Entertainment

Olympic Opening Ceremony Celebrates Socialized Medicine

As TheBlaze’s Liz Klimas has already chronicled, the Olympic opening ceremonies in London are likely to include more than a few references to cultural tropes with which Americans are not familiar. And as she mentioned there, one large part of the opening ceremonies includes a celebration of something that many Americans – especially conservatives – would probably find nauseating:

[Organizer Danny] Boyle recruited real nurses working for the National Health Service to take part, a tribute to a treasured national institution that started in 1948 amid the ruins of war-devastated Britain. The state-funded NHS provides free health treatment to all Britons, and is embraced by all political parties. While grumbling about its perceived slow service is widespread – and planned government reforms are controversial – its egalitarian ethos is a matter of national pride. When U.S. Republicans criticized the NHS in 2009, a Twitter campaign in its defense became so popular it crashed the NHS website.

Yes, that’s right, all healthcare in the UK is socialized, and in case you’ve forgotten, they want you to know how proud they are of it. Below is the portion of the ceremony involving the dancing nurses. Be warned: It’s far weirder than you think.

So should the National Health Service be celebrated? Not so, says the Heritage Foundation:

To understand the dangers of a government takeover of health care, America should study Britain’s system, which exemplifies the shortcomings of heavily regulated, nationalized health care. A recent report by Robin Harris of the Heritage Foundation outlines the deterioration of Britain’s health care system due to years of liberal health policy marked by heavy concentration of power, higher taxes and the proliferation of rules and restrictions by the National Health Service (NHS).

The NHS is Britain’s government-run health care system. It acts as a single-payer system which originated with the nationalization of thousands of Britain’s hospitals. According to Harris, this “centralized, single-payer health service, free at the point of consumption, was an ideal prescription for waste, rationing by queues, and inordinate public expenditure.”

The woes caused by the NHS are multitudinous. As a result of the long waits to receive care, patients have instead begun to purchase treatment themselves, even going abroad to receive care. Access and quality of care are low, and rationing of services has led to discrimination against the elderly. As with any government-run system, more wealthy citizens have a higher level of mobility within the system, and are more able to obtain a higher quality of care than others. It is thus that the NHS has led to increased inequality in care received by Britons.

Not exactly Olympic opening ceremony fodder, if this is true. However, evidence notwithstanding, the institution is apparently still beloved by the British, and it thus makes sense that they’d choose to pinpoint it at this critical juncture. After all, even conservative giant Margaret Thatcher didn’t dare touch the National Health Service while Prime Minister, so one supposes that the British simply operate within a much less libertarian Overton Window than Americans.

Comments (314)

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  • grandma7
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:34pm

    Sick Propaganda. The GOOD doctors came to the US.
    Yes, Restoring Love will far exceed this display of weird.

    Report Post »  
    • Pouncing Porcupine
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:40pm

      Look. James Bond escorted The Queen to the ceremony. Say what you will, the Brits are masters.

      Report Post » Pouncing Porcupine  
    • Thatsitivehadenough
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 11:10pm

      UK doctors are going overseas to FIND JOBS. There’s no money to hire them in the UK and patients wait weeks to see their GP.

      Report Post » Thatsitivehadenough  
    • midwesthippie
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 12:07am

      …NBC has locked out anyone who does not have a subscription to msnbc who wants to watch live streaming events at the olympics…

      midwesthippie  
    • 1947
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 12:08am

      What SICK place…….?

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 2:32am

      That had to be the WORST opening ceremony ever. … boring and dull …the “torch” for the games looks like some giant weed pod… of course NBC was gushing all over it .. and couldn’t SHUT UP! I thought the U.S. uniforms were bad (and they are) but did anyone see Englands? .. looked like something out of a bad 1980′s disco skating movie. White and shinny gold .. shorts ??? This is two weeks that I am going to be happy I got all those free books for my Kindle.

      Report Post »  
    • SageInWaiting
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 3:36am

      By 1:44 in this tripe I was screaming ‘SHUT THE F*** UP!” (…and I REALLY refrain from that type of language.) By 2:04, I pulled the plug. Between the “dance” and the commentary, I was once again convinced that kicking the Brits out of our country over two hundred years ago was DEFINITELY the right idea. Our founders truly WERE wise men!

      Report Post » SageInWaiting  
    • CatB
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 4:02am

      This is a pretty good review of how bad it was ….. It wasn’t just us who thought so.

      http://www.sbnation.com/london-olympics-2012/2012/7/28/3197979/boring-olympic-opening-ceremony-should-bar-london-from-hosting-again

      Report Post »  
    • PATTY HENRY
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 4:19am

      I guess the 134 +- Euthanized Senior Citizens (to save Med. #’s (it’s the UK) don’t count.

