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izzadySo... hey look dreamwidth! Ain't it pretty?
I figure an interesting new journaling site is as good a reason as any to start venturing a little further out of chronic lurkerdom. This is also in the interest of testing out my pretty new installation of Ubuntu on more and more things, although I suppose the whole Firefox thing probably means that it won't make any difference.
Erm.... Rant for today:
If I come across one more thing talking about the joys of public health care in Canada, I will probably throw up. I realize that it is significantly better than what exists in many other places, and I am undeniably grateful for what we do have. But the fact is that Canada's health-care system is partially public. It has only ever been partially public. Medication is just not a minor part of a modern health-care system. (Although, arguably that's a problem in its own right.) Most of the times most people go to the doctor, they get prescribed something. It is wonderful to not have to worry about the cost of appointments or of procedures, and probably makes a huge difference in the lives and health of many people, but it is still true that an illness could mean huge financial difficulties for someone who does not have a private (usually work-related) drug plan. Dental care is also not really something that's frivolous, even if it's generally less expensive. Vision care. Again. Glasses not so much optional for lots of people. Sure 300$ is nothing compared to $30 000 and no glasses is not usually life threatening, but for someone with low income, that's a lot of money and it could make the difference between being able to drive and not or being able to work and not. So. Essentially, we do not have beautiful free public health care in Canada. We have thankfully still existent, though desperately underfunded, partial public health care, which still needs defending and still needs expanding, and which still leaves people relying on the private insurance system for a lot of very basic and essential services. End rant.
I figure an interesting new journaling site is as good a reason as any to start venturing a little further out of chronic lurkerdom. This is also in the interest of testing out my pretty new installation of Ubuntu on more and more things, although I suppose the whole Firefox thing probably means that it won't make any difference.
Erm.... Rant for today:
If I come across one more thing talking about the joys of public health care in Canada, I will probably throw up. I realize that it is significantly better than what exists in many other places, and I am undeniably grateful for what we do have. But the fact is that Canada's health-care system is partially public. It has only ever been partially public. Medication is just not a minor part of a modern health-care system. (Although, arguably that's a problem in its own right.) Most of the times most people go to the doctor, they get prescribed something. It is wonderful to not have to worry about the cost of appointments or of procedures, and probably makes a huge difference in the lives and health of many people, but it is still true that an illness could mean huge financial difficulties for someone who does not have a private (usually work-related) drug plan. Dental care is also not really something that's frivolous, even if it's generally less expensive. Vision care. Again. Glasses not so much optional for lots of people. Sure 300$ is nothing compared to $30 000 and no glasses is not usually life threatening, but for someone with low income, that's a lot of money and it could make the difference between being able to drive and not or being able to work and not. So. Essentially, we do not have beautiful free public health care in Canada. We have thankfully still existent, though desperately underfunded, partial public health care, which still needs defending and still needs expanding, and which still leaves people relying on the private insurance system for a lot of very basic and essential services. End rant.