Why you shoudn't carry your board bare hand

[SimonB]

Originally Posted by jdmccright

I hate when Canadians bitch about free health care when in the US even if you have insurance like me it takes 5 hours and still cost me 200 bucks. Just be happy that your government gives it to you for free!

I hate when Americans think that our government is so nice that it just hands out health care for free. I pay 20% income tax and 9.5% sale tax to that provincial government. 56% of that money goes to the health care. How is that for free? (And for the record, we also have federal government which gets another ~17% income + 5% sale tax).

And I also pay for insurance for drugs, dentist, eye exams, etc. Those are not covered by the "free" health care system.

Now, the idea of having it "socialized" so that everyone can get care is great. The problem is that the system is run like shit. It's "nobody's money" so no one is accountable for how badly it is spent. In the whole system, there is one administrative employee (all level combined, from receptionist to CEO to anything in-between) for one "care-giver" (doctor, nurse, etc).

If money was spent wisely, there could have been 2 or 3 doctors at the ER that night.

Now the idea was not to turn this event into health care debate....

[Donutz]

Originally Posted by jdmccright

I hate when Canadians bitch about free health care when in the US even if you have insurance like me it takes 5 hours and still cost me 200 bucks. Just be happy that your government gives it to you for free!

Gotta agree. There's a perception (probably from shows like Grey's Anatomy) that in the US you can just walk in and get a gall bladder operation right then. And the cost is never mentioned. We've actually got it pretty ok. Big problem is that the business model of our health care system is limited by politics, so it needs some fixing and we can't.

[SimonB]

I know what you're saying. I personally had to deal with medical issues in the US. While I understand that it surely doesn't always go that smooth it was 5 star service. 90$ for a consult and we were out 30 minutes later. You won't see this here.

Every system has its flaws. What irks me is when people think it is free here...

And yeah, we got it pretty OK overall. But for the amount of money "invested" we should be having it a lot better, that's all I'm saying.

[BoardWalk]

Originally Posted by jdmccright

Just be happy that your government gives it to you for free!

Nothing is free....

[Donutz]

Originally Posted by SimonB

And yeah, we got it pretty OK overall. But for the amount of money "invested" we should be having it a lot better, that's all I'm saying.

Agreed. There are a number of possible models for a socialized medical system. Of the countries that have one, ours is one of the worst in terms of services offered for money invested. Britain's is far better than ours (as one of my co-workers is constantly pointing out) and yet costs less per capita. The problem is that we are handcuffed by the terms under which the thing was originally set up, and it's become so politicized that trying to change it is impossible -- mostly because the federal govt polices it but the provincial govts have to pay for it.

[jdmccright]

Originally Posted by Donutz

Gotta agree. There's a perception (probably from shows like Grey's Anatomy) that in the US you can just walk in and get a gall bladder operation right then. And the cost is never mentioned. We've actually got it pretty ok. Big problem is that the business model of our health care system is limited by politics, so it needs some fixing and we can't.

So is ours and the government does not even run it. Insurance pays Congress billions a year in donations to keep rates high and now they are trying to force heath care onto everyone.

Originally Posted by SimonB

I know what you're saying. I personally had to deal with medical issues in the US. While I understand that it surely doesn't always go that smooth it was 5 star service. 90$ for a consult and we were out 30 minutes later. You won't see this here.

Every system has its flaws. What irks me is when people think it is free here...

And yeah, we got it pretty OK overall. But for the amount of money "invested" we should be having it a lot better, that's all I'm saying.

While I understand what your saying and I'm not totally aware of how you guys pay for your heath care system I'm just saying I pay 350 a month for insurance then have to pay 20% of the cost + a 500 dollars up front. If your dealing with that free or somewhat free seems real nice.

[mixie]

Originally Posted by SimonB

I hate when Americans think that our government is so nice that it just hands out health care for free. I pay 20% income tax and 9.5% sale tax to that provincial government. 56% of that money goes to the health care.

I hate when Canadians think we don't pay taxes I pay ~30% federal income tax, 9.3% state income tax and 9.75% sales tax. I also pay a hefty chunk in property tax each year as well.


I'll not even go into the health care argument OR what our gov is doing with the funds :-/ however to say we don't pay the same in taxes is not correct.

[Leo]

How about you all shut up about the politics in this slam section and allow me to continue vomiting over that picture

Seriously though, this is why I don't carry without at least a glove liner. Glad to hear the little guy is back on the board.

[wrathfuldeity]

My doc told me years ago, superglue...its non-toxic, creates an instant scab and its sometimes what the ER uses (medical grade) anyway. I've used it a fair number to times. And I hate going to the ER and even frequently work there despite I/family getting prompt/premium service.

[ThunderChunky]

The ER is the dumbest idea and biggest waste of time unless you are going to die in the next 24 hours from it. I always go home and schedule an appointment with whatever specialist I need for the next day. Then just go the next day. You end up waiting a good 10 hours or so anyway. I only went once and waited 8 hours. We came in and there was a girl with a dislocated elbow who had been waiting a few hours and when we left she was still there. I also know someone who waited 15 hours for a smashed foot. This is just to get out of the waiting room. Not to get out of the ER. No painkillers or nothing.



And they all had to pay 100% for their health insurance.

But this is about snowboarding, not politics.