The definition of socialized medicine from Wikipedia - "Some say the literal meaning is confined to systems in which the government operates health care facilities and employs health care professionals.[7][8][9] This narrower usage would apply to the British National Health Service hospital trusts and health systems that operate in other countries as diverse as Finland, Spain, Israel and Cuba. The United States' Veterans Health Administration, and the medical departments of the U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force would also fall under this narrow definition. When used in this way, the narrow definition permits a clear distinction from single payer health insurance systems, in which the government finances health care but is not involved in care delivery."
In Canada, this definition does not apply. Again from Wikipedia - "Others apply the term more broadly to any publicly funded system. Canada's Medicare system, most of the UK's NHS general practitioner and dental services, which are all systems where health care is delivered by private business with partial or total government funding, fit this broader definition, as do the health care systems of most of Western Europe. In the United States, Medicare, Medicaid, and the U.S. military's TRICARE fall under this definition." The U.S. already falls into the same category as Canada if you use the broad definition of the term. Americans have the wrong perception of the Canadian health care system. I suspect it is based more on the fear mongering tactics of big pharmaceuticals, for profit health care agencies and rich right wing Americans who are afraid of their tax dollars helping the majority of Americans who can't afford proper health care. Hopefully, the change in your government will spread the "socialized medicine" that the U.S. already has to a larger segment of the population. All Americans will be better off as a result. > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf > Of Pete Theisen > Sent: Sunday, November 23, 2008 2:32 PM > To: ProFox Email List > Subject: Re: [OT] 25 billion won't do it? > > Alan Lukachko wrote: > > > With Michael, strong language is necessary. He claims we have socialized > > medicine which is not true > > Hi Alan! > > Nearly everyone in the US thinks the Canadian Health System is > socialized so US citizens who say so are hardly lying. It is interesting > that you say it is NOT socialized. > > Perhaps there is some narrow definition that makes the Canadian Health > System "not" socialized? If there is, I would like to hear it. > -- > Regards, > > Pete > http://pete-theisen.com/ > > [excessive quoting removed by server] _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: [email protected] Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech Searchable Archive: http://leafe.com/archives/search/profox This message: http://leafe.com/archives/byMID/profox/[EMAIL PROTECTED] ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
