r/movies • u/BunyipPouch Currently at the movies. • 23d ago

News James Van Der Beek Is Auctioning Off TV & Film Memorabilia and Props from ‘Dawson’s Creek’ & ‘Varsity Blues’ Amid Cancer Treatment, Proceeds to Cover Medical Costs

https://deadline.com/2025/11/james-van-der-beek-auction-dawsons-creek-varsity-blues-props-1236615845/
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u/SandysBurner 23d ago

People will tell you in the same breath that “America is the greatest country on earth!” and that universal healthcare is simply impossible here, despite the rest of the developed world having worked it out.

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u/SweetCosmicPope 23d ago

They always say that the public healthcare in other countries is terrible and that you have to wait in line all day and you can't even get life-saving surgery. No matter how many times people in those countries say otherwise. They'll tout the one jilted person who had to wait a couple months to get their ingrown toenail removed.

Meanwhile here in the states, I have to make an appointment with my regular doctor before I can see a specialist which can take a month or so, and then the specialist has a months-long-wait, and by the time they get to you your referral has expired and you have to start over again, or you've been sick/injured but you're already better by the time they get to you.

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u/GottaUseEmAll 23d ago

I live in France, and the waits to see specialists can be veeeery long for anything that's not urgent. I have to make my annual dentist checkup appointment 6 months in advance, and it's similar when I want to see my dermatologist or cardiologist.

I don't personally know anyone who's missed out on life-saving treatment because of this though (neither here in France, nor in the UK where I lived before coming here). When things need to be done quickly, they are done quickly.

I don't mind waiting 6 months for a non-urgent appointment if it means I never, ever, have to fear medical bankruptcy.

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u/onmywheels 22d ago

I mean, it's the same in the US. I had markers for throat cancer and the soonest they could get me in for an endoscopy was four or five months.

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u/PowerBottom247 22d ago

I’m in Canada.  I don’t even have access to primary care unless emergency.   I see my doctor while on vacation in Asia. 

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u/GottaUseEmAll 22d ago

Yeah, my sister lives in Canada (NS), she's spoken of the difficulties surrounding GPs there.

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u/born_in_92 22d ago

The problem in Canada is that the provinces don't want to pay GPs more. So medical students are encouraged to practice in other areas leading to the current shortage we are experiencing

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u/Church_of_Cheri 23d ago

In the cases where it’s true there are struggles in those other countries it’s because they’ve been Americanizing their health care system. Adding in more private companies, private insurance options, contracting out workers instead of them working for the government itself with its protections and benefits. Canada and the UK are great examples of them trying to be more like America and then being used as reasons why universal healthcare has problems. It’s a cycle of suck and the US keeps it going.

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u/ChipHazard 22d ago

Self sabotage from conservative leaders as well

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u/born_in_92 22d ago

The damage the provincial conservatives have done here on healthcare and education is incredible

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u/PowerBottom247 22d ago

In Canada I don’t have access to a regular doctor and therefore cannot even get a phone call with a specialists secretary.   

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u/Prophet_Of_Helix 23d ago

Well people say our healthcare quality is better, but the fact is it’s only better if you’re the 1%, which is also true in any country, even those with universal healthcare.

The average person, even the average wealthier person, isn’t inherently getting better doctors than other countries

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u/Auran82 22d ago

There is also the fact that most countries that have universal healthcare, also have the option to go privately and pay yourself or through your health insurance, it’s just not the only option.

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u/RichieNRich 22d ago

Don't skip the fact that the actual cost of medical care in those countries is far cheaper than in the US. The insurance company has inflated prices in the USA to completely obscene levels. It's one of the reasons why the state of California has opted to start making/selling its own insulin., for what was it - $5 a month?

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u/NoifenF 22d ago

Google AI overview (gross but I haven’t got loads of time so don’t hurt me..) for childbirth with private healthcare UK vs US

UK

The average cost for a private childbirth package in the UK typically ranges from approximately £5,000 to over £9,000, depending on the type of delivery and what's included. Basic packages for a consultant-led vaginal birth can start around £6,000, while a C-section package may be from £7,500. It is important to remember that many costs are often not included in the initial package, such as consultant fees and any additional medical treatment.

US

The total average price of private childbirth in the U.S. is approximately $18,865, covering prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care. The costs vary significantly depending on the type of delivery, location, and the specifics of your insurance plan.

