there can be two types of passports:
Internal (внутренний), which serves to identify a citizen within the county
International (заграничный), which serves to identify a citizen abroad
The international (travel) passport is laid out in accordance with international guidelines and hosts visas, stamps of arrival and departure etc. It is meant to represent you as a Russian citizen abroad, and it's the most essential travel document. It is written in English. You can also have two copies of this passport.
The internal (local) passport contains detailed information about person's place of redidence, marriage status, children under 14, military duty and other things that are mostly essential for the local authorities. It is written in Russian. You can only have one.
International passport is normally only used abroad, and internal one - within Russia (and it can also identify you in Abkhazia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, South Osetia).
There are wait times and a tendency to turn healthcare private by making the public option not good enough. Enough countries are on their way to copy the US.
The big problem is that the prices are decoupled from the costs. The US healthcare system would be affordable if insurance companies couldn't negotiate for their own rates.
I mean, yeah, he obviously talks about rich countries, that's the whole thing. It's easy to tell why poor country wouldn't have good universal healthcare, but for a rich one there is no excuse.
No problem with that! It's nitpicking but I'd have preferred he used a more objective qualifier. And a bit less... judgmental towards what he thinks are "minor" countries.
Yeah, it's more interesting that countries like Iran and Vietnam have very cheap or free basic medical services. Sure you might not get all of the resources that they can provide you in Sweden, but the principle is the same.
My guess is it's a nicer way to say the common "1st world nation" terminology that developed after the world wars and modified a bit for economic growth and such.
Most "1st world nation" lists will be between 30-40 these days. 35 in this list
And Denmark does not guarantee healthcare as a human right. Emergency services are free, but if your problem isn't literally killing you right now then you are guaranteed a consultation with a doctor who will tell you to fuck yourself.
However the goal is still to provide everyone with healthcare. If you cannot afford the insurance you will get a subsidy or even an exemption in most countries.
We live in capitalism. Its power seems inescapable. So did the divine right of kings. Any human power can be resisted and changed by human beings. Resistance and change often begin in art, and very often in our art, the art of words.
People just need to do more extreme measures, not pointless shit like "blackouts" that makes you feel like you're doing something when really you're not
I love you, Bernie, and you are one of the only ones I trust, but people are being murdered in the streets, it's 50 degrees in the shade, we're in a forever war with no goals, and all the water and electricity is being flushed down the toilet to make uncanny valley youtube homunculi explain how cryptocurrency works.
You can't build a tower while the foundation is a burning swamp.
America is a third world country, and people don't recognise it... and I think that that's pretty god damn sad, that they don't recognise their own country as a third world, third rate, third class slum.
79 Comments
Jhex@lemmy.world · 40 pts · 51d
major?
lividweasel@lemmy.world · 30 pts · 51d
“Western”
taiyang@lemmy.world · 31 pts · 51d
I mean, he included Japan and South Korea, among others that aren't strictly "Western." They are all US allies, though, which makes sense for a US Senator.
UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 51d
When you hit a saturation point of US military bases, they just start calling you part of the Western bloc.
Dagnet@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 51d
Brazil isn't there tho
Miaou@jlai.lu · 3 pts · 51d
Western doesn't mean on the western hemisphere
uderecife@piefed.world · 1 pts · 43d
My first thought too. What lazy list, biased list.
affenlehrer@feddit.org · 6 pts · 51d
Maybe compared to Liechtenstein and Vatican or something like that
Dave@lemmy.nz · 5 pts · 51d
Hey NZ is major now, don't take that away from us!
shawn1122@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 51d
High income
Dicska@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 51d
Hungary?
buran@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 50d
Colombia is not high income and it's one of the most unequal countries in the world.
Alfons@feddit.org · 1 pts · 51d
Maybe he explicitly selected countries which declare in their constitution that access to healthcare is a basic human right. Again, this is just an assumption by my side.
TheDemonBuer@lemmy.world · 25 pts · 51d
It's true, we are beyond pathetic.
GarboDog@lemmy.world · 22 pts · 51d
mrmisses@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 51d
🇺🇸 shit hole country 🇺🇸
volvoxvsmarla@sopuli.xyz · 11 pts · 51d
I once collapsed on the streets in Russia when I was an exchange student there. Started seeing a message bubble over and over in one eye, then collapsed, I couldn't get "help" out. Idk what happened or how I got there but I woke up in the hospital. Someone must have called an ambulance and I had a CT scan of my head while I was out. They did blood work and whatnot. Got food, it was just oatmeal and bread, but I mean, it's something.
I had traveller's insurance and wackily tried to explain that this is common and a "I pay out of pocket they reimburse me" thing instead of Universal Basic Insurance so they decided nah not worth it just go home. I haven't paid a single cent. I'm not even sure I'm in their records, although I did show my passport.
I was in the ER on another trip to Russia, they really can't be bothered. Checked me for appendicitis and thankfully I was cleared for a flight home.
