Stop the nonsense: There is only *one* possible Obama puppy choice
Honestly, its so stupid. it is no mystery. he is the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. he cannot:
1) he cannot choose a poodle. it is a dog, rightly or wrongly, viewed as effeminent, weak, FRENCH( i have no problem with the french but plenty of people do) , and viewed as the dog of elitests. it would turn the positive puppydog news story line that is part of the obmama press honey moon into a massive headache and he would never hear the end of the jokes or the mockery.
2) he CANNOT choose a strange rare japanese dog or that hairless dog from south america. for a canidate who fought against claims of being "too exotic or forign" he cannot choose a strange exotic forign dog breed from half the world away that few american dog owners have ever owned. again, its about image and what that image says to the evolving storyline of teh obamas in tearms of their narative in the press.
3) the only choice is a snauser, as they are normal looking, cute, and european as to not bring up even a hint of "obama has a strange forign/effeminant dog". i had a miniature snauser, she was a dream, absolutely lovely, and the best part, ALWAYS LOOKED LIKE A PUPPY. this would allow the press's honey moon and fascination with the obamas dog to continue and they would reap the rewards of more positive fluff press for themselves. if they choose a dog that eventually grows up into a less cute version of itsself, the 'puppy' story looses some steam over time. so that is why i vote miniature snauser over regular, however, both are fine choice and both are the ONLY choice. they are not bred to be hypoalergenic, so again, no elitest claims can be thrown. instead they are born with hair not fur, but look just the same as every other dog. also, they are amazing with kids. i got my snauser as a puppy in 6th grade, and i was home sick from school sick, and it curled up on my chest as i slept on the sofa to go to sleep, i feel in love, it did too, and for the rest of its life it was adorable and cuddly. i would be laying on the sofa propped up on pillows, and the dog would crawl up over my head and then sit down and go to sleep on my head. again, in an age where photos are so important, how can the obamas NOT want a picture of sasha with a sleepy cute puppy on top of her head lol?
ONE NOTE: it would need to be a natural snauser, not with the ears or tail cruely cut off. 1) the cutting off makes it look like an elitest dog where the owner is more concerned with projecting the kennel club look than having a companion for his kids 2) the dog looks way cuter and more natural with all of its facial features NOT SLICED OFF.
thats all. im sure you will agree, when you think about the dog issue politically, the snauser is the only real choice that doesnt DETRACT from the good press the dog story has already gotten them
Ruttle
· 1 year ago
Hmmmmm....ok.
truebluecoondog
· 1 year ago
Well, I have a Treeing Walker Coon Hound. But I guess that wouldn't go over very well. I mean, Obama does have audacity but maybe not quite that much.
Nosybear
· 1 year ago
But a Schnauzer is so.... German.... And they're Socialists, too.
Steve_in_CNJ
· 1 year ago
can you get them de-barked. or should i say, de-yapped?
Indigo
· 1 year ago
Just rescue a greyhound. They're clean, they're calm, they're friendly.
truebluecoondog
· 1 year ago
But, but, but....WE are protected from evil doers who hate us for our freedom. AND, we also get free mail delivery! Wooooohooooo!!!
Psssst....I also hear that in Canada, they consider dental part of overall health. Silly snow people.
Dianne_in_DC
· 1 year ago
Oh, and mental health too! And something in French here, too.
jurassicpork
· 1 year ago
Another FU for Tom Friedman. Imagine having to live with a woman whose family fortune lost 99% of its worth in just two months?
That's 3.6 billion to 25 million.
Oy vey...
Older_Wiser
· 1 year ago
Have they applied to be a bank holding company yet so they can go to the govt with the beggar's cup? It's probably being processed right now...
jurassicpork
· 1 year ago
>Have they applied to be a bank holding company yet so they can go to the govt with the beggar's cup? It's probably being processed right now...<
Whether they do or don't, I'm sure that Tom's and his wife's fortunes will begin looking up in, oh, I'd say (drum roll please) about six months.
(Harsh rimshot.)
Eric
· 1 year ago
Canadians don't waste their money on bailouts and war, so they can afford universal health care.
How many overseas bases does Canada operate? How much money does Canada spend torturing muslims?
We in America can't have everything; we have two fabulous, decadent wars going on. It's all for you; enjoy it and stop whining so much.
Allen, eh?
· 1 year ago
I recognise your outstanding snark, Eric, but in case others don't, they should know Canada has a very significant presence in Afghanistan. maybe 1/5 what the US does, but still significant for 1/10 the population
Allen, eh?
· 1 year ago
This new comment-y form thingy is tricky
Eric
· 1 year ago
Thank you for recognizing my snark. Still, the Afghanistan presence is nothing compared to over 120 US bases worldwide. I would like to see the commitments in terms of dollars. $1 trillion per year for the US. Does Canada even spent a billion per year on their foreign policy? I don't have the numbers, but maybe you do.
Allen, eh?
· 1 year ago
I recognise your outstanding snark, Eric, but in case others don't, they should know Canada has a very significant presence in Afghanistan. maybe 1/5 what the US does, but still significant for 1/10 the population
mikeyDe
· 1 year ago
How about switching the budget priorities without changing the tax rates? Give the people universal healthcare and give the insurance industry national defense. Companies that employ more than a certain number of workers could provide employees defense insurance. Of course, Iraq and Afghanistan wouldn't count because they'd be preexisting conditions.
Ruttle
· 1 year ago
I live in Toronto and for years have paid taxes into our health system. I needed an MRI 2 years ago and had an appointment made in 3 days and the results back within 10 days. I have had a very good GP for many years. On the occasions I have had to go to an ER I have had multiple hour waits, but there were people coming in with breaks and heart attacks etc. Although it was not fun waiting I recognized that it was vital that these people got treated before I did. Our system has its faults - there is a shortage of GP's at the moment. I moved to a small university city (Kingston, ON) for a year and was laughed at when I inquired about finding a GP. That said, there were clinics that I could visit and I could travel back to Toronto if it was critical for me to visit my GP.