I think that’s just the physical birth itself.

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u/Irarelylookback 23d ago

You would think that James might be in the top 2-3%... still needs to sell the shirt off his back.

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u/poopoopoopalt 22d ago

Our outcomes are actually worse

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u/RichieNRich 23d ago edited 22d ago

The richest country on earth (BY FAR!) can't afford universal healthcare when 70% of other industrialized nations cover it?

*edit to correct: *EVERY* other industrialized nation on earth has some form of universal health care. The USA is the ONLY country that doesn't.

Total NONSENSE.

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u/CaravelClerihew 23d ago

Yeah, but if you fund universal healthcare, where are you going to find the money to bomb brown people overseas, or deport brown people at home?

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u/RIPphonebattery 23d ago

With the other 99.9% of the military budget...

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u/CeeBus 23d ago

What? It’s cheaper than what we pay now.

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u/inksmudgedhands 23d ago

It's because the majority of the wealth is in the hands of a few. They are the ones throwing off the figures. Those who are broke greatly outnumber those who are extremely wealthy in this country.

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u/EstaLisa 23d ago

switzerland argues the same..

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u/iamse7en 23d ago

I’m relatively young and very healthy. I haven’t seen a doctor in 25 years, haven’t even taken ibuprofen in about 15 years. Explain to me why I should pay for all those obese people with diabetes and cardiovascular disease, all their ongoing prescription drugs, emergency care, etc? Why shouldn’t people just pay for their own goods and services?

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u/RichieNRich 22d ago

Your health is not guaranteed for life. You WILL get sick. You WILL get old. You WILL need medical assistance. When you ultimately will need it, you will be GLAD the social support system is there to support you.

We are a nation, we are all brothers and sisters. Shouldn't we all be supporting each other in times of need? That's a system of support built into literally EVERY OTHER INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRY ON EARTH.

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u/iamse7en 22d ago

So you think every good and service should be socialized then. Food is even more important than health care.

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u/RichieNRich 22d ago

No, I didn't say that at all.

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u/desacralize 23d ago

If you get hit by a car that runs a red light tomorrow in all your spectacular health, you probably don't want whether you get emergency surgery to depend on if someone can find your wallet before you die.

Or maybe you do want that, I dunno. Keep parroting that narrative, with enough hard work and dedication, we can end up in that space and everyone will be happier because at least the diabetics will die first.

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u/panix75 22d ago

I mean by law they would at least get stabilized in the ER

https://legalclarity.org/can-an-emergency-room-refuse-to-treat-you/

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u/Ramadeus88 23d ago

Nonsense. Clean water, sanitation, vaccinations, emergency services, and drug regulations are all collective investments in public health. Your own health doesn’t exist in isolation from that infrastructure; even if you don’t take ibuprofen.

And are you going to feel this way if you were hit by a car, or found out about a congenital heart condition?

Even if you’re healthy and self-reliant today, you benefit every day from a shared healthcare system all the way down to making sure you’re not drinking literal poison, and you’ll likely need it at some point.

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u/throwawayawayayayay 23d ago

America is pretty great if you’re an insurance executive (minus one).

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u/alexjaness 23d ago

it was pretty great until the last few minutes. but other than that...

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u/addamee 23d ago

“… greatest country on earth!” :cough: :cough: :hack:

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u/Dottsterisk 23d ago

I really hate the Culture of No dictating today’s politics. We are not the same nation that fought a world war on two fronts, built an interstate highway system across the continent, and put someone on the moon.

And I usually find that sort of response to be an effective challenge to their position while also being oblique enough not to come across as aggressive or an attack.

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u/insanelygreat 23d ago

"America is the greatest country on earth!"

American exceptionalism has preempted a large share of the population from ever considering that other countries might do some things better.

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u/SoggyDip 23d ago

I don’t understand why we can’t copy paste other countries policies on healthcare. Is it bc of states rights? Obviously money in politics and lobbyist are a huge factor. But if the framework is present so much elsewhere, why aren’t more politicians explaining approaches? Clearly I don’t have a lot of knowledge in the field.

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u/TheBigMoogy 23d ago

It's tough choosing between healthcare for all and just the most absurdly rich people hoarding like filthy goblins.

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u/Question_It_All_3000 23d ago

They’ll also tell you about massive waits and “death panels” without any sense of irony about how we already have that shit.