Television and Healthcare in England

We wouldn't know, we don't have one. Yes, we have been living here for over 6 months and we have gotten by without a television. It sure provides one with lots of free time for reading books and newspapers, traveling and sightseeing.

There is also a TV license fee you pay here in England. This is what provides funding for the BBC. When you move into a place they send you a form and if you have a TV, even if only for videos, you have to pay the license. We sent the form back and said we have no TV. They sent another form saying okay, but someone may stop by to check (no one has).

I have no problem with a TV license to pay for the BBC, sounds like a good way to go to me. The problem is with the way they try to collect the fee. It is my understanding that many people do not pay the fee, which may be why the BBC is having some financial difficulties (that and probably dumbasses running the BBC). They should collect the fee when someone sells a TV, and/or with your cable bill.

Fortunately we have not had to utilize the NHS (national healthcare system) since we have been here. Hearing a lot of bad stuff about it: months to see a specialist, incompetence, closing of hospitals, poor sanitation, MRSA, you name it. Money is deducted from your paycheck (like Social Security), but there seem to be ways around paying NHS tax, if the rumours I hear are true. If the NHS was any good, then why do many companies offer private health insurance plans?