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I have some direct experience with the Canadian health care system.

My former girlfriend is Canadian. About 5 years ago she discovered that she had an unburst aneurysm. It's very rare to discover an aneurysm before it has burst, and I think it was found, mostly because of the proactive medical system that exists there, where people are not afraid to visit their doctor if they think they have a problem, and doctors run tests for their clients any time they have a medical complaint. In her case she was feeling dizzy occasionally so an MRI was scheduled.

She did have to wait for surgery because her aneurysm was less than 10mm in size, and that was decided by the specialist not to be an imminent threat. We weren't happy about the wait but we also respect their system, where surgeries are performed, not on a want basis, but by imminent threat of death, allocating medical resources more effectively. She was told that if she felt anything that seemed at all unusual, another MRI would be immediately scheduled.

Her appointment was booked about 60 days out if I remember, and she was operated on at St. Michaels hospital in Toronto by the operating team with the best record in north America for this kind of surgery. The modern method of aneurysm surgery was developed in Canada, just incidentally. The total cost was $0. She fully recovered and has regular follow ups.

From much observation, my impression of the medical system in Canada is that for the average person it is superior to what exists here. People choose their primary care physician, and her doctor gave her several choices of surgeons, while recommending the surgeon she felt would be best.

Meanwhile, here in the u.s., I'm a 55 year old free lance musician and have never had health care insurance.

posted 2 years, 9 months ago
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To ODOT: Please make constructive changes before taxing those who are trying not to be a part of the problem.
The roads aren't maintained properly now, and the very dangerous pairs of double ruts I see on the freeways are certainly caused by heavy trucks. It deosn't take a study to know this, and it would make sense to address this problem first.
Second, the nearly worthless studded tires should be taxed before this ridiculous idea is even contemplated. Numerous studies indicate their only value is when driving on ice. The other 5.80 months of the year that people use them, they only contribute to road wear.
And, does anyone know if road wear occurs in a linear manner, based on weight, or after a point does road wear increase at a greater than linear rate?

posted 3 years, 4 months ago
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