Janey

It's true, I am basically what is called a small 'C' conservative in Canada. That is, I think the less gov't involvment in our affairs the better. I am fiscally conservative in my own household, and think the gov't should be as well, but at the same time believe that gov't is our tool for managing those aspects of our nation for which we as citizens can pool our resources and invoke economies of scale. Several things fall in this area:

- healthcare for one,
- liquor sales (I'm sorry, but i really support and like the LCBO. I've seen private systems like in Pittsburgh and really really appreciate the LCBO) I just don't like the tax structure around liquor sales.
- military/defense/Search & rescue/coast guard and all the infrastructure that includes

- energy providers (does anybody recall that electricity and gas companies were made into publicly owned companies at the end of the 1800's for a reason? FERC 888 & 889 notwithstanding, handing the reins back over to private interests has been nothing short of painful very similar to the HMO experience. Just look at Enron, and the california power problems etc -but that is another thread topic).

I'm sure that the government bureaucrats cannot manage the health care system as well as dedicated (corporate oriented) professionals would be able to, but the prevalent alternative of handing the entire system over to HMOs or insurance companies who have a vested interest in profits, rather than utilizing economies of scale is very very very scary from my point of view.

The fact that we have 30-odd million citizens, a portion of whom can contribute to the total package (as taxpayers), should be a no-brainer to manage. And we do have some room (ok a lot of room) to improve here, I admit that. But with the amount of 'normal' health care that I mayself and my family is tallying up , it would be very depressing to have to face bills on top of it all.