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[xilman]

Originally Posted by kriesel

What is the record for longevity for a republic such as ours? I think it is Rome, approx 482 years. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Republic

Iceland comes close

The formal declaration of a republic is as recent as 1944, but it has been effectively self-governing as a parliamentary democracy since 1550 --- 470 years ago.

Their parliament, the Alþingi, was founded in 930.

[Dr Sardonicus]

Originally Posted by xilman

Iceland comes close

The formal declaration of a republic is as recent as 1944, but it has been effectively self-governing as a parliamentary democracy since 1550 --- 470 years ago.

Their parliament, the Alþingi, was founded in 930.

So, in Iceland, for over a thousand years the government has been all things to all people.

[M344587487]

Originally Posted by kriesel

...
I worked for the government for over 35 years and had ample opportunity to observe the irrationality, self-serving, and inefficiency up close. Adding that kind of overhead to major cash flows in the economy is a horrible idea.
In closing, I direct you to look at how people in the UK are being denied needed treatment, how people in Canada are sometimes coming to the US for treatment despite their national health system, and how rife with issues the VA had long been, our domestic nationalized health care provider for US veterans, with veterans frequently dying while waiting for treatment.
And note that reserve currencies change. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reserve_currency#History China has reason to promote a change away from the dollar.

The NHS has its problems and long waits for certain operations is one of them, but as is always the case if you're willing to pay you can go private to jump the queue. On the whole I consider the NHS a success, those that are most in need do tend to get what they need regardless of their financial situation.


Can socialised healthcare work in the US? Probably not as efficiently as you'd hope, corruption and mishandling would be rife but that's a fact of life. Universally accessible healthcare is needed IMO, especially to prepare for and during things like pandemics. I've heard nothing but bad things about the American system and I don't think it's entirely down to my ignorance.

[kriesel]

Originally Posted by xilman

Iceland comes close

The formal declaration of a republic is as recent as 1944, but it has been effectively self-governing as a parliamentary democracy since 1550 --- 470 years ago.

Their parliament, the Alþingi, was founded in 930.

By "a republic such as ours", I was thinking of independent, its own same currency over the period of self rule, and so far no outright defaults; never ruled by another nation over an uninterrupted period of hundreds of years.

Iceland's history is certainly interesting.

[Dr Sardonicus]

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[kriesel]

Originally Posted by M344587487

I've heard nothing but bad things about the American system and I don't think it's entirely down to my ignorance.

The system may suck (thank you very little, AMA, VA, Obamacare etc.), but there are some diamonds in the dirt. https://www.newsweek.com/2019/04/05/...d-1368512.html

[xilman]

And there are no letters in the mailbox
and there are no grapes upon the vine,
and there are no chocolates in the boxes anymore,

Originally Posted by kriesel

but there are some diamonds in the dirt.