Is Canada as good as it gets?

rob_just_rob

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So, what can civilized people do to help Canadians get rid of Stephen Harper? Eh?

Harper is Bush Lite(TM). However, it seems unlikely that Harper is capable of gaining a majority government, so the damage he can do is limited. And eventually the Liberals will get their act together and produce an electable leader.

In the meantime, one of you could always shoot him... we're well behind the U.S. in assassinations attempted on our leaders. Show us the way!
 

midlifebear

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Rob _Just_Rob: Way touché!

(But I'm trying to get through this existence without killing anyone or anything. Don't own a gun. Never have. Have been shot three times and still believe my fellow 'Mericuhns certainly should have the guaranteed right to bear arms, but to do so they should all take a bullet in some part of their anatomy where it won't do permanent damage so when they git there gun licenses they know what a gittin' shot feels like.)

Add smiley happy faces here.
 

vindicator

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So, Mr. Vindicator, I thank you for the interesting update on all things Canadian. You wouldn't believe the lies fostered by many of my fellow 'Mericuhns about how bad Canada's health care system is. They just pull it out of their black, stinky hidey-holes and label their fear mongering as "Hillary Care" or some other such nonsense. It's as if FOX Network News has finally brainwashed the 'Mericuhn masses into believing FOX Not New is actually fair and balanced. ¡Ay, caramba! (which is how you say "Oh, my heck!" in Spanish). I fear there is little hope for my fellow 'Mericuhns.

So, what can civilized people do to help Canadians get rid of Stephen Harper? Eh?


There are room for improvements, there always are. I think the Canada versus US health issue comes down to do you believe that everyone has the right to have health care reguardless if they can afford it or not? In the US even if you can afford health insurance there is no guarantee you won't be turned down for any number of reasons or a "pre-existing" condition which is completely retarded. If you get sick, your insurance should cover you reguardless.

I mean, we PAY for health care but it is spread out over everyone. I guess it is in fact insurance. We pay the government via taxes and if something happens you're covered. The difference is in the US that it is for profit, and we know what happens when some things are run for a profit. I don't think something as important as our health should be run by for profit companies.

Services in the US are orders of magnitude more expensive then the UK and Canada.

It has been said that Canadians have longer wait times then in the US, but i think that can be chalked up to the fact that every Canadian has access to health insurance where as 16% of Americans so not have health insurance. I think that works out to around 50 million people which is 17 million more people then the population of Canada. So obviously per capita wait times will be short in the US. Still, as a Canadian i don't think wait times are acceptable.
 

midlifebear

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Mr. Vindicator:

Boy, you sure know how to pick a scab. One of the reasons I live outside the USA is because of the weird expensive health care. As a self-employed business owner, I can get insurance in Nevada, but the last quote I received was for U$S1,500 monthly premiums with a U$S20,000 annual deductible after which they would graciously pay 80% of all costs up to U$S100,000. The policy did not cover medicines or dental. Hell, a good chest cracking in the wild and woolly west of the USA costs over U$S200,000! So, I opted for the gall bladder surgery in Spain (better care than in the USA) where they kept me overnight and morphined out with 24-hour nursing care in a private room: total costs U$S1,459 and some pennies -- which they let me charge on my 'Mericuhn Express and get SkyMiles. It was the same procedure as would have been done at the Mayo Clinic. Then while down here in Buenos Aires last year I was diagnosed with prostate cancer which is so far completely in remission. I paid U$S6,000 directly to the urologist/surgeon who is also part owner of a private urology clinic in BsAs, for brachytherapy. I paid about U$S5,000 more than an Argentine with a prepago would have paid. But in the USA the exact same procedure would have cost just over U$S90,000+. My Argentine urologist/surgeon will continue to see and monitor me without charge for the next four years.

Now that I've finally achieved residency in Spain, I'll be able to take advantage of the universal health coverage in that country (well, at least in Catalunya). I've been paying my fair share of income taxes to the government of Spain 9 years, and I still pay more than my share to the IRS in my land o' da brave. I'd be willing to pay more, too, if 'Mericuhns could get it through their silly heads that health care is a human right, not a privilige. Hmmm . . . did I spell privilege correctly? Too much Spanish and French is in my head at the moment. Sorrry.
 

vindicator

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I'd just like to add that Brandon beat Winnipeg this year for "holy shit it's fucking cold." -50C for a few days, went down to a record breaking -53C too. That's about -65F I think?

Other than that it was consistently -30C to -40C all winter.

But Manitoba doesn't get a foot of snow one week, and then a foot of snow and freezing rain the next week. Sorry Toronto.

Ya, -50 is uncomprehensably cold to me. I was in Winterpeg when it was -32 and THAT was WAY too cold.

But Torontonians are WELL known for complaining about cold and snow. (Bunch of whiners!) :wink:
 

vindicator

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Mr. Vindicator:

Boy, you sure know how to pick a scab. One of the reasons I live outside the USA is because of the weird expensive health care. As a self-employed business owner, I can get insurance in Nevada, but the last quote I received was for U$S1,500 monthly premiums with a U$S20,000 annual deductible after which they would graciously pay 80% of all costs up to U$S100,000. A good chect cracking in the wild and woolly west of the USA costs over U$S200,000! So, I opted for the gall bladder surgery in Spain (better care than in the USA) where they kept me overnight and morphined out with 24-hour nursing care in a private room: total costs U$S1,459 and some pennies -- which they let me charge on my 'Mericuhn Express. Then while down here in Buenos Aires last year I was diagnosed with prostate cancer which is so far completely in remission. I paid U$S6,000 directly to the urologist who part owner of a private clinic in BsAs, which is about U$S5,000 more than an Argentine with a prepago would have paid. But in the USA the exact same procedure would have cost just under U$S90,000+.

That is just outragious.

I never want to be in the position where i have to come up with $90,000 grand or die of cancer. No one should ever be put in that position.

Don't get me wrong, if you can afford care in the US or can get your insurance to actually cover a procedure the care is EXCELLENT. I have been treated in the US the doctors and nurses are amazing.

But doctors want the coin. I think there are some professions like doctors, nurses, police, fire, medic etc that people should be doing because they want to help people and not just for the money. But in other countries doctors can make a lot of money and charge much less so i don't know what the issue is in the US.
 

rawbone8

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The west coast has the most amazing landscape. A visual feast. The east coast has the friendliest people I've ever met, even toward an Upper Canadian like me from Toronto.

It's much like a small town almost everywhere. We are very similar to our good neighbours, the Americans, but distinctly more left of centre. If anything, our history has taught us that looking out for one's neighbour is essential to the group's survival. Challenging winters and sparse population makes collaboration a natural mode of behaviour.

If anything, Canadians are too complacent about our good fortunes. We need to be resolute about aiming for the top. We have been blessed by our resource based economy, but need to be much more developed as a technology player.


Damn, I love my country. I don't want to live anywhere else.
 

NCbear

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. . . i'm sure other countries have fun spots but there's no place like the u.s.a. for meeting horny men. everywhere i meet them, in every city and every state. it's like a miracle.

BWAH-ha-ha!

NCbear (who thinks they can see that big-as-hell gun you carry around with you all the time in your pants) :tongue::biggrin1::cool: