Dear Friends,
A lot has been going on and I really haven’t had time to blog or maybe it’s more like I’m having trouble gathering my thoughts on any one particular topic.
Anyway I’m starting an open discussion section here for now where you can comment or discuss anything you like such as what’s going on in your lives or politics, news, movies petty much whatever, course it’s my blog so I will moderate comments. Remember right now my blog can be seen by anyone even though I really don’t get much traffic your comments can still be seen by others.
Also if you like to write something for my blog I’ll consider posting it just email it to me.
So have at it.
UR
12 comments:
This week Healthcare Law goes to the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court. Believe it or I’m not really against a Universal Healthcare because healthcare insurance is getting more expensive and has been going up steady for at least the pass 10yrs and it’s becoming more difficult for people to get or afford and something needs to be done but I don’t feel this plan right because this plan was created more for political reasons than for real medical reasons.
I feel we Americans if we’re going to have Universal Healthcare it should be the best plan in the world even if it take a couple years to create not a couple week as this plan did. I should have best and brightest economist, medical professional, healthcare experts from other countries and researches, and not some politician and a couple of unknown people as in the case of this plan.
Also I think something of this nature should have been put to a national referendum and allow the people to vote on it. At the time congress was controlled by one party and therefore had the most votes but that doesn’t the majority of Americans agreed with them. I think a nation referendum should have been done to see if Americans wanted a Government Healthcare plan and then another once a plan was developed so they could say if they like it or not. With healthcare price going up I think more Americans will consider a government healthcare plan plus Insurance companies once realizing the people may want a government plan which would put them out of business may lower their prices and cover more. I think a Universal plan can be paid for with a one or two percent national sales tax.
One thing that concerns me about this plan is the individual mandate by the Federal Government in which people are punished for not having insurance. My understanding is that the poor will be cover for free the rich will be able to afford to get insurance but upscale plans will be taxed 40% unless you get and exemption such as the Unions got and some businesses but the middle class will have to enter an exchange if they don’t get insurance through work. If they don’t enter into the exchange they will be fined which is what the individual mandate is about. It’s the government forcing people to purchase something or be penalized which some believe including myself is unconstitutional. I believe only through a national referendum can it be constitutional. I believe as of now this is slippery slope.
People for the individual mandate as constitutional claim that the government can do this because Healthcare affects the economy and health of people. But if allow to stand by the Supreme Court then the question is what will be next. Oil is something that affects the economy and car exhaust health issues so what would stop the government from saying you have to own only cars that get 40+ mile per gallon or take public transportation but if you own a car that car that doesn’t meet that standard you will pay a fine/tax and some American can’t afford fuel efficient cars or can or want to take public transportation. I just think that individual mandates should be put to a referendum and allow the American people to decide whether or not they want to lose their rights.
This is open discussion section so feel free to discuss anything you want whether on what I posted or on something else on your mind.
And our first open topic is to be the US Healthcare initiative? You've certainly picked a contentious topic, UR: let's hope we're all still friends after the discussion.
Well, it's no secret, I'm for nationalised healthcare - even if it's only to ensure that every citizen has access to affordable healthcare insurance.
In some manners, I believe that equal access to both education and healthcare are the sort of things that First World countries should aspire to.
LOL! I think we can handle it.
I know the last time we discussed it we saw it differently but to honest with the things that been going on in my life I’m starting to be more open to the idea of national healthcare but I still don’t like this version of a national healthcare plan.
I think it’s one thing if the government create a national system that covers everyone regardless wealth than a system that say if your poor will cover you but if you can afford insurance and you don’t get it you will be fined/tax and if you get an upscale plan we’ll tax you more for it (at least that’s my understanding from CNN). Just to be clear we do have a system now for the poor to get government insurance it’s called Medicaid and elderly get Medicare. It’ really the upper lower class and middle class that struggles with insurance cost. Most can’t afford private insurance so are dependent getting it through their place of work. If they lose their job they can continue to keep their insurance but they have to pay out of pocket for 18 months and the last three months insurance company can charge you whatever they want. I think it will be inevitable that America will need to have a national healthcare system. So if we’re going to have it I would like a plan that covers everyone with the best medical coverage ever.
