I wouldn't make comparisons to the socialized medical systems in the U.K. and Canada. That is the point of attack for the establishment and they will only continue to emphasize and exaggerate any and all weaknesses in this "foreign" set of systems. At best, most Americans are indifferent to "foreign countries" and are fearful at worst. There is no credibility in drawing the link. In fact, I would suggest completely ignoring any references to it.

A few people in the U.S are wondering if their country is one step away from socialism by approving Universal Health Care. This speculation is hard to understand. It seems that while many are going broke and loudly screaming for reform, they are still afraid of change.  In Costa Rica, the life expectancy is 80 years. Compared to "first world nations", it is at the same level.  This is possible because the Government of Costa Rica made health care a top priority. Most people receive insurance through their employer.  A portion of your salary ( 4.5% ) is applied toward social security. With that amount of money, the benefits are : 1) Total medical care regardless of your condition;  2) Maternity leave with four months of full salary to spend time at home with your baby; 3) We can sign up our parents, brothers or sisters under 18 years of age, our own children, husband or wife and all of them without extra charges; 4) After we retire, we get a pension check.  Another very important element is if the parent of a child does not have money or employment, the government gives the child free health care until they are 18 years old.  We never pay for medicine or extra fees. I don't think having a fair health care system is being a “socialist. "  From my point of view, the way they handle medicine here seems like excessive capitalism. I have heard many people say they are afraid of getting seriously sick or just simply cannot "afford getting sick. " 

This Friday evening (May 22) the Bill Moyers Journal on PBS at 9 p.m. EDT will feature a discussion with Dr. David Himmelstein, co-founder of PNHP, and other single-payer advocates, asking the question "why isn't a single-payer plan on the table in Washington?"

This important media event is emblematic of a recent surge in media interest in the single-payer alternative - a surge in large part fueled by the bold and courageous acts of civil disobedience undertaken by PNHP members and others before the Senate Finance Committee earlier this month.