He's Tommy Douglas. The man who brought universal health care to Canada. He's our national hero, and in 2004 he was voted the greatest Canadian of all time. Above Frederick Banting, David Suzuki, Terry Fox, even above Wayne Gretzky and Don Cherry.
It's pretty clear that in countries that have universal health care, opinions are not divided on it. If the government ever switched to a fully privatized system, Canadians would overthrow the government.]]>
Comparing Gov't run healthcare to the DMV or Amtrack is merely self serving. The DMV is essentially a state run department and like Amtrack suffers because it requir...]]>
Comparing Gov't run healthcare to the DMV or Amtrack is merely self serving. The DMV is essentially a state run department and like Amtrack suffers because it requires instant service, a while-you-wait problem that annoys some people no matter who runs it.
The true comparisons should be Social Security and Medicare. Medicaid is also state administered.
I have dealt with both of these programs for quite a few years as have most of my friends. They are run very well. I have never had a problem of any kind with either department. Unfortunately, there will be waste as there is in any buisness public or private.
The fraud issue is totally on the shoulders of the criminal types that perpertrate it.
There certainly is a Sky Is Falling approach by many of the plans critics.]]>
I love having a government-funded health care system. My province used to have a monthly fee for it, I'm not sure...]]>
I love having a government-funded health care system. My province used to have a monthly fee for it, I'm not sure how much it was but it wasn't much (I was a student then).
Are there freeloaders and people who abuse the system? You bet. Some people demand multiple MRI's because they think the first or second was inadequate, and some people go to the ER with rhinovirus instead of a local clinic, but these are a tiny minority of all people. I will happily tolerate a few system users if it means I never have to worry about a doctor seeing me as a paycheck instead of a patient, or being refused because I can't afford a procedure or consultation.
With recent provincial budget cuts, there have been several high-level officials in the health care system who have been fired or received substantial pay cuts - I think the government system can be fairly efficient when the right people are in charge. After all - I can't imagine an industry run by insurance people looking for a profit can be more beneficial to the people in need than a bit of government bureaucracy. Bureaucrats can be held accountable if the system is failing people. Insurance companies will just gloat with profits.
« JoshSF49 : This is a perfect reason the government should not be running healthcare. We have too many freeloaders that would take advantage of the system, as well. UHC is a bad idea.
You didn't read the essay that the author of this article references, eh? It was written by a conservative in favour of some UHC, with the argument being that without any provided, the majority of people who are suffering from an absolute lack of health care will overwhelmingly support UHC.
I agree with this, though in my opinion UHC is superior to partial HC. Still, I think the author makes a great point that without some provisions, people are going to be more inclined to support a socialist health care system because right now they have nothing.]]>
If it's a question, then the answer is in what conservatism is about, which has nothing to do with thinking that Americans suck.
At least, that's one Americans opinion who happens to have family and friends that are Conservative and Liberal and has never heard either of the side say they think Americans suck.]]>