OFFICIAL Debate #1 thread

[TimberWolf]

So anyway moving on to Question Time, are John Sergeant and Jo Brand the same person?

[smalldog]

Lost count of how many times I've heard 'fair' so far. So life's now fair is it?

I just love this use of the term Fair, its so subjective, whats fair to one person might not be fair to another...They might aswell start using the word "Fresh" thats just as meaningless

[scooterscot]

"Let's be clear"

Honestly if I had a penny for every time I've heard this phrase since the start of the election...

[d000hg]

We should have an option to pull out of the NHS and go private, but pay a mandatory minimum contribution to the welfare state to ensure its continued funding for all those who cannot afford to go private.

OK I can see your point, but that would add more complexity to personal tax and the system as a whole. A better system might be if you go private, the NHS pays part of the cost for treatment, the amount they'd spend if you had had the work done on the NHS in the first place.

[Platypus]

Very bland debate. No passion on display.

I noticed lots of Gordon and Nick agreeing with each other - clear to me they're planning another Lib-Lab pact.

I got utterly fed up of the "I was talking to Mrs Goggins last week who nearly died / had kids in school / etc. and she told me that ...". Does anyone fall for that over-personalisation of points? Does it really make the point more real? I'd rather have heard more on policy and less illustrative examples.

Smug Gordon was looking very confident. I think he thinks he'll win the election. He may be right

[gingerjedi]

Sigh back, derrr I do understand that, but if a proportionate amount of people pulled out then the load would reduce, therefore reducing cost...Not everyone can afford to pay for their own private care so thats an extreme comparison, its not just the rich paying for the NHS. From the moment you start paying PAYE you start contributing to the welfare state. If everyone pulled out then maybe but that would never happen, some people would not want to go private and not down to decisions based on cost or their wealth.

We should have an option to pull out of the NHS and go private, but pay a mandatory minimum contribution to the welfare state to ensure its continued funding for all those who cannot afford to go private.

What people should not be expected to do is pay for private care such as BUPA and then be expected to effectively pay again for a service they will not use. And yes BUPA etc doesnt cover everything at the moment but I would pay for my own GP visits (that amounts to 2 in the last 10 years) and A&E including ambulance costs as required.

Private health care in this country amounts to nothing more than a bed on the posh wing of an NHS hospital and a queue jump for non life threatening conditions.

If there was something seriously wrong with you only the NHS have the resources to treat you effectively.

[Platypus]

So me and my partner are paying £2k each into the NHS each year according to Nick Clegg...So why the hell cant I opt out of something I havent used in years and put that £4k between us into a private medical policy...so much for choice

It's money in the bank for when you get old and frail and need the NHS. Or your dad/mum/sister. Maggie tried the whole opting-out policy - it failed and was hugely unpopular.

[Platypus]

We should have an option to pull out of the NHS and go private, but pay a mandatory minimum contribution to the welfare state to ensure its continued funding for all those who cannot afford to go private.

What people should not be expected to do is pay for private care such as BUPA and then be expected to effectively pay again for a service they will not use. And yes BUPA etc doesnt cover everything at the moment but I would pay for my own GP visits (that amounts to 2 in the last 10 years) and A&E including ambulance costs as required.

Exactly the same argument for private education. Fact is, it's the pay-but-don't-use folks whose contribution is most needed and without which the system would fail.

[smalldog]

Exactly the same argument for private education. Fact is, it's the pay-but-don't-use folks whose contribution is most needed and without which the system would fail.

Do you know if any analysis has ever been carried out to prove that would be the case? There are too many throw away "that wont work" comments associated with trying something different.

So if the system failed because people who dont use something opt out then surely the system was never right in the first place so needs addressing. Its a flawed system so we shouldnt just let it fester for fear of breaking it by trying to improve it. If we took that approach in IT most projects would never see the light of day, sometimes governments have to grow a pair and take some risk and potential pain. It doesnt work now so what have they got to lose by trying small scale pilot, if they havent already.

[smalldog]

Private health care in this country amounts to nothing more than a bed on the posh wing of an NHS hospital and a queue jump for non life threatening conditions.

If there was something seriously wrong with you only the NHS have the resources to treat you effectively.

not true, for me anyway. ive gone private in a completely private hospital (BMIHealthcare Blackheath to be precise) and totally enjoyable, as enjoyable as a hospital can be of course...

and all because the NHS could not provide me with the non invasive surgery I could get privately. So thats flawed argument im afraid, not only was I not in an NHS hospital but if I had gone NHS which of course are so wonderful as I keep hearing, I would have been cut to ribbons as their technologies aren't as advanced..Did I get a contribution towards the surgery from all my NI payments, of course not...

and Im guessing by you saying something serious you are excluding breast cancer in that case, just trivial condition I assume....god how ignorant