Oh, Canada

Our home and native land.

Did you know that I don't know all the words to our national anthem in English? About half-way through I switch to French, and because I don't really understand or speak much French it ends up like a gobbly-gook mess of made up words.

I do know the Star Spangled Banner, thank you sports programming...

Do 'they' play the anthem before golfing events? I've never been to one, I can't imagine that 'they' do, but 'they' should... anyway...

Yesterday Billy (not his real name, didja know that?"... we named the dog Indiana..." anyway...) called to inform me that he got his flu shot. The doctor, who is otherwise known as the greatest doctor in the world, is a friend of Billy's boss and popped into the shop yesterday morning and handed out flu shots like left over Hallowe-en candy. Hm, how nice.

I'm not going to get into why I have never gotten a flu shot, that's not what this is about...

Basically flu shots are really easy to get here; walk-in clinics, municipal events, grocery stores, anywhere really... oh, and they are free, always free. When there was a huge shortage of shots a couple of years ago, and the American media was creating a panic, (they would break into programming to tell viewers that 46 shots were available at the Downtown Seniors Center...) we Canadians were being poked regularly and had a nice little surplus to send stateside.

I'm getting to my point, but there is a twist at the end...

So, not to get into an and US vs. THEM rant, I just want to note that that is pretty cool. No, not everyday a doctor walks into a grimy mechanic shop with a happy box of needles, (he also is a regular at Kurley's and has been known to pop in there injecting burger lovers and beer drinkers as well...) but here's the thought...

As You May Well Know, our health care is free, so our system happily makes flu shots readily available. Yay! Immunizing citizens keeps them from getting sick. It keeps employees from becoming ill, so they can be productive members of society. In turn, it keeps these people out of hospital emergency rooms and clinics, which saves the government huge money. That's right, spend a little, save a lot! Smart! The same interest that wants us to be healthy, also has a direct financial benefit.

So, our crazy overtaxed socialistic system right? Please hold.... I just dug up Billy's 2005 Notice of Assessment, (of course I knew it's exact location...) and he was taxes 27% of his income. That's not bad for all we get.

I golfed with a 25 year old cop from Nashville and his father-in-law in Tennessee a couple of weeks ago. This young guy has a son with serious medical problems and actually had a partial heart transplant, (part PIG heart... crazy!) and spent a ton of time in the hospital. The total medical costs? Seven! Million! Dollars! Could you imagine not having coverage? He did, thank God...

Okay, so now the twist. Growing up we didn't have prescription, dental, or eye coverage as my parents were self employed. It wasn't until I married Billy (not his real name... haha) that I have coverage, (except the crap coverage while I was in University...but anyway...) that I had coverage, and it makes me think...

Until then, I'd been paying for birth control for, well, let's just say... years... and while in high school I knew a girl, (there was more than one, but this is the best example) who became pregnant. The government paid, obviously for her pre-natal care, and hospital care. She then moved out into her own apartment, which the government paid for. She paid rent, fed and clothed her and her kid and went to high school, sponsored by Canada taxpayers. Once done highschool, she went to college off and on, (long enough to re qualify for mother's allowance) worked under the table, was able to buy a car, great clothes and wonderful, expensive Christmas presents for her kid and her boyfriend. This went on for 12! 12! 12! years.

And I had to pay for my own birth control pill.

Hmmm, I don't think the government *quite* has it right yet. A few hundred dollars worth of free medication VS. 12 years of good living...

Still, God Bless Canada, oh, and you too, US, I still love y'all.