Irony

During our first month in Oxford, we were required to participate in a lecture series presented by varying Oxford professors. The lecture series covered all sorts of issues relating to Britain's history and culture. Each day we had up to three lectures on a different topic. The topics ranged from the National Health Service (NHS), Shakespeare, the Tudor and Stuart Eras, to the British system of government. The biggest lesson I've taken from these lectures is that truth really is stranger than fiction.

The most interesting bit of information I learned is in regard to the NHS. The NHS was established through three funding sources: a £3.75 billion loan from the U.S.A. initiated the program in the 1940s, proceeds from decolonization in the 1950s and 60s, and increased taxation. I find it incredibly ironic that the NHS got its start from a nearly £4 billion loan from the United States in the 1940s. This is equivalent to approximately £60 billion today (around $96 billion after converting with a rough exchange rate of $1.60/pound). It is odd to me that America's government was so willing to pay to establish a socialized health care system in a foreign country, but the US government and the American populace offer so much resistance when anyone tries to propose a similar system in America. The NHS is an incredibly popular program in Britain, and the mention of changing it, or limiting access, is political suicide to any politicians (even those who are fiscally conservative) that suggest modifying the current system. Even though it goes against most of what I've been taught in economics and through forums/seminars in DC (e.g., government intervention = bad! market = good!) there is a sense of peace here knowing that if I need to see the doctor, or if I have an emergency, I'll be able to afford it. I'll be the first to admit I'm not entirely sure the details of Obama's new plan, but knowing this makes me want to do a bit more homework about what could be in the U.S.