One of the major problems we face is that people misuse ER's, going there for treatment when a trip to a clinic (or an urgent care clinic) would be far more appropriate. If people used the system as it was designed, ER lines would be far more manageable.
Our system is not perfect. But it is one we loath to do without. I sleep better knowing that health care is guaranteed, and the quality of care is extremely high. I am sure many Canadians reading this will be able to tell stories of the failure of the system. Again, no system is perfect. But this one is pretty good, and it would be political suicide for any politician to suggest moving to a US model.
No one likes paying high taxes, even up here in Canada. But as a citizen I am happy (yes happy) to pay higher taxes so that me, my family and my fellow Canadians get access to high quality health care.
kladinvt
· 1 year ago
Well informed Merkins know the health care systems in Canada, the UK, France, Spain, Japan, etc., etc. are not an indication of a socialist government.
I wish Obama would immediately take Medicaid and expand it to cover anybody who wants it (rename it AHS or something). We can still keep the frakked up health care insurance industries we currently 'enjoy' in order to placate those who are fearful of the socialist boogeyman and therefore allow the market to dictate prices and services while the rest of us enjoy the health care we see as a right and not a privelege. If we can pay trillions of dollars for wars and bailouts there is no reason whatsoever why we cannot do this.
Nosybear
· 1 year ago
I hate apple pie....
Gorgonzola
· 1 year ago
Living in a border city with Canada I have known many Canadians. I can remember only one that thought the U.S. health care system was preferable . Face it, in the U.S. healthcare is a huge cash cow for those fortunate few who manage to get themselves connected. The objective of a healthcare system should be to keep people well but in this country it is just another money making business.
lilybart
· 1 year ago
When we bought our own insurance it cost $23,000 for a family of three with no issues aside from one overweight husband on lipitor.
Would I pay more in taxes instead of this HUGE cost or our own private insurance? YES. Those premiums are $40,000 pretax dollars and I can't imagine national healthcare would cost that much.
ProgressiveMom
· 1 year ago
I'll pay the taxes also, lilybart. We've got expensive employer-sponsored coverage but our 19 yr old a) can't be covered by us because he isn't in school full-time; b) has a serious pre-existing condition but isn't Medicaid eligible; c) requires routine care and meds. In our state, he can't get a policy, even if we were willing to pay. We're now looking to relocate to a state that has individual guaranteed-issue coverage.
This is ridiculous, but my son is devising his own solution: he is discussing a relocation to Canada as soon as he is sufficiently independent.
James
· 1 year ago
I am Canadian. I have also lived in the US for several years. I think that the American health care system is better, if you can afford it. Luckily enough I could afford it.
Ruttle
· 1 year ago
I am curious, what do you think makes it better? It seems to me that for a system to be better it would have to a) cover at least as many people, and b) be cheaper.
tacitus
· 1 year ago
It can be better in some circumstances. Survival rates for things like breast cancer and prostate cancer are higher in the US than they are in many countries with universal health care. The difference is usually access to the latest and greatest therapies. The US system does cost twice as much (per capita) as in these other countries so it's not surprising that the extra cash in the system translates to better access to some of these new drugs.
There is no denying that some kinds of rationing do happen in universal healthcare systems, new drugs are very expensive, and governments have to balance the books too. However, it's not as bad as the right-wingers claim it to be and the gap between the Euros and America is closing, so the Euros (and Canadians) are working on it.
No system is perfect, but there is no doubt that a well run universal heathcare system would, overall, be a darn sight better than the mess we're in right now.
draftmama
· 1 year ago
As a Canadian living in the US I am appalled at what passes for health care in this country. Universal care is so important - its actually one of the issues that ensures a more fair and balanced society. When people with lower incomes are precluded from getting the care they need their quality of life is further diminished.
All the urban legends about how Canadians have to come here for care are nonsense - that is simply people who have enough money to get elective surgery immediately. If you have a true emergency the care in Canada is immediate and of extremely high quality. You won't die because you don't have coverage, or have a crappy insurer whose only consideration is denying care at all costs.
tacitus
· 1 year ago
I;m a British transplant to Austin, TX. I have used both the British National Health Service and the American private health system. This has been my experience:
1) The British NHS has seen me fine through several childhood ailments -- nothing too serious, but I had several surgeries during the 70s when it was nowhere near as good as it is today.
2) Having Universal Health Care doesn't mean there's not private system alongside. When I worked for IBM in the UK, one of the benefits is private health insurance. I used it once to have an operation. I could have had it on the NHS, but since I had the cover, I went private -- didn't pay a penny.
3) Waiting lists for critical procedures are the thing of the past in the NHS -- don't let anyone else say otherwise. Yes, you may have to wait for a few weeks for minor and non-life threatening procedures, but it's not many months or years, and having it done privately is always an available option if you have some savings you can dip into.
For example. my mother required surgery to repair torn ligaments in her shoulder after a fall. Once they decided she needed it, she was on the list, but it was going to be 8 to 10 week before she could get the operation on the NHS. After discussing the options with her NHS specialist, she decided to pay and have it don't privately, at a cost of a couple of thousand dollars (I think). My parents are retired and not wealthy people (both were teachers in the public sector) but because they have never been saddled with massive insurance premiums and did not have to pay (at source) for the heart surgery and cancer surgery they had in the years before, they were able to afford the cost of this one private procedure.
4) Do not underestimate the toll it takes on people when not only do they have to worry about getting better, but they have to worry about having to find the money to pay for the treatment. Even if you're insured, you have often have to fight tooth and nail to get the insurance companies to cough up the cash. In the UK, there are sometimes fights with the NHS to get treatment -- especially if they are new and very expensive, or controversial, but the vast majority of NHS patients don't run into those sorts of problems.
