(originally appeared in the Connecticut Post Online)
How can you criticize it if you've never tried it?
It's a health care facility in Ontario.
Two neighbors walk into the expansive waiting area. They each have a really bad cough, a job and a valid health card due to their employment. One of them has, otherwise, has had a pretty good few weeks. He doesn't feel well at all, but expenses have been fairly regular, if not low. And now he'll have a chance to tackle his horrible cough.
The other neighbor hasn't had it so well. In addition to a horrible cough, expenses have gone through the roof all of this particular month. He doesn't even have money (of his own) for a cup of tea until he gets paid tomorrow. It's a good thing he can walk to his job. Now for the real clincher:
Because they are both employed, both feeding the tax "vat" and both have valid health cards, BOTH can see the doctor, regardless of added expenses this month and whether or not they can both afford a cup of tea.
Taxes. But she pays so much in taxes!
I don't know exactly how much I pay in taxes, but at least that money is there for me when I've got an uncontrollable cough--or need a test or an operation! But what about my neighbors? I mean, they're using my tax money for their health care. Mr. Lieberman, I'm using theirs, too. What I must be thinking when visiting a doctor's office, knowing about this tax vat. Well, I'm not thinking much about it at all. Even with only one of us employed, ALL of my family members are able to see the doctor. That's my primary concern.
In a purely capitalist-minded society, the above-described must really bug people. But socialized medicine enables people who contribute to it (financially) to get something for it. It is certainly less "painful" to consider socialized medicine when you don't think about the numbers, but we're talking about health care, Mr. Lieberman.
By now, both neighbors have seen the doctor and the one who's had huge expenses this month appears to need a specialist. The doctor also wants to do blood work and prints off two sheets: one for the specialist, the other for the on-site nurse to take blood. The patient then puts his name on the list for blood work while still at the facility and sits and waits (unless he comes back for that, in which case, he'll need the form he just received and his health card). When he goes to see the specialist, he will bring his health card and referral form--no money. Hear that, Mr. Lieberman? The tax vat's use is far-reaching.
A valid health card and a referral form. No wallet necessary for your primary doctor or a specialist or blood work. Pretty dreamy, eh?
Very worth noting is the absolute requirement of that health card. Dare you not have it with you, although you're allowed to pay actual money if you don't have one--or be billed, which my doctor's office allows. I did miss an appointment once, because I had remembered the wrong date and my primary doctor's office doesn't call to confirm. But back to that health card, honestly, you show it before you show your face. Hey, it has your photo (if you're 16 or older) on it, anyway.
Who on the planet hasn't heard the raging debate about health care reform in the U.S., and who on the planet hasn't seen families living in storage in the U.S.? Yes, Mr. Lieberman, if you dared and cared to look and ponder it, YOU have/had something to do with people living in storage in the U.S. Because you (and your many friends) so vehemently fight health care reform, people are living in storage in the U.S. Why do I sense fingers in your ears?
Commies and socialism. Is that why? I'm not a fan of communism either, but I find socialized medicine to be a breath of fresh air and I DON'T consider Canada to be a communist regime.
Let's be fair, Mr. Lieberman. You've never tried socialized medicine, and you've never lived health care reform. How can you criticize it?
