It's not just the weather that's cooler in Canada - Page 2 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

kulrblind · 12-14-2005, 06:01 AM

Wait, wait...what makes Windsor only periodically-cool? Surely not its proximity to Detroit

There's a lot to see in Canada. Unfortunately the "cool cities" aren't always easily accessible to the driving traveller.

pan6467 · 12-14-2005, 06:22 AM

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, the Stratford Festival, Newfoundland all very beautiful, pretty clean and wonderful areas for summer visits.

feelgood · 12-14-2005, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaver

Just like America, it doesn't take long until you see the dirt beneith the shine.

Racism is as rampant in Canada as it is in America.

Sorry to let you know but compared to United States, we rarely have any race riot. Instead, we just have an old fashion beer, hockey game and then duke it out in the parking lot and we're all mates again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaver

Their country is constantly trying to split itself apart.

Every country is trying to constantly split itself, it just happened to work in for the USSR.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaver

Taxes are high and heath care is having troubles with overloading.

You're an American right? Let me guess, you pay for your own health care eh? Our health care is free and we're free to go ahead and pay for our own care but we don't choose to

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaver

However they also dont face many problems we face. Rampant immigration of the poor accross the borders (which scews the infant mortality rate/etc).

Hey! How bout you guys create universal health care and that way, the poor can have access to free health care and ulimately, that won't screw your mortality rate/etc. That

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaver

The price tag of being labelled the world police (we didn't simply nominate ourselves afterall). It's easy to put money elsewhere when a whopping 2% of the budget goes to the military (they know no one will attack Canada with us as their only neighbor). And all that entails being the leader of the world.

Sorry to let you know but our military has been more active than you think, except we just choose to be involved in peacemaking instead of war mongering like you guys are. FYI, Canada has been involved in more UN mission than any other country in the world, even more than United States.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaver

Cute article, however it's not exactly unbiased and doesnt take into account most things.

Yeah well, an American wrote it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan

As for the 2%... true but you know the aswer to that... the only nation that would ever (and ever has) invade(d) Canada is/was the USA.

Hey Char, don't forget to mention that the only nation that would ever (and ever has) invade(d) the USA is/was Canada.

What bout the French? They lost and we gave them a place called Quebec and they keep trying to take it back to France since then

Charlatan · 12-14-2005, 07:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaver

Well, the irony is the Canadian Army has recently started employing bicycles to it's infantry (I kid you not).

They cant afford new Armored Personel Carriers, and some of the old ones date to WWII. To think, we caught flack for not having our Hummers armor plated... they're riding into battle like armed 12 year olds.

Funny you should bring that up... apparently our vehicles are, in fact, armoured. This one was hit with a roadside bomb near Maywand, Afghanistan. The three soldiers and one UK journalist inside were injured but are alive.

Quote:

LINK

Bomb ripped apart vehicle carrying Edmonton soldiers in Afghanistan
Last updated Dec 12 2005 04:31 PM MST
CBC News
Three Edmonton-based soldiers were injured when a bomb detonated under their vehicle in southern Afghanistan Monday, described by a journalist riding with them as a "complete disaster scene."

A Canadian soldier examines the wreckage of a military vehicle damaged in a roadside bomb attack near Maywand, Afghanistan. Three Canadian soldiers were injured. (Courtesy DND)
Tim Albone, a reporter with Global Radio News, said they were travelling in a lightly armoured vehicle through a dry riverbed about 90 kilometres west of Kandahar midday Monday when the bomb exploded under a front tire.

"In the moment of the blast, I remember hearing a pop sort of like a door slamming," he said. "The next thing I knew, the two guys in the front – the driver and a passenger – were both screaming. They both had broken legs."

Albone said he turned to look for the soldier who had been sitting in a 250-kilogram gun turret and saw that the soldier and the turret had been ripped from the vehicle by the force of the blast.

He said the bomb destroyed the vehicle's engine, hurled the hood about 150 metres, threw a front tire 500 metres and sent plumes of black smoke into the air.

"It was just a complete disaster scene, really," he said.

He said military officials later told him that the quartet only survived because of the armour on the vehicle, which was one of the Mercedes-Benz Gelaendewagens (known as "G Wagons") recently purchased by the Canadian military.

Albone said it took about 40 minutes for medical crews to reach them, in part because they feared more bombs could be hidden in the area.