      Report Post » PATTY HENRY  
    • mersey
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 7:23am

      Having lived and worked in England for four years, I can say without a doubt, that was some of the most expensive FREE healthcare I’ve ever experienced. Only a Useful Idiot would call the NHS a free benefit.

      Report Post » mersey  
    • DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 7:37am

      After watching some of that absolutely ridiculous play they called the opening ceremony last night, I sadly have to assume all Brits are ladies now…there are no men left, only ladies riding sidesaddle .

      Report Post » DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL  
    • mils
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 7:37am

      we expected extravaganza, sparkle…instead we got beds and sick kids. the whole thing was dreary….gray…even the athletes coming in which is always such a great time…was mundane and like kids walking on a dirt path to school…dreary….no real sparkle, umph, nothing…
      without a doubt the very worst olympic opening ceremony we have witnessed.
      the whole olympic affair has no way to go but up…but leave it to the gossip obsessed brits to make fools of themselves..

      Report Post »  
    • tompaineknowsthescore
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 7:46am

      Im British and as a nation we are hugely proud of the NHS and the consensus over here was that it was a brilliant uniquely British ceremony no overt nationalism, laced throughout with humour and fully representative of our fine country. Plus awesome tunes and were know responsible for the first lesbian kiss on saudi arabian tv!

      But im sure your god/beckfest was brilliant

      Report Post » tompaineknowsthescore  
    • Oldphoto678
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 7:52am

      Sounds like you’re all just having a temper tantrum because Mitt the twit made a fool of himself over there and the Brits called him out. If the British press was praising Mitt the twit you would all be saying how wonderful the opening ceremony was.
      You blazers are paper thin.

      Report Post »  
    • RGFROMTEXAS
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 8:09am

      Thought the Ceremonies were awesome !!! Go U.S.A. !!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Individualism
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 9:40am

      My mother is a Canadian doctor who left Canada to get allot more money and give better care. Socialized Medicine is only for very healthy and good in shape.

      Report Post » Individualism  
    • decendentof56
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 10:19am

      WOW!…..I didn’t know they still held the Olympics. I haven’t watched them for 40 years.

      Seriously, though, did anyone think these games would not be politicized? It’s a shame for the athletes who work so hard to prepare that the one-worlders’ have to interfere. I‘m sure the UN is behind the scenes in ways you wouldn’t imagine.

      Report Post »  
    • DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 10:35am

      The girlish, pansy Brits have forever turned the Olympics into a political event. Socialized medicine, labor unions, multiculturalism and homosexuality now have something to do with athletics, according to these loons. Like the foulest of diseases, liberals infect everything they touch. Inoculate yourself.

      Report Post » DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL  
    • landman1
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 11:07am

      After watching the opening ceremony it struck me that the British press surely owes Mitt Romney a sincere apology for berating him about his comments regarding the London Games. I cannot remember a less entertaining spectacle. The SNL style skit with 007 and the Queen were the most memorable moment of the whole evening. I kept waiting for the grand surprise that Matt Lauer kept promising. What a flat tire this was . Mitt, you were correct sir.

      Report Post »  
    • hifi74
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 11:18am

      OLDPHOTO678,

      Oh yeah that’s exactly it….you ignorant crank. It has nothing to do with what they think about Mitt and everything to do with how incredibly dull it was. GO take your ignorant tripe back to your MSNBC kiddie crowd, cause here leading with that kind of ignorant crap only makes you look like a fool. Run along little boy.

      Report Post » hifi74  
    • mils
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 11:21am

      TOMPAINEKNOWSTHESCORE….”Plus awesome tunes and were know responsible for the first lesbian kiss on saudi arabian tv!”
      …..IS THIS WHAT YOUR COUNTRY IS PROUD OF?…JHC!!..you need to wash your freakin brain out and get a life…
      THE OPENING CEREMONY WAS T E R R I B L E !!!!!
      Mitt is a good person, even the lowlife british press can’t pull us down..we expected as much..bunch of gossipy old women is all it amounts to.
      The ceremony was errible, the posters at the blaze are not the only place that thought so…go wash your brain out and get a life!!!
      I bet half the world tuned out to that disaster..

      Report Post »  
    • VoteBushIn12
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 1:34pm

      @GRANDMA7
      Citation please

      @THATSITIVEHADENOUGH
      Citation please

      @SAGEINWAITING
      I don’t think you have ever read a history book in your life.

