Does He have a Right? Santorum and the NHS

BBC News - Newsnight - Republican Rick Santorum: 'NHS devastated Britain'

The BBC loves to portray the Republican candidates as wild eyed nutters and from this side of the pond there seems to be a huge gulf between the President and Republican contenders. This interviewer seemed to set, what from a British perceptive, was a bear trap for the splendidly named Rick Santorum. 'How dare he criticise the NHS' is the sentiment the BBC undoubtedly wants to invoke in British viewers.

Santorum however is not alone in the art of dissing of other countries' health policy. I read alot (too much probably) of journalistic and social media output on health care policy. Slagging off, of the high cost and unfairness of American Health policy from this side has become a national pastime in the left leaning press. It goes hand in hand with the Sanctification of the Institution of the National Health Service. So if the BBC and the Guardian do it, why is Rick not entitled to have a go.

He is however wrong in his assessment of the NHS and of British political history.

We don't vote in American Presidential Elections and most of the great American public do not read or see BBC output. I suspect therefore that Rick does not give a toss what the British people think and why should he!