Posted on 07/12/2004 12:37:27 PM PDT by RetiredArmy
Thanks!
Yes, it was out of context. You left out the entire preceding paragraph which that line was in reference to. It was a little joke based on the predilection of people all around the world to blame everything on the US. I was joking, get it? Now excuse me while I ignore you.
And what's a $560 billion prescription drug bill?! Free enterprise?!
Ignore the cranky oversensitives on here sometimes. I recognized it as a joke and even snickered over it.
:o)
Thank you. I was starting to wonder if I had totally missed the mark in my attempt at humour. Apparently some people are humour-challenged.
Excellent post. You are exactly right. Those of us who do have access to good health care cannot safely ignore the political power of the increasing number of people who don't or the growing dissatisfaction of many who do. You know, there are some issues that can be blurred or evaded politically. But, when it comes to the basics, it's not so easy. It's difficult to hide unbreathable air, a lack of food or water, or the absence of housing. Similarly, people know when they don't have access to health insurance or when they can't access our health care system in an ordinary way.
I don't have any first-hand experience with the Canadian health care system, but I assume that if it becomes too unpopular, there will be political pressure to change it and it will be changed. I have that same expectation here about our system and I think that it might be a mistake for one party to leave it to another to take the initiative in this area.
Again, good post!!
exactly.. a joke to you. not to us.
Although some aspects of this article ae true the writer should do some research . We know every province is different to some degree. Ontario pays for PSA tests, I know because I get one every year. On your own , a private lab in Ontario will charge you $25 for one . MRI clinics charge about $700 . Make an appointment, go have it done as soon as the same day, or next day and get the results. There are several in Ontario and Quebec. But , if you NEED an MRI or CT scan, you get one at a hospital . If you want it for insurance purposes or you think you need one and your doctor doesn't think so , go pay for it .
I know two seniors who both had knee replacements in the last year. Both waited about 9-10 weeks . I know a middle aged man who suffers from severe rheumatoid arthritis who had a hip , ball and socket , replaced in a little over 3 months waiting . You don't find surgeons that can do that kind of work , without screwing up something else , on street corners . If you want the best, so does everyone else, so wait . I know one who does 10 operations a week . How much more would you , as a patient, want him to be doing?
I know cancer patients head for a cancer treatment center in London, Hamilton, Sudbury, there are several , as soon as , especially if they need to recover from surgery first , they can . That recovery time is often left out as being part of waiting .
The one thing these wannabe expert writers forget to mention are all the tests required before surgery. Everything from blood and x-rays to heart stress . All require appointments and waiting.
Cataract surgery takes about 3 months . It would be less but the eye surgeons protect their turf and regular eye doctors are prohibited from operating ....You would too if you got 500 bucks for a 11 minute procedure.
Bookmarked. Thanks for posting.
If you really want an answer, ask hillary.
Canadians routinely share such horror stories as:
Waiting on a gurney for 10 hours, only to have surgery canceled;
Waiting a year for an MRI;
Being denied emergency surgery on weekends due to staff shortages.
You would have to be a moron to believe Socialized medicine could compete with private delivery for quality and effectiveness.
Or a Liberal.
Maybe we should trade some Canadian stories for some American horror stories .
I never said anything about socialized medicine being good , bad or indifferent compared to private anything . I've depended on Canada health for over 30 years. For my self , my kids and Grand kids.
Don't even to begin to tell me whether it's good or not , especially when your criticisms are based on misinformed articles, your politics and your ignorance.
Yep... doctors are forced by default to use the most expensive procedures... because they are liable if they don't and a complication happens. Not to mention how many hurdles drugs have to be put through to be approved--meanwhile the government fasttracks a bunch of drugs like RU-486 for political reasons.
Personally I think it's the idea of insurance at all that caused this whole mess. If everyone had car insurance that paid for oil changes, gas fill-ups, car washes, etc., guess what happens to the price of gas?
I'd go the extreme and mandate that every insurance carry a minimum deductible of $3000 per adult, $500 per child over 3 years. You can bet that people won't be running to the doctor for colds or sore throats anymore.
Its important to note the Canadian system does not eliminate the need for Canadians to carry health insurance. The socialized medicine does not cover you if you're hurt at work (you need worker's compensation insurance), involved in an auto accident (you need auto insurance) or are travelling outside the country.
BTW, the taxation rate is around 55%-57% for the average working man in Canada.
My opinions are based on facts, Snowy.
And I will continue to inform the American public of the sham Canadian Socialized medical system at my pleasure.
Deal with it.
Taxation in Canada, premised on the benefits of Socialized Medicine, which is an ugly, ugly lie, are horrific.
People start paying income taxes after making about $6,000 U.S. per year!
For living incomes, the rate is upwards of 50% even for middle-manager types.
Retail taxes in Canuckistan are typically 15%!
Imagine paying 15% extra at the cash register for virtually everything!
And they promote the Soviet-style Socialized Medicine as the justification.
There is no relief on property taxes, as they typically exceed 2% of home market value per year! In ten years, the government owns 20% of your home value, typically more than first time homeowners do themselves!
Disgusting!
It's hard to believe any Canadian could be supportive of our so-called Medicare system in Canada.
I despise the system, and have nothing but contempt for the profiteers of human misery who draw their incomes from it.
That Canuckleheads pat themselves on the back for this abortive socialist scam, and the smarmy Canadian identity schtick that goes with it, makes me gag.
Hey! I agree with you. This is one of the things, along with the education bill, illegals, etc., that burns my butt with Bush. It is one of the reasons I refused to renew my membership in the RNC. I am very upset with this stuff just as you are.
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