As much as I hate HMOs I would never willingly subject somebody to Germany's Socialized health care.

I lived in Northern Germany for 2 years. Luckily I never had to see a doctor. An american friend of mine did though. He had to take a particularly strong acne medicine (He's a Scot, his name is also Scott) for his fair skin. One night he took the pill, then leaned over to sip water from the faucet. The pill got lodged into his sinus cavity and opened up. Within minutes his face started swelling. He was driven to the LangenHorn (just north of Hamburg) General Hospital where he lived. They went into the ER, but there was nobody there. After ringing the bell for 5 minutes a nurse finally showed up, looked at him and told him the doctor was making his rounds. She wouldn't page him on the PA because it might wake up the patients. She then told him to walk up and down the halls till he found the doctor. Having no other choice Scott walked up and down the halls till he ran into the doctor. The doctor examined him, then told him he didn't have the equipment and told him to go to Hamburg General. He then had to be driven to Hamburg (30 minutes) before finally getting his sinus cavity pumped.

Anybody that advocates socialized medicine for others, ought to be treated by it once or twice.

On another note, I have heard similar stories about our own US Military hospitals and VA hospitals.

-Steve G.