Via Hot Air Steven Crowder travels to Canada to show you exactly what socialized medicine looks like. Long but worth it, especially around 8:20 when a nurse at a clinic recommends private health care to Crowder and company. The same thing happens with a different nurse around 9:40.
But let’s get some of that here!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2jijuj1ysw[/youtube]
Michael Moore was unavailable for comment. He may have had an appointment with his private doctor.
You know, while I like the idea of universal health care (the idea being that everyone would have access to healthcare), talking to people who have actually experienced it has scared the shit out of me. My in-laws have elderly friends in Ireland, and “universal healthcare” does not take very good care of the elderly, because they’re not considered “high priority”. I’ve gotten the impression that it’s not much better in England than that, or than what the clip you’ve posted shows the system in Canada to be like (what I was able to watch of it… having trouble with buffering for some reason.) When I was visiting someone in Canada and had what I thought was strep throat, I wasn’t even able to go to the doctor there because they couldn’t take my US health insurance. They didn’t want to take the chance that my insurance wouldn’t cover all or any of the cost, and that I’d be back in the states by the time they were able to bill me the difference. And they assume that people won’t pay at that point. I certainly couldn’t afford to pay cash up-front or put it on my credit card then get reimbursed, so I just sucked it up and got on the plane home (you know, those air-tight germ capsules?)
It turned out to be something non-contagious, but still…
Anyway, I’m not entirely sure that people know what we’re in for with this. I really feel that people need to talk more to folks who live it before they try to decide that we should implement this here in the states. Most states have free (or reduced cost) health care for people who are unable to get health insurance through their employers, or for people who are unemployed (at the very least, for their children). Most hospitals will take you in the emergency room if you have an emergency, and let you file for free or reduced services depending on your income level. So, while it’s not perfect, there is a system in place to cover low-no-income people and their children.
We also have some of the best healthcare facilities here in the US… some of the best children’s hopsitals, some of the best hospitals geared towards women’s reproductive health, some of the best cancer treatment centers, etc… I worry all that will take a huge hit if we go universal. I know that some of my fellow liberals will want to skin me for saying that, but just from what I’ve seen, from what I’ve heard from friends in other countries, that is how I feel about it at this time. I’d need to do more research and find some proof that I’m wrong to change that.
DodiaFae, I have talked to so many Democrats and independents who feel the same way you do about universal health care. Health care reform is not a partisan issue, it’s a common sense issue.
We have the best health care in the world in the United States with quicker access to care, unparalleled patient choice, and better survival rates for many diseases. (There’s plenty of propaganda that says otherwise, but I’ve done a lot of research on this topic and I’m certain that America is where I’d want to be if I got sick, regardless of my insurance status.) More government intervention will stifle medical innovation and limit patient choice. And we already have government run health care in this country. Ask any veteran how they like it and you’ll get an idea of what we’re in for.
Ensuring access to health care for all Americans is a noble and moral ideal. Forcing through sweeping legislation based on a Michael Moore documentary is not.
Unfortunately, most of the liberals with whom I’ve discussed health care are apathetic about getting involved to stop the Kennedy plan. I believe the key to derailing misguided health care reform is for independents and liberals to speak up. Right now, members of congress are mostly hearing from Republicans. We have to demonstrate that people on both sides of the aisle are concerned so we can slow things down and have a rational debate where Republicans, Democrats, and Independents all have a seat at the table.
Rob Taylor.
People who understand economics never support socializing just about anything. This isn’t at all surprising from an economic stand point, the only people who would be surprised by this are ideologues and people who don’t know much about economics. unfortunately, I think that most Americans don’t know enough about economics to understand why this is happening over in Canada.