He said he lifted up the turret that was trapping the gunner on the ground.

Then they pulled the two other soldiers out of the wreckage, splinting up one man's leg with a basic first aid kit they found in the G wagon.

Once help arrived, they were taken from the site near the town of Maywand to a U.S. military field hospital in Kandahar.

The Canadian Department of National Defence said Monday that the soldiers, all with 3rd battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, were in stable condition.

Col. Steve Bowes said one soldier had a broken leg and another had a broken ankle and foot. He said the third soldier escaped with minor injuries.

The military hasn't named the soldiers but said their families have been notified.

Albone said coalition troops had arrested two people who were seen tearing away from the scene of the bombing on a motorcycle. He said they had been handed over to Afghan troops.

Neither Canadian nor Afghan officials have confirmed the arrests.

Last week, three members of Canada's commando unit, Joint Task Force 2, were injured in an operation against insurgents in Afghanistan.

In late November, a Canadian soldier was killed in Afghanistan when the armoured vehicle he was riding in rolled over near the city of Kandahar. Pte. Braun Scott Woodfield, 24, was the eighth Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan since 2002.

In April 2002, four soldiers from the 3rd battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry were killed when an American pilot accidentally bombed them during a training exercise.

highthief · 12-14-2005, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mojo_PeiPei

I think the key was we have rampant illegal immigration.

We have that too - I agree the US rate is likely higher, but a lot of arguments I hear say: "We have this giant pool of poor, uneducated black/hipspanic/whatever people in the USA and that brings our stats down compared to whitebread Canada." Fact is, Canada now has a higher percentage of poor, often uneducated immigrants coming here (at least legally), and the overall rate of minorities may well be higher taking immigration and natives into account.

raveneye · 12-14-2005, 07:15 AM

I lived in Vancouver for 5-6 years in the early 90s, and now it's hard for me to imagine a better place to live. Stunning natural beauty, diverse population, great music and arts, friendly fun people, just everything, it's unforgettable. It's all an unbelievable dream to me now, did that paradise actually exist, or am I imagining it?

The healthcare was superb, I paid around $40 per month, and everything was covered 100%, no waiting.

And yep there was pot, you could buy it from naked peddlers any time on Wreck beach, at least before the RCMP tried to clean it up. My colleagues would wink and nod and sneak up to the office rooftop to have a few tokes and check out the view.

A lot of folks didn't like the GST though, and this was a time when everybody crossed down to the U.S. border towns all weekend long to buy gas and other stuff to save on the GST and other taxes and the exchange rate. There were lines and lines of gas stations all along the border on the U.S. side, filled to max all weekend, and customers were 90% Canadian there and in most stores on the U.S. side, all the way down to Bellingham WA. It was a funny economic culture.

Gotta love those folks and that priceless natural beauty up there. It's often in my reveries

Lebell · 12-14-2005, 07:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pan6467

I just was commenting on the fact that people ridicule Canada for not puuting more into their military. They don't need to.

Just a correction:

I personally was ridiculing Canada for not spending alot on it's military. I was just stating a cold hard fact.

As to discussing the value received for our spending, that's another thread.

Seaver · 12-14-2005, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Perhaps you're unaware of the 3rd Reich's extensive use of bicycles to move troops as a compontent of Blitzkrieg? Quite effective in places where you can't count on paved roads.

Then again they were invading France...

Yeah but they also still used Mule trains for transporting supplies.

Quote:

Funny you should bring that up... apparently our vehicles are, in fact, armoured.

Oh I know they do, I've even ridden in a few early on. However not all their "mounted" soldiers are riding in nice, new equipment.

And for all I said about Canada, I actually DO like the country. I grew up for almost half my childhood there. However I'm getting sick of how everyone paints over all the rough spots to say "we should be like them" when the realities are so much different.

And besides, much of the Canadian military is US equipment we sold at such an insane price it might as well have been given away (15mil for a brand new F-18?... while it costs more like 50).

Charlatan · 12-14-2005, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaver

And besides, much of the Canadian military is US equipment we sold at such an insane price it might as well have been given away (15mil for a brand new F-18?... while it costs more like 50).

That's just the guilty conscience for strong arming the Canadian governement into killing the Arrow.

Leto · 12-14-2005, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ustwo

I'm upset no one quoted this.

People, people, I give you a set up, take the shot!

