Welcome! I see you're from one of the most beautiful places on earth! (although the healthcare system was a bit off....) I guess ours here is getting pretty bad now, too.
Anyway, there's a "Get your 10 posts here" thread, and there's all sorts of things to talk about. I was an avid Cakewalk fan for about 15 years until I found Reason...most around here aren't fond of Reason, but I love the thing. Then again, I only record for personal amuzement and amazement.
Again, welcome! Enjoy!
Well thank you kindly.
Yes it is indeed beautiful here.
Many are surprised when they come here for the first time.
Sounds like you've been here, I'm guessing?
Our health care system can definitely use much improvement, but just as I answered Bill Moyers on his PBS show during a USA health care debate a few years ago:
I had a motorcycle crash in 2001.
Dislocated my shoulder out of the rotator cuff and shattered it in 2 places requiring surgery & 2 screws including 3 months of no use, [with the possibility of never using my arm again];
PLUS bent my thumb backwards and broke it requiring it's own surgery.
The total cost to me: for the ambulance ride & morphine, Tylenol T-3's, many hours in the emergency room, 3 x-rays, both surgeries and the over night hospital stay -
$0.00 - zero dollars & zero cents.
In fact the ambulance ride fee of $54.00 - even that was optional.
When the bill came, it said "pay this only if it does not cause financial hardship".
I chose to pay it, as I felt I had to contribute at least something.
I never heard another word about any of the costs and wouldn't know how much all that would have added up to, but I do think that not too many Americans are aware that this is 'par for the course' on any given day in Canada.
When watching the health care debates and the whole Obama care thing, I couldn't believe that these kinds of things never got mentioned - or maybe intentionally left out for all I know.
True our health care system is indeed starting to degrade, but everything is still basically free - very few people pay for hardly anything at all - usually just their chosen elective surgeries like nose jobs, botox, hair plugs, etc, etc.
So as bad as the health care system may be for some, it could be much much worse.
Myself, nor anyone I know have ever had to pay a hospital or medical bill in our lives - touch wood.
Some do pay a variable monthly insurance fee though, so I guess it isn't totally free for everyone. I think it's like $60 or something. Less or even free if your income is lower.
I haven't had to pay it for 10-15 years now so I don't really know for sure.
Not bragging in any way, just wanting to share my health care story, and how I'm lucky not to be dead broke & severally in debt for the rest of my life by now, paying the hospital back forever & ever.
Good news is that my shoulder healed 99% and I can use it as much as ever before.
Anyway hey, thanks again so much for the welcome BroKen_H - good to be here!
☼ ~