Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
I love the Economist, which only gives you the sense of knowing what’s up in East Timor but has enormous special sections like “Tin: a 14-page series.” (It’s in demand, which is putting stresses on the environment, and there are new players in Asia poised to capitalize on it, but the future is still a question.) This week there was a tiny article on Canadian health care, and this passage made my eyes go Marty Feldman:
“Health spending, which is administered by the provinces, has increased from nearly 35% to 46% today. In Ontario, the most populous province, it is set to reach 80% by 2030, leaving pennies for everything else the government does, not counting tax increases or new federal transfers.”
Meaning, there will be tax increases and new federal transfers. Eighty percent! The article goes on to note how drug costs are going up - there’s a stunner - and the government came up with some jiggery-pokery to increase the amount of generics sold vs. branded drugs. (Generics are more expensive in Canada, according to the article. Also, Spock has a beard.) This was very unpopular with pharmacists: “The official leading the reform, who had received death threats in a previous round of cutting, now has police protection.”
Health care will just get more expensive, and there will be less of it. But as long as everyone has the same amount of more expensive, less-available care, that will be fine. Give “Logan’s Run” some credit for its pure egalitarian vision: everyone died at 30, and you can’t get anymore equal than that.
(PS: Bonus Ricochet points for anyone who can explain the title of the post.)
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Comments:
May '10
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
I vaguely remembered a story in which a pundit was asked to come up with a stultifying newspaper headline and he said "Worthwhile Canadian Initiative". I admit I couldn't remember who, so I Googled it. But I won't tell because that's not playing fair.
Also, "Worthwhile Canadian Initiative" would make a great band name (thank you Mr. Barry).
May '10
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
And so I have an on-topic comment her as well, isn't this the system into which our betters in government are driving us like panicked cattle?
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
Oohhh, James, you love the Economist, too? Can we agree, though, that the current "Lexington" column, pooh-poohing American exceptionalism, is infuriating? (If, in that Economist-y way, delightfully so?) Hm. Come Monday, shall we link hands and unload on it?
Jul '10
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
Healthcare will just get more expensive? Yeah, only to those who are paying for it.
The more the government doles out, the more there are to take, the less there are to pay. Imagine that.
Mr. Bise, great blog idea: great band names. I'll start: "Roadside Couch"
Jul '10
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
The great thing about the Canadian style health system is not only its insane expense, but its way of thinning the herd. Consult the many posts of Mark Steyn on this topic, you will find that where no one is sentenced to death for failure to have health insurance in the United States, they even take illegal immigrants with heart attacks right into the hospital and treat them, in Canada those foolish enough to go to the hospital without their provincial insurance card can be sent home to die with great governmental efficiency. I was in Edmonton once when the incompetent bureaucrats were mad at the man with an object in his eye, he was told to "wait right here" while they arranged transportation, but he and his rebellious wife drove to Calgary, and got the object removed from his eye before the helicopter could be authorized to take him to Calgary, to get the object removed from his eye. Fortunately, they explained that the system worked and he and his wife faced no repercussions for their disobedience.
Jul '10
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
I couldn't help myself, and being a Librarian by profession I had to try to find the answer because I had no idea what the significance of your title was.
So I Googled it.
I know, as a Librarian I am supposed to adhere to the notion that indexes, catalogues, taxonomies, boolean logic (and all of the above with the prefix "meta-") are more useful for the proper quest for information (or data) than Google, but I'm out of practice, so this is what Google told me:
Your title was originally the inspiration for the New Republic's annual "World's Most Boring Headline" competition, penned by Flora Lewis.
As a conservative, I know I mustn't trust anything I read on Wikipedia, so I'm embarrassed to have to admit that as my source. Not a promising start to a bibliography.
It's also the title of a blog, mainly about Canadian economics. Those were the first two on the Google results list. I went with the boring headline explanation, as it seemed to be more likely. In the humourous sense, of course.
Oh, and public health is so obviously flawed it amazes me anyone promotes it.
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
Jimmy B: you're close.
Peter: You're on. Now, bonus round: pronounce "Bagehot."
Paul: you realize, of course, that anecdotes prove nothing. Except when they're used to prove the need for nationalized health care.
Jul '10
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
Why oh why is this a difficult concept? Not getting Mr. Lileks' cultural allusions. Those are very difficult concepts for this meat and potatoes guy. But understanding the basics of supply and demand. Especially when it comes to health care. Health care represents the ultimate in limitless demand. If people do not feel some sense of personal cost in procuring it, demand will rise to absurd levels. As it does in Canada. There is no "ceiling" when it is seen as a government service. And now we are embracing the concept of health care as a government utility. God help us.
Jun '10
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
Public health care, public housing, public schooling, public toilet, public swimming pool (I repeat myself, I know), public transportation, public . . . nuisance. I seem to have detected a pattern.