That was a set up? darn.... But it describes a few neighbours of mine... throw in rasta with the gay, hippie and pothead, and you got a better mix.

Leto · 12-14-2005, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ustwo

It was in the late 80's or early 90's I forget the date, and the Worlds Fair or some such was in Paris ... Anyways they had a parade of nations thing and Canada was with the third world nations...... Oh how the Canadian commentators were pissed at being lumped with the third world and did ‘not like it at all!’.

That would piss me off too. leave it to the French to be so condenscending.

But some of the factors that define a third world nation is the dependence on the export of primary resources to sustain its economy, plus the concentration of its population is one or two "primary" cities, with a languishig agrarian society that cannot sustain itself.

Granted, there are only 2 or 3 urban areas that have a population of over 1 million, but I do believe that our economy has developed past that stage that defines it as 3rd world. We also do not suffer the sociological 3rd world problems (high birth rate/high death rate, large low age population, literacy issues and high unemployment).

A lot of the blessing of Canada's situation can be drawn directly back to being on the winning side of the European wars (WWI & II) and the subsequent kick start to the economies that the allies achieved. And this was in no small part due to our friendship/alliance with the US, and the subsequent co-development of our infrastructures.

The fact is that the US has 10 times the resources, and all the economies of scale that that entails. So an F18 may cost $50 mill each, but who can realistically afford a fleet of those??? The US gov't may purchase them, but I doubt they actually paid the sticker price. In the same way, The Canadian gov't also purchased them and didn't pay the sticker price. Again the lockstep of our two countries bears fruit. ( I wonder if that was $15 mill Canadian that we paid??? sweet!)

sometimes, though, we retain the right to be individuals and not be exactly like the US.

dammit .. I'm rambling. I need a beer.

Seaver · 12-14-2005, 10:25 AM

Quote:

That's just the guilty conscience for strong arming the Canadian governement into killing the Arrow.

Well we could leave you to your own devices and possibly end up like the French.

They decided they wanted a Nuclear Carrier. So they put a reactor from a Sub into the carrier. However subs aren't meant to go fast, carriers are. If there is no headwind the carrier has to speed up to 30+ knots to create enough headwind for the planes to take off. However the reactor isn't meant for those speeds. So they have to speed up enough for that, which is long enough to launch one plane then the reactor auto-kills itself to prevent overheating. So for the next 30min the carrier is dead in the water with only backup batteries for life support systems.

In addition to that their BRAND NEW plane built for the carrier is too big (dont know who overlooked that). It can't land or take off from the very carrier it was built around, so their Navy is still using the 1955 fighters.

All that and their carrier costs almost as much as ours... and is 1/2 the size.

Go France!

Leto · 12-14-2005, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaver

Well we could leave you to your own devices and possibly end up like the French.

They decided they wanted a Nuclear Carrier. So they put a reactor from a Sub into the carrier. However subs aren't meant to go fast, carriers are. If there is no headwind the carrier has to speed up to 30+ knots to create enough headwind for the planes to take off. However the reactor isn't meant for those speeds. So they have to speed up enough for that, which is long enough to launch one plane then the reactor auto-kills itself to prevent overheating. So for the next 30min the carrier is dead in the water with only backup batteries for life support systems.

In addition to that their BRAND NEW plane built for the carrier is too big (dont know who overlooked that). It can't land or take off from the very carrier it was built around, so their Navy is still using the 1955 fighters.

All that and their carrier costs almost as much as ours... and is 1/2 the size.

Go France!

there you go. economies of scale in action.

Charlatan · 12-14-2005, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaver

Well we could leave you to your own devices and possibly end up like the French.

(snip)

All that and their carrier costs almost as much as ours... and is 1/2 the size.

Go France!

Seaver... that was a sly way of dissing the Arrow.

Trust me. Don't go there.

Don't make us angry Mr. Seaver... you wouldn't like us when we're angry.

Ustwo · 12-14-2005, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan

Don't make us angry Mr. Seaver... you wouldn't like us when we're angry.

Ohnoes! The bicycle cops are going to get us!

j8ear · 12-14-2005, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by feelgood

you pay for your own health care eh? Our health care is free and we're free to go ahead and pay for our own care but we don't choose to

This is one of the most rediculous things I have read in quite a while.

Free. That's just absurd, and honestly the most conerning of all misconceptions about the mