Reverse Culture Shock

I am surprised by the level of anger directed towards Britain’s National Health Service. But I am shocked to see how vocal Britons are in supporting it.

Everyone I know in the UK has an unpleasant NHS story, usually centered on overworked nurses, and overcrowded hospitals — both problems that afflict the US healthcare system, too. But complaining about your own system is one thing — hearing criticism from across the pond goes too far, I suppose.

That’s why I don’t understand why certain Republicans call the NHS “evil” — if they ever lost their jobs, and health insurance, where would they be? For all of the NHS’s issues, at least it’s committed to helping everyone, insured or not.

When you read about Tory leader David Cameron calling NHS doctors and nurses “miracle workers” because of the care they gave his disabled son, you know they’re doing something right.