May '10
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
Yay Canadian Healthcare! Please note sarcasm. I, too, had my wonderful Edmonton hospital experience when I had a weird fever that didn't go away a few years ago. Problem is, the clerk at the front desk had been dealing with a bunch of guys in their mid twenties lately (housing boom created a construction boom and we had a whole lot of new workers in our city that fit my demographic)... so he kept asking me what recreational drugs I was using. Because I was all twitchy and nervous about the fever, he didn't believe me when I said I didn't do drugs. He quickly took my temperature, told me I was fine, and that I should go home. Fast forward a week, I had lost 20 pounds and had to spend all day in the emergency room (of another hospital) hooked up to an IV tube. I guess in fairness I should note that after I had convinced the welcome desk that I was sufficiently sickly (and innocently so) for admittance, the rest of the hospital staff treated me very well.
Jul '10
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
BAD j't.
And Canada's Health Care system: it is like all public monopolies, it is necessary to have good connections, and in a pinch, money, to get to the US (or maybe now, to India) to get that knee transplant without a 3 year wait. My sister, who is a nurse administrator, has noted that there are a LOT of people designing pamphlets thoughout her "Health Care Region", telling the masses how to 'access' the Health Care system, in a colourful and simple manner.
"Barbarian Invasions" is a great Canadian (Quebecois) movie, all about our health care system. I totally recommend it to one and all.
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
BADGE-ut.
Monday, James. In the meantime, let "Lexington" tremble.
Jul '10
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
I came up with Bad jt BEFORE Peter. What is my prize?
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
Janine: you're right! That's it. Instapundit still uses it to this day, now and then. No one will remember the initiative, but we remember the boring headline used to describe it.
May '10
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
James Likelks - a marvellous (albeit lefty) Canadian radio host, the late Peter Gzowski whose 9 - 11am "Morningside" radio program on the CBC, had the biggest broadcast audience in Canada, once held a contest to complete the phrase "As Canadian as....."
The winner was "As Canadian as possible..... under the circumstances." Which explains much about Canada including why a disproportionate number of American comedy writers and actors are in fact Canadian.
May '10
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
heathermc: BAD j't.
"Barbarian Invasions" is a great Canadian (Quebecois) movie, all about our health care system. I totally recommend it to one and all. · Jul 17 at 9:51pm
Yes it is and I have to tell you, I was at Cannes the night this film premiered and it got a rousing reception throughout with a prolonged standing ovation when it ended. And this was a mostly European audience. The next night Gus Van Sandt's Elephant premiered to a pretty dismal reaction and a perfunctory ovation at the end. And yet Elephant won. Why? well there was no way that year's Cannes jury (or any Cannes jury ever, for that matter) was going to a) challenge the idea of socialized medicine or b) pass up a chance to amplify the "Guns bad. America very bad" meme presented in Van Sandt's film. Which is not to say that Elephant wasn't good. It's very good, it's just not a movie - more like a Bill Viola video installation than a movie.
May '10
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
This from a friend in Canada you I asked to comment on this subject:
"Yes, Ontario instituted price controls on generic drugs. Combine this with the fact that pharmacies are required to carry generics, it has caused quite the sh*t storm. As a result pharmacies have had to do things like cut back on hours (no more 24 hr pharmacies), lay off people, cut services (like free deliveries), and increase prescription dispensing fees. You can imagine how well this is going over with the everyone."
May '10
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
Sure would love it it there was an edit feature for those of us who post then read what we've written. Always forget to use the Preview option. :-)
May '10
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
I received this email this morning from my HSA administrator:
Dear Trace,
Due to healthcare legislation changes, many over-the-counter (OTC) drugs and medications that are currently eligible for purchase with certain healthcare accounts will no longer be eligible for reimbursement after December 31, 2010, unless accompanied by a letter of medical necessity or doctor's directive.
This list is subject to change pending further legal interpretation. We will keep you updated on any changes.
For a more complete list of eligible items, please see
www.connectyourcare.com/otc
Thank you,
ConnectYourCare
Aug '10
Re: Worthwhile Canadian Initiative
WHY CANADA'S HEALTH ACT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER THAN OBAMACARE
Clearly, neither system is a good idea, but if forced to choose between Obamacare or the Canada Health Act (CHA), the winner becomes clear.
The CHA, which governs the federal government’s involvement in Canada’s health system, is a mere 16 pages. Compare that to Obamacare’s 2800+.
The CHA boils down to this simple proposition: The provinces run their health systems. If a province meets five conditions the feds help cover the costs.
Provinces aren't REQUIRED to accept the deal. They are free to go without the federal cash.
Of course, all 10provinces signed on. American state politicians do not necessarily think the same way as their Canadian counterparts.
The CHA would have offered three benefits:
1) Love it orhate it, most Canadians can at least UNDERSTAND how the CHA works.
2) States would be responsible for health and Washington would have kept its nose out of regulating people’spersonal lives.
3) Many states would have likely said “no thanks”. Maybe not most states, but enough tomake a difference in the lives of many Americans.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_Health_Act