Reply to thread

Message

<blockquote data-quote="John Roberts" data-source="post: 81672" data-attributes="member: 126">Re: Batteries May Become ObsoleteI am surely repeating myself, nothing is free... I looked at the Canadian system years back and it was pioneered by one of the regional provinces (not unlike a state healthcare program here, like in MA). When it was demonstrated to be successful and well liked, they expanded it to the full country. But that was decades ago when the cost issues were not so severe. They are not immune from the same demographic issues. Just look at the number of Canadian citizens who travel across the border to pay for timely healthcare here to avoid long waits, especially for procedures not considered life threatening. An ironic example offered about Canada was to compare wait times for elective surgery on pets, vs humans. One is private sector and competes to keep the customer&#039;s happy. The other is constantly faced with inadequate resources, so do what they must. Since the customers do not have other competitive options, they must wait or pay for service outside the public system. I am not criticizing the Canadian program, they are subject to the same demographic trends as the rest of the western world, more or less.I have no issue with a social safety net, and do not pretend that what we had before was not broken (it was seriously flawed). I just do not have much faith in the solution that was unilaterally rammed through the legislature without a balanced approach. Now we sit several years later, with the old bridges burned or burning, hoping for the best. i don&#039;t feel very lucky.&nbsp; The voters get the government they tolerate, and we are getting what we (not me) voted for.&nbsp; Good luck to us all. JR</blockquote>

[QUOTE="John Roberts, post: 81672, member: 126"] Re: Batteries May Become Obsolete I am surely repeating myself, nothing is free... I looked at the Canadian system years back and it was pioneered by one of the regional provinces (not unlike a state healthcare program here, like in MA). When it was demonstrated to be successful and well liked, they expanded it to the full country. But that was decades ago when the cost issues were not so severe. They are not immune from the same demographic issues. Just look at the number of Canadian citizens who travel across the border to pay for timely healthcare here to avoid long waits, especially for procedures not considered life threatening. An ironic example offered about Canada was to compare wait times for elective surgery on pets, vs humans. One is private sector and competes to keep the customer's happy. The other is constantly faced with inadequate resources, so do what they must. Since the customers do not have other competitive options, they must wait or pay for service outside the public system. I am not criticizing the Canadian program, they are subject to the same demographic trends as the rest of the western world, more or less. I have no issue with a social safety net, and do not pretend that what we had before was not broken (it was seriously flawed). I just do not have much faith in the solution that was unilaterally rammed through the legislature without a balanced approach. Now we sit several years later, with the old bridges burned or burning, hoping for the best. i don't feel very lucky. The voters get the government they tolerate, and we are getting what we (not me) voted for. Good luck to us all. JR [/QUOTE]

Verification