      @TOMPAINEKNOWSTHESCORE
      Hahaha, great comment!

      @DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
      The Olympics have always been politicized – and thank goodness. How much better a world do we live in now that we’ve had the discussion!

      So no one liked this ceremony? I bet you all liked the Beijing Olympic Ceremony, right? Just goes to show what you can get done when you violate human rights. I didn’t know you blaze bangers were into that sort of thinking.

      Report Post » VoteBushIn12  
    • RGFROMTEXAS
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 1:48pm

      I didn’t see any part of the Olympics politicized until I read this board !!

      Report Post »  
    • DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 3:29pm

      RGFROMTEXAS – Instead of celebrating sports, the Brit Libs pushed socialized medicine, labor unions, multiculturalism and homosexuality in that pathetic opening ceremony. I’d call that politicizing.

      VOTEBUSHIN12 – The Olympics haven’t “always” been politicized. But, you’re “never” right.

      Report Post » DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL  
    • VoteBushIn12
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 5:42pm

      @DEMOCRATS.ARE.EVIL

      Really? Are you sure? What about in the 1936 Olympics when we pulled two Jews off the final relay so as to further insult Hitler by having him lose to Jews in addition to Blacks. Sounds POLITICAL to me.

      Or how about in 1948 when Germany and Japan were bared from the Olympics?
      Or how about in 1980 when we led a boycott of the the game as protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.

      Want more?
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olympic_Games_scandals_and_controversies#1948_Summer_Olympics
      Some are athletic related, others related to Global Politics.

      You’re an ignorant fool if you think it has never been politicized.

      Next argument please. Unlike the rest of you my comments come from Objective FACT whereas yours seem to be built entirely on opinion.

      Report Post » VoteBushIn12  
    • Tonto USA
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 8:05pm

      These socialist whack jobs are really nuts….

      Report Post » Tonto USA  
    • YoungConservativesRule
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 11:21pm

      @VOTEBUSHIN12
      http://memebase.com/?s=Citation

      Report Post »  
    • YoungConservativesRule
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 11:23pm

      @VOTEBUSHIN12 Please GTFO and leave the trolling to the professionals. Okay?

      Report Post »  
    • murphyj87
      Posted on July 29, 2012 at 3:05am

      It is really amusing how you Americans far off base you Americans are.

      There are far more and better doctors in Britain and in Canada than there in the United States, and, very unlike the United States, everyone in Britain and Canada can see them

      Brits live 2.6 years longer than Americans because the NHS is much better than American insurance run health care.

      Canadians live 4.4 years longer than Americans because the Canadian health care is much better than American insurance run health care.

      Twice the percentage of Brits are satisfied with their NHS than the percentage of Americans satisfied with American insurance run health care.

      Three times the percentage of Canadians are satisfied with their Canadian health care system than the percentage of Americans satisfied with American insurance run health care.

      If you actually talked to those of us who are Brits and Canadians, we would tell you that our systems are excellent, and that the absolute worst health care system on earth is your American insurance run health care system.

      Report Post »  
    • seresmary
      Posted on July 29, 2012 at 3:11am

      Gee ya think the Queenie and her Royals go the the National Health Service for treatment?
      I don’t think so, just like some of those in Canada come across the border to get treated by our doctors here and pay under the table. That’s what happens when you gt Socialized Medicine. Everybody gets n the chopping block except the very rich, the Royals, the Dictators, etc.
      marys

      Report Post »  
    • sixtysix
      Posted on July 30, 2012 at 9:17am

      I, too, wondered why, with so many superlative accomplisments made by Great Brittain, they chose to put the spotlight on a medical system that requires a long queue for treatment and where, when anyone with the money to do so, comes to the US for their treatment. It appears that, even when the world has gathered to choose the best athletes, socialism cannot resist spreading its propaganda messages. Why don’t they return to what made them great instead of touting the downfall of freedom and exceptionalism.

      Report Post »  
    • Kierah05
      Posted on August 2, 2012 at 6:44pm

      You yanks got a nerve slating our healthcare system,u should take a look at your own.USA one of the richest countries in the world but only in your country along with other 3rd world countries will u see cancer patients lining up in car parks for charitable handouts

      Report Post »  
  • rogerover12
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:28pm

    whoever came up with this headline is an idiot

    Report Post »  
    • Dejavu
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:49pm

      As are you.

      Report Post » Dejavu  
    • PATTY HENRY
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 4:21am

      Really? It was just repeating what I’d said to my TV! I guess you don’t care much for the TRUTH.

