1 Absolutely brilliant! I stumbled across this blog and it's like comedy gold. "Just don't get sick up here (in Canada)" where EVERYONE is covered by health care, as oppossed by God's Land, the U.S.A., where anyone less than middle-class is screwed into debt when they get sick? Comedy gold. Thank you again for the effort.

2 You don't live in Toronto, I take it.

3 I see Brazen has trundled out the old canard about everyone in America either dying or going bankrupt when they get ill. Funny how so many people still want to go there to live and work. Funny how so many people are still alive and working down there. On the subject of McKenna's stuck-on-stupid rantings, you make the right point, Debbye, totalitarianism is wunderbar, as long as you are on the right, or in this case, left side. I am sure there wre lots of Germans in the 1930s who made the same case for one man rule. As Churchill said, I believe, democracy is the least bad system. As for getting things done, when an earthquake of order 7 hits Vancouver, we shall see if Canada, with all her refined and effeminate virtues, will be able to muster the wherewithall to do anything at all to help. I can alrady see the CBC (if it still existed) covering in breathless awe our 3 rusty but heroic jeeps trundling across Sakatchewan carrying aid to the afflicted.

4 If Canada eliminated government health care, your taxes would drop enough you could buy a great health insurance policy and have money left over - and you'd end up with better health care, no waiting lists. Socialist health care might have an advantage tho when terrorists attack or when something like an earthquake happens - none of the victims will have to provide policy numbers or anything like that. They'll still have to get on that waiting list tho.

5 DEBBYE, I was almost willing to accept your response as I don't often have to go to the hospital myself and I'm not sure what it's like. Maybe your family has had problems that the hospital has dealt with poorly or slowly and I'm not certain, so no comment on that. However, would the United States be much better? I hope you're rich. Maybe you are. But if you aren't, you have no reason to expect it's any better at the working class/no health insurance level. And even if you are well off and could afford good health insurance, it isn't a great position to be putting out everyone who CANT afford that - including myself. That's where Canada has the moral advantage on America. It's not like we're perfect, but at least we TRY to take care of everyone (without blessing them with a huge bill of course). KEITH, You must be the real comedian on this site... I'll pick on you instead of Debbye. "Funny how so many people still want to go there to live and work." - That's a good response, EXCEPT FOR ONE THING... Only the people who can make lots of money want to go to the United States!!! You don't see working class poor people on their way down south very often, and that's the majority of our population... Of course the U.S. has a profit advantage, but other than that, you treat your poor people like s-word. -As for that line comparing Canada to Nazi Germany.... no comment. Your're a comedian AND an idiot with a lack of knowledge about history.

6 Brazen, You stupid, stupid, ignorant person. All those Mexicans crossing the Rio Grande are stockbrokers, after a bigger car and a bigger house, I presume? You dumb shit. Join me at my blog sometime where I can pummel you uninhibited by my desire to not cause a rucous over here. Canadians like you are what make me ashamed to be one.

7 Vote Independent for Independence! It is the only way within the system we have right now, to make your voice and concerns be heard above the party line. Slogan: Divided as independents the people stand, United as partisan politics the people fall! Start a group, organization, coalition, or party if you will to support independents. Similar to a co-op unsure about the co-op fees issue partisan and sponsorship issues? (Sponsorship pun intended) Statement of intent! -Municipal politics principles and format. -Everybody votes independently in the House of Commons. -Leader is chosen voted on from among the elected independents by the elected independents. -Could even go one further and have municipal electees voted amongst them selves to represent province or federal? -If possible a common set of base goals and policies. This may not be appropriate detract from the independent spirit? Shared objectives and campaigning practices -Centralized Fund raising -Centralized list of candidates, emails, Ph numbers, Web pages -Help Enlist candidates -Enlist volunteers to help independents -Sharing of thoughts and ideas discussion to hone campaign platforms -Internet fund raising centralized and accountable with all books open and published online. -Dissemination of funds according to number of constituents or possibility of election? -Bulk advertising cheaper. -Centralized head quarters for all candidates. -

8 Keith and Jay, I guess Brazen is doing the hit and run thingy (no surpise there.) Too many Canadians don't realize that they pay much more in taxes for public health care than Americans pay for private health care, and that the private plans usually include dental and optical benfits as well as some pharmaceutical benefits. I've been sick and injured in the U.S. and was never refused treatment in the instances when I didn't have private coverage. Here I can't get in to see a doctor within a week when I'm sick but I know it's not an emergency - yet - so hope home remedies and the old stand-bys (stay in bed, take plenty of liquids and take aspirin for fast, fast relief) will suffice. You'd think people would connect the dots when they read that the federal infusion of cash into health care went mostly to administrative costs but nooo, better the myth than harsh reality. NL, I'm not a Canadian citizen but have voted Independent in the U.S. in past elections. Things have changed, though, and I now demand a government that is willing to fight and defend my freedom. I am looking forward to the day when I can vote Independent (probably Libertarian) because the danger has passed. I guess you can say I vote Republican so I can vote Libertarian. And they say we aren't complex ...