>I don't have the time, and the interest, to compare apples and bananas. We are very happy with our system, although it's far from perfect.
>
>Boy, Tore, you sure are quick <vbg>. Does this mean that everyone in Norway is happy with the system and that there is no one that would like to see things change?

No, of course we live in the real world, where people complain no matter what you give them. <s> But since we also have the possibility to pay extra for private insurance, we have the best of both worlds, in a way. We have excellent public hospitals, plus excellent private hospitals. For most injuries we get immediate and free treatment at a public hospital. For other injuries and problems I must wait (and wait and wait) for surgery at a priblic hspital, unless I have private insurance.With private insurance I get immediate surgery at a private hospital. However, since the public hospitals are excellent and since all really serious injuries are treated immediately and free of charge, only the really whealthy and/or powerful people care to take private isurance.

> I guess the same can be said about your system.
>
>No, the same can not be said about our system. There are definitely problems with our health care system and reform is definitely needed. However, IMHO, giving it to the government is definitely not the solution. All I have to do is look at the mess that Medicare and Social Security are in to be sure of that. If you want to increase the amount of red tape required to get anything accomplished and make it even more expensive and inefficient, give it to the government.

Do you think that giving it to private companies is better? Sounds very much like what you have today, doesn't it? I think the really important issue is HOW this reform is done. As we say, Rome was not built in one day.

>Doing something to reduce the malpractice insurance that physicians must carry in the US would be a good start. The biggest expense that a doctor has is his insurance premiums - and this cost (just like costs from cap and trade) must be passed on to the consumer...

That's really important. My son's father in law is a doctor, and he is very careful to avoid helping people when he is in USA, since he fears getting sued. Stupid does not describe this, insane is a better description of the current legal situation in USA.