      Report Post » PATTY HENRY  
  • RusHube
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:23pm

    I thought their mayor said they were prepared for the Olympics? After seeing this opening fiasco, they might want to think again!!

    Report Post » RusHube  
    • CatB
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 3:43am

      Pasty white boy Paul .. needs at the very least a GOOD STEAK .. looks like he is undernurished and weak .. his voice was pathetic. Poor Paul .. Have something with some animal protein and iron.

      Report Post »  
    • PATTY HENRY
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 4:23am

      I didn’t remember the BRIT music being so awful…gosh, when you hear it all together it’s TERRIBLE!!!
      I don‘t think I’m going to be able to get into these games like those in the past…we’ll see. I see it as rather silly now…when it used to be so moving.

      Report Post » PATTY HENRY  
  • freemama
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:21pm

    If we compare the Olympic opening ceremony telecast to what Mercury is putting on tomorrow night, I bet tonight’s show seems hollow.

    Report Post »  
    • Pouncing Porcupine
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:42pm

      That‘s a bet you’d lose, dingbat.

      Report Post » Pouncing Porcupine  
    • Dejavu
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:50pm

      Hey Porcupine…..punce on yourself you lunatic.

      Report Post » Dejavu  
    • Pouncing Porcupine
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 11:00pm

      Alas. You’ve bested me but good.

      I’ll now shamefully skulk away sans dignity.

      NOT!

      Moron.

      Report Post » Pouncing Porcupine  
    • 4xeverything
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 6:08am

      @PP-Go drink another Nattie Light and leave the commenting for those who can and, no matter what your king Obama says…no you can’t. You have absolutely no argument to make so, what’s the point in you being here? You don’t argue a point or even make a point. You just ‘reply’ with name calling. You have no facts to bring to a debate and your opinions aren’t even intelligible. Do yourself a favor…go talk to a professional before you hurt yourself. Your kind of hate can be detrimental to your health. People like you die alone and angry. It’s pathetic.

      Report Post » 4xeverything  
  • HUGGINGMYBABIES
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:19pm

    Well they had to convince all the dying uterine cancer victims and elderly starvation victims rotting in their halls, that in fact health care in the UK was administered by none other than Mary Poppins and was the best in the world…..spoofull of sugar makes the death bed seem fine, makes the death bed seem fine. What was with the large hydrocephalic lumped together baby parts under the fluttering sheets? That was right out of a Chuckie movie! CREE-PY!

    Report Post » HUGGINGMYBABIES  
    • Pouncing Porcupine
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:56pm

      “…elderly starvation victims rotting in their halls…”?
      Wow. That’s interesting.
      Please post links to this revelation.

      Report Post » Pouncing Porcupine  
    • pudssweetie
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 12:40am

      @Porcupine, Huggin was being facetious, you do know what that means don’t you? Hugging though does point out that the Health Care in the UK is not all what it’s cracked up to be. Do you know that here in the US Women who are diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer have about a 94%-96% survival rate, same with men who are diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. Over in the UK that percentage drops way down to like 32% for Women and 26% for Men and it is all because the system works way too slow and often times you are denied treatment, so say hello to the very same system here when Obamacare kicks in.

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 3:47am

      Yes ..the poor Brits and Canadians … they are going to be out of luck when those with money won’t be able to get healthcare here. You think all those “tourists” just come for the weather??? No they come for the care they can’t get in their own countries. Soon we will be standing in lines just for a blood test .. or other tests .. and treatment .. forget about it.

      Report Post »  
    • kaydeebeau
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 7:33am

      @ PP…. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2161869/Top-doctors-chilling-claim-The-NHS-kills-130-000-elderly-patients-year.html

      Report Post » kaydeebeau  
    • allandwd
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 1:02pm

      This ceremony not only was creepy and disjointed, but made no sense to me and others whatsoever. Was the producer on LSD when he thought up these opening ceremonies? I was at a bar and literally everyone there was laughing at them and asking each other WTF was that?

      Report Post »  
    • SoNick
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 1:10pm

      @pudssweetie
      ah, statistics! Just throw a bunch of numbers around and hope some of it sticks… Your numbers don’t mean squat. I guess you took your UK numbers and US numbers from completely different columns, judging from the ridiculous disparity between them. Let’s take ovarian cancer: the numbers in the nineties only pertain to survival rates of cancers identified in stage 1 (localized, early detection). I‘m guessing that’s what you used for the US side. As for the numbers in the 30% range, they usually indicated the rate of survival for patients diagnosed in stage 4, which are probably the stats you used for the UK side. If you tally all stages of ovarian cancer detection (1 to 4), the 5 year survival rate is 44% in the UK. And in the US? 46% Now where did you ever get that crazy “US has a survival rate that is three times as high as the UK?”. Would you care to post a link?