I mean they were hella rude and have that typical baseline of Russian angriness and annoyance but you know what, I got taken care of well.
Allero@lemmy.today · 7 pts · 51d
I'd say Russian medics are less angry and more tired and overburdened a lot of the time. This does reflect on their attitudes, but that's not out of bad intent.
But yes, what you said is true, and that's how it should be. Honestly, I'd rather just have emergency medical service get free of all that insurance paperwork and just do their thing. It's not that they'll ever deny medical service anyway.
volvoxvsmarla@sopuli.xyz · 6 pts · 50d
In my case I think they really were angry because I am a Russian (only) citizen but I have never lived in Russia. I don't hold an inner passport, only an outer passport (absolutely unfathomable to them), and I actually did at a point try to get the basic insurance set up, but I would have needed the inner passport for that. For them it was absolutely whack that I am a Russian citizen that has no Basic Insurance number and my very special circumstances (to add to that, at that point I was fluent in speaking and absolutely illiterate in reading and writing) were too complicated for them to follow and "every person has an insurance number wtf you're Russian wtf is wrong with you just go and get a fucking number what's your problem wtf why don't you have a passport everyone has a passport from age 14 onwards wtf what is wrong with you" was absolutely the attitude.
But really, I understand, my situation was very complicated and my reasons were valid but going into all these details in a clinic, let alone an ER setting, would absolutely tire and drain the last remaining energy out of them. I absolutely prefer them being not lovey dovey and hand holding while telling me with a compassionate smile that they cannot do a CT scan without an insurance number, but instead getting necessary treatment and analysis on the spot. I don't care if you call me names. I'll forever be grateful to them.
Allero@lemmy.today · 3 pts · 50d
I understand how confused they were!
Medics are absolutely not prepared to see something like this. Your case is very much out of the ordinary, and honestly, I didn't know you can have outer passport without an inner one. Doesn't the consulate provide one? Or did you just never bother to? How were you legally present within Russia without an internal passport?
Glad that the situation worked out fine, though
OliviaVespera@spacey.space · 1 pts · 50d
@Allero @volvoxvsmarla what is an inner passport?
Allero@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 50d
We mean, internal vs international
In Russia at least, there can be two types of passports:
The international (travel) passport is laid out in accordance with international guidelines and hosts visas, stamps of arrival and departure etc. It is meant to represent you as a Russian citizen abroad, and it's the most essential travel document. It is written in English. You can also have two copies of this passport.
The internal (local) passport contains detailed information about person's place of redidence, marriage status, children under 14, military duty and other things that are mostly essential for the local authorities. It is written in Russian. You can only have one.
International passport is normally only used abroad, and internal one - within Russia (and it can also identify you in Abkhazia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, South Osetia).
OliviaVespera@spacey.space · 0 pts · 50d
@Allero Is it in book form or is it a card like an ID card?
Allero@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 50d
Both in book form.
Although the newer international passports have an ID card woven right into the book.
DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 51d
MediCAID for all.
For anyone who walks in the door. Healthcare is a human right, and we should all support this.
plyth@feddit.org · 7 pts · 51d
There are wait times and a tendency to turn healthcare private by making the public option not good enough. Enough countries are on their way to copy the US.
The big problem is that the prices are decoupled from the costs. The US healthcare system would be affordable if insurance companies couldn't negotiate for their own rates.
YeahToast@aussie.zone · 4 pts · 51d
Public systems will always be the backbone of healthcare because spinning a profit is not a KPI.
plyth@feddit.org · 1 pts · 51d
That's exactly why public systems will be dismantled, to make the remaining options more profitable.
Fizz@lemmy.nz · 7 pts · 51d
New Zealand mentioned as a major country. Very funny Mr Sander's
absGeekNZ@lemmy.nz · 4 pts · 51d
Hey, I was hoping to say that!
Racoonwithbenefits@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 51d
bunnybunny@lemmy.zip · 13 pts · 51d
Good point, but you still don’t have healthcare
thedarkfly@feddit.org · 7 pts · 51d
I wouldn't say that the Nordic countries are minor. As a Belgian, I'll abstain on the status of Belgium.
But in no way I'd call Luxembourg major 😄
Anyway, this classification is subjective and reveals the personal biases of Sanders towards, apparently, rich countries.
Nalivai@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 51d
I mean, yeah, he obviously talks about rich countries, that's the whole thing. It's easy to tell why poor country wouldn't have good universal healthcare, but for a rich one there is no excuse.
thedarkfly@feddit.org · 1 pts · 51d
No problem with that! It's nitpicking but I'd have preferred he used a more objective qualifier. And a bit less... judgmental towards what he thinks are "minor" countries.
Nalivai@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 51d
Yeah, as an emigrant from a "minor" country, I am just grateful that he didn't use the term "shithole" that is so popular among american politicians
mirshafie@europe.pub · 3 pts · 51d
Yeah, it's more interesting that countries like Iran and Vietnam have very cheap or free basic medical services. Sure you might not get all of the resources that they can provide you in Sweden, but the principle is the same.
