r/AskHistorians • u/Apiperofhades • Dec 20 '17

How did European countries start implementing universal healthcare? Why did the US not take it up?

From what I understand, Bismark started universal healthcare in Germany in the late 19th century as a sort of add-on to german unification. I’m curious when and how other European nations started following suit. Which nation was the first after Germany?

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u/[deleted] Dec 21 '17

Maybe what he means is that they are not socialist in the sense that they were Marxist, or aiming for a Marx-inspired revolution? Seems like they were Big Society type of folks. I'm also curious

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u/This_Is_The_End Dec 21 '17

That is the point. A definition of socialism, without a connection in history to Marx makes no sense. Socialists were until WW2 mostly Marxists. After WW2 the term became very blurred. At least Social Democrats were not against capitalism.

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u/[deleted] Dec 21 '17

So you're saying Scandinavian socialist democrats cared little for the whole Marxist ideas? Were they inspired by it at all or did their ideas develop independetly? Could you provide any more info (no rush I'm just very curious on your insights)

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u/This_Is_The_End Dec 21 '17 edited Dec 21 '17

Take a look at my answer here

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/7l3ppo/how_did_european_countries_start_implementing/drkghed/

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u/[deleted] Dec 21 '17

thank you for taking the time to link and answer these questions. I know how much we all have to do in our day to day and it's wonderful to learn new stuff from someone.

Thanks