      Report Post »  
    • Richard Blogger
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 6:14pm

      @pudssweetie

      Nonsense figures. Most men with prostate cancer die of something else – old age mostly, they are elderly. Unnecessarily treationg prostate cancer leads to far worse conditions. The NHS, since it is not driven by personal greed of doctors, will only operate when it is in the interest of the patient, not the interest of the doctors wallet.

      Similarly with breast cancer – totally made up figures.

      Here’s a clue to you @CatB: yes the UK visitors to the US *are* there for the weather. Have you ever spent any time in the UK? That yellow ball in the sky doesn’t visit us very often, so we like to travel to where it shows more often.

      Figures of healthcare tourism show the opposite of what you say: 6 million US citizens travel abroad for healthcare every year. They do so because your healthcare is so expensive and the quality is just as good or better in India or Malaysia.

      Report Post »  
  • Thappers
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:17pm

    Hmmm, as a Brit it’s no exaggeration to say that the general feeling is that despite its flaws, British people are genuinely proud of the NHS and what it represents. Its poltical opponents are keen to highlight long waiting lists or isolated horror stories but 99% of the time the NHS provides a brilliant service that is far, far cheaper per capita than the US system and provides better health care in terms of outcomes and customer satisfaction, too. I haven‘t met a single American who has lived here who hasn’t left with a glowing assessment of the NHS, even those who previously held very fixed views about the evils of ‘socialised’ medicine.

    Report Post »  
    • Dejavu
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:27pm

      You have to be joking, or are a leftist lemming.

      Report Post » Dejavu  
    • Fatheroftwo
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:28pm

      And yet when something really serious needs fixing, oh lets say, for one of your big high muckity-mucks, they run to the US to get it fixed!!! Why???? Because we do it better then the rest of the world!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • My Two Cents
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 12:14am

      Yeah right. When I was a kid I had the misfortune of staying in a London hospital for ten days. The place was third world compared to US facilities.

      Report Post »  
    • cloberto
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 12:23am

      I have met many Americans who have lived over in Great Britain, used their health services and still HATED it, myself among them. I have also met many Brits and Scots who HATED it too. I lived over there for 18 months, long enough to have developed a fairly accurate view of it. And this was in the 90s too. It has only gone downhill from there from all reports out.

      The fact that you haven’t met anyone who has had a bad experience or changed their minds to liking it is just luck because there are plenty of us out here who have experienced it and hated it.

      Report Post »  
    • pudssweetie
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 12:43am

      So please explain to me why Brits have a lower percentage rate at surviving Breast, Ovarian or Prostate cancer over the US who has a very high survival percentage rate.

      Report Post »  
    • saranda
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 10:44am

      Pidssweetie- cannot explain the UK NHS numbers, but do you want to take a swing at explaining why Canada, Australia, Sweden, Norway and Denmark (all socialized medicine systems) have the best overall cancer survival rates including bowel,breast, ovarian and lung.

      Report Post »  
    • HotFixIt
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 12:59pm

      The only reason the general public is proud of their current NHS is becuase they have never known any other system and the propaganda they are fed tells them to LOVE it! They are constantly fed this propaganda from birth.. what else do you expect except love for it? I have spoken and worked with nurses from the UK and have heard “the other side of the story” there is a reason they move from the UK to the US to live and work.

      There are people starving and being blown up in war zones who believe America is a terrible place too… who do you think theiy believe? Propaganda is an amazing thing.

      Report Post »  
    • SoNick
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 3:52pm

      @saranda
      Here’s one explanation: States that have socialized medicine actually realized that prevention is the best form of treatment. Governments in these countries invest in advertising campaigns, that encourage early testing. When you identify a cancer in its early stages, you have a higher survival rate. Also, you spend less on care. See? Simple economics…

      Report Post »  
    • FCS
      Posted on July 29, 2012 at 4:01am

      Let me be the first. Having lived in the UK and having an issued NHS card, my family and I used the NHS system for over two years. It does work well for easy issues, colds and flus, but if there is a more complicated issue, that’s where your luck runs out. Specialist care was difficult to obtain and when you did get it, the specialists we saw were flippant and arrogant…they didn’t listen or seem to care what you thought…there were others waiting. Almost every British family we knew had horror stories of loved ones who had been misdiagnosed by NHS doctors who cut-corners and ran the numbers rather than listening to their patients. The end result – severely disabled or dead loved ones. Having used a state/public hospital emergency room on one occasion with my injured daughter, it was the dingiest, dirtiest, most depressing hospital and emergency room I’ve ever been in…nothing in the US was as bad…it would have been state-of-the-art back in the early 1950s. We waited for 5 hours to get an x-ray and then speedily departed. Every British family we knew, EVERY one, that could afford private health care insurance purchased it. I would highly encourage the US to never go to a British NHS, single-payer health care system…it is ridiculously expensive, inefficient and ineffective. NHS works superbly, until you have to use it.

