Too old to treat

Before I tell this story, I would like to put you who are reading this, into the shoes of the person that I am about to detail.

Imagine this;  You are a Norwegian, born and raised.  You have lived through the second world war, you have traveled the world working as a machinist on a goods boat, you have run a successful business for decades, and you have happily paid your sky high taxes based on the belief that by paying those taxes you will be ensured a comfortable life after your life-long duty to your country.  You have certainly done your part, even more than your part.  While others found excuses not to work, you have toiled away on ponderous jobs.  Much longer than the 37.5 hours which is the standard Norwegian work week.  Why, in the height of the success of your business, you probably worked upwards of 60-70 hours per week, for a decade or more...  Lets now fast forward to somewhere around mid-2013.

Let's call this fella Bob.  I know him very well, in fact I see him up to three times per week, while working with his mobility impaired son.  Somewhere in mid 2013 Bob's knee began acting up.  It isn't odd considering the type of work he had been doing for the past 30 odd years; running a machine rental company out of his home, and doing repairs.  Out in the cold, heavy lifting, and late hours tend to take a tole on ones' joints.  So it surprised no one that wear and tare began to show its unwelcome face once his age began to creep over 70.

As time went on, it became worse, to the point where standing up and sitting down was labored.  Even getting up and down the stairs.  His knee began to throb.  Bob's machine rental business was still running, he was the type that enjoys his work, the type that doesn't like to just exist.  Work was his honor.  The pain in his knee was making it hard to do his work, so he made an appointment with his doctor, and was referred to an expert.

Three painful months later of sitting idly in his chair, he was finally able to see this expert.  The result, he was told, was that his knee would continue to get worse and eventually lock up if he went without a knee replacement operation.  This didn't mean however, that the doctor had approved the operation.  You see, here in Norway, it isn't up to Bob whether or not he will get the operation.  It is up to the hospital, the government, some guy in some office.

After another long wait, he received a letter in the mail; a very disappointing letter in fact.  A letter telling Bob, that he was denied the operation.  A letter saying that he was too old to get a state sponsored knee replacement.  Imagine for a moment how this man felt.  Let me remind you that he has a business to run, which would be impossible without that brand new knee.  I would feel powerless, wouldn't you?

You are told here that we all pay in to the collective pool, and that will create security for everyone.  That we have to think about the poor, the incapable, the invalid!  Don't be greedy now, this is for your own good.  Don't you care about the little guy?  Do you really want the sick to go without treatment?  How dare you, capitalist!  It's greedy people like you that we need protection against!

Bob was lucky in fact, and I will tell you why; he had taken out a private health insurance some years back, "just in case."  His private health insurance covered his knee replacement operation, in a private hospital, and they did the whole job in a quick and efficient manner.

When I see this man now, I see someone very conflicted.  He personally experienced the failure of socialism, though I'm not sure that is what he equates it to.  A lot of people I meet here, will agree on a lot of points of why certain aspects fail, but they aren't able to see the larger picture.  They think that it's a policy failure, that we need even more state intervention, that some individual behind some desk failed them, but no not the system!

Bob and I discuss these things during dinner, three times a week.  He still wants to believe in socialism.  They all do.  No amount of logic or reason will sway them.  I believe only the severest of crisis's will change their minds.  Then again, maybe not even then...