The Stig

What a bunch of truants! Someone PM'd me asking to buy my Volvo today, and it got me wondering how you guys have been. I'm back in Vancouver the month of November, and it should definitely involve some cross-border cruising. And, in Kev's case, lots of groping. :lol:

That's because we're all about quality, not quantity Kev ;)

Adrian's just gloating because he's getting a nice car ;)

This is true. Not being a legal expert, and maybe someone else can clarify this, but I believe there is either a guideline or a statute up here that limits the amount one can get for a personal injury suit against a doctor. It's meant to prevent those "I'm suing for $50 million because the doctor forgot to take out a stitch" kind of lawsuits. Hence, there aren't the huge money cases up here that there are south of the border. You guys sure are litigation happy~

Also, Charles raises a very thought-provoking point about a person's responsibility for their own health. When you smoke, your odds of getting a smoking related illness are proportional to the duration and intensity of exposure. And when one of these pops up, be it emphysema, cancer, or something else, you can bet there's a significant dollar value associated with treatment, if it is in fact treatable. Yet smokers pay the same level of taxes as someone who doesn't smoke, despite being a much greater burden on the healthcare system due to an addiction that is (to some degree) perpetuated by their own volition. I always found that interesting.

Charles, if what you're describing is an accurate reflection of the US system, then it is tantamount to universal healthcare. No one is denied publicly funded (in addition to private funded) essential treatment. This is the same as in Canada, except the scope of coverage is different, as is the absence of a private system (although this is rapidly changing, despite it being unconstitutional). Andrew, the thing is that if it doesn't come out of one pocket, it will come out of another. If the employers don't provide healthcare coverage to their employees, and it is instead left up to the state to provide that, then taxes will go up accordingly. In Canada, basic healthcare services are public, but private party insurance is also provided by some employers to cover additional costs such as dental work, medications, allied health practitioner vists, etc.

Make sure you get the address right.

Wait, aren't some of them already OH moderators?

I don't think Americans will be getting our drugs for too much longer. There have been a few recent and well-publicized reprimands for Canadian doctors signing prescriptions for American patients that they've never actually seen/examined. It's not considered appropriate standard of care. But everyone knew that was going to happen.

That's true, they're crazy drivers over there.

I agree, but the Canadian government always takes and never gives back. They have things like sponsorship scandals and patronage appointments to pay for! :)

I think Canada is waiting for a missile defense system that actually does what it's supposed to. A 62.5% success rate isn't exactly anything to write home about. The money can and will be spend better elsewhere. The US should worry less about Canada and more about why the entire world seems intent on sending missiles its way.

Russia! :P