Stress over mounting bills and worries about bankruptcy are a major, major problem with the American healthcare system.
5) Preventative medicine. My father is under NHS care because he was diagnosed as borderline diabetic a few years ago. He only even had one really bad reading, but they did a full work up on him for a couple of weeks (the usual blood sugar testing) and he's had regular 6 monthly blood tests and eye exams even since, all without any bills. It's much easier to institute these types of preventative programs when the patients don't face a $100 bill when they go for a checkup.
6) I once had to wait two months to see a specialist in the USA -- even though I had excellent health insurance. Just because we have a private system, doesn't mean you never have to wait to get treatment. Those two months were the most stressful in my whole life.
7) Going back to public vs private. I have two sibiings who still live in the UK. My brother, who is a contractor in the computer industry (and well paid) does not feel the need for private insurance. Even though a day off sick is a day without pay, he believes the NHS more than satisfies his family's health needs. My sister's husband, on the other hand, owns and runs a small accountancy firm. He decided early on that he would opt for private medical insurance so that he had more options and flexibility when it came getting treatment since if he was laid up for too long, his company would struggle to keep things afloat.
The point is, they both had the choice -- going to Universal Health Care doesn't mean the private system will go away. Whiners and moaners like Rudy Giuliani and his prostate issues are simply spreading dumb lies about what it would be like.
There is a lot more that can be said, but I'd better leave it there for now.
MaudGonne
· 1 year ago
Absolutely. Stress kills.
Nylund
· 1 year ago
I spent a couple years working for university in Ontario. I had to pay $600 to buy into their healthcare system each year. That $600 covered pretty much everything, no matter what. I pay a hell of a lot more now that I am back in the US (through my employer) and live in constant fear that the insurance company will weasel out of paying for medical care.
I had a girlfriend there. She once had an ambulance ride and they charged her for it. She was so pissed off. She ranted and raved. Then I saw the bill. $40. When that happened to me once in the US my insurance company wanted more than $400.
Her father severed a couple fingers in a shop accident and had to have them reattached. he also had to have part of a lung removed from a genetic defect. her mother had (and survived) breast cancer. The family never had to pay anything extra for any of that. They got immediate care, and the government even paid for her mom's wigs when she lost her hair from the chemotherapy. They even offered to send someone to help her with the children and household duties while she was sick but she refused that. Considering her dad is a bus driver and her mom is a secretary, I really think any one of those three medical tragedies might have severely financially strained the family. Instead, their country took care of them when they needed it and they even had enough money to send their kids through university. Then again, university is only a few thousand dollars a year there.
Nylund
· 1 year ago
To be fair though, I think her mother said that many of the things (like the household help) she was offered are no longer offered anymore. Some things have been cut.
Gridlock
· 1 year ago
Uh, what university is that? For a quality education, you're looking at 40 grand minimum.
Ruttle
· 1 year ago
Current tuition for Ontario universities is about 5200$ a year. (Far more expensive for out of province or foreign students)
Alrightythen
· 1 year ago
$40,000? Not per year. Not by a long shot. You must be thinking about the cost of a degree. Tuition changes with type of degree as well-- it costs a lot to become a dentist (what you're quoting, for example), but then the salary expectations after graduation are really high. Tuition for the typical B.A. costs about $5,000. per year across the country. You can expect an Honours B.A. to cost around $20,000.00. This is current info-- my daughter just graduated with her B.A. Also, I think you need to better define "quality education".
Soundboy_jeff_meanie
· 1 year ago
Get sick and not worry about going bankrupt? Do they want us to give up apple pie too? ---
damn straight John! next, they'll be advocating full marriage rights for everyone!
I mean, how un-American is that?
/snark
Indigo
· 1 year ago
O Canada.
Freddie
· 1 year ago
Yeah but Canadians don't have to keep the rest of the world safe for democracy and spend nearly half their wealth on their Department of War as the US does. What's a little health insurance premium compared to that?
MaudGonne
· 1 year ago
Have to keep???? Have to keep????? What we are keeping is Halliburton investors' floating in gravy.....
Canuck Stuck in Muck
· 1 year ago
Hi, John. It's true! I've lived in the US for twenty years, now, and I can't remember how many times I've had to disabuse people here of their notion that somehow Canadians suffer for having a single-payer health-care system in each of the ten provinces. And even if some have to wait for "elective" surgery, or an MRI to see just how badly that knee is before we open it up, I can say with confidence that it's impossible to guess too high at the value of having a populace that doesn't have to worry about the financial cost of getting sick. You'd be surprised at how much more like a free people I and my compatriots feel than the self-righteous "free-market" Americans who accuse us of being under the dictum of a socialist political system. It's a freedom you can feel in your bones.
Allen, eh?
· 1 year ago
Good job Cynthia toeing the party line! ;)
In all seriousness, everything she says is true, eh? Our system is not perfect, but it's much closer to perfect than the American system.
We all know the whole "socialised medicine makes you a socialist" meme is just Repub propaganda. We're pulling for you, the 51%.
MaudGonne
· 1 year ago
Where Clinton might have been able to afford it.....
The worst financial crisis in two generations has erased $23 trillion, or 38 percent, of the value of the world’s companies and brought down three of the biggest Wall Street firms. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109...
Jennifer
· 1 year ago
As a fellow Canookie, I could not agree more with what this woman had to say. Remarks to the contrary are very obviously coming from Steve-O Sweatervest supporters, who are a bunch of unCanadian whores who would prefer the American "system". You're out the next election, traitors!
Our medical system is typifies "socialist" in the States to scare you. That is the only reason. You are being ripped off by insurance companies with the help of the government you pay to look after YOUR AFFAIRS. That is what democracy means. It doesn't mean give insurers carte blanche to give you all one in the butt, over and over, against your will. That is known as rape.
