An Outsider's Look At The Canadian Medical System

I just watched a film called Dead Meat, about the Canadian Medical System. Though it was made by Americans, I think it provides a very balanced look at our system. It has long been clear that one's perception of our nationalized medical system is great ... if you don't have to use it. But when you do, there often is an abrupt and painful wake-up call about how long you'll have to wait to get the help you suddenly need.

The American system is far from perfect. My recollection is that about 40 Million people in the U.S. have no medical insurance. But the choice for us Canadians is not binary - ie. either we stay with our failed system or change to an American one. There are a plethora of other models we could & should look at, including several good ones in Western Europe. But denial is alive & well in Canada, especially if you drink the Socialist Kool-Aid or are trying to get re-elected.

At a fundamental level, any system that has unlimited demand and limited supply is doomed to failure. That's an indisputable fact - no matter what system we're talking about - but one that has been ignored by the powers at be and citizens at large. And with the taxpayer base (% of working adults) shrinking, the supply will continue to diminish.

To use a medical analogy, only when the pain is substantial, will the patient (the medical system) be properly treated. I used to think that such childish behaviour ended by the time a person reached the age of 5. But in many ways I think our collective society behaves much like a 3-year old!