They will think much better of ‘Obamacare; when (1) they get their current policy pulled or have fees massively increased as soon as they get sick; (2) they have a policy they think they like but that refuses to pay for medications prescribed by the MD which they really need; (3) they have a policy with such high out of pocket fees and deductibles they can barely use it; (4) they find that their fees have sky rocketed because they are being discriminated against due to becoming another year older; (5) their monthly ’percentage’ pay out reduces their salary by at least 20% per month for medical insurance they can’t afford to use.(6) they realize that pretty much all of the parasitic politicians and operatives who have convinced them that health care reform is of the devil have rather good health insurance for themselves and their families…and a number of them have health care through the same government they vilify when talking to their constituents and funding sources.(7) they change jobs and are told by their new carrier (if the new employer even has medical coverage) that they have to wait for a very long time since they have a ‘pre-existing’ condition’ and/or since they are a female of child bearing age, they cannot get any maternity coverage for at least 9 months from the start of employment(8) they have to file for bankruptcy even though they have been paying for health insurance because it denied payment for desperately needed medical care for them or a family member(9)…….and the list could easily go on……..
The fight for affordable healthcare and the extreme resistance from vested interests is no different than what Tommy Douglas faced as premier of Saskatchewan in bringing to Saskatchewan North America’s first universal single payer health care in 1962. Tommy Douglas didn’t think it right that people should be dying because they could not afford treatment. But he was met with extreme resistance and vitriol from the Canadian medical establishment, bolstered by the American Medical Association in stopping this “socialized medicine.” .The suits from the medical establishment underestimated the fiery little Scotsman. Tommy Douglas was not just brilliant, he was a gifted orator who took his message to the people with soring rhetoric mixed with humour, ridicule, and logic. When representatives from the AMA approached him in his office to point out the dangers of socialized medicine, he had them bodily thrown out. When the doctors went on strike, Tommy Douglas took to the pulpit (he was a Baptist minister) and the bully pulpit and lambasted them with accusations of just about every sin known to mankind. In the end it was no contest. The doctors folded and the AMA retreated back across the border. But not before predicting the destruction of society from creeping socialism. .I sometimes wonder if the medical establishment look back and regret being on the wrong side of an issue. Doctors are supposed to help people and cure disease. But compared to the U.S., Canadians now have a life expectancy a full three years longer (81 years to 78) than Americans. The Canadian system ranks higher on just about every medical outcome, and that is despite many Canadian doctors receiving part of their training in the U.S.. All Canadians are covered, and the cost per capita is 40% to 50% less. No Canadian dies for lack of treatment compared to about 44,000 in the U.S.. No Canadian goes bankrupt because of health care compared to around 100,000 annually in the U.S. .The amazing thing to me is how so many Americans can support and promote a system that is nothing short of the most egregious case of domestic genocide in the history of the nation..And after 50 years, how about those scare tactics of the destruction of Saskatchewan and all of mankind from creeping socialism? Well, back in Tommy Douglas’s day, Saskatchewan was a poor, have not, largely agrarian province. Today it is one of the more prosperous provinces in Canada with an economy in full employment and diversified into agriculture, potash, petroleum, mining, and manufacturing. Saskatchewanites are a proud people. If you are born in Saskatchewan you remain a Saskatchewanite for life, and you will cheer for the beloved Saskatchewan Roughrider football team. Who, incidentally, just won the Grey Cup, led by a black quarterback from South Carolina and a recent convert to Saskatchewanism.
If I get your reference correctly, Doc., neither. Tommy Douglas grew up and was educated in Manitoba. His first calling was as the Methodist minister in my home town in Manitoba, where he is of course legendary. From Manitoba he went to Weyburn, Sk. as the Baptist minister where he made his mark, first as the Member of Parliament for Weyburn and then leader of the Saskatchewan CCF and premier of the province.
Okay gotcha. I have roots in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. My family homesteaded in Saskatchewan and my namesake, great uncle was one of the early ranchers in Saskatchewan. Grandfather got dried out and grasshopper-eaten out so headed east down the tracks towards Manitoba where he successfully re-established. So I’m mostly a Manitoba farm/ranch boy by upbringing.
No Basic Concept, has gone downhill considerably in the last couple years, along with most network, and “cable” outlets, largely parroting any drivel (mostly right-leaning, or outright RNC propaganda), so wondering just what IS happening. ABC dove into the slums as soon as Disney took over and turned the network into a before the TEA party, TEA party mentality (just like Uncle Walt’s so no surprise). Wolf Blitzer found one of Maher’s biggest, most outlandish jokes, calling CNN “liberal”.
Which, doc, a nice train derailment in N.Y. keeps any of them occupied without reporting on the fix working.
Bismark was definately not a “bleeding-heart” socialist. In fact he has been described as a crotchety, tax averse right wing aristocrat. But he considered good health care, not a cost, but an investment in the productivity of its factories and the strength of its military..When President Eisenhower was planning the freeway system, he thought back to the spring of 1945 and the Allies push from western Germany to Berlin. General Eisenhower envisioned months of heavy slogging across a shattered countryside. Then the forward commanders reported an amazing discovery – a broad ribbon of highway which featured four-lane highways, overpasses, and ramped interchanges that led directly into Berlin. The war was over in weeks, not months. .President Eisenhower overruled his engineers who were planning a system of two lane highways that went through each town and city along the way. Instead he approved one of the finest highway systems in the world, patterned after the Autobahn..You’re right, Morty – no one country has a monopoly on good ideas.
