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A Canadian Look At U.S. Health Care

October 25, 2009 CBC The National

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15 Comments

Current View: 15 / Show all Comments

SwampoO : LVL 32: VP 4.1: said:

SwampoO

38 votes NegativePositive

25 days 5 hours ago...

let me get this straight... there`s still people in the states that oppose free health care b/c they`re still scared of communism? lol? And they say those 20 year old Muslim suicide bombers are brainwashed.

Red Heaven : LVL 39: VP 4.7: said:

Red Heaven

14 votes NegativePositive

25 days 4 hours ago...

^
That`s because they have great healthcare that`s covering them just fine.

However, this video just showed me the healthcare that -I`m- most familiar with. I live in an impoverished city, so this is what I generally end up seeing. I live in a place where employees don`t offer health insurance. And if they do, most people here are paid minimum wage.

When I was a shift manager at a game store in 2004 I was making $6.25 an hour. I thought I was makin` the bucks. Some people in this country have it pretty nice.

For everyone else, we get what`s in the film. Welcome to the United States of America.

Alpha01 : LVL 17: VP 2.6: said:

Alpha01

9 votes NegativePositive

25 days 3 hours ago...

^ $6.25? Shit man, how does that even cover just living expenses?

Red Heaven : LVL 39: VP 4.7: said:

Red Heaven

19 votes NegativePositive

25 days 2 hours ago...

^
How? You live poor. The house my parents lived in? 3 bedroom? It had 3 families living in it. The rug in the bedroom I lived in had been scorched and melted by an iron `cause that`s where a family did their laundry.

You eat beans and rice most of the day. Then you smile, because you`re getting paid a buck more than most. Like I said, it was over minimum wage and I was damn happy about that.

idoubtit : LVL 33: VP 4.2: said:

idoubtit

31 votes NegativePositive

25 days 1 hour ago...

I think what saddens me most about this video and situation that the US is in right now is the fact that most of the people who are protesting this health care system are pretty well fit as a fiddle. I would bet life that if they were all suddenly struck ill and given a bill for their treatment, they would be crying for the same system that they`re lobbying against.

Gimli000 : LVL 35: VP 4.3: said:

Gimli000

19 votes NegativePositive

24 days 23 hours ago...

I really hope you guys get universal health care soon. It`s such a cruel and morbidly unjust system that people cannot get healthy because of a few white men who`ve lived in privilege all their lives and never had to choose between destitution and death.

fatninja : LVL 39: VP 4.7: said:

fatninja

10 votes NegativePositive

24 days 20 hours ago...

I think all the people who oppose should all get aids/cancer. I say we pump some kind of toxic chemicals into the buildings where they hold their rallies.

EckJerome : LVL 42: VP 5: said:

EckJerome

Hidden (Show Comment) -21 votes

24 days 17 hours ago...

Thanks, fatninja...I oppose a public option for healthcare AND I have incurable cancer. Does that give you ANY clue how reprehensible it was for you to say that?

Should I wish for the death of your child for ANY reason? You display the typical attitude of people who only care about those who agree with them and fuck everyone else!!

Can you not fathom that there are many independant viewpoints in regard to healthcare reform, not just having a public option shoved down our throats? But disagree with that alone and suffer the label of Evil Incarnate!!

To whit, it`s the willful and partisan ignorance of the healthcare debate that is really pissing off a lot of us in the middle.

Red Heaven : LVL 40: VP 4.8: said:

Red Heaven

23 votes NegativePositive

24 days 5 hours ago...

^
Hi there. This is the bottom writing up to you guys in the middle.

Many of us are in debt because we can`t pay off our hospital bills. Most of us try to just live through most illnesses and bank on our immune system winning.

Some of us lose and die. Yesterday 120 people died.

So while you guys in the middle argue, make sure to take a moment of silence for the guy or gal that passed on while people "debated".

Sincerely,

Everyone else hoping they don`t get sick or injured.

LeighCedar : LVL 40: VP 4.8: said:

LeighCedar

15 votes NegativePositive

23 days 23 hours ago...

