NHS and Fish & Chips

I hate to say it, but it's true: Twitter is the new political arena. Get on it. Do it. You're missing out if you aren't.

All over the twitterverse yesterday was a rally cry from the UK: #welovetheNHS. I follow a few people from Scotland and England, and all day they responded to the attacks by American conservatives on the National Health Service in the UK. Thousands of people added a "I (heart) the NHS" banner to their profile pictures. By the end of the day, their message was one of the top trending topics on twitter worldwide. The impact from the twitter campaign was so large that Rachel Maddow mentioned it on her (fantastic) show on MSNBC, and I heard a lenghty diatribe about it on NPR this morning.

See? Twitter. Grassroots politick-ing at its finest.

The point that all these tweeting-brits/scots are making is this: Never do any of them worry about getting life saving care if they need it. They never have to make health care decisions based on cost--ever. Thousands of anecdotes and facts were posted yesterday in this huge wave of support, and i can't even begin to list them all -- see for youself here. But it comes down to this: No one can say that the NHS is a perfect system. Like any healthcare program, it has challenges and flaws, mainly having to do with waiting periods for (non-life-saving) procedures. And, no one is saying that we should make an exact copy of the NHS here in the US. But, consider this: the US spends TWICE what the UK does on healthcare (that is, twice percentage of GDP)- yet we still have 50 million people without healthcare. In the UK, there is not ONE PERSON without healthcare. Not one.
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A rant like that deserves a good meal. In my salute to the UK, I present my favorite fish & chips.

The Red Lion- A real, authentic ENGLISH bar. In a city with a million Irish pubs, this place has character and a real English feel. It also is one of the very first places I ever ate in Chicago. Located right across from the old Biograph Theater (where John Dilinger was shot), it claims to have its very own ghost. I've never seen the ghoul, but the fish & chips are incredible. Flaky, light, non-greasy, with perfect thick chips. Top with vingear and you are good to go.
Cullens- yes, i just bashed Irish pubs-- but this one is the real deal, with an off-the-boat staff to boot. A little bit more pricey than your average Irish dive, this bar prides itself on autheticity. Its fish & chips have a fantastic crunch and come with the perfect amount of coleslaw. Plus, it's right down the street from my house. Winner.
Duke of Perth- And to bring it full circle, a SCOTTISH pub. This place has the biggest scotch (whisky to you scots) collection I have seen in the city, and they aren't afraid to pour heavy. Their fish and chips are among my favorite not just because they are good, but because on Wednesdays and Fridays they are all you can eat for $9.50. Let that sink in. ALL YOU CAN EAT fish & chips. Under $10. I think we both know what you're doing tomorrow night!

Chicago-ans-- agree with my picks? NC-- where are your best places? And what do you think of the NHS? Leave a comment below...