Another Opinion on the Third Way

[Horse]

How does payimg from your own pocket make the system cheaper? It does not ,all it does is let the rich in the front of the line.
Now there is those that would argue that is a good thing after all dont we need the Chirfs moreso than the indian.

[Horse]

I have no problem with those who have the ability to pay going to private clinics that do not work within the public system, but I do have a problem with people jumping the que and getting treatment, surgeries etc. before others without the funds to pay for their care when they may need the treatment far more expediently.
I have heard many Albertans say they should be able to get treatment anytime they want to pay for it, and that is what the government is counting on, the affluence of Albertans will dictate the type of health care we have and that is fundamentally wrong.
Surely we need to rework the system, and in my view there is ample funding for health care if the government would just have the guts to disband health regions and get back to basic community health care that was affordable and available.

when one person has to go to five different communities within two health regions to get tests and advice on treatment for a hip problem, as a neighbour of mine has just done, it does not make one ounce of sense.
If he chose to spend a lot of money he could likely get his hip replacement done at a private clinic, but if he doesn't have the money he suffers until one of the specialists he has seen has time to operate within the health care system.

[cakadu]

I don't think people have a problem with change because it is inevitable. Contrary to what Shrek says to Donkey, not all change is good.

If you want to pay, fine - I agree with emrald on that point. I even agree with you cowman that there are all kinds of toys out there that can be bought if you are willing and have the means to pay. Not every one can afford to buy the toys and there are those that could afford the toys but choose not to get them. There is no way on earth "things" can be compared to one's health and health care.

Like emrald I know of one lady in particular who called for an ambulance every time she basically had a hang nail. What an absolute waste of resources and she should have been expected to pay out of her own pocket for those needless calls, not to mention taking away from someone who really needed it.

For whatever reasons there are people out there who refuse to acknowledge that there are a growing number who are just barely getting by, let alone have the money to afford wants. Not everyone can afford to pay, even if they wanted to. Do we really want to see a day when an illness can completely wipe out any savings or assets you might have? And what about those who have nothing to sell or fall back on? Isn't that the reason Tommy proposed health care in the first place - equal access to all?

[cakadu]

Linda, illness has wiped out savings, and certainly in our regional health system travelling from one doctor or lab to another adds a significant cost to obtaining care within the system. Some individuals aren't able to drive or don't have vehicles,or are too ill to drive, so of course they must depend on voluntary transportation or it is necessary to pay to have someone drive them, sometimes on several occasions to see specialists, have tests etc.
If the regional health system was really working, there would be doctors, labs etc. all housed in one community within a region. but that is too logical so of course it isn't happening.

[cowman]

Free unlimited health care was always a recipe for disaster because when anything is "free" someone will always take advantage of it. And I'm not just talking about the little old social visit grannies here! The doctors have pretty well ripped the system off.
If you want a public system put the doctors on a salary? Don't let them operate as privateers within a public system.
Start running the thing like a business instead of a typical government gravy train! The fact is there is almost nothing the public sector can do cheaper and better than private enterprize?
I would think we have a wonderful model in place already of how a private system can work, while still being publicly funded? Called the abortion mill? Way cheaper than killing your baby in the hospital? And fully funded by the government. No waiting in line there? You might wait a year to get heart surgery within the public system but you can get that kid killed right away!

[ALLFARMER]

Just thinking back to when I worked at a feedlot feeding replacement heifers. The calves started to gain to fast so we took straw from a conventional combine an hired a tubgrinder to chop it up. We then mixed it with a small amount of silage (4 horizontal auger mixer). Well it didn't mix too well and the calves picked the silage from the ration. We were then left with straw at the bunks. I don't remember how many kg's we ended up with but it was a high straw ration over 50%. What I was thinking was putting down fine cut straw and then hay on top. Not sure if the cows would eat the top and leave the bottom. I guess this is why guys pay the big bucks for a vertical mixer.

[cowsense]

Seen the new processor demo'ed; it was very slow, is set up extremely awkward and has an abortion of a drive. Processed the feed into mainly dust and fines! If you need feed chopped hire a custom tub grinder and get it cut the way you need it!