Wise and sensible words by a Canadian

[NanceGreggs]

7. The reason why ...

... is simple: the Canadian healthcare system has been misrepresented by Republicans for decades.

Here's some of the things I've heard GOPers state:

In Canada, it takes up to 8 months or more to get a doctor's appointment.

All Canadian doctors are gov't employees and, as such, the gov't directs them to keep costs down by not prescribing expensive treatments, even if they think it necessary.

In Canada, the gov't assigns you to a specific doctor, and you cannot see anyone else.

A Canadian doctor cannot prescribe treatment or medication to any patient without "clearing it" with a gov't bureaucrat first.

Canadian hospitals are using decrepit, out-of-date equipment because the gov't refuses to spend the money to update them.

I have lived in Toronto for over forty years, and NONE of the above is even remotely true. Doctors are not gov't employees, and I can see any doctor I choose. I can see a doctor within an hour if I need to. The gov't doesn't even know I've seen a doctor until that doctor sends them the bill for my visit.

Canadian hospitals are state-of-the-art, and often treat Americans whose own hospitals aren't as well-equipped as ours.

I know that the above propaganda is wide-spread in the US, and accepted as fact. I know because I've had this bullshit parroted back to me by family and friends in the States.

If Americans KNEW how the Canadian system actually works, they'd be in the streets with torches and pitchforks demanding it. Instead they've swallowed the GOP propaganda whole.