Canadians are dying in the hallways! (Or what I learned at my local town hall)

[IdaBriggs]

= Its true! Canadians are DYING IN THE HALLWAYS at their local hospitals because health care is rationed. (Or so I was told by folks who were earnestly trying to convince me of the evils of providing health care for everyone.)

= Obama and Hitler are synonyms, because Hitler wanted socialized medicine before World War II.

= The Civil Rights Movement destroyed Detroit. (I asked that guy if he was a racist, and he blustered NO. Turns out he is a Libertarian.)

= Canada, England and France are DICTATORSHIPS where people are not allowed to choose their own doctors. We should not, however, try to liberate them from this horrible state of affairs because how they destroy their own country is none of our business.

= We can't afford health care for everyone; conversely, everyone who needs health care can already get it.

= Anyone without health care is lazy and doesn't work for a living.

= Jesus said to teach people to fish, so we shouldn't give them health care, but instead, teach them how to perform their own appendectomies.

= Real patriots were silent during the Bush years because they supported him and the war on terror; now they have to come forward and save us all from OBAMA-CARE because it pays for abortions.

= No one ever dies from a lack of health care in this country.

ON EDIT: (Forgot this one) Most of the 45 million uninsured AMERICANS are illegal aliens (so they don't count).

And last, but not least, I learned --

THESE PEOPLE ARE FLAMING IDIOTS, AND ANY "DEMOCRAT" WHO LISTENS TO THEM DESERVES THE TROUNCING HE IS GOING TO GET -- THEY WON'T VOTE FOR YOU, SO MAKE YOUR BASE HAPPY, AND FIX THE SYSTEM!!!

It was fun. I didn't even try to change minds; I just antagonized the beans out of some of these people. I did have some good conversations with some people -- we "shouted" at each other because we couldn't hear very well. I got there half an hour before it was supposed to start, and couldn't get in. There were probably a thousand people all wanting to get in to voice our opinion, and frankly, despite the idiot brigade, it was nice to see people actually participating in the discussion.

But the bottom line is what I gleefully gloated in telling the folks who oppose reform:

"TOO BAD. YOUR SIDE LOST. YOUR GUY SAID THINGS WERE FINE, AND THE GUY WHO GOT ELECTED PROMISED TO FIX THINGS. MORE PEOPLE VOTED FOR HIM, SO WHAT YOU SAY DOESN'T MATTER AT ALL. HA! HA! HA!"

It was more fun than it should have been.

On Edit: Nope, I'm not a nice person sometimes. I can live with it.

[Teaser]

don't be nice.

be right!

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Dammit! Accidentally hit Unrec.:^(

[IdaBriggs]

2. I did that once -- thank you for the thought!

I appreciate the sentiment!

[GreenPartyVoter]

20. I've done it twice now. Darned twitchy clicker finger!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. I made it up for you -

don't worry............

[GreenPartyVoter]

21. Thanks! *hugs*

[madmax]

4. Actually, that happened

here in the US. Does anyone remember the elderly AA woman who was left to die on the floor? A security gaurd looked in, did nothing. A nurse or an aid looked in, did nothing.

[IdaBriggs]

5. The folks telling me about the horrors of the Canadian system

were also suitably upset because the government there subsidized prescriptions, which would prevent drug companies from getting enough money to do research if we did that here.

It was interesting to hear that the Canadians have made NO MEDICAL ADVANCEMENTS because of their ... ummm, rationing???

[polly7]

10. They are so full of shit. n/t.

[wolfgangmo]

25. US medicine research represents about 15% of the worlds research

And even most of that is supported by government grants.

The biggest line item in most american drug companies budget is advertising and marketing. So how's this for a solution. Make it illegal for drug companies to advertise and then all that money could go to research. Hmmmm?

This is just so much BS on it's face. Almost all drug research is done on the public dime, both here, in Canada, and overseas.

And yes, Virginia, there is medical advancement and research happening outside the Excited States of 'Merica.

[madmax]

32. Thanks for that 15% figure

my brother in law is always justifying the price of Rx's due to R&D. He's an ass - good thing he doesn't vote!

[wolfgangmo]

34. This article might help a bit.

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/08/fiv...

Especially number 4 which gives a few details about what type of drugs, etc has been developed in which countries. For example french research is directly responsible for joint replacement surgery.

PS - your brother in law is probably an ass, but that can be cured given time and the right motivations for him. What is most important to him? Therein lies the answer.

[madmax]

35. One word is important to him

M-O-N-E-Y.

My guy is not at ALL like his brother. If he were, we'd be divorced. In fact, my liberal ex-sister in law, did just that last year, after 25 years. I don't know how she lasted that long!

It was getting so that when we got together we 'tried' not to talk politics.

However, I like beating a dead horse so I'm going to email him that link.

[onlyadream]

45. Yeah, and my hubby's cousin just married a Canadian woman

and he gave up a great teaching job to live in Canada BECAUSE of the healthcare (they're now expecting). I guess it's just soooooo horrible!!!

[ejpoeta]

9. then there is the dumping of patients in alleys. bet they don't do that in canada.

[madmax]

33. Yes, I remember seeing that on 60 minutes. n/t

[chasitynola]

24. Exactly

what I was thinking...that made my stomach turn.

[DeepBlueC]

6. Canadians don't have HMO 'networks' of doctors

We actually DO choose our own.