      Report Post »  
  • MAX0O1
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:11pm

    WOW celebrate organized death panels!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 3:48am

      That “baby” was creepy .. was that supposed to be ‘born“ or ”aborted” … it was weird to say the least. I think I will be having nightmares .. maybe that is why I am still up!

      Report Post »  
    • Richard Blogger
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 6:19pm

      MAX0O1 : WOW celebrate organized death panels!!!!!!!!

      What death panels? You mean your US insurance company clerks with no medical experience rejecting treatment based on insurance company rules? Those death panels?

      The NHS has no death panels. BY LAW everyone has a right to treatment. BY LAW everyone has the same access rights. That is, as a patient, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion or disability, you have the same right to access as anyone else.

      Report Post »  
  • Dejavu
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:09pm

    Screw the Olympics. Won’t be watching this POS.

    Report Post » Dejavu  
    • survivorseed
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:15pm

      I’m sure no one gives a **** if you watch it or not

      Report Post »  
    • Dejavu
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:25pm

      @Survisorseed, I’m pretty sure nobody care if you live or not. Put that in your ugly butt and smoke it you creep.

      Report Post » Dejavu  
    • survivorseed
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:32pm

      Can I get you some dip for that chip on your shoulder?

      Report Post »  
  • crusaderx9
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:07pm

    I will not watch the Olympics. I’m sure the stupidity of Olympic groupthink on the global level will continue to be reported by The Blaze – so I will be able to track such idiocy…

    Report Post » crusaderx9  
  • louzyana
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:05pm

    But I have to say, I do enjoy Doc Martin……..

    Report Post »  
  • saranda
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:04pm

    Typical beckerheads cannot see past their own petty politics and just enjoy the spectacle. Britain is proud of its NHS and if you don’t like it then just stfu. We have lots that they might ring odd, lime our special American brand of Christianity that can make us look pretty stupid at times.

    Report Post »  
    • Altair
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:18pm

      From the proud title of “Englishmen” to welfare Limeys.

      How damn sad.

      Report Post »  
    • Dejavu
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:21pm

      Why don’t you STFU. Nationalized medicine is a death sentence. If the Brits love dying while waiting for a pap smear, too bad for them. We like our medical community the way it is. Anyway, aren’t the Olympics supposed to be country neutral? The Olympics are supposed to bring all nations together, not espouse one nations ideology over anothers. Get thyself to another country you idiot.

      Report Post » Dejavu  
    • GeorgieJo
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:36pm

      SAR is a typical lefty kook who thinks ObumaTaxcare will give healthcare to all.
      With 800,000 NEW illegals in the country and the doctors disappearing—You’ll be lucky if they have room in the morgue for you.
      Drink some more koolaid you Loser.
      OMG 2012

      Report Post »  
    • Pouncing Porcupine
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 11:17pm

      @Dejavu

      Being born is a death sentence, genius. Step back and try to see the big picture sometime. WARNING: The big picture can hurt the little mind of wussies. If you are a wussy, which I suspect you are, proceed with extreme caution.

      Report Post » Pouncing Porcupine  
    • Pouncing Porcupine
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 11:29pm

      @Deja

      I just realized you’re a woman, and a petty, ugly 8i7¢# at that.
      You’ll get no more responses from me.
      By the way, BBWs aren’t really “beautiful”.

      Report Post » Pouncing Porcupine  
    • Puddle Duck
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 1:05am

      I’ve wtached a number of really odd opening acts over the years but that nurse routine was the strangest one yet…and it takes a lot of wierd to top the Chinese, Japanese or the Germans….congrats Britain you’ve claimed first prize in the field of the creepy/wierd opening ceremony routines. I bet if Tehran were awarded the summer games they might be able to top this with some equally tasteless demostration of self flaggelation or stoning some adulterers with designer rocks.

      Report Post » Puddle Duck  
    • The0bserver
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 5:33pm

      Saranda, you mean why don’t we sit back passively and suck in the propaganda without questioning any of it. That’s what you mean. They’re are pushing politics, so it’s fair game to criticize it.

