Prostates and Prejudices (by Paul Krugman)

[antiimperialist]

“My chance of surviving prostate cancer — and thank God I was cured of it — in the United States? Eighty-two percent,” says Rudy Giuliani in a new radio ad attacking Democratic plans for universal health care. “My chances of surviving prostate cancer in England? Only 44 percent, under socialized medicine.”

Go to Columnist Page » Blog: The Conscience of a Liberal It would be a stunning comparison if it were true. But it isn’t. And thereby hangs a tale — one of scare tactics, of the character of a man who would be president and, I’m sorry to say, about what’s wrong with political news coverage.

You see, the actual survival rate in Britain is 74.4 percent. That still looks a bit lower than the U.S. rate, but the difference turns out to be mainly a statistical illusion. The details are technical, but the bottom line is that a man’s chance of dying from prostate cancer is about the same in Britain as it is in America.

So Mr. Giuliani’s supposed killer statistic about the defects of “socialized medicine” is entirely false. In fact, there’s very little evidence that Americans get better health care than the British, which is amazing given the fact that Britain spends only 41 percent as much on health care per person as we do.

Entire column:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/02/opinion/02krugman.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[rurallib]

1. I am a bit surprised that someone in Britain hasn't howled

Beside the fact that our shitty press refuses to confront this I am really surprised that someone in Britain hasn't screamed about this slander on their society.

[BridgeTheGap]

2. Is this a sign of how desperate the g.o.p. candidates are?

Resorting to out and out lies and distortions. I guess it's nothing new for them but I don't think it will work this time around.

[Strelnikov_]

3. "If a candidate says something completely false, it’s not “in dispute.”

Take that, N(eocon) P(ropaganda) R(adio).

To be fair, there has been some news coverage of the prostate affair. But it’s only a tiny fraction of the coverage received by Hillary’s laugh and John Edwards’s haircut.

And much of the coverage seems weirdly diffident. Memo to editors: If a candidate says something completely false, it’s not “in dispute.” It’s not the case that “Democrats say” they’re not advocating British-style socialized medicine; they aren’t.

The fact is that the prostate affair is part of a pattern: Mr. Giuliani has a habit of saying things, on issues that range from health care to national security, that are demonstrably untrue. And the American people have a right to know that.

[acmavm]

4. Rudy freaks me out. He lies, he knows we know he's lying, and he doesn't

blink an eye. He doesn't feel sheepish or guilty. He doesn't care what we think. He just keeps on telling those lies. THAT IS JUST LIKE THE CRAZY MAN FRONTING FOR CHENEY & CO., otherwise known as 'The Decider'.

The republican party should realize that the closest comparison to the slate of candidates they spit out for this election is that of a cat spitting up hairballs.

Does this not strike anyone else as insane? Freddy T. Huckabee. That batshit crazy old croak McCain.

Holy smokes. Abe Lincoln would be proud. :sarcasm:

[Jade Fox]

5. It's Rudy's "thug" personality...

as Huffington points out:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/unhinged-giuliani-buys-i_b_70827.html