Richard Stanczak
· 1 year ago
When I traveled through the US on business I used to get ribbed about the amount of taxes that I had to pay. I would always answer that I felt that I was receiving fairly good value for my tax dollars. Once in Baton Rouge, La. they really got on my case about that response. I ticked off a reasonably comprehensive health care plan, public schools good enough to send my kids to, and all the other [police, fire, roads, etc.] that I compared favourably to what I had seen in Louisiana. I was very surprised to hear the low opinion that they had of their public schools. I was told that anyone who could possibly afford it, sent their kids to private schools. My travels into Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, and Michigan reinforced that opinion. This was about ten years ago, and I was told the tuition cost was over $3000 per child. That is a huge tax in my mind. They did not want to even discuss the health care issue. I guess my question for Americans would be is why do you seem resigned to accept this situation? That seems to me to be totally against the 'can do' spirit that is your country's strong point.
semilugan
· 1 year ago
How dare those red canucks lecture us on our health care! Like maple syrup, these slimy socialists are posting on our American websites trying to convince us that our system is inferior! I say let's ban all things Canadian for trying to turn our great country red! Burn your Bryan Adams CDs! Dump out your kegs of Molson!
BuddyNovinski
· 1 year ago
After having renewed my admiration of Terry Fox, my hero for the past 27 years, with the movie "Terry", I'd like to note something astonishing. Canadians voted on the ten greatest Canadians so far. Terry Fox, whose family never had to fear his amputation in 1977 and his chemotherapy afterwards, came in second. First was Tommy Douglas, the man who began the national health care system! Needless to say, some of Terry's fans noted that because of Terry's efforts and legacy, the Canadian system has much less strain from cancer patients. Furthermore, Canadians seem to be advancing faster per capita than we are in conquering disease.
HarpoSnarx
· 1 year ago
To paraphrase South Park's Mormon episode:
Cynthia from Can-na-da, smart smart smart smart. smart!
Paying taxes and no health care, dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb!
I'm thinking the Long Emergency may anger up the rabble - FINALLY.
MNUSA
· 1 year ago
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
CarolAl
· 1 year ago
Why pay attention to the truth about Canadian healthcare when you can scare Americans with horror tales of long waits, foreign-speaking doctors, and low level care? It's the same old ooggety-booogety "socialism" fear and smear campaign as we heard during the campaign. Change is made harder when the fear of change is hyped. The Obama administration's communication machine needs to get the truth out and debunk some of the scare tactics. Republicans are more concerned with their medical, pharmaceutical, and insurance lobbyists' interests than they are with the health of American people. Once again, they are out of touch with what's going on. The only Americans who can afford top-rated American healthcare are politicians, fat cats, and wealthy foreigners. My sister has lived in Calgary, Alberta for more than 25 years. She's had a number of health issues, including a few surgeries. She has her own physicians who offer excellent, prompt, cutting edge care. Americans accept socialized education, park systems, police, fire, and rescue services. Too many have no healthcare. That's costing everyone more. What's wrong with a nation-wide healthcare system?
donna
· 1 year ago
God Bless the USA!!!...lady your not only wack...your also scarey....If I wanted to have Universal Heath Care...I'd go north of the border. I bet if you lived in the good ole usa...you'd have voted for Obama. I'm a Nobama...and once he goes into office...all the worlds crazy are going to come crawling out of the wood work. We will only think 911 was heart breaking. I think the USA is the greatest place on earth to live...and I am SOOOO proud of our men and women in the armed forces. If not for them we would not have the FREEDOM we have today. They work and sacrifice for us each and every minute. GOD BLESS the USA!!!!! Keep your North of the Border comments on your side
Eric
· 1 year ago
Soldiers do not give us freedom. Our system of government gives us our freedom. The USA and the Soviet union both had really good, effective soldiers. Only one of those countries was remotely free. The Swiss military isn't gigantic, but those guys are REALLY free.
Our soldiers give the authorities freedom.
Ruttle
· 1 year ago
Haha thats right Donna! The only freedom allowed is the kind you approve of. Hahaha. I wish you could hear yourself.
pangolin
· 1 year ago
If we had universal health care he could get meds for that.
Mike_G
· 1 year ago
Well, we are exactly like the U.S., except that we get Health Care for our tax dollars, whereas, the U.S. citizens get taxed, but no Health Care for that tax.
But we get a bitchin' Doomsday Machine military for our tax dollars, so that redneck losers with no personal achievements can get vicarious jingoistic thrills watching it bomb the shit out of countries they can't find on a map, and make-believe they live in a Rush fantasy world where they are always right, never in doubt and don't have to think. Health care is for wimps! USA! USA!
And that's far more important to lizard-brains like 'donna' who I can only hope for his/her/it's sake is a parody troll.
John
· 1 year ago
I have a fairly unique perspective, as I have been an intensive user of the medical system the last few years. Since 2004, my greedy insurance companies have paid out nearly 500K to medical providers. I'm a two time winner on cancer, and despite those payments, my savings are gone, my business is ready to go belly up from the time I have spent away from it getting treatments, I am staring bankruptcy and destitution in the face. Our present health care system is expensive, unsustainably so. Something needs to be done, or health care will take up literally all our paychecks within 30 years. Health care is important, but so is food. HOWEVER! If I had not been a resident of the US of A, I would be dead or dying right now. My first tumor was in my lung, and the tumor bed had ulcerated. It was pumping pus all through my chest, I was so septic that standard surgery was not possible, and antibiotics were only fighting the bugs to a draw, not producing any improvement. Luckily, there was a doctor who knew how to do laser surgery through a bronchoscope, and he zapped the tumor. There are only 20 surgeons in the world who perform this surgery, and every one of them is in the US. It's just not available anywhere else. And without it, I would be dead, dead, dead. RIP. Then last year, while recieving a digital prostate exam-lots of fun-, and the urologist said he felt someting funny that he thought might be a polyp. He thought I should get a colonoscopy. What's the waiting time for a non-emergency colonoscopy in Canada? I've asked around on the internet and the answer that I get is two to three months. Well, I was danged lucky again to be in the US, since the scope I got a week later found a big fat tumor that had eaten through my intestinal wall and was getting ready to invade nearby organs. Two weeks after that, the tumor had been staged and I was recieving chemo and radiation. I was told by more than one doctor that I caught it in the nick of time. I have a 75-80% chance for a cure. If the cancer had spread to those nearby organs, the five year survival rate drops to 10%. In Canada or other countries with universal health care, no way would the system have moved as fast as it did here to get my cancer treated. So there you have the Hobsons choice. Absolutely the best, most cutting edge health care in the world, that will financially wipe you out if you need more than routine care, or at least in my case, premature death. I confess to being biased, but being broke you can recover from, being dead it a little trickier.