      Report Post »  
    • Richard Blogger
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 6:23pm

      @Dejavu “If the Brits love dying while waiting for a pap smear, too bad for them.”

      It does not happen. Every woman can request a pap smear for free and will get an appointment within a few days. Every woman over 25 will get a letter from her primary care doctor asking her to have a free pap smear. Rates of cervical cancer is lower in the UK than in the US.

      Report Post »  
  • Impenitent
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:02pm

    to say nothing of British dentistry…

    Report Post »  
  • mash4077
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:01pm

    the olympics have always been run and participated by socialists/communists and the like. they gave a stage to hitler,the chinese,and next russia and vlad “puke” putin. do you need any other examples?

    Report Post » mash4077  
    • CatB
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 4:24am

      London Olympics pauses to honor dead Brits, not Israelis
      By Christine Brennan, USA TODAYUpdated 4h 58m ago

      In the worst decision of the Opening Ceremony, the International Olympic Committee allowed one moment of silence to be held – just not the one that it should have permitted for the past 40 years.

      After saying there would be no moment of silence to honor the 11 Israeli athletes and coaches who were killed at the 1972 Munich Olympics, the IOC permitted a video tribute to the 52 people who were killed in the suicide bombings in the London transit system the day after the city won the Games in 2005.

      That was kind, and fitting, but it only served to highlight the extraordinarily bad judgment the IOC has shown in the matter of the Israelis, who were killed simply because they were Olympians living in the Olympic village.

      http://www.usatoday.com/sports/olympics/london/story/2012-07-27/London-Olympics-Israelis-Munich-moment-of-silence/56545088/1

      I remember the horrible killing of those Olympians .. too bad the Olympic Commitee didn’t allow them to be honored.

      Report Post »  
    • superduperpatriot
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 4:19pm

      MASH4077 said: “the olympics have always been run and participated by socialists/communists and the like”

      So true. So true. Most especially that socialist/communist who ran the 2002 Salt Lake Games. What was his name again…Willard…something or other…

      I just wish that commie Willard puke person-thing-fella COMMIE would just move to another planet and leave us commie hating freedom patriots alone. Go to Mars where you belong, commie Willard COMMIE!

      Report Post » superduperpatriot  
  • NOTALOTTAYITTAYADDA
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:59pm

    Maybe my expectations were high from China and Greece, but this was THE WORST opening ceremony in recent times.

    Report Post »  
    • curleyfry
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 3:00pm

      I totally agree with you. Then to highlight socialized medicine. When they ended with sir paul that was it. I wasn’t going to listen to him. It was the worst Olympic Opening Ceremony I have ever seen!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
  • NoBama Mama
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:54pm

    And of course, NBC lapped it up like hungry dogs. They had to make some remark about the British appreciation of their health care. Spew! I think it’s all a set up.

    Report Post »  
    • Bids
      Posted on July 29, 2012 at 7:08pm

      I’m sure the commentators read whatever script the organizers gave then.

      Report Post »  
  • AR485
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:51pm

    I was vehemently opposed to socialized medicine and the devastating effect that it will have the United States. That is, however, until the IOC put on a cheesy dance tune by the British NHS to show me how great it actually is.

    Report Post »  
  • Creativethinker
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:49pm

    Ah yes Britain’s socialized medicine… I used to blog with a woman from London who was on pain medication for her gall bladder… they couldn’t get her in to remove it for 3 months(too backed up), so they just gave her pain meds… or she could pay alot of money and have a private physician remove it I urged her to do the latter. She also said that her children were playing in a fountain in a childrens park and she went to snap a photograph of them and a police officer came up to her and told her she wasn’t allowed to take a photo in public!!! They have cameras all over in London.

    Report Post »  
  • Dde13
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:49pm

    And they were upset with what Mitt said???? guess you need to look at the source…

    Report Post »  
    • grand slam grandam
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 11:31pm

      As the daughter of an English lady who left England by herself at the age of 18 on a steamboat in 1920 to America, never returning to England calling it “The Land of Muck and Brass”, it seems fair to say that the English are most always PO’d about one thing or another. Mitt should not be surprised that they would take offense at his rather innocuous remarks because they are most usually looking to be offended about SOMETHING (all the while laughing under their breath)! Guess we Americans would be too if we had to support both National Healthcare as well as the Monarchy! Thank you, mom, for having the courage to jump that boat to America so many years ago! Keep America free!!

