To privatize or not?

[intertext]

Everybody agrees that health care needs fixing, but I find myself now in something of two minds about how I feel about how it should be done. I admire Jack Layton for sticking to his guns The present Liberal government and the Conservative opposition have been considering reforming the health-care system by introducing measures that would create a possible "two-tier" system of some privatized services, especially things like joint replacements. The Liberal government, a minority, is in a precarious position, and the NDP, led by Jack Layton, are threatening to help bring down the Liberals if they won't promise to uphold the socialist system of completely public health care. The Liberals won't make that promise, so Layton is now threatening a non-confidence vote, which would mean a federal election for us in the near future, with health care one of the top issues. , and the part of me that has nearly always voted NDP wants to say "public health care for all! No privatization!" But I need a hip replacement. And at the moment I'm faced with probably waiting 18 months to two years unless I spend $20,000 and go to the US or somewhat less but go to India... And I don't have the option, as things stand right now of "going the private." It is literally against the law for me to pay a surgeon up front and get my operation sooner. But I suppose that's always the way, isn't it? It's easy to be idealistic until something like this comes up and hits you, and good old capitalism would make my own life a lot easier and pain free a lot more quickly. But then, I suppose I do have the option of going to the US, or India, and someone who isn't at my income level wouldn't have that...

Comments

[lilyfriend.livejournal.com]

It is a bit of a toss-up right now. I'm all for public health too. But the system is a mess right now. Mom had twisted her knee after worka couple years ago. But it was in the parking lot, so of course, WCB wouldn't cover her. She was off work for a couple months, and we had no financial support. And, of course, she'd have to wait a year or more for the surgery. We got lucky, because she's a nurse.. and a friend knew a surgeon, who had a cancellation, and squeezed her in right before Christmas.. which was a nice gift for us. It still took a while before she could go back to work, but it was far shorter than the year or two it could have taken. Although she was later hit by a car which further upset the knee.. ha.. the sad irony of it all.. which in a way was another small blessing with the small settlement from ICBC we received there. Anyway, had there been privatization, it's possible that technically she might have been able to get that surgery sooner, but more than likely, she wouldn't have been able to afford it. It really is a double-edged sword.