As President Obama and his Democrat-controlled Congress try to force healthcare reform on an American population largely pleased with the current system, our neighbors to the north are actually considering improving their structure by -- wait for it!!! -- welcoming additional competition from private insurers.
I kid you not.
Within hours of the Obama administration saying that it might consider a reform package without a government option, the Canadian Press inconveniently reported the following:
The incoming president of the Canadian Medical Association says this country's health-care system is sick and doctors need to develop a plan to cure it.
Dr. Anne Doig says patients are getting less than optimal care and she adds that physicians from across the country - who will gather in Saskatoon on Sunday for their annual meeting - recognize that changes must be made.
"We all agree that the system is imploding, we all agree that things are more precarious than perhaps Canadians realize," Doing said in an interview with The Canadian Press. [...]
[Dr. Robert Ouellet, the current president of the CMA] has been saying since his return that "a health-care revolution has passed us by," that it's possible to make wait lists disappear while maintaining universal coverage and "that competition should be welcomed, not feared."
In other words, Ouellet believes there could be a role for private health-care delivery within the public system.
Oh my! Canada's government-run healthcare system is in a state of disarray, so much so that they're considering increasing competition by allowing folks to buy private insurance.
That'll surely help Obama's cause!
But here's the money quote:
"(Canadians) have to understand that the system that we have right now - if it keeps on going without change - is not sustainable," said Doig.
"They have to look at the evidence that's being presented and will be presented at (the meeting) and realize what Canada's doctors are trying to tell you, that you can get better care than what you're getting and we all have to participate in the discussion around how do we do that and of course how do we pay for it."
It's going to be absolutely delicious to see how this gets reported by Obama-loving media in the next 24 hours.
Stay tuned.
—Noel Sheppard is the Associate Editor of NewsBusters. Follow him at Facebook and Twitter.
Editor at Large
Comments Policy
I guess we'll be going to Canada for health care....
August 16, 2009 - 22:47 ET by R D Helm...should ObamaCare pass here, no matter how watered-down and harmless it may ultimately appear.
Eventually, government health care "reform," no matter what it is called, will grow into a gigantic green monster, devouring everything in its path.
-Dave
Been Flagged yet? If not, try harder.
LOL...Great minds, Dave!
August 17, 2009 - 06:32 ET by motherbeltThat's exactly what I was thinking, reading that with my coffee this AM. Oh, good...if Canada gets their system fixed up, we'll be going there for treatment!
America always seems to be a day late and a trillion short.... just as socialist countries are moving toward more capitalism, we are embracing the failing system they left behind, in the naive belief that we can do it the "right" way and make it work.
When I say "we" I mean our government, of course.
Quick!! Someone send that AP article to the "flag" site! Canada is obviously trying to undermine the campaign for socialized medicine!!
The Reason....
August 17, 2009 - 06:33 ET by GeneralAlThe reason we're embracing Socialism aka Communism is because it has been taught in public schools and now the product of that failed system votes! As a result, we have the Apologizer-in-Chief trying to ram Marxism down our throats. Add to that, the so called journalist in the msm [Products of the 60's revolution!] and this is where we end up!
With apologies to the
August 17, 2009 - 08:14 ET by Hunter12With apologies to the General, the reason for all these machinations by the Dims of late are twofold, solidifying their hold on the power and paying off the behind-the-scenes purse holders. Actually, it's only one, becasue you have to hang onto the reins to provide that steady profit stream. They are forcing people into unions, creating a whole new voting block out of the illegals, and pandering to people who can't afford houses while destroying the banking system to attract and hold voters. Cap-and-trade and all the other "green" crapola will be the payoff. Look at the added bureacracy that this healthcare fiasco will create, plenty of places to employ the minions.
"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last." - Sir Winston Churchill
Yep,
August 17, 2009 - 08:37 ET by general companyThey are trying to create a majority of non-contributers. So every election they can claim the nasty conservatives want to take your benifits away. Buying the majority with our money.
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
mb,
August 17, 2009 - 10:50 ET by R D HelmYeah, the same exact federal government that has run Medicare and Medicaid, not to mention Social (In)Security, right into the ground, and also proved to the world that they couldn't even run a whorehouse in Nevada.
(Remember the Mustang Ranch fiasco?)
-Dave
Been Flagged yet? If not, try harder.
I gotta get me over to the Democratic Underground
August 16, 2009 - 22:53 ET by delmarand watch the fireworks
Bwahahaha!
August 16, 2009 - 22:56 ET by HoosierEmThat's what I was just thinking. Now that place is a hoot!
no, no, no
August 16, 2009 - 22:56 ET by candanceObama assured me that Canada is a real utopia of government success. This sounds like a bunch of propaganda from Blue Cross. Maybe we should flag it for review.
We The People...
August 16, 2009 - 23:04 ET by AgentAmericanhave real power to bring about real change. Could it be that Obama's about face on the public option may have influenced the agenda of the Great White North...