[IdaBriggs]

7. Please! How dare you confuse these folks with REALITY???

They've made up their minds, heaven only knows where they get this crap, and there is no telling them differently.

Your Canadian. You are obviously a dead man walking, whose only hope is to make a run for the border!

[DeepBlueC]

8. Interestingly I am a U.S. healthcare exile

can't go home because they take care of me here.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

18. They get this crap on right-wing radio

It is nothing but brainwashing.

My brother became a right-winger after getting a job that required him to drive around a lot. Since he's not much into music, he listened to talk radio, and that was the beginning of his conversion to right-wingery.

[onlyadream]

46. Why can the democrats do that too?

Shouldn't we be fighting fire with fire. We need to get out there and be on the radio too!!

[Canuckistanian]

11. We're dying in hallways now?

Why wasn't I informed of this?

All of my loved ones who died did so in hospital beds, getting some of the best healthcare in North America.

Unfortunately, they were all elderly with chronic diseases. I doubt that UnitedHealth would have made a difference.

[polly7]

12. Mine too. Where I am, more often than not in private rooms that felt more

like home than a hospital.

[DCKit]

13. Oh Ida, I'd fear for your mental health if I thought it were catching/

Teh Stupid is on the loose and running rampant.

[IdaBriggs]

14. It was kind of scary. Actually, it was a LOT scary, but I

decided to laugh instead.

Seriously, what else can you do? They only want to hear what makes them happy -- not any other "Truth."

[Vinca]

15. Americans are dying on the sidewalk. They aren't allowed in the hallways.

How on earth do people get so freaking stupid?

[IdaBriggs]

16. I have no idea. They were very earnest about it, however,

and considered themselves "well informed."

I do not think reading comprehension was a skill they actually had. (Okay, did THAT sentence make any sense?) LOL!

[mnhtnbb]

26. They're brainwashed by Faux News and Rush Slimebaugh day in and day out.

[Posteritatis]

28. Ouch. (nt)

[LynnTheDem]

17. Like THIS Canadian??? Oh wait...

http://www.newsweek.com/id/145870




She was American.

[flakey_foont]

19. Canada, France and England are Dictatorships??

My stars! I never knew................never did trust those English and Canadians with their foreign language and all

[Posteritatis]

29. Most libertarians and a lot of republicans assume Canada's an absolute monarchy

There's a few idiots on DU who think so as well, but they're blissfully rare by comparison.

[wolfgangmo]

31. It's funny that we didn't think they were dictatorships ...

... when we were recruiting them for the coalition of the willing. Seems to me they were called bright shining examples of democracies.

My, how times change.

[RufusTFirefly]

22. The really evil thing about these preposterous stories is that...

... they suck all the air out of reasonable discussion and planning.

Instead of spending our time ironing out the fine points of a wonderful Medicare for All system, we're refuting ridiculous claims instead made by people who are either knowingly lying or are so utterly brainwashed that facts would make absolutely no impression on them.

Meanwhile, the insurance companies are laughing diabolically at all the chaos that has been created. They are like the global warming skeptics. Every day of indecision brings more money for them and puts more of us in greater danger.

[greymattermom]

23. my cousin

My Canadian cousin had pancreatic cancer 2 years ago, had the Whipple procedure right away and regular follow ups since. He wants all Americans to know how thankful he is for Canadian health care. He's doing well.

[Posteritatis]

27. It's true! I died in the hallways *three times* just this past year!

I was supposed to be killed seven times, but, y'know, the grinding inefficiency of communism and all that. I wrote a nasty letter to my MLA over it, so I expect the death squads to arrive soon.

[nadinbrzezinski]

30. but you are still here, after three times?

Damn that is highly inefficient.

LOL

[IdaBriggs]

40. Wow! I have to make sure folks are informed about THAT!

Seven times, and only killed THREE?

[Posteritatis]

41. Yeah! Bastards still owe me four flatlinings! (nt)

[JBoy]

36. We make a special version of the Zamboni to clear the hallways of dead people.

[Prophet 451]

37. Well said

For the record, I live under the NHS in Britain. It's not perfect but it's a lot better than they're telling you. We can choose our doctors (so long as we live within their area and that's the doctor's rule, not the governments) and while people do occasionally die in the corridors, it's usually because they've come into A&E and died on their way to surgery.

The Hitler thing is just an extension of their long delusion that, because the Nazis included the word "socialist" in their name, they must be left-wingers. Of course, in reality, the name was just a hangover from many years earlier.

[LibDemAlways]

38. My favorites are the dumbasses who screech that

"Obamacare" means a person won't be able to choose his doctor. Many of those morons belong to some sort of HMO which won't let them choose their own doctor right now.

[Pharaoh]

39. Thanks Ida

Kickin

[angrychair]

42. You've got a stronger stomach than me

I couldn't bear to be in the same room with these idiots. The amount of anger and dismay this traveling band of morans causes me is beyond words. I feel lost in a sea of stupid sometimes. My whole mood becomes darker and darker with every new day of meaningless and fruitless discussions trying to make sense of the stupid and in-bred racists that have taken over the national debate about health-care. If he gives up on the public option next week before congress, we are done. We will, in effect, concede defeat to the deathers, birthers and mad hatters and loss control of the the present and future agenda of the Democratic Party. I hate to sound so dark and final about it all but the whole thing is very depressing to me.

[asdjrocky]

43. This is a good post. Thank you.

[BrklynLiberal]

44. More power to ya' I could not have put up with those morons for even 5 minutes..