Lemmert@reddthat.com · 6 pts · 51d
As Belgian, I can explain that with the fact that we are short kings
LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 51d
My guess is it's a nicer way to say the common "1st world nation" terminology that developed after the world wars and modified a bit for economic growth and such.
Most "1st world nation" lists will be between 30-40 these days. 35 in this list
drkt@scribe.disroot.org · 2 pts · 51d
And Denmark does not guarantee healthcare as a human right. Emergency services are free, but if your problem isn't literally killing you right now then you are guaranteed a consultation with a doctor who will tell you to fuck yourself.
Grass@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 51d
do you have to pay to have the doctor tell you to fuck yourself though?
drkt@scribe.disroot.org · 1 pts · 51d
No but I can get that from internet comments in the comfort of my own home.
Fleur_@aussie.zone · 6 pts · 51d
The US isn't a major country they're a shithole and thus it's unfair to compare them with the rest
MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 51d
We sure do have a ton of shit.
But, you're delusional if you think the US isn't still a top country.
Fleur_@aussie.zone · 1 pts · 50d
Top of my shit list mate
MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 50d
Your personal list doesn't count.
If you ever visited Boston even for just a 3 day weekend, you'd quickly see an example of how great the U.S. could be.
Fleur_@aussie.zone · 1 pts · 50d
"could"
You're so real for this.
MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 50d
I've never claimed it wasn't a shit show around places in the Country.
theacharnian@lemmy.ca · 6 pts · 50d
Hehehe Greece a major country.
QueenHawlSera@piefed.social · 5 pts · 51d
America's the fuccin' worst
greatwhitebuffalo41@slrpnk.net · 5 pts · 51d
And they just cut more funding 😑
Saapas@piefed.zip · 4 pts · 51d
>Finland
>Major country
Lol. Lmao even.
ddplf@szmer.info · 1 pts · 51d
Sorry bud, but you guys are pretty fucking important to us - Eastern Europeans - right now, not gonna lie.
Squizzy@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 51d
I live in one of the top countries and health insurance is almost required. Now its not as expensive but it could be thousands a year.
Doctor is expensive and difficult to get.
The US sucks but we suck too, just less.
blackbeans@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 50d
However the goal is still to provide everyone with healthcare. If you cannot afford the insurance you will get a subsidy or even an exemption in most countries.
kibblebits@quokk.au · 2 pts · 51d
Too bad that isn’t gonna happen.
Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 15 pts · 51d
-Ursula K Le Guin
kibblebits@quokk.au · -6 pts · 51d
It’s too late for that.
Catoblepas@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 5 pts · 51d
Nah. It’s only too late for anything when (general) you’re dead.
gwl@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 51d
It really isn't.
People just need to do more extreme measures, not pointless shit like "blackouts" that makes you feel like you're doing something when really you're not
Action! Resistance! Activism!
kibblebits@quokk.au · 1 pts · 51d
They wont
gwl@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 50d
You're people. You can
kibblebits@quokk.au · 1 pts · 50d
Not my problem
gwl@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 50d
You live in a society, it is
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 50d
penguins of antartica.
wpb@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 50d
TIL: Indonesia, population 288 million, is not a major country. I wonder what makes a country major. Oh and also China?
MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 51d
And yet, no Bernie, we won't.
jaschen306@sh.itjust.works · 0 pts · 51d
You missed Taiwan.
mycodesucks@lemmy.world · -4 pts · 51d
Yeah... someone should do something about that.
I love you, Bernie, and you are one of the only ones I trust, but people are being murdered in the streets, it's 50 degrees in the shade, we're in a forever war with no goals, and all the water and electricity is being flushed down the toilet to make uncanny valley youtube homunculi explain how cryptocurrency works.
You can't build a tower while the foundation is a burning swamp.
banause@feddit.org · 5 pts · 51d
You can work on several issues at the same time. Especially when the time to result is so long as in politics.
IPeaceInYourFace@lemmy.world · -4 pts · 51d
America is not a major country.
Saapas@piefed.zip · 12 pts · 51d
It's the third most populous and fourth largest by area. First by far in nominal GDP etc.
Definitely a major country
IPeaceInYourFace@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 45d
It's big... But it's people are poor.
That's not a major country.
Saapas@piefed.zip · 1 pts · 45d
What would you consider a major country?
IPeaceInYourFace@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 43d
A continuous sovereign state older than 1000 years.
Saapas@piefed.zip · 1 pts · 43d
Does that even leave any major countries??
aoidenpa@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 51d
America is a third world country, and people don't recognise it... and I think that that's pretty god damn sad, that they don't recognise their own country as a third world, third rate, third class slum.
MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 51d
Shut up.
MedicPigBabySaver@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 51d
Wake up. We maybe a really shitty attitude country, but, still one of the most "major" countries.