The citizens have the real power in this country. We must keep this in mind.
2010: A GOP Hill
[Dr. Robert Ouellet, the
August 16, 2009 - 23:08 ET by MidAmerica[Dr. Robert Ouellet, the current president of the CMA] has been saying since his return that "a health-care revolution has passed us by," that it's possible to make wait lists disappear while maintaining universal coverage and "that competition should be welcomed, not feared."
So it appears what they are thinking is to get the wealthier patients off the patient lists so that they can better handle those that stay with the free healthcare. My guess is that is what would happen here, the creation of the Two Americas, one for the financially comfortable and one for the peasants.
Close, you are very close
August 17, 2009 - 02:25 ET by legacyrepublicanWhat is happening in Canada is that they finally see that the rich have been going south of the border for years to get their health care and maybe, just maybe, they finally get it that they are losing their contribution to bettering local health care with their Canadian dollar being better spent at home.
The left does not want to admit that when the rich or elite pay for better care and advance medical knowledge and application in the bargain, we ALL benefit.
The heart ablation surgery I had in 2002 was in part an outgrowth of treating highly skilled athlete's erratic heart beats.
The gall bladder surgery my wife recently had was an out growth of treating athletes with knee injuries.
And the replacement of her ACL ten years ago was in large part because of high priced athletes wanting to get back into the game.
Well it's obvious to me
August 16, 2009 - 23:46 ET by lsudolemiteWell it's obvious to me what's really going on here. The CMA is merely a puppet of powerful Republican special interest groups, another tool of wealthy GOP financial backers and Big Insurance. This annual "meeting" is obviously just an astroturf effort to force private plans offered by these evil corporations onto an unsuspecting Canadian public, whose public health care is world-renowned and a gold standard of quality, second only to Cuba. Does this mob have no shame? (sarc off)
Don't you mean to say ...
August 17, 2009 - 02:28 ET by legacyrepublicanDoes this mob have no shame, eh? ;)
Entitlement reform
August 17, 2009 - 00:27 ET by KC MulvilleFor years, conservatives argued that we could see the disaster coming for entitlement programs. The current model for paying for these entitlements was going to explode. What's worse, it was all predictable because you can see:
The Democrats' reply? Don't worry, the costs aren't an immediate problem, we'll have plenty of time to deal with it. Now they want to extend the disastrous financing model of current entitlement programs to healthcare.
Not only is the disaster predictable ... it's actually happening in Canada. And they consider themselves intellectually superior?
How Long?
August 17, 2009 - 00:28 ET by DustBunny01What I would find interesting is how long the AP has been sitting on this story?
Your AP link is 404 as of 0148 EDT 17 Aug 09
August 17, 2009 - 00:51 ET by JeffWeimerI really need it to shove in the face of trolls at PJM. Please!
I found the AP story
August 17, 2009 - 00:54 ET by JeffWeimerhere's the link:
http://www.google.co...
Soo Canada is thinking ahead...Going the Capitalist route, ehh
August 17, 2009 - 00:55 ET by upcountrywaterCanada will not be able to foist off hoards of her citizens into America's health care no more.
Reagan VS Liberalism
Poor Obama
August 17, 2009 - 01:08 ET by general companyCant get a break? But no fear, these knuckleheads wont see the irony
My Gov. thinks I am dangerous, so be careful
"Television is a freak show" Bernie Goldberg
Possible tip to Noel
August 17, 2009 - 01:19 ET by metaphorsbwithuYeah, they want to look at other countries and see what they're doing.
Btw, Noel, I came across a lengthy "letter" from an alleged U.S. doctor living in Germany which was published in the NYT online opinions section praising the German Health Care system and urging people to not ... "let the lobbyists, their surrogates on TV, or their gun-toting mobs and pre-organized advocates at town hall meetings, scare you, confuse you, or drown out your voices yet again."
I googled his name (Frederick B. Lacey, Jr.) and found no doctor by that name except for the NYT piece and a blog that had referenced the letter.
Now it appears to have been scrubbed from the site and/or replaced by another opinion (unless I just cant find it anymore).
This is a copy of the original link as it appeared on Google:
Sarah's Ghoulish Carousel - Readers' Comments - NYTimes.com
Aug 16, 2009 ... We absolutely can grab this bull by the horns, and get this job done this year!!! Dr. med. Frederick B. Lacey Jr. Frankfurt am Main, Germany ...
community.nytimes.com/comments/www.nytimes.../16dowd.html - Similar
Just seemed curious to me. There were a lot of inaccuracies and the tone was not very professional. I do have a copy of the entire "letter" that I made for my files.
metaphorsbwithu
Bad Link
August 17, 2009 - 01:40 ET by Wonder95Noel, can you check the link to the AP article (the linked word "reported")? It has spaces in it, and I get a 404 page when I click on it.
Thanks.
