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Canadian health care: Part two
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Mmk, so it looks like I stirred up the hornet's nest with my previous post about Canadian health care. Honestly I have no idea how people found it so quickly, since I didn't post it that long ago. Guess that's the beauty of the internet.
So basically, I ticked a couple of people off. Some people got personal, which was uncalled for, seeing as a never targeted anyone individually. However, don't expect me to cry martyr, because I'm not going to. I will say that I did specifically criticize a part of the Canadian government. Governments deserve to be criticized. It's how we keep them accountable. Even if I said something completely outlandish, to the point where I was shooting blanks, I'm pretty sure the Canadian government could handle it, don't you? I don't foresee it huddling in a corner somewhere, crying. Especially not with such stalwart defenders around.
I will answer my detractors one by one. Here goes.
Proud to be Canadian: I'm sure Canada's a great place, although I don't like cold weather. Note that I am only criticizing one aspect of your country. I guess in a way, using the term "free" is misleading, although I did mention the use of taxpayer money to pay for it in Canada. I contradicted myself without knowing it, but I of course understand that the money comes from somewhere. Perhaps the monthly premiums are viewed on this side of a border as more of a tax because they are the only option.
On the issue of being ethnically diverse: According to the CIA World Factbook, Canada is 28% persons of British Isles origin, 23% persons of French origin, 15% persons of other European origin, 2% Amerindian, 6% other ("mostly Asian, African, and Arab"), and 15% persons of mixed origin. These statistics say to me: Most people in Canada are white. At least a good 66% of Canadians are of solid European origin, i.e. white. And the 15% of people with mixed origin--that probably includes some half whities. That could mean as much as 81% of Canadians are at least half or full white. Sounds kinda homogenous to me.
I never assumed to know everything about Canada. I commented on one single thing about Canada. You have fabricated an image of me as a know-it-all. And thanks for calling my post "pathetic". Must've felt good to say it. But if I'm just an ignorant American who hates Canada, which according to you, there are many beyond number, why bother insluting me? You can never stop all of us ignorant Canada-haters (Sarcasm. I don't hate Canada). Please don't waste my time with personal attacks. If you want to attack my work, great. Really, by getting personal, you're just lowering yourself.
Tom Jenkins, MD: The mere fact you have "MD" after your names makes me scared of you. But I said I would answer everyone who commented. I can't really rebut you because you offered hard data. However, I will ask that isn't it the wealthier Canadians who come to the US for treatment? They are probably going to the more presitigious hospitals, as opposed to ones near the border. But you also say that the top 100 hospitals haven't treated many Canadian patients... Maybe there is a middle cost zone in which Canadians that come here for treatment fall? So it's not that massive hordes of Canadians are coming here. In my defense, I never claimed it was, but now we've nailed it down. And as far as "having heard" about things being different than having a published study in my hand, most of my posts are initiated by me seeing something in the news (internet, TV, magazine) and giving my take on it. I don't claim to give a 100% correct take, but I do claim to give it a good try. And that, I feel, is what I did, bearing in mind that these are condensed posts. Thanks for the comment.
PaulDH: Thanks for backing me up. I would like to go to Canada someday. Although Australia is a little higher on the priority list.
ElvisPriest: Fedex & UPS. I promise I knew there was an exception out there. I have used Fedex before, so I'm not pulling your leg. As I typed that part I was sitting here thinking, I know there is one. To modify my previous point, I guess there's a little precedent already. But it's not very common.
Grant: You started out by calling me an idiot. Everyone knows a personal attack is the best way to start an educated rebuttal. It's a good thing we have people like you to remind us. Sarcasm. Yeah, Fox is biased. Everyone knows that too, but big deal. Just because it's biased differently than the other news channels, we have to make a fuss?
I saw on Fox News--with my own eyes--a woman who said she waited three years on a Canadian wait list before she ever got back surgery. I don't remember if she came to the US to get it or eventually got it in Canada, but the point is the three years part. She told stories of other Canadians who suffered the same fate, although she said her case was not the norm. I think her point was that it is happening more and more. So yes, sometimes people do wait *years*. Unless she's a bald-faced liar, which I doubt.
In her case, she needed back surgery. That's kind of serious--hardly something I would classify as "elective" or "unnecessary".
"Every health care system rations". That sounds like a pretty subjective statement to me, one not in the vein of the other, more thorough claims (except the idiot one). There are many reasons why uninsured Americans are uninsured, and why the ones with inadequate insurance have inadequate insurance, but I fail to see what part rationing plays in any of that. You should have explained the connection, 'cause I don't get it.
Red tape and mismanagement: There is no way that a system in which someone has to wait years for surgery or months for a diagnostic is working as intended. Of course there's red tape in the US system...if that is even an adept term for it. "System" implies a single-minded streamlined-ness. Kind of like, say, government-run health care. Everyone knows our "system" has problems. I don't feel the need to write about that. I cited the Canadian system as an example of the perils that could come with government-run care. You did enlighten me with some facts, which I found to be of value.
Either way, thanks to everyone for making my day (night) a little more exciting. Hope you guys will read my other articles.
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