Alrightythen
· 1 year ago
John, I'm not so sure there is a 'Hobson's choice'. I'm not sure residency status is necessary. Unless I have misunderstood, anyone with the money to do so can readily access medical treatment in your country. So, not only do I have my universal health care plan in Canada, I can opt to be treated in your country, too. Not only that, if the procedure is unavailable in my country & is a necessary life-saving treatment, I can probably get at least partial reimbursement from my own health care plan. We see it here from time to time-- patients sent to the U.S. when there is no comparable treatment/doctor in Canada. Now, in all fairness, they don't give it away-- you have to demand it to get it, but I do believe it's possible.
pangolin
· 1 year ago
I live in the US and I can't get any treatment at all for my chronic pain. The treatment that I did get was rushed and inferior; it didnt' work. Somebody's going to have to explain to my kids why dad died because of the proud US f***ing medical system. We got a trillion $$ to give to the banks though.
I HATE this country. It's about money and there are NO OTHER VALUES. If you don't have the cash die in the street; you're not going to get decent medical care.
mattycakes
· 1 year ago
To all the bloggers that posted here, I certainly did not mean to get some people so upset! I watched all the commericals on American T.V., and it broke my heart to see people going bankrupt due to a "Health Care" system that is supposed to work, but it appears that it does not. I am that "Can na da" nurse that wrote to John. I was not putting the U.S. down, in fact, I have always thought highly of the U.S., and would be the first to say that "Americans don't put up with "shit", and will fight back" if they feel that their government is not working for them. For years I have watched people come into the ER and receive the care that they need, and yes, we don't have as many MIR machines per province as Americans do per State, but I myself had to have an MIR and CT scan and within 2 weeks had one as it was not on an emergency basis. And I have also just heard on Larry King, one of his guests stating that if the U.S. had of had Universal Health care, it would have helped the Auto Industry in the U.S. I suppose she means all the money that the Auto companies have had to pay to Insurance companies for their employees. And, regarding our Canadian troops, yes they are there in Iraq and Afganistan, but I don't want them to be there. I also know that the Canadian government sent a large amount to your U.S. government to help with the "meltdown". So, for all of the bloggers who for some reason "hate" Canadians, we are close to the U.S., and respect the U.S. and it's citizens. And, the bottom line is, no U.S. citizen should be able to have their health taken care of, for the least amount of money, and I for one do not want to see any U.S. citizen go bankrupt or even die because they could not get Health care. Cynthia from way up there in Toronto, Canada
SPG
· 1 year ago
But how many stealth bombers does Canada have, eh? The US is like an irresponsible teenager living alone, spending tons of money on toys with a credit card it can't afford.
John
· 1 year ago
Their tax dollars buy health care. Ours buy preemptive wars we can't win, and the ensuing quagmire and untold human misery, exploited by war contractors and the rich. I want my country back. Can't wait until January.
LarryR
· 1 year ago
i am a Canadian.
I Dunno about John talking about wait times and comparing Can. VS the US health care systems. If you haven't experienced ours first hand, John, how can you have an informed opinion?
I have lived in the US, have a partner in the US who has had 2 strokes and EXTREME medical problems the last two years and seen how the US healthcare/insurance system works.
I have also had a sister with triplets and a complicated birth from that, a mother with colon cancer, niece with liver cancer and LOTS of other things happen and have seen how our health care system has worked for them.
VASTLY superiour in EVERY way.
bobby t
· 1 year ago
this is the best sumation/comparisom that i have seen of the american/canadian health care systems...............it's accurate, to the point, and consice...........it's plain english, and no medical jargon.......................bottom line: in the u.s.you pay taxes, but you get no heath insurance for it......whereas in canada, the canadians pay taxes, just like we do, but they ALL get medical insurance; universal health insurance......................... thank you CYNTHIA for making it so easy to understand...........i wish every american would read your/this letter...................................bobby t
Alrightythen
· 1 year ago
So glad to see this topic raised for discussion. I'd really like to see more of it, actually. Americans have been lied to for decades and it's appalling to see. Especially in light of the fact that your own federal politicians have such remarkable health care plans for themselves & their family members. In terms of the discussion, I think the really pertinent point is to decide who (or what) is the most reasonable agent to decide on the actual delivery of health care: a disinterested government or a profit-driven private company. With universal, tax-funded health care, standards of health care provision are supported by our constitution (charter of freedoms & rights) and must be equitable for all Canadians. That means that I can expect reasonably similar care regardless of where I get sick in this country & regardless of my illness/the health care resources I must use in order to get well. With a private business-owned system, the HMO or private company gets to decide what care is made available based upon their company's interests. Of course, the down-side to publicly-funded universal health care is that one has to deal with bureaucracy & bureaucrats. Never any fun. At the same time, because there are federal standards of care, paid for by the people of this country, there is no denial of services because of pre-existing conditions, or quotas or whatever excuse a private insurance company can come up with to deny coverage. I KNOW that no matter what happens I will receive the health care I need when I need it. It is my responsibility to ensure that I am an educated health care user so that I receive the best that is available & that that occurs in a timely fashion.