Wonder95 - another story link
August 17, 2009 - 01:48 ET by metaphorsbwithuHere's the link to the story I read earlier from The Canadian Press:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5jbjzPEY0Y3bvRD335rGu_Z3KXoQw
Hope it works.
metaphorsbwithu
This video explains the CMA seeing this
August 17, 2009 - 02:50 ET by legacyrepublicanIronically, this Youtube video parody of the program House M.D. sums up why the Canadians are accepting that they need to allow a private system. They now know better! The CMA is only catching up to the reality that every Canadian knows!
And their own comedy channel figured it out three years ago before our debate.
Of course, there is this one too!
Those are
August 17, 2009 - 05:52 ET by motherbeltThose are hilarious!!
the CMA is not just now catching up...they are finally giving up their charade and admitting the truth.
Yes, they are hilarious Mother Belt
August 17, 2009 - 20:57 ET by legacyrepublicanAnd they do a great job of using comedy to demonstrate how awful the Canadian Health Care system is today.
Be sure to pass the links on to others.
My major concerns . . .
August 17, 2009 - 04:33 ET by DoktorFranken. . . Are freedom of choice (Capitalism) in your own health care and the actual Freedom of Doctors, nurses, etc.
Oh Canada
August 17, 2009 - 05:38 ET by williarsBorn and raised there so I know a bit: good healthcare for the poor, and the rich can take care of themselves, at least as long as America doesn't "reform" itself away from economic liberty. Meanwhile the middle class in Canada is growing bewildered because they are shielded from the slow, progressive meltdown of single payer healthcare. We did it willingly so there is no excuse but change back will come hard. Learn from Canada's mistakes and revitalize your system with free market remedies. Open up markets, incentivize good behavior, chain up your lawyers and your politicians. When patients come first the doctors will follow.
Randy
Here's a brand new
August 17, 2009 - 08:45 ET by MidAmericaHere's a brand new interview with Anne Doig the CMA president. Canadians are ever so proud of their 'best healthcare in the world' system even though it is unsustainable, has long wait times, is understaffed and undersupplied. One of their concerns is that the critisms from the US is causing Canadians to actually question whether they really do have the best healthcare in the world.
Re Canadians
August 17, 2009 - 10:56 ET by slickwillie2001Re "Canadians to actually question whether they really do have the best healthcare in the world".
Wouldn't that be interesting if US ads against Obamacare forced Canadians to address their system's failings? In Canada there is no native version of a Fox News, all they have are a few far-left clones of CBS. Their healthcare system is somewhat a third rail of politics. No party dare mention any desire to do away with it, so no party will put up the kind of ads featuring Canadians that we see in the USA. Yet they watch US TV on cable including American Fox News on a few cable systems.
Imagine where we would be without Fox News and conservative talk radio, and you get Canada.
Not just the Canadians...
August 17, 2009 - 10:04 ET by Meredith1966My understanding is that Australia is beginning to encourage those who can afford it to get private health insurance so that their 'universal' system isn't so burdened. Can't speak to the truth of that, but if anyone out there can verify it I'd be interested to know the details.
"The words of a President have an enormous weight and ought not to be used indiscriminately." - Calvin Coolidge
How will the Obamedia
August 17, 2009 - 10:20 ET by mattmHow will the Obamedia report this?
"As God's gift to the world, President Obama, tours the country gathering support for his healthcare reform plan, other countries, such as Canada, are following suit. Although a small minority of wealthy physicians and executives seek to privatize Canada's system, most see that as a capitalist take-over attempt."
"In front of a stunned group
August 17, 2009 - 13:09 ET by lsudolemite"In front of a stunned group at a Colorado town hall meeting, a bright blinding light surrounded Mr. Obama, where he proceeded to ascend directly to Heaven. Upon his return on the wings of angels, Mr. Obama reported the news that God Himself supported the public option. GOP lawmakers could not be reached for comment."
August 17, 2009 - 11:06 ET by jessieHI doubt the MSM will "report" anything negative about mr. obama in any fashion.
Another Nail in the "Grass is Greener" Concept?
August 18, 2009 - 00:25 ET by barkwriteIn addition to the CMA declaring that Canada's socialized health care is broken, I recently read an article on, of all places, the NY Times web site (How Canadians Feel About Their Health Care - Wait Times and Spending) that stated in Ontario (Canada's most populous province) health care accounts for a whopping 43 percent of annual spending! To help offset this, Ontario recently imposed what they call a "health care premium" on individuals of certain incomes and out-and-out health care taxes on businesses. While the maximum "premium" per individual is set to $900 per year, we're still talking about additional taxes being levied to pay for health care that is supposedly free to every Canadian (I remember scenes from the propaganda piece SICKO showcasing these incredulous looks given by Canadians as they were asked how much they paid for health care, as if that was the most ridiculous question in the world). In the end, all of these new health care fees and taxes cover only 17 percent of the 43 percent total spending, and Ontario is waking to the reality that they can not sustain the costs. Surely, this, too, will need to be addressed by the CMA (though, I suspect we won't see much more about this in the MSM).
~JKB
==============
The emperor has no clothes.