Here is an example: I have a relative who for work reasons moved to the USA from a Northern European country. He has a very skilled job, no money problems, he lives in a nice neighborhood. His son, as soon as he arrived, was subjected to heavy bullying and one of the insults that the bullies shouted at him was "bloody socialist ". And the parents of those idiots, probably, in case of health problems will become homeless.

That's because humane, sensible people know that *people* are the best thing in which to invest. I hate that I have to say that....for Americans.

I don’t know about the free treatments for everyone, unless those treatments encompass every single medical condition one could have. For example, if you need very expensive treatments, for cancer, or a transplant of some kind, how quickly do you see the doctors who will be treating you, and how competent are these doctors? If treatment is still top notch, and you don’t have to outlive waiting for whatever treatment you might need, then your medical plan sounds like the thing every country should do. But, how is all of this funded? I will say that I’m OVER insurance company CEO’s and big Pharma CEO’s making millions and millions in salaries and bonus’s, while many suffer, because they can’t afford the medicines they need to survive. When ANY company puts profit over people, that’s a company I never want to do business with.

Yes, but bear this in mind: unless the company you work for signed otherwise, the first three days are not paid, and from the fourth day on you get 60% of your salary. That's what the law says in Spain. So unless they work for a pretty good company, many people will still drag their sick a*s to work because they really can't afford to lose three-day wage. Coronavirus has just landed here but it'll spread quickly due to this stupid regulation. The health system is really good, though, so it makes up for the s****y work conditions.

Well how about starting by NOT voting for a known conman that had 6 businesses go bust and proudly stated during the elections that he was smart for not paying taxes. And next you could try voting people in congress that aren't greedy old people.

Well, that should tell you what needs to change first. You know, France was a kingdom until people decided that's not what they wanted.

@RickHarmon: you never got out of the US of A, have you? And to be allowed to be ick or having paid maternity leave or getting treated for a serious illness without being billed a fortune has nothing to do with socialism. You like the orange man, do you?

The USA needs a third party. One that takes the best of each (old) party, and melds, blends, updates, throws out the old, etc., etc., until we have a system that is good for everyone, and not just special groups of people, rich, poor, or whatever skin color, or nationality one happens to be. Career politicians have ruined this country, so we need to overhaul everything from the ground up. Biggest problems always seem to start with how much money one has to convince the powers that be, to do things the way the people with money want them done. Until or unless we get people in office that care more about PEOPLE than how much money they’ll make, NOTHING will ever change, no matter how many times we go to the polls and vote. It’s a terrible, terrible system!

Going sick long term (expecting recovery) is rare and tax rebates come to play so the company's profits won't take much of a hit, it's also illegal to dismiss someone because of documented sickness, and you'll get a doctor's/hospital note because it's all free. I went to a doctor to ask for a prescription to deal with stress at work, after 10 min she gave me a note to get two weeks off! My boss wasn't happy but had to comply, I was paid 65% of my normal wages during the period. Of course the smaller the company it'd have an effect on productivity but I think studies have shown that recruitment and training of a new employee is more costly that to pay for sick days

Not sure about Spain, but in my European country, Government substitutes payroll while a person is sick or on maternity/paternity leave. Also, one parent gets 1 month of paid childcare, another up to 2 years (1st year 80% paid, 2nd year 50% paid).

While a person is sick the government pays for his/her salary, not the company.