Can you be more specific ... so we can actually discuss whatever it is you are claiming?
The Palin sponsored process of having the oil companies distribute some of the profit from their oil ventures to the people of Alaska. Even those who, Gawd forbid, had nothing at all to do with creating that wealth
Good for you but that's not the way it is going to be in Obama's America. Apparently, a stimulus bill provision means that "our doctors" no longer get to make healthcare decisions for us (
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MTE1YWYwZTgzOTIyOWQwNTEzZTg4N2U1MTc2NTE4YTI= ) with Dashill's "rationing board" being the goal.
Somehow I just don't see it going down that way in the States.
I never suggested a strictly capitalist system exists in any country. But you certainly can't deny that prior to Obama, we've had a significantly less socialistic system than say Canada, the UK and many other European nations. Or China, Cuba ... or the old USSR.
Nope can't deny that. In fact of all developed nations I daresay that the USA has a less "Socialistic" health system that all the others.
And are they actually getting better health coverage than we are? Are the new drugs being developed in those countries ... or in the US?
I get as good basic health care as anyone in the USA. I get as good, or better, health care for serious disease as the majority of US citizens.
In the USA it depends on who you are and how much care you can afford. While I may not get the best of the best top tier Mayo Clinic $200,000 care if I need cancer treatment, neither would the vast majority of US citizens.
So all in all, yes , I get as good health coverage as in the USA.
As for drugs, what difference does it make where the research takes place? At the University of Manitoba not far from here, at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, researchers are developing drugs. My wife's cousin helped develop a drug to aid preterm babies develop their lungs, in Ontario.(sorry the name escapes me). In Europe drug companies do develop new drugs as well.
But again , what does that have to do with the health care system in any country. The drugs developed anywhere will be tested in each country and allowed for use or not.
"Sicko" is a typical Moore film and personally I wish someone else had covered the topic. Perhaps you'd like a more real, personal description of what health care is in Canada.
In Canada , drugs are not paid for by the provincial health care systems(at least not in Ontario) except for hospital care.
I have a drug plan at work, a private drug plan. Same goes for dental and vision care and hospital coverage that ensures I get a private or semi-private hospital room.
In fact I have availed myself of my gov't health care in the case of a very serious condition. What would have cost me easily a quarter of a million dollars in the USA cost me only lost wages (above what unemployment insurance paid) for 8 months. I was out of pocket, in total, the equivalent to perhaps a months pay.That was in 2001, I'm still here, the treatment was apparently of good quality.
In the USA, without insurance I would be dead or passing a debt to my relatives. In fact even with a lot of plans in the USA I'd be in debt and I would have no say as to where or who I got my care from. I was offered two choices, one a hospital in my own province that is a 5 hour drive. The other in the neighbouring province but only a two hour drive but still paid for by my provincial health insurance. Had I requested it I also could have gone to Toronto ( a 24 hour drive). I chose the closer option. I got a $50 grant for travel costs that did not quite cover gas let alone a hotel room for my wife.
If I wish to I could even go to the Mayo Clinic and be reimbured by OHIP an amount that OHIP would have paid a Canadian hospital for the same treatment and I would have to come up with the rest. How much for 10 days in hospital after major surgery in decent hospital for you Chooser? Ever been an issue for you or a relative?
Was it a financial hardship? To some extent yes. Was it a crushing financial hardship? No, not even close. I wonder how the stress of having to pay for your life (sometimes called extortion) affects the outcome of one's fight with illness?
oh, and BTW, the food in that hospital was good, though I admit that's most certainly not the general case.
