According to Dr. Anne Doig, the incoming president of the Canadian Medical Association, the Canadian health care system is "imploding"...not "having difficulties", or "needing some adjustment", or even "in need of an overhaul"...but "imploding." Implosion is pretty serious...in fact, that's the same process that, in astronomical terms, describes the birth of a black hole--in other words: a MAJOR occurrence. She also mentions that they're "all running flat out" and "just trying to stay ahead of the day-to-day demands."
Now, if we take a look at what she's says, she's describing a health care system that is slightly smaller (33.6 million) than the "hole" in the health care system that AfterDowningStreet mentioned in their blog even IF we get Obama Care passed in the US (36 million). So, with even a smaller system than those who would be without if we passed this legislation, it is still unsustainable. The other angle to look at is that the proposed health care system would, theoretically, be available to the entire US population (notice I didn't say "imposed upon"...so let's not go there) of roughly 305 million people (or just over 9 times the size of Canada's population).
In essence, even those who are currently "without adequate health care"--that 45 million figure that we keep hearing about (a figure which is still highly debatable)--are almost 1 1/2 times the size of the current Canadian system. So, even if we decide to pursue a public option for those citizens, the current situation in Canada should give us pause!
Here's the article:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jbjzPEY0Y3bvRD335rGu_Z3KXoQw
I am still not in support of universal health care because of its all-encompassing nature, but if we need to establish a public option for those who are in need of one (and ONLY for them), we must take Canada's current situation to heart and realize just how tenuous this proposal can be. We must be careful not to simply throw out the suggestion without realizing the gravity of the proposal. It can very easily debilitate our economy. If you are on a ship that is sinking and make it to a lifeboat, what happens when you overload the lifeboat? It sinks and everyone aboard is back to square one. Similarly, we must let our zeal outdistance our abilities...to do so will result in certain failure!
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Canada. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Universal Health Care...just like Canada...?!?
I live in a suburb of Minneapolis...and this winter, during one of our 20 below weather patterns (yes, we had more than one--and yes, it was actual temperature BEFORE windchill) I was thinking to myself, y'know, there's an entire country north of us! What the heck are they thinkin'?!? It's cold enough here in the winter, and it's even colder in International Falls, MN (the icebox of the USA--officially), but I don't even want to think about the country that's to our north! Then I started poking around, doing some research on Canada...and I found some interesting information. One of the most interesting facts about Canada is that the entire population of the country of Canada is about 33.6 million...right now, the population of the Los Angeles Area is about 18 million...so, the entire *country* of Canada has a population that is less than twice the population of one of our most populous cities! Wow...that puts it in perspective. I guess there aren't as many crazy people in the Great White North as I thought...phew! Case closed...out of sight; out of mind.
Until this summer...
The healthcare debate has heated up this summer, which got me to thinking about the much vaunted Canadian Health Care system. I can't count the number of times that Canada's health care system has been praised. But wait a minute...this entire country is not even twice the size of Los Angeles...and they can't even handle it! What makes us think we could do it with a population that is, right now, around 305 million?
I was sent this video from a guy who was raised in Canada and now lives in the US, but his friends still live in Canada. So they decided to give the good ol' CHS a try.
BTW...Note to Michael Moore: if you want to get the actual truth about something, it's usually best to go in with *hidden cameras* (a la Dateline NBC, 60 Minutes, ABC Primetime, et al) and not let them know you're there rather than going in with a large crew and announcing your presence. But that's just me...and Dateline NBC and 60 Minutes and ABC Primetime and...you get the point.
But back to my original thought...in this video, we see a health care system that is overloaded, inefficient, and clumsy...and it only has 33.6 million enrolled! When compared to the US, it's kinda apples & oranges...take a look at the video...
Right now, in the US, there is a proposal for Universal Health Care, but according to the story on AfterDowningStreet.org (http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/43668), the CBO says that 36 million will still remain uninsured even with the most aggressive plan out there. 36 million? That's more than the entire population of Canada! WHA?!?!?