Tom
· 1 year ago
As an American living in Toronto for just under a year I can tell you there is a world of difference between our healthcare system and the US. My Doctor is actually interested in preventative medicine while in the US it was always about treating the symptom. Imagine a Doctor insisting on giving you a complete physical without you even asking and asking me if I didn't mind if he ran more blood work to be sure we are in the right track. That's our healthcare up here and I am proud to support it with my taxes.
Also most Americans don't realize that we aren't taxed like crazy up here. I am working the same job as I did in the US and my checks are bigger, the reason, I am not paying into employer provided healthcare premiums any longer and I don't have to pay taxes directly out of my paycheck for my partner's portion of the benefit that the US imposes only on gay families.
The US forced us to move as a binational couple and I am thrilled they did.
ricardotoronto
· 1 year ago
Every time I explain to an American how are health care system works they are amazed and stumped as to why they too can't/don't have the same system. Note to Cynthia: Canadians are not serving in Iraq
mattycakes
· 1 year ago
Sorry, for the error, I thought our troops were also in Iraq. Duly, noted. Cynthia
mattycakes
· 1 year ago
This is to bobby t. Thank you so much for your kind words. Last night after reading all the blogs, I was quite disheartened regarding a couple of the hateful blogs that were posted. I even was thinking of it when I woke up this a.m., and was so surprised that such hateful words can be spewed from people, when all I was trying to tell John was that I felt that every American deserves to be well and cared for and not have the stress of fighting with Insurance companies when they are sick and then going bankrupt. And, for the record, as I stated earlier, I respect Americans and all people. Cynthia
Alrightythen
· 1 year ago
Just a quick note re: feeling disheartened. I think you came across as quite respectful. I saw nothing in your statements that was disrespectful. Some people are simply reactive and hurtful. Their hatefulness is not commentary about you; it is commentary about themselves & their own character. I do hope you continue to speak out.
All Comments
Honestly, its so stupid. it is no mystery. he is the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. he cannot:
1) he cannot choose a poodle. it is a dog, rightly or wrongly, viewed as effeminent, weak, FRENCH( i have no problem with the french but plenty of people do) , and viewed as the dog of elitests. it would turn the positive puppydog news story line that is part of the obmama press honey moon into a massive headache and he would never hear the end of the jokes or the mockery.
2) he CANNOT choose a strange rare japanese dog or that hairless dog from south america. for a canidate who fought against claims of being "too exotic or forign" he cannot choose a strange exotic forign dog breed from half the world away that few american dog owners have ever owned. again, its about image and what that image says to the evolving storyline of teh obamas in tearms of their narative in the press.
3) the only choice is a snauser, as they are normal looking, cute, and european as to not bring up even a hint of "obama has a strange forign/effeminant dog". i had a miniature snauser, she was a dream, absolutely lovely, and the best part, ALWAYS LOOKED LIKE A PUPPY. this would allow the press's honey moon and fascination with the obamas dog to continue and they would reap the rewards of more positive fluff press for themselves. if they choose a dog that eventually grows up into a less cute version of itsself, the 'puppy' story looses some steam over time. so that is why i vote miniature snauser over regular, however, both are fine choice and both are the ONLY choice. they are not bred to be hypoalergenic, so again, no elitest claims can be thrown. instead they are born with hair not fur, but look just the same as every other dog. also, they are amazing with kids. i got my snauser as a puppy in 6th grade, and i was home sick from school sick, and it curled up on my chest as i slept on the sofa to go to sleep, i feel in love, it did too, and for the rest of its life it was adorable and cuddly. i would be laying on the sofa propped up on pillows, and the dog would crawl up over my head and then sit down and go to sleep on my head. again, in an age where photos are so important, how can the obamas NOT want a picture of sasha with a sleepy cute puppy on top of her head lol?
ONE NOTE: it would need to be a natural snauser, not with the ears or tail cruely cut off. 1) the cutting off makes it look like an elitest dog where the owner is more concerned with projecting the kennel club look than having a companion for his kids 2) the dog looks way cuter and more natural with all of its facial features NOT SLICED OFF.
thats all.
im sure you will agree, when you think about the dog issue politically, the snauser is the only real choice that doesnt DETRACT from the good press the dog story has already gotten them
Psssst....I also hear that in Canada, they consider dental part of overall health. Silly snow people.
That's 3.6 billion to 25 million.
Oy vey...
Whether they do or don't, I'm sure that Tom's and his wife's fortunes will begin looking up in, oh, I'd say (drum roll please) about six months.
(Harsh rimshot.)
How many overseas bases does Canada operate? How much money does Canada spend torturing muslims?
We in America can't have everything; we have two fabulous, decadent wars going on. It's all for you; enjoy it and stop whining so much.
One of the major problems we face is that people misuse ER's, going there for treatment when a trip to a clinic (or an urgent care clinic) would be far more appropriate. If people used the system as it was designed, ER lines would be far more manageable.
Our system is not perfect. But it is one we loath to do without. I sleep better knowing that health care is guaranteed, and the quality of care is extremely high. I am sure many Canadians reading this will be able to tell stories of the failure of the system. Again, no system is perfect. But this one is pretty good, and it would be political suicide for any politician to suggest moving to a US model.
No one likes paying high taxes, even up here in Canada. But as a citizen I am happy (yes happy) to pay higher taxes so that me, my family and my fellow Canadians get access to high quality health care.
I wish Obama would immediately take Medicaid and expand it to cover anybody who wants it (rename it AHS or something). We can still keep the frakked up health care insurance industries we currently 'enjoy' in order to placate those who are fearful of the socialist boogeyman and therefore allow the market to dictate prices and services while the rest of us enjoy the health care we see as a right and not a privelege. If we can pay trillions of dollars for wars and bailouts there is no reason whatsoever why we cannot do this.
