Canadian Healthcare from a Canadian...

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by jsarno

It all comes down to self responsibility. We can go around and around with other issues, but it all comes down to self responsibility.

This I agree with 100%.

We seem to be going back and forth, but I think what's getting lost is that public welfare programs should take care of nothing more than a person's needs, that's it. If you're actually arguing that the government should provide people with anything more than shelter, water, food, heat, and healthcare, then for god's sakes go start your own communist country, because that's what you're advocating. If you can afford anything beyond those basic needs, then you don't need the help. The taxpayers should not be subsidizing your XBox, your plasma TV, or your new suit. Hardworking people earn their money; they should be able to satisfy their own desires, and their children's desires before giving the poor anything beyond what they NEED.

To bring the discussion back on topic, the debate really is about one thing: is healthcare a need, or a luxury? My personal feelings are varied on the matter. For kids, it's a need. You can't expect them to afford it, and denying them care because their parents can't afford it would be like denying them a shot to grow up and afford healthcare on their own. For adults, only emergency care is a need. If you're hit by a bus, you should be given care (as hospitals do) whether you have coverage or not. As for preventative, elective, terminal, psychiatric, rehabilitation, and pain management, I view all of these forms of treatment as luxuries, not needs. Therein lies the true debate - and it's virtually impossible to come to an agreement.