Now, I do not, nor have I ever made the claim that the health system in the US is flawless, but if 15% of the US population is without adequate coverage (and that figure is debatable), that still leaves 85% that DO have adequate coverage. Universal Health Care is not the answer...not in Canada...and not here...and especially if our best plan STILL leaves more people without insurance (in the US) than live in the entire country of Canada!
We must focus on those who are without adequate coverage and propose a solution for THEM...not everyone. If we propose a solution for the 45 million without insurance (and for the sake of argument, I'll even stipulate to that 45 million figure...even though it's definitely on the high side), then we can do better than leaving 36 million out in the cold. It's like a blanket on a cold Minnesota (or Canadian) winter night: 85% of your body is covered, but instead of finding a smaller blanket to warm the 15% of your body that is not covered, you opt for an entirely new blanket that will only cover 90% of your body...10% is still not covered...that solution stinks!
Trying to cover the entire US population (305 million) while leaving 36 million uncovered (even with the most aggressive plan out there right now) is foolhardy. We need to focus on those without coverage and leave those with adequate coverage alone! Questions about large-scale government run health care? Ask a veteran! They *LOVE* the VA (tongue firmly planted in cheek)!
Oh yeah...and if this health coverage proposal is SOOOOOOO good, then I want to see a 10 year trial run involving the president and Congress before the American people are saddled with it!
Until this summer...
The healthcare debate has heated up this summer, which got me to thinking about the much vaunted Canadian Health Care system. I can't count the number of times that Canada's health care system has been praised. But wait a minute...this entire country is not even twice the size of Los Angeles...and they can't even handle it! What makes us think we could do it with a population that is, right now, around 305 million?
I was sent this video from a guy who was raised in Canada and now lives in the US, but his friends still live in Canada. So they decided to give the good ol' CHS a try.
BTW...Note to Michael Moore: if you want to get the actual truth about something, it's usually best to go in with *hidden cameras* (a la Dateline NBC, 60 Minutes, ABC Primetime, et al) and not let them know you're there rather than going in with a large crew and announcing your presence. But that's just me...and Dateline NBC and 60 Minutes and ABC Primetime and...you get the point.
But back to my original thought...in this video, we see a health care system that is overloaded, inefficient, and clumsy...and it only has 33.6 million enrolled! When compared to the US, it's kinda apples & oranges...take a look at the video...
Right now, in the US, there is a proposal for Universal Health Care, but according to the story on AfterDowningStreet.org (http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/43668), the CBO says that 36 million will still remain uninsured even with the most aggressive plan out there. 36 million? That's more than the entire population of Canada! WHA?!?!?
Now, I do not, nor have I ever made the claim that the health system in the US is flawless, but if 15% of the US population is without adequate coverage (and that figure is debatable), that still leaves 85% that DO have adequate coverage. Universal Health Care is not the answer...not in Canada...and not here...and especially if our best plan STILL leaves more people without insurance (in the US) than live in the entire country of Canada!
We must focus on those who are without adequate coverage and propose a solution for THEM...not everyone. If we propose a solution for the 45 million without insurance (and for the sake of argument, I'll even stipulate to that 45 million figure...even though it's definitely on the high side), then we can do better than leaving 36 million out in the cold. It's like a blanket on a cold Minnesota (or Canadian) winter night: 85% of your body is covered, but instead of finding a smaller blanket to warm the 15% of your body that is not covered, you opt for an entirely new blanket that will only cover 90% of your body...10% is still not covered...that solution stinks!
Trying to cover the entire US population (305 million) while leaving 36 million uncovered (even with the most aggressive plan out there right now) is foolhardy. We need to focus on those without coverage and leave those with adequate coverage alone! Questions about large-scale government run health care? Ask a veteran! They *LOVE* the VA (tongue firmly planted in cheek)!
Oh yeah...and if this health coverage proposal is SOOOOOOO good, then I want to see a 10 year trial run involving the president and Congress before the American people are saddled with it!
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