There are lots of reasons to envy residents of Northern Europe. Each day they get to take in raw, dramatic landscapes, stunning architecture and world-class shopping.

But, more important, they know a thing or two about health and wellness.

Forbes.com has found that the region is home to some of the world's healthiest countries, including top-ranking Iceland, Sweden and Finland. Others that fared well include Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Denmark, Canada, Austria and the Netherlands.

"Historically, these countries had an ethic of having more of a nationalized health care system," says Kate Schecter, a program officer for the American International Health Alliance, a nonprofit that works to advance global health by helping nations with limited resources build sustainable infrastructure. "There's this mentality that health care should be a given right for citizens."

Despite the fact that an estimated 47 million Americans lack health insurance, the U.S . ranked 11. Rounding out the list, were Israel, the Czech Republic, Spain and France.
 
http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2008/04/07/health-world-countries-forbeslife-cx_avd_0408health.html

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{ The United States comes in as number 11 on the list of the worlds healthiest nations. Nothing to be proud of there.....I'm afraid. There is a reason why we're that low on the list.

In one word....."Conservatives".

Cons have struggled to prevent any administration from implementing a universal health care plan and the result is some 47 million American have no health care and millions of others have insufficient coverage. Conservatives love to scream about " socialized medicine" and their favorite whipping boy is our neighbors to the North......Canada. They put up endless studies and quotes showing { they claim} how horrible and inhumane the Canadian health care system is. They love to put up articles about how Canadians are coming here for medical treatment rather than face the butchers at home. What they don't mention of course is wealthy Canadians can afford to go anywhere they want for medical treatment and America has the best health care in the world....if you can afford it.

Millions of Canadians can't afford to travel anywhere they want for treatment and their system takes care of all. Canada comes in as number 8.

The Republicans seem to be in the back pocket of the huge insurance companies and the pharmaceutical giants and will continue to attempt to stop any progress toward a more equitable health care system while Cons will continue to whine about the misuse of their tax dollars on social programs.

My question is this: If Obama wins the election and the Dem's can hold their majority in the house over the next four years will there be a universal health care system in America by the time the next general election rolls along? If so.............what will it be like? What should it be like....or shouldn't be like? Will the Cons still manage to stop it?

What do you think?}