The Hall of Fire

The situation was the same here, although I believe our hospitals (at least here in BC) were always funded by sales taxes. I should look that up. My Mum had a ruptured appendix while she was pregnant with my brother John and not only did she almost die, but the doctor's bill nearly ruined them. Took...

A very interesting program on CNN right now about health care. I don't know the guy (Fareed Something?) but I can tell you the facts he presents are pretty much irrefutable: every modern nation beats the US in life expectancy, infant mortality, and cost of insurance.

I think we should begin an "end of life" thread, actually. As far as I know - from my personal experiences - few Canadians are subjected to, or have to endure, the sorts of drastic end of life interventions that some Americans do - simply because it CAN be done and "insurance will pay...

"Health care"? No, what we are talking about is "sick care". Two entirely different things. If you, Folca, or anyone else, earns or has "too much" money, you can always give it away. I don't understand your ideas about what people "should" earn, and I certainl...

When ideology trumps reason, who is surprised at disaster?

A public health scheme, such as is in place in Canada and many European countries, is much, much less costly than what passes for health care in the US. Americans pay TWICE as much per capita for health care as Canadians and the British do. The issue is not the "industry". Why should any i...

Excellent post, nerdanel.


"Failure" is often only in the eye of the beholder. But certainly illness, pain, suffering, and death are not "failures". Sometimes they are the result of poor decisions and/or ignorance, but, in the end, they get us all.

I don't quite know what has happened in my head. Beyond the obvious. :D But I cannot for the life of me enter into movies or tv drama any more. It seems all so "fake" to me. I can't suspend my disbelief - and am, sadly, probably never going to actually watch any version of LOTR again. I wi...

Making health care contingent on moral purity is absurd, dangerous, and pointless. And Calvinist. I swear Melkor could have learned something from that guy. No kidding. No offense intended: I often get the idea that in the US for SOME PEOPLE, any "failure" is because, 1. You are morally i...

If medical professionals truly wanted to help people, they would drive Camrys and Taurus sedans, and live in modest homes...and save lives. Well, there you are. This comment makes my head go wuggawugga, but I'm pretty sure that's not what you intended. What did you intend? And you did not offend me...

"I'm all right, Jack". That's the title of an old and apropos movie. Since I am in exactly the position that Primula brings up: facing death in a socialized medical system , my opinions are pretty strong. It's probably too late now for the US to go with some version of the Canadian system....

I think I am going to say, "Congratulations" to the US.

It's a very bad system, but it's better than no system at all.

I hope you're right, Voronwë. But. I have heard things like this: if it's overturned, it benefits Mr. Obama in the election campaign because those who really support it will vote for him, knowing he'll bring it forward again. Or, if it's held up, Mr. Romney will benefit as he vows to overturn it imm...

I understand the fear of "racial profiling", but at the same time, if you are stopped for some violation or committing a crime, is there a constitutional issue about asking for proof of citizenship or immigrant status? If it was applied to everyone? I, personally, think it's wrong of the p...

Meh.

This action will also force Romney to take a position. Perhaps Obama's team has decided that Hispanics are going to decide this election. If so, taking a position that is popular with them, and forcing his opponent to either take an unpopular position or further annoy his base, would actually be a ...

What do you mean, vison? Certainly he has "waited too long" for those who no longer qualify, but he just as certainly has not "waited too long" for those who do qualify. In any event, this is nothing but a stopgap measure. If the president loses the election, Romney will almost ...

I just hope he hasn't waited too long.

I do not care. This frees me!! Speculation is not in my day.


PJ, do your worst!!!

Well, he will, anyway.

It wasn't that "they didn't let him", or so I've read. Apparently he liked her and everything but he was quite the fella with the gals, and he had plenty of time and she got tired of waiting. I have also read that Charles thought it was his personality and charm that attracted so many wome...