Would I pay more in taxes instead of this HUGE cost or our own private insurance? YES. Those premiums are $40,000 pretax dollars and I can't imagine national healthcare would cost that much.
This is ridiculous, but my son is devising his own solution: he is discussing a relocation to Canada as soon as he is sufficiently independent.
There is no denying that some kinds of rationing do happen in universal healthcare systems, new drugs are very expensive, and governments have to balance the books too. However, it's not as bad as the right-wingers claim it to be and the gap between the Euros and America is closing, so the Euros (and Canadians) are working on it.
No system is perfect, but there is no doubt that a well run universal heathcare system would, overall, be a darn sight better than the mess we're in right now.
All the urban legends about how Canadians have to come here for care are nonsense - that is simply people who have enough money to get elective surgery immediately. If you have a true emergency the care in Canada is immediate and of extremely high quality. You won't die because you don't have coverage, or have a crappy insurer whose only consideration is denying care at all costs.
1) The British NHS has seen me fine through several childhood ailments -- nothing too serious, but I had several surgeries during the 70s when it was nowhere near as good as it is today.
2) Having Universal Health Care doesn't mean there's not private system alongside. When I worked for IBM in the UK, one of the benefits is private health insurance. I used it once to have an operation. I could have had it on the NHS, but since I had the cover, I went private -- didn't pay a penny.
3) Waiting lists for critical procedures are the thing of the past in the NHS -- don't let anyone else say otherwise. Yes, you may have to wait for a few weeks for minor and non-life threatening procedures, but it's not many months or years, and having it done privately is always an available option if you have some savings you can dip into.
For example. my mother required surgery to repair torn ligaments in her shoulder after a fall. Once they decided she needed it, she was on the list, but it was going to be 8 to 10 week before she could get the operation on the NHS. After discussing the options with her NHS specialist, she decided to pay and have it don't privately, at a cost of a couple of thousand dollars (I think). My parents are retired and not wealthy people (both were teachers in the public sector) but because they have never been saddled with massive insurance premiums and did not have to pay (at source) for the heart surgery and cancer surgery they had in the years before, they were able to afford the cost of this one private procedure.
4) Do not underestimate the toll it takes on people when not only do they have to worry about getting better, but they have to worry about having to find the money to pay for the treatment. Even if you're insured, you have often have to fight tooth and nail to get the insurance companies to cough up the cash. In the UK, there are sometimes fights with the NHS to get treatment -- especially if they are new and very expensive, or controversial, but the vast majority of NHS patients don't run into those sorts of problems.
Stress over mounting bills and worries about bankruptcy are a major, major problem with the American healthcare system.
5) Preventative medicine. My father is under NHS care because he was diagnosed as borderline diabetic a few years ago. He only even had one really bad reading, but they did a full work up on him for a couple of weeks (the usual blood sugar testing) and he's had regular 6 monthly blood tests and eye exams even since, all without any bills. It's much easier to institute these types of preventative programs when the patients don't face a $100 bill when they go for a checkup.
6) I once had to wait two months to see a specialist in the USA -- even though I had excellent health insurance. Just because we have a private system, doesn't mean you never have to wait to get treatment. Those two months were the most stressful in my whole life.
7) Going back to public vs private. I have two sibiings who still live in the UK. My brother, who is a contractor in the computer industry (and well paid) does not feel the need for private insurance. Even though a day off sick is a day without pay, he believes the NHS more than satisfies his family's health needs. My sister's husband, on the other hand, owns and runs a small accountancy firm. He decided early on that he would opt for private medical insurance so that he had more options and flexibility when it came getting treatment since if he was laid up for too long, his company would struggle to keep things afloat.
The point is, they both had the choice -- going to Universal Health Care doesn't mean the private system will go away. Whiners and moaners like Rudy Giuliani and his prostate issues are simply spreading dumb lies about what it would be like.
There is a lot more that can be said, but I'd better leave it there for now.
Stress kills.
I had a girlfriend there. She once had an ambulance ride and they charged her for it. She was so pissed off. She ranted and raved. Then I saw the bill. $40. When that happened to me once in the US my insurance company wanted more than $400.
Her father severed a couple fingers in a shop accident and had to have them reattached. he also had to have part of a lung removed from a genetic defect. her mother had (and survived) breast cancer. The family never had to pay anything extra for any of that. They got immediate care, and the government even paid for her mom's wigs when she lost her hair from the chemotherapy. They even offered to send someone to help her with the children and household duties while she was sick but she refused that. Considering her dad is a bus driver and her mom is a secretary, I really think any one of those three medical tragedies might have severely financially strained the family. Instead, their country took care of them when they needed it and they even had enough money to send their kids through university. Then again, university is only a few thousand dollars a year there.
---
damn straight John! next, they'll be advocating full marriage rights for everyone!
I mean, how un-American is that?
/snark
What we are keeping is Halliburton investors' floating in gravy.....
It's true! I've lived in the US for twenty years, now, and I can't remember how many times I've had to disabuse people here of their notion that somehow Canadians suffer for having a single-payer health-care system in each of the ten provinces. And even if some have to wait for "elective" surgery, or an MRI to see just how badly that knee is before we open it up, I can say with confidence that it's impossible to guess too high at the value of having a populace that doesn't have to worry about the financial cost of getting sick. You'd be surprised at how much more like a free people I and my compatriots feel than the self-righteous "free-market" Americans who accuse us of being under the dictum of a socialist political system. It's a freedom you can feel in your bones.
In all seriousness, everything she says is true, eh? Our system is not perfect, but it's much closer to perfect than the American system.
We all know the whole "socialised medicine makes you a socialist" meme is just Repub propaganda. We're pulling for you, the 51%.
