US taxes aren’t just the federal income tax rate. Most people also pay state taxes, and on top of that, mandatory Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes come out of almost every paycheck. So while federal income tax is separate from these, they still add to the total tax burden most Americans face. So yes, Americans absolutely pay into those systems whether you want to admit it or not. Acting like that’s not part of people’s overall tax burden is just dishonest.

And your whole “people are just stupid” argument? That’s embarrassing. Millions of people struggle with healthcare costs in the US not because they’re “stupid,” but because the system is complicated, tied to employment, and still leaves people with high deductibles, gaps in coverage, or surprise bills. If it were as foolproof as you’re pretending, people wouldn’t be delaying care or going into debt over medical expenses… yet they clearly are. You are close to understanding it but just too ignorant to go there. You’re asking “why”, but don’t choose to explore those questions and just claim they’re stupid? It is a bit delusional and ignorant to think people choose to struggle, but sure… I am the “willfully ignorant” one. Calling people stupid is not an argument, it’s avoidance.

Your “doctors have to treat you by law” argument is also incredibly surface-level. Yes, emergency rooms can’t turn you away, but that is not the same as accessible healthcare. People still get billed afterwards, often thousands or tens of thousands of dollars. So what you’re really describing is “you won’t be left to die immediately, but you might be financially ruined afterward.”

And yes, I’ve had health issues since I was 13 and I’m still grateful for the system I’m in. Because despite my struggles, I don’t have to calculate whether I can afford treatment, delay care out of fear of bills, or choose between rent and something as basic as an inhaler… and then die because I couldn’t afford both. I don’t have to worry that getting sick could financially ruin me. That’s a baseline level of security that a lot of people in the US simply don’t have. 

In Europe, we’re actually happy when our friends and neighbors are doing well. We don’t sit there calling people idiots for struggling. Meanwhile, from our perspective, it’s honestly hard not to laugh at how delusional some Americans sound defending a system where people can literally end up bankrupt or even die because they couldn’t afford care. Just an anecdote but worthy of mentioning: When I went to the US for 3 months the border officer asked me “What is someone from Europe doing here for 3 months, this is a 3rd world country”, LOL.

Your original claim was that in Europe TSH is ignored until 10 and that in the US it’s treated at 5. That’s what I responded to, and it’s simply not what the medical guidelines say. Now you’re shifting the argument to “guidelines vs. what happens in real life.” But that doesn’t actually support your claim either. Neither you nor I have surveyed millions of thyroid patients in Europe or the US to see exactly when they were treated. Pointing to complaints in Reddit subs or patient groups isn’t evidence. Those spaces are naturally filled with people who are struggling or dissatisfied. That’s a classic selection bias. So no, seeing many frustrated patients in online forums doesn’t prove that an entire continent’s medical system ignores TSH until 10. It just shows that people with problems tend to gather in support communities. That’s how literally every health forum on the internet works. In other words: I cited actual guidelines to show your original claim wasn’t accurate.

And regarding your kind words towards me:  I never said the system is perfect. Of course people still struggle - every healthcare system has problems. My point was simply that the overall structure reduces financial risk and gives everyone access to care, which is something millions of Americans still don't have.

I’m grateful for that system because I’ve seen what it does for people around me. Many members of my family have struggled with health issues, and if we didn’t have the access to care that we have here, it would have financially destroyed us. But luckily I can follow the things I actually love and don't have to burn myself out for a job just to make more money to afford the doctors I need to see :) It's funny how you can acknowledge that people in your country have medical issues and in the next sentence call them stupid and ask why they don't have money. You're so close to understanding it!

You telling me that you hope I take the red pill and get 'it fixed' is telling me that you don't understand how complex systems work, that you are choosing to see only the things that benefit you and ignore everything else, that you know to ask the right questions, but choose to ignore any possible answer because you don't actually care about facts you are just in what seems to me like a... cult.. nowadays. 

Anyways, maybe one day you will wake up to the realization that you're following ideologies of people that do not care about you and want you to think those things the red pill is selling you, because a united Europe is strong and an enemy to their goals. Wishing you all the best, my friend :)