Sicko

[Emancipation 2]

Look, I'm not trying to "rip apart" Canadian healthcare. I think it's a good thing that everyone is covered on some basic level. However, I strongly disagree with the practices above in that Ontario wouldn't allow someone who was WILLING to pay for private healthcare to receive it.

I think the rationel behind not allowing private healthcare is that creating a two tier system will create a withdrawl of the current Dr's our of our current system into the new system, where the money & funding available is better. They are trying to stay the course and say it's all or nothing. If a Canadian wants to pay for private services, the option of going to the US is always there.. On this point I have to say I agree with ONT.. it's all or nothing, either you put all your eggs in the publically funded system, or you have to privitize things.. it will get off balance and screwy any other way.

The wait times are a problem in Canada.. It's a system with issues for sure, but the fact is you do not have to worry about the cost of surgery, pregnancy, etc. The cost of drugs yes, but the actual cost of care when you are ill no.. I think that is worth holding onto as a nation, and trying to find solutions to the Dr shortage, and the cost of health care in Canada. t

[SteveLaura 0]

It is in the best interests of any country to have a healthy population. Does that need to be stated? Apparently so. You want a vibrant, efficient economy? You need healthy people. That's from the bottom up. You need the bloke driving the school bus to be healthy. You need the blokes emptying your rubbish to be healthy. You need the people maintaining the sewer system to be healthy. OK, you get the picture.

So, I am willing (hear me, IRS) to PAY MORE (!) to ensure that EVERYONE is covered medically. I am willing to do this because, selfishly, I want my rubbish taken away. I don't want the bloke on the school bus putting off getting his heart checked out. I don't want shite flying out of my loo. And because I believe that a rich, civilised country should demand that health care is a right.

We put certain things above money. We do not pay mercenaries to defend the nation. We don't have private security firms to police the cities. We feel that these are too important to be profit-led, and we put faith in our administrations to fund them properly and get the job done.

The NHS has problems, no doubt about that. But the basic system isn't flawed. In the UK you will get treatment. Here, you may have to fight. Because you are paying into a system that stays in business by denying claims.

Universal health care will not mean lack of choice. There will still be that privately-funded hospital to go to if you wish. Beyond that, how much choice do you want, realistically? For example, I shop at the local Pick 'n Save cos it's close to home, has pretty much all my weekly needs, and is good value. Shopping for health care is not much different. For routine work, you are most likely to chose your provider on the same terms as you do your supermarket.

America is the Can Do place, right? Prove it. You've heard all the gripes about what's not right with the Canadian/British health care systems. Show us how it's done. Provide the best fcuking universal health care in the world. Enough with the "Oh, it won't work" shite. Git r done (I believe the phrase is).

Edited July 16, 2007 by SteveLaura

[trailmix 77]

America is the Can Do place, right? Prove it. You've heard all the gripes about what's not right with the Canadian/British health care systems. Show us how it's done. Provide the best fcuking universal health care in the world. Enough with the "Oh, it won't work" shite. Git r done (I believe the phrase is).

Well said!