EckJerome,

Very sorry to hear that. My thoughts are with you. Though we often argue from opposite sides, rarely do we exchange an angry word.

I think I asked you this before, and you brushed me off with a flippant answer. Please think on if and then respond this time if possible.

Maybe the Public Option is not perfect. Maybe it is flawed. I know it does not align with your life philosophy/politics.
But wouldn`t it help more than it would hurt?
Your perfect system is far off, if not a pipe dream. Why actively fight against at least patching the horribly broken system you have?

Man, this video just makes me feel sick. Knowing those people would have been taken care of without a blip added to my very reasonable taxes were they to have been Canadians, just makes me want to scream.
Those doctors are all heroes, and I hope someday their amazing sacrifice is no longer needed.
Stay well everyone.

sato : LVL 31: VP 4: said:

sato

4 votes NegativePositive

23 days 16 hours ago...

it seems pretty clear to me that the ones protesting health care reform are also in line to get screwed over by their health insurance company, but have been lucky enough not to be so far and too ignorant to see that they could be in the future.
there`s a big difference between "there`s nothing wrong with my health care so leave it alone" and "i`m not aware of anything wrong with my health care so leave it alone".
anyway from what i can gather than plan isn`t to change health care but to give people an alternative so really what they`re objecting to isn`t even part of the plan.

EckJerome : LVL 42: VP 5: said:

EckJerome

Hidden (Show Comment) -11 votes

23 days 9 hours ago...

LeighCedar, I see a public option fraught with unintended consequences. Sure, it sounds all warm and fuzzy, but I think it would make healthcare even more expensive, less available, and still not provide universal access.

I don`t hate people who feel differently. Who can know what will really work? Either way, we`ll get what gets handed to us.

Bottom line, it`s flawed to think we can impose Canadian-style healthcare here in the USA and all our problems will be solved. Those striving to make the comparison are generally ignoring the reality of where we are today.

phierce : LVL 31: VP 4: said:

phierce

6 votes NegativePositive

23 days 7 hours ago...

EckJerome well said so whats the real problem then? Whats causing such a poor healthcare system and possible health care option to exist? It sounds like there has to be a better option because implementing a Canadian-style healthcare isn`t the best option. So what is it? Oh and while your at it see how many other country`s have a healthcare system like Canada. Cause us Canadians didn`t invent the wheel. Bottom line Eckjerome there`s a better system out there and it shouldn`t include capitalism.

nipplecheese : LVL 30: VP 3.9: said:

nipplecheese

12 votes NegativePositive

23 days 7 hours ago...

Canadian health care rocks!!! I`ve had 2 surgeries and broken lots of bones from dirt biking. I walk in the emergency room and tell them how it happened and they look at me like I`m crazy because of how I hurt myself but with our health insurance I will never be refused. Even though my injuries are self inflicted. What a Great place to live! I hope you Americans can come up with something similar to what we have. It is a great relief not to have to worry about medical bills. We do pay a lot more tax then Americans but I feel it is well worth it. Pre-existing conditions aren`t an issue up here. And it`s not as cold as you guys think!

erico : LVL 41: VP 4.9: said:

erico

16 votes NegativePositive

23 days 6 hours ago...

EckJerome

" but I think it would make healthcare even more expensive, less available, and still not provide universal access."

Isn`t this basically towing the party line? A mere talking point. It factually has no basis. Studies conclude Canada spends LESS per capita on health than the US by double digit percentage points. You also get MORE availability since EVERY hospital/clinic/doctor will see you and not just the ones approved by your insurance company.

ADDED: Since I was too lazy earlier to add any supporting evidence here it is. Background,

"The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation of 30 countries that accept the principles of representative democracy and free-market economy. Most OECD members are high-income economies with a high HDI and are regarded as developed countries."

So you know I`m not quoting some "socialist" organization.

Their study states that:

In 2006, per-capita spending for health care in Canada was US$3,678,; in the U.S., US$6,714, The U.S. spent 15.3% of GDP on health care in that year; Canada spent 10.0%.

Study: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/46/33/38979719.pdf

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