Challenges to Democracy

The healthcare debate in the USA has become the main story both sides of the Atlantic. There are the issues of whether people should have a right to healthcare; which is the most effective way of delivering healthcare to a nation; and the costs of healthcare. But the campaign led by the opponents of President Obama's campaign raises issues about the subversion of democracy (and I'm not talking about mob rule at Town Hall meetings).

In an Op-Ed in today's Guardian Peter Wilby writes

" The most determined, coherent and organised voices in any contemporary political debate are those of the corporate sector and its allies. It can afford the PR and advertising to change the terms of public discourse and it knows that lies and half truths...can sow doubt's in people's minds even if they are easily disproved. The corporate sector can also intimidate and compromise elected politicians."

"The price of democracy is eternal vigilance against the encroachment of corporate interest."

Discuss.

Why Brits are angry at American Misrepresentations

I try to avoid posts on partisan issues - there are a host of blogs which push a particular ideological standpoint. This blog is intended to share information about the legislatures in the UK and the USA. It aims to explain the differences and similarities - and how each works. While I have my own views (I have been a Labour parliamentary candidate twice & a Labour European Parliament candidate once), this isn't the place to "preach the word". Republicans; Tories; Democrats; Socialists; Blairites; Lib-Dems; - all are welcome here.

However, there is an issue I feel very strongly about - and would like to explain (particularly to American readers) why so many Brits are angered by some of the things that are being said in the current debate in the USA over healthcare reforms.

We may grumble about it sometimes (we can be great grumblers in Britain, perhaps it's the weather), but the NHS is something most Brits are both proud of and grateful for. My father had his first heart attack 32 years ago - he's had all the care he needed - including a quad heart bypass (when in his late 70s - so that story about no heart treatments for the over 60s is completely untrue) and continues to receive treatment. His health has caused us worries over the years - but we've never had the worry of his treatment being denied by an insurance company - or of funding expensive treatment which we couldn't afford. (And by the way, Senator Grassley, my father is two years older than Senator Kennedy!)

Everyone is entitled to treatment. Having just moved I needed a new doctor - I registered at the practice of my choice. No state official told me where I had to go. Routine tests were carried out to check my sugar levels; blood pressure and cholesterol levels. I didn't have to pay for them - or even request them. The Government's funding of such tests has enabled many people who have diabetes and other health problems to have their conditions spotted and treated. As one of those people who had diabetes, but didn't know it, I am grateful for this initiative.

As I get older, I know more and more friends who have fallen ill to (particularly) cancer and heart problems. The NHS has been great - and I wouldn't swop it for the current American system anyday. I am angry for two reasons with the campaign of misinformation being waged at the moment

* Americans are being denied advantages which Brits have taken for granted for decades - the number of uninsured is a disgrace to the good name of America. Health Care should be a right, as it is in Britain.

* "My" NHS is being lied about.

I'd be happy to correspond with any American about my personal experience of the NHS.

Tonight's Evening Standard states -

"Among inaccuracies that have irritated the Government are claims NHS patients over the age of 59 cannot get heart repairs and that women under 25 are “not allowed” breast cancer screening.

One advert said 40 per cent of UK cancer patients do not have access to a specialist. Macmillan Cancer Support said this figure was 15 years out of date."

You can also see what some Brits are saying at http://www.freelancesupermarket.com/forum/coffee-shop/459-proud-our-nhs.html

I've just joined the Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=249360150703. Can I invite fellow Brits to join me.

UK Election Maps

Last year I described some of the key races in the US Elections. Over the next few months I will profile some of the key constituencies in the UK. A General Election must be held by June next year.

There is a wonderful online resource available providing maps of electoral areas at http://www.election-maps.co.uk/index.jsp

The key units are

* Parliamentary Constituencies - one MP is elected by each constituency.

* Wards - these are the basic building blocks of each constituency. Wards, ideally, should not be split between constituencies. They are the electoral districts for local elections. ("Electoral Divisions" are the districts for County elections - they made be the same as a ward or bring together a number of wards).

The map in today's picture is Milton Keynes South (effective from the next election). I live in Furzton ward.

UK Guides

Over the last two days I have briefly described two guides to Members of Congress. In the UK there are similar guides to Parliaments. I have been buying copies of the "Times Guide to the House of Commons" since I picked up a copy of the October 1974 Edition whilst visiting Hull in the mid 1970s. My greatest regret is that the Times Guide stopped giving details of the major defeated candidates in each constituency from their 2001 edition. It was in 2001 that I first stood for Parliament!

The first Times Guide covered the 1880 election. The earliest one in my personal collection is 1966. Other publishers have started their own guides. Dod's produces a guide after each general election - where MP's are listed by order of surname (The Times Guide lists in Constituency order). An "Almanac of British Politics" has been published for the last 35 years. While this gives a brief biography of each MP, it's strength is the detail it gives of each constituency. The current edition has lots of details about the new constituencies which take effect at the forthcoming General Election.

The Almanac of American Politics

The main rival to CQ's Politics in America is National Journal's "Almanac of American Politics". I find them complementary. The 2010 edition is due to be published this month. The Washington Post Review has commented in the past "Indispensable . . . this compendium of statistics and information has gone as far as humanly possible."

I have bought and use both. I'm sure that as soon as copies arrive in the UK I will be ordering the Almanac