On Canadian Health Care

Once Upon A Time

In 1969, after the assassinations of M.L.K. and R.F.K.; followed by the monstrous democratic convention in Chicago; and with another undeclared war grinding on, crushing a country that barely had homegrown technology sufficient to manufacture a ball point pen; I decided it was time to consider alternatives. I went back to S.F. Haight-Ashbury…just in case…it was a mess…so I moved to Canada.

I was a vet so I wasn't running from anything but I decided that I would rather have a share of my taxes going to something like say…a universal health care system…rather than more guns, bombs, helicopters. I moved to Canada and, have lived as American ex-patriot ever since; I still bleed red, white and blue but I do not regret my decision. I have lived as a landed immigrant in Canada since 1970.

Health Care

The birth of my first child in 1971 cost $2.00 (for a bracelet). My sisters ‘non-eventful’ child birth in the great state of Montana at the same time cost $800.

My second child (approx. two years later) cost $0.00 (no bracelet)...my sister’s third ‘non-eventful’ child birth at about the same time cost $2,000.00.

Eight years ago a large tumour was found in my wife's breast...surgery was booked and performed within two weeks followed by nine rounds of chemo and radiation. Today my wife is healthy and vital and the only costs have been the post treatment drugs my wife had to take as well as our vitamin bill. (A friend of mine in the states of approximately analogous income and insurance had her spouse engage with cancer and, despite decent health care, they will be paying for this treatment for at least as long as he lives. And if he lives another thirty years he will still be paying so pray for no more illnesses. Now this cannot happen in Canada!

My wife and I subsequently bought additional private health insurance (yes we were approved, even with cancer in the picture) that also covers that medication. [(It also covers eye doctors, glasses, and most basic dental...it's a good deal) (There are also self insurance options-affordable-that would even cover our vitamins if they were prescribed by a Naturopathic or Chiropractic practitioner.)]

Is the Canadian system perfect? No. Is it abused? Probably! Frankly most Canadians, not withstanding the cost, understand and willingly provide coverage to that small percentage of illegal or new immigrants that abuse the system. Why? Because it is the right thing to do! We do together what we cannot possibly do on our own and we can share a little.

I am still an American and I feel great and indescribable pride that the country where I was born has evolved to the point where we have elected a black man...universal health care would be a supreme victory...keep that hope alive.

It really should be a single payer system…Elizabeth Edwards has it right…this is not socialism, it is people working together to provide what they cannot afford separately. Social democracy works and it ain’t socialism so let that go.

I have no idea who, if anyone will actually read these thoughts but I will keep writing because it is enjoyable to me, it is the right thing to do and now is the time.

A brief reaction to the provincial election in Nova Scotia / June 2009

So, as an American expat politico who really loves the Canadian political system regardless the occasional sluggishness; I think that I would call our Canadian balance a social democracy.

It is a great system over all! Though I do wish I could really take heart in the NDP, I do not think that north Americans are inclined toward anything too overtly socialistic.

In Canada I would love to see two parties for awhile…the unfortunate current inhabitants of the Conservative Party on the one hand and the Liberal/Democrats on the other…I think we could really whoop them if we were working together and I think it would be worth it to unite and rid ourselves of Steven Harper and all the dangerous henchmen of his who have followed Karl Rove and the neocons down this dangerous path…but congratulations to Nova Scotia for a fabulous victory…GOOD LUCK

An open letter to Max Baucus, Senator from Montana, on the issue of a single payer health care system

Max, as you may know, I no longer live in the Helena, Montana neighborhood where we both grew up. I moved to Canada in 1970 and, although I remain an American Citizen, I have never regretted my decision to live in Canada.

One of the strongest reasons for my move to Canada was universal health care. My reasons then were that if we Americans had the resources to sustain undeclared wars that cost of millions of dollars a week (now millions of dollars a minute) then we certainly should have sufficient resources to provide basic health care to all Americans. In Canada we actually have a good single payer health care system that works.

Contrary to some of the current negative publicity by insurance companies and HMO's that continue to fleece Americans in absolutely outrageous ways and at outlandish prices; the Canadian system of health care, while continually pressed by the increasing costs of providing health care, is an outstanding example of people doing together, what we cannot afford to do individually.

I implore you to listen to Elizabeth Edwards, the wife of one or your ex colleagues, John Edwards.

Elizabeth Edwards has got it right! A single payer system is the only way that the government of the United States can provide a balanced, universal health care system.

If universal health care can be provided in Canada, a country of less than 40 million people with other infrastructure demands almost as great as the U.S. and if Cuba, one of the poorest countries in the so called developed world can provide universal health care then surely the United States can do the same.

A single payer system is really the only way. This is social democracy...not socialism...in action; people working together to provide what we cannot afford to do individually.