I’m curious how does Canada fund its healthcare? Is it through an income tax, a sales tax, or is it taken out of wages?
So I heard the other week that the Scots created the modern lawns. Of course their lawn mowers had four legs and provided wool and not four wheels, used gas and had to be pushed.
Speaking of the Scots anyone knows how the Independence Movement is going?
UR said, ”I think it’s one thing if the government create a national system that covers everyone regardless wealth than a system that say if your poor will cover you but if you can afford insurance and you don’t get it you will be fined/tax and if you get an upscale plan we’ll tax you more for it (at least that’s my understanding from CNN).”
You know, it’s really hard to comment on the healthcare plan that is being proposed – I find it too difficult to sort out what form it will take when they’re finished with it.
UR said, “Just to be clear we do have a system now for the poor to get government insurance it’s called Medicaid and elderly get Medicare.
We have Medicare too, it’s for people that can’t afford the Provincial insurance.
UR said, ”I’m curious how does Canada fund its healthcare? Is it through an income tax, a sales tax, or is it taken out of wages?
Health care in Canada is funded at both the provincial and federal levels. The financing of health care is provided via taxation both from personal and corporate income taxes. Additional funds from other financial sources like sales tax and lottery proceeds are also used by some provinces.
Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario also charge health premiums to supplement health funding, but such premiums are not required for health coverage as per the Canada Health Act.
At a federal level, funds are allocated to provinces and territories via the Canadian Health and Social Transfer (CHST). Transfer payments are made as a combination of tax transfers and cash contributions. The amount of funding provinces and territories receive is significant, and topped $35 billion in 2002-2003.
In 2000, the new budget injected an additional $23 billion of investment into the health care system.
Taken from this page.
In BC we pay monthly MSP (Medical Services Plan) premiums to ensure coverage, the premiums are:
$54 for one person
$96 for a family of two
$108 for a family of three or more
And, as I mentioned before, if you’re a senior, or low income and can’t afford these premiums, Medicare will cover them for you.
This page from the American Medical Student Association is very accurate and dispenses with some of the blatant misinformation that is coming out of the mouths of your politicians regarding the Canadian Healthcare System. You’ll note that we do not have “socialised medicine” in Canada. The article also covers how our system is funded.
Don’t misunderstand me, our system isn’t perfect. Wait times for surgical procedures can be long, but our healthcare works under a triage system, if you’re really sick, you go to the top of the wait list.
Years ago, when Canada and the US were in talks about Free Trade, the people that were against us joining in NAFTA told us all that Free Trade would kill our healthcare system. I’m of the mind that they were correct.
UR said, Speaking of the Scots anyone knows how the Independence Movement is going?
My understanding is that the SNP has set a date for an independence referendum. The date they've chosen is June 24th, 2014. Which just so happens to be the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.
Mack said “The date they've chosen is June 24th, 2014. Which just so happens to be the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn.”
That Great to hear! Vote set for 2014 at the 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn how appropriate if it passes. You think there will be enough support to happen?
Please everyone feel free to talk about anything you want. I won’t be offended if somebody wants to change the current subject and talk about something else.
I hadn't heard much about Scotland in the news anywhere of late. Not sure if that's because I don't frequent as many Scottish sites (time factor) or more probably, Scotland is just not on the radar screen of American media especially being an election year here.
I have no idea how much support there is for independence. From what I can see, the SNP are committed to their Independence in Europe plans. Which, in my view, is simply rebelling against one governing body with the goal of entering into another form of servitude with another.
Well this has certainly been a busy month for me. Little time to to read and post in-depth. Hope everyone else is okay.
Scotland seals terms of historic independence vote - http://ca.news.yahoo.com/cameron-signs-deal-scottish-independence-vote-124329342.html
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