Canadian Health Care

Darn!  Wish I'd printed it out, 'cuz I knew the thread was going into never never land!

In my view:

1. Whenever an American says that single payer healthcare doesn't work, and that the healthcare provided is inferior, it is insulting to all of us on this forum who live in countries that benefit from the single-payer system.

2.  The issue of democracy "not working" is also an insult to every successful democratic country.  Many consider Canada a nanny state, but remember that Canada bounced back from the world-wide recession thanks, in large part, to banking regulations and is now the envy of first-world countries and the safest place to invest.  Yep, a wee bit of our "freedom" taken away by these regulations has had only good results.  And our so-called socialist country encourages inventors and manufacturers to become highly successful -- consider just 2 examples: Bombardier - planes and trains throughout the world, and Research in Motion - that little blackberry that everyone just has to have!

3.  A responsible voter listens to all sides in the political debate, not just the side she's comfortable with, and then makes a well-considered choice.

4.  Finally, consider the source of every viral email, robocall, TV/radio/newspaper ad, internet blog (and billboards too).  Is the message a philosophical one, or is it in support of corporate interests?

Oops, forgot one!  Had to do with philanthropy and socialist countries expecting the state to provide everything -- I had just read that, per capita, Canadian citizens had given more in relief aid to Haiti than any other country.

What are the odds that a thoughtful, reasoned post would have been the last to appear on that ridiculous thread?

LOL. 

If only there had been more posts  like this one, the thread would have survived. 

Congrats, Linda.

Well, it looks like it's now safe for me to return home so I'll be tucking Mr Bunny under my arm and heading towards the border where, hopefully, Enjoyful will be waiting.

In all seriousness, though, I wonder if the whole flap over health care reform has caused more than a few Americans to re-think their impressions of our northern neighbors. It sure is a whole lot harder to think of Canada as a comparatively weaker, less successful country, eh? 

Actually, Rico, they're probably saying those pesky, yappy Canucks are just gettin' a bit too big for their britches LOL!  The river is calm and quiet, it's finally stopped raining, Enjoyful is waving on the other side, so bye bye, and please come again!

Our $ is hovering at par, BTW!

You can count me in as a convert!

Excellent news on Canadian currency!  I have a Canadian bank account and I bought those dollars at $.77!  Don't leave Canada yet, Rico!  It's party time!

I got some good news this week, ladies.  I've been accepted into a clinical trial for a breast cancer vaccine being run out of St. Louis.  We begin on Monday - wish me luck!

E

Linda,

They're not expecting any side effects other than redness or swelling at the injection site.  I'll have three series of shots, two shots each time, four weeks apart.  It's a Phase I trial so it's primarily testing safety.   The secondary purpose is to determine whether the vaccine triggers an immune response.  Fascinating stuff!

Thank you for enrolling, enjoyful. May the trial be a success for you and for us all.

I'm very hopeful about the vaccine.  Here's an old-ish article about it:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/3315963/Breast-cancer-vaccine-ready-for-tests-soon.html

That rising dollar isn't all good news.  My husband's business has contracts with foreign countries in US dollars, unfortunately the expenses are in Canadian dollars.  It really is time for an international currency.  Oh well, I doubt that we will go hungry or anything serious.

No way, notself -- then we'd start arguing about unimportant stuff!  BTW, I love your tagline.

It was difficult to decide between the one I chose and this as a tag line.

"If you see what is small as it sees itself, and accept what is weak for what strength it has, and use what is dim for the light it gives, then all will go well. This is called Acting Naturally."  - Lao-Tsu

Lewing, Notself, Rico, Layne, Alpal, Floralgal, Enjoyful (and oh dear, who have I missed?) I have learned SO much reading your posts -- your well-thought-out and well-researched responses, and your civility and consideration, not to mention your senses of humour!  Those of us who post on this thread really enjoy your participation.  Please stick around!  We'll try to come up with some controversial topics, just to keep the blood flowing and the brain cells knocking into each other.

Hugs to you all!

The other Linda

Good Morning Canadian Friends (think Robin Williams doing Good Morning Viet Nam),

   I miss the healthcare thread.  I know it got mean sometimes, but I learned a lot, searched for info independently ... and I think, came out smarter for it.  I even miss the tension.  I get bored waiting for my next transcription job .. and that thread gave me something to think about.  Also got my BP up!  I would have never read such large portions of the bill if not for that thread.

   But, I think it ran it's course as far as the healtcare debate went.

Should I be buying some Canadian dollars???  Can you use chumpchange to get in on this???

Hugs .. have a great Saturday!

love,

Bren