The worst financial crisis in two generations has erased $23 trillion, or 38 percent, of the value of the world’s companies and brought down three of the biggest Wall Street firms.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109...
Our medical system is typifies "socialist" in the States to scare you. That is the only reason. You are being ripped off by insurance companies with the help of the government you pay to look after YOUR AFFAIRS. That is what democracy means. It doesn't mean give insurers carte blanche to give you all one in the butt, over and over, against your will. That is known as rape.
I guess my question for Americans would be is why do you seem resigned to accept this situation?
That seems to me to be totally against the 'can do' spirit that is your country's strong point.
Cynthia from Can-na-da, smart smart smart smart. smart!
Paying taxes and no health care, dumb dumb dumb dumb dumb!
I'm thinking the Long Emergency may anger up the rabble - FINALLY.
Our soldiers give the authorities freedom.
But we get a bitchin' Doomsday Machine military for our tax dollars, so that redneck losers with no personal achievements can get vicarious jingoistic thrills watching it bomb the shit out of countries they can't find on a map, and make-believe they live in a Rush fantasy world where they are always right, never in doubt and don't have to think. Health care is for wimps! USA! USA!
And that's far more important to lizard-brains like 'donna' who I can only hope for his/her/it's sake is a parody troll.
HOWEVER! If I had not been a resident of the US of A, I would be dead or dying right now. My first tumor was in my lung, and the tumor bed had ulcerated. It was pumping pus all through my chest, I was so septic that standard surgery was not possible, and antibiotics were only fighting the bugs to a draw, not producing any improvement. Luckily, there was a doctor who knew how to do laser surgery through a bronchoscope, and he zapped the tumor. There are only 20 surgeons in the world who perform this surgery, and every one of them is in the US. It's just not available anywhere else. And without it, I would be dead, dead, dead. RIP.
Then last year, while recieving a digital prostate exam-lots of fun-, and the urologist said he felt someting funny that he thought might be a polyp. He thought I should get a colonoscopy. What's the waiting time for a non-emergency colonoscopy in Canada? I've asked around on the internet and the answer that I get is two to three months. Well, I was danged lucky again to be in the US, since the scope I got a week later found a big fat tumor that had eaten through my intestinal wall and was getting ready to invade nearby organs. Two weeks after that, the tumor had been staged and I was recieving chemo and radiation. I was told by more than one doctor that I caught it in the nick of time. I have a 75-80% chance for a cure. If the cancer had spread to those nearby organs, the five year survival rate drops to 10%. In Canada or other countries with universal health care, no way would the system have moved as fast as it did here to get my cancer treated.
So there you have the Hobsons choice. Absolutely the best, most cutting edge health care in the world, that will financially wipe you out if you need more than routine care, or at least in my case, premature death. I confess to being biased, but being broke you can recover from, being dead it a little trickier.
We got a trillion $$ to give to the banks though.
I HATE this country. It's about money and there are NO OTHER VALUES. If you don't have the cash die in the street; you're not going to get decent medical care.
I certainly did not mean to get some people so upset! I watched all the commericals on American T.V., and it broke my heart to see people going bankrupt due to a "Health Care" system that is supposed to work, but it appears that it does not. I am that "Can na da" nurse that wrote to John. I was not putting the U.S. down, in fact, I have always thought highly of the U.S., and would be the first to say that "Americans don't put up with "shit", and will fight back" if they feel that their government is not working for them. For years I have watched people come into the ER and receive the care that they need, and yes, we don't have as many MIR machines per province as Americans do per State, but I myself had to have an MIR and CT scan and within 2 weeks had one as it was not on an emergency basis. And I have also just heard on Larry King, one of his guests stating that if the U.S. had of had Universal Health care, it would have helped the Auto Industry in the U.S. I suppose she means all the money that the Auto companies have had to pay to Insurance companies for their employees. And, regarding our Canadian troops, yes they are there in Iraq and Afganistan, but I don't want them to be there. I also know that the Canadian government sent a large amount to your U.S. government to help with the "meltdown". So, for all of the bloggers who for some reason "hate" Canadians, we are close to the U.S., and respect the U.S. and it's citizens. And, the bottom line is, no U.S. citizen should be able to have their health taken care of, for the least amount of money, and I for one do not want to see any U.S. citizen go bankrupt or even die because they could not get Health care.
Cynthia from way up there in Toronto, Canada
The US is like an irresponsible teenager living alone, spending tons of money on toys with a credit card it can't afford.
I Dunno about John talking about wait times and comparing Can. VS the US health care systems. If you haven't experienced ours first hand, John, how can you have an informed opinion?
I have lived in the US, have a partner in the US who has had 2 strokes and EXTREME medical problems the last two years and seen how the US healthcare/insurance system works.
I have also had a sister with triplets and a complicated birth from that, a mother with colon cancer, niece with liver cancer and LOTS of other things happen and have seen how our health care system has worked for them.
VASTLY superiour in EVERY way.
thank you CYNTHIA for making it so easy to understand...........i wish every american would read your/this letter...................................bobby t
Also most Americans don't realize that we aren't taxed like crazy up here. I am working the same job as I did in the US and my checks are bigger, the reason, I am not paying into employer provided healthcare premiums any longer and I don't have to pay taxes directly out of my paycheck for my partner's portion of the benefit that the US imposes only on gay families.
The US forced us to move as a binational couple and I am thrilled they did.
Note to Cynthia: Canadians are not serving in Iraq
Cynthia
Thank you so much for your kind words. Last night after reading all the blogs, I was quite disheartened regarding a couple of the hateful blogs that were posted. I even was thinking of it when I woke up this a.m., and was so surprised that such hateful words can be spewed from people, when all I was trying to tell John was that I felt that every American deserves to be well and cared for and not have the stress of fighting with Insurance companies when they are sick and then going bankrupt. And, for the record, as I stated earlier, I respect Americans and all people.
Cynthia