      Report Post »  
  • heartbun
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:43pm

    I just laughed when I saw it. The two most important and beloved things to ceremony creator Danny Boyle, Children’s Literature and the National Health Service. Nothing political about Peter Pan.

    Report Post »  
  • The-Monk
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:42pm

    Socialized Medicine and Mike Oldfield (creator of the Exorcist theme song, which they started the dance with).

    Yep, a perfect fit.

    Report Post » The-Monk  
  • Dde13
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:42pm

    Wow!!!!! All I can say is WOW!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Baddoggy
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:42pm

    The Dental work there is FABULOUS! ROFL…They could name most of their people Buck….

    Report Post » Baddoggy  
  • marybethelizabeth
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:41pm

    The British decided that nothing is more important than the people’s health.

    President Obama decided that the Heritage Foundation and Republicans were right and nothing is more important than insurance company profits.

    Report Post » marybethelizabeth  
    • Psychosis
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:57pm

      and can you explain why they can afford it ?????

      i bet not

      Report Post » Psychosis  
    • Dejavu
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:01pm

      Hey Mary ElizaSh*t, if you love socialized medicine so much, why don”t you get your fat lazy arse over to the UK and wait in line for months and months to get the big fat carbuncle off your big fat arse. Sheesh. You are the worst of the worst of malcontents and miscreants. Get back to Huffpo you lunatic.

      Report Post » Dejavu  
    • Dejavu
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:04pm

      I’ve been tryng to be polite to you ******** for a long while now, but I just can’t stand it anymore. Mary Elitistsh*t get off of our planet, you piece of crap.

      Report Post » Dejavu  
    • Dejavu
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:07pm

      And by the way, you know absolutely nothing about why our country is so great. If you hate it so much, feel free to leave you worthless pile of human excrement.

      Report Post » Dejavu  
    • marybethelizabeth
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 11:34am

      Sure Mr. Psychosis.

      If you value human life above all else than you will pay whatever it takes to preserve it.
      The British can afford their health care system because it is their priority.

      Americans value a smooth surface for the automobile, a road free of potholes, above all else.

      Report Post » marybethelizabeth  
    • Git-R-Done
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 10:25pm

      Yeah, you leftists value human life so much that you’re willing to cap the salaries of doctors and nurses b/c they’re “greedy.”

      Report Post »  
  • jdtanker
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:38pm

    Ok, I’m going to go throw up now.

    Report Post » jdtanker  
  • CatB
    Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:33pm

    Glad that I am watching GBTV and not this Olympic propaganda .

    Report Post »  
    • mils
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:45pm

      wow…we’ve watched a few opening ceremony programs..
      and this one is WITHOUT A DOUBT..THE WORSE…
      TURNED IT OFF..DUMB DUMB DUMB
      .. SOCIALIZEd MEDICINE AS your center point of an Olympic.. program?…
      wow..bad..

      Report Post »  
    • eschatologist
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 9:46pm

      Lol

      Report Post »  
    • survivorseed
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:11pm

      Yeah Mils, how dare another country be proud of itself. Of course it should have been a 5 hour spectacular on how great the USA is. I‘m surprised you’ve even got a television in your doomsday panic room.

      Report Post »  
    • Dejavu
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:24pm

      Survivorseed…….please destroy any seeds you may have left. We don’t need your kind to survivie at all. You lemming, drone, putrid human being.

      Report Post » Dejavu  
    • survivorseed
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 10:35pm

      Hey dejavu, its ironic that in a thread about health care, you‘re so infatuated with the death of anyone who doesn’t agree with you. Next you’ll tell me how you live your life for Jesus.

      Report Post »  
    • Dejavu
      Posted on July 27, 2012 at 11:01pm

      Survivorseed, you might be a little confused. This isn’t a thread on healthcare, it’s a thread on the Olympics, which the UK injected nationalized health care, without regard to other nations attending the Olympics If you want to, I can slow things down for you so you might be able to comprehend……………….The Olympics are supposed to be about the World coming Together…………… to participate in Sporting events……….. in a Competitive way. It‘s not about Espousing one nation’s ideology…………….. Over another nation. And as for death……..I didn’t wish you any ill will…..I‘m just hoping you won’t procreate. For the sake of the world.

      Report Post » Dejavu  
    • 4xeverything
      Posted on July 28, 2012 at 5:52am

      Heavy storms knocked out the cable last night. So, the hubby, kids, and I made popcorn and watched The Princess Bride. After scanning numerous articles on the subpar opening ceremonies, I’d say it was a family evening well spent.

      Report Post » 4xeverything  
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