George,

As usual you take a rather simple minded approach to the issue as does Ms. Talbot. Both posts are too ignorant to be worthy of a response. However, I will try.

In answer to your question the British system has been around for 63 years and is funded by the British subjects'  tax dollars.  The Canadian system has been around for a shorter period of time and is also funded by tax dollars. ...notwithstanding Ms. Talbots's claim that the program is under an effort to repeal it. I would request that she cite the legal authority for her opinion other than internet gossip. I recently concluded a closing for a Canadian citizen. He indicated that the Canadian Health Act was highly appreciated. He was quite disappointed when he had to move to the USA , and had to purchase private insurance at exhorbitant prices.

I understand that cost cutting is necessary to balance the budget, but healthcare is not an area in which there is room to cut. We might begin by not pissing money away in Iraq and buying friends with foreign aid such as Pakistan and Egypt. Another area might be putting an end to earmarks of congressional (State specific) attachments to bills as a condition for a senator's/congressman's vote for a bill. The time has come to spend the tax dollars here on the American people. It is our money. Unfortunately the state of the law is that the people are required to pay taxes, but have no control over how the taxes are spent. If you prefer the price gouging of the insurance companies to a publicly funded government option you would be free to do so.

In answer to your second question the going rate for attorney's fees in this area is $250 to $500 per hour. I charge $250 per hour.Do I give refunds? Simply losing a case is not a basis for a refund. That is why we have rules of evidence and procedure. Most criminal cases are lost because the defendant did exactly that of which he was accused, but still has the right to a trial and having the case against him prooven by the standard of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.  It would depend upon whether a client brought a problem to my attention for which I felt something less than appropriate legal service had been rendered. If I were in agreement with the client I would have no problem with giving them a refund. If I were not in agreement I carry $1,000,000.00 of malpractice insurance, and a judge can decide the issue.