Dr Lou Premium Member over 10 years ago
They will think much better of ‘Obamacare; when (1) they get their current policy pulled or have fees massively increased as soon as they get sick; (2) they have a policy they think they like but that refuses to pay for medications prescribed by the MD which they really need; (3) they have a policy with such high out of pocket fees and deductibles they can barely use it; (4) they find that their fees have sky rocketed because they are being discriminated against due to becoming another year older; (5) their monthly ’percentage’ pay out reduces their salary by at least 20% per month for medical insurance they can’t afford to use.(6) they realize that pretty much all of the parasitic politicians and operatives who have convinced them that health care reform is of the devil have rather good health insurance for themselves and their families…and a number of them have health care through the same government they vilify when talking to their constituents and funding sources.(7) they change jobs and are told by their new carrier (if the new employer even has medical coverage) that they have to wait for a very long time since they have a ‘pre-existing’ condition’ and/or since they are a female of child bearing age, they cannot get any maternity coverage for at least 9 months from the start of employment(8) they have to file for bankruptcy even though they have been paying for health insurance because it denied payment for desperately needed medical care for them or a family member(9)…….and the list could easily go on……..
oneoldhat over 10 years ago
dr lou you just described obumacare
Dtroutma over 10 years ago
Ah, yes, wbr, always the 180 out response.
Gypsy8 over 10 years ago
The fight for affordable healthcare and the extreme resistance from vested interests is no different than what Tommy Douglas faced as premier of Saskatchewan in bringing to Saskatchewan North America’s first universal single payer health care in 1962. Tommy Douglas didn’t think it right that people should be dying because they could not afford treatment. But he was met with extreme resistance and vitriol from the Canadian medical establishment, bolstered by the American Medical Association in stopping this “socialized medicine.” .The suits from the medical establishment underestimated the fiery little Scotsman. Tommy Douglas was not just brilliant, he was a gifted orator who took his message to the people with soring rhetoric mixed with humour, ridicule, and logic. When representatives from the AMA approached him in his office to point out the dangers of socialized medicine, he had them bodily thrown out. When the doctors went on strike, Tommy Douglas took to the pulpit (he was a Baptist minister) and the bully pulpit and lambasted them with accusations of just about every sin known to mankind. In the end it was no contest. The doctors folded and the AMA retreated back across the border. But not before predicting the destruction of society from creeping socialism. .I sometimes wonder if the medical establishment look back and regret being on the wrong side of an issue. Doctors are supposed to help people and cure disease. But compared to the U.S., Canadians now have a life expectancy a full three years longer (81 years to 78) than Americans. The Canadian system ranks higher on just about every medical outcome, and that is despite many Canadian doctors receiving part of their training in the U.S.. All Canadians are covered, and the cost per capita is 40% to 50% less. No Canadian dies for lack of treatment compared to about 44,000 in the U.S.. No Canadian goes bankrupt because of health care compared to around 100,000 annually in the U.S. .The amazing thing to me is how so many Americans can support and promote a system that is nothing short of the most egregious case of domestic genocide in the history of the nation..And after 50 years, how about those scare tactics of the destruction of Saskatchewan and all of mankind from creeping socialism? Well, back in Tommy Douglas’s day, Saskatchewan was a poor, have not, largely agrarian province. Today it is one of the more prosperous provinces in Canada with an economy in full employment and diversified into agriculture, potash, petroleum, mining, and manufacturing. Saskatchewanites are a proud people. If you are born in Saskatchewan you remain a Saskatchewanite for life, and you will cheer for the beloved Saskatchewan Roughrider football team. Who, incidentally, just won the Grey Cup, led by a black quarterback from South Carolina and a recent convert to Saskatchewanism.
Gypsy8 over 10 years ago
If I get your reference correctly, Doc., neither. Tommy Douglas grew up and was educated in Manitoba. His first calling was as the Methodist minister in my home town in Manitoba, where he is of course legendary. From Manitoba he went to Weyburn, Sk. as the Baptist minister where he made his mark, first as the Member of Parliament for Weyburn and then leader of the Saskatchewan CCF and premier of the province.
lonecat over 10 years ago
My degree in poetry is working out very well. A good job, which I find fulfilling, and a good pension. What’s to complain about?
Gypsy8 over 10 years ago
Okay gotcha. I have roots in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. My family homesteaded in Saskatchewan and my namesake, great uncle was one of the early ranchers in Saskatchewan. Grandfather got dried out and grasshopper-eaten out so headed east down the tracks towards Manitoba where he successfully re-established. So I’m mostly a Manitoba farm/ranch boy by upbringing.
Dtroutma over 10 years ago
No Basic Concept, has gone downhill considerably in the last couple years, along with most network, and “cable” outlets, largely parroting any drivel (mostly right-leaning, or outright RNC propaganda), so wondering just what IS happening. ABC dove into the slums as soon as Disney took over and turned the network into a before the TEA party, TEA party mentality (just like Uncle Walt’s so no surprise). Wolf Blitzer found one of Maher’s biggest, most outlandish jokes, calling CNN “liberal”.
Which, doc, a nice train derailment in N.Y. keeps any of them occupied without reporting on the fix working.
Gypsy8 over 10 years ago
Bismark was definately not a “bleeding-heart” socialist. In fact he has been described as a crotchety, tax averse right wing aristocrat. But he considered good health care, not a cost, but an investment in the productivity of its factories and the strength of its military..When President Eisenhower was planning the freeway system, he thought back to the spring of 1945 and the Allies push from western Germany to Berlin. General Eisenhower envisioned months of heavy slogging across a shattered countryside. Then the forward commanders reported an amazing discovery – a broad ribbon of highway which featured four-lane highways, overpasses, and ramped interchanges that led directly into Berlin. The war was over in weeks, not months. .President Eisenhower overruled his engineers who were planning a system of two lane highways that went through each town and city along the way. Instead he approved one of the finest highway systems in the world, patterned after the Autobahn..You’re right, Morty – no one country has a monopoly on good ideas.