On Tue, 28 May 2019 12:39:57 -0700 (PDT), dsi1
> wrote:

>On Tuesday, May 28, 2019 at 12:15:36 AM UTC-10, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>
>>
>> Sure they did. Right up until, oh, the 1960s or 1970s.
>>
>> Private charity was imperfect, but people were fairly generous.
>> Neighborliness went a long way--if your neighbor was suffering
>> you might send over a casserole or help him find a job.
>>
>> When medical technology was relatively primitive, it was not
>> so difficult to afford treatment. Now, when treatment can cost
>> hundreds of thousands of dollars, not so much.
>>
>> Cindy Hamilton
>
>My dad slipped on some ice and shattered his ankle in Sweden. His surgery and the couple of days in the hospital cost $50. My guess the rehab was also similarly priced.

Rich countries should look after the basic needs of their people, like
that. Or else what's the point of being a rich country?