Roy Romanow and Canadian Healthcare

[willy_ph]

Well Roy Romanow has released his report on the state of Canadian healthcare and has come to the proper conclusion. Universal healthcare is a Canadian value and has agreed to keep it that way. He calls for approx. 15 billion dollars to be pumped into the system in the next 3 years to improve patient care, establish a national homecare program and reduce waiting lines for MRI's and CAT scans. This is an excellent day for all Canadians.

Finally a report that reflects the true values of Canadians, rather than the facade of corporate interests.

"Some have described it as a perversion of Canadian values that they cannot use their money to purchase faster treatment from a private provider for their loved ones," he said.

"I believe it is a far greater perversion of Canadian values to accept a system were money, rather than need, determines who gets access to care."
-Roy Romanow

[RADAR1797]

Hmmm, slugs get the same health care as the arduous...seems fair, eh? $15 billion (CA) taken from the people and put disproportionally towards the least productive members of society is a sure way to hinder economic development.

-RADAR

[willy_ph]

In Canada, studies have shown that those who use the public healthcare system the most are from the middle-working class.

I'd rather pay taxes and know that the system is there 24/7.

And now the onslaught begins from the conservatives spouting fallacies about social services hindering the free market economy.

[RADAR1797]

Your response is curious. I am now paying my girlfriend's health care bills. Strangely, they are far less than what she would be paying in taxes if the system was socialized. She has no insurance, so we are paying the going rate as services are rendered. Now there are people who need more care that would counter balance her experience, but spreading the wealth (or cost) is a sure way to jade the public. Giving up your personal security in affairs that should be your responsibility is a sure sign of cowardice and weakness.

-RADAR

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

I for one am grateful for public healthcare, I'm working class except for recently (cancer) and I don't want to know what my Chemo and testing +hospital time would have cost without it. My uncle made the mistake of having a heartattack in S.F. and that cost his health plan 100K, sorry, but to say

slugs get the same health care as the arduous

is wrong, a life is a life regardless of how productive they are, cancer and heart attacks and other such things affect everyone regardless of race, beliefs or status. Everyone deserves the right to live.

[willy_ph]

Our public system is a way of reducing the risk of financial ruin as a result of healthcare fees. It spreads the risk over the entire society, rather than placing the complete burden upon an individual. Paying for healthcare is a way of guarenteeing service.

Healthcare is an inherent aspect to a nations infrastructure and should be the responsiblity of the government. Administration via the government is the easiest way to ensure equality throughout the entire society.

Radar are you arguing that access to healthcare should be determined by the ability of one to pay, regardless of the severity of one's medical emergency? That's a rather unequal and unjust society, particularily one that believes in the equality of all humans.

[RADAR1797]

No, what is unequal is the robin hood mentality that all people deserve the same level of service. Is some ubiquitous health care a good idea? Sure, but where is the line drawn and who makes the determination. Oregon just tried to enact universal health-care, and would have increased every WORKING person's taxes by 19% and the top earners' another 9 to 15% on top of their current state income tax. Here is where your idea that treating everyone equally is wrong. If you are productive, you pay for everyone else. That is by no means fair. If everyone wants the same access to services, then they have to work for it. Severity or not, we as a benevolent (and many times to the detriment of our citizens) society provide a certain level of access to health care. I do not want my tax dollars going to junkie with cancer who needs a $1 million experimental surgery to live another 1 year just because they happen to get on the waiting list first. Is there an element of Darwinism in this? Yes, but there are certainly people out there who spending the $15 billion (CA) on will be a waste of money and hurt your economy.

BTW, the US believes all are men are created equal under the LAW. That does not mean that Donald Trump is going to split his millions with me because we are equal human beings and I just haven't gotten around to earning my millions yet.
Unjust is the redistribution of wealth, also known as theft whether through a government or by gunpoint.

-RADAR

[Wizzard~Of~Ozz]

I do not want my tax dollars going to junkie with cancer who needs a $1 million experimental surgery to live another 1 year just because they happen to get on the waiting list first.

I'm sure his family would appreciate this, and chances are it would be the best year of his life being drug free. Yes there are some cases that are bad, but even though I'm working class, I have a family, If I had to pay for this treatment by myself then I would be condemned to never owning a house, I couldn't find pricing for the treatments I've had but you'ld probably know better then I would what

2 rounds of Chemo (sofar)
2 CT scans
2 ultrasounds
every blood test known to man
surgery on my neck to remove 1/2 lymphnode
28HR stay in ER

would cost. I'm guessing it would cost more then I make in a year and more then I could pay back in 5. And I'm not done yet, Consider this, The average american health insurance plan costs a couple hundred a month in premiums, I for one don't think it's right that someone is afraid to seek medical treatment because of financial woes. I have probably already paid for 1/2 or more of my expenses however I know that at anytime I can seek medical attention if I need it without having to clear off my visa first.

[RADAR1797]

Wizzard,

What we pay in health insurance is to cover what you are going through right now. What we don't pay in taxes that you do keeps our economy healthier and funds much of the research that would not be done if our health care system was socialized. It is really hard for people to pull the emotion out of the equation. The government has a place in health care, as a certifying and approval agency for the science involved to protect the citizens. The government does not have a place ensuring every citizen gets the highest level of medical care, that is each citizens' responsibility. Some people believe we have a right to housing, I say you have the right to pursue housing. Uncle Sam does not need to place me in a home, I will work to earn the money to get the sort of place I want to live in. Health care works the same way. If i want the best, I will work to afford it, if I just want to get by, I can do that too.

-RADAR

[RADAR1797]

BTW, I could care less about his family, if they really loved him, they would not have let him be a junkie. Again, emotion only muddles the issue. The more the government takes care of people, the more dependent people become on the government. I look at 25 yo men still living with their parents and not able to function independently much the same way as I see someone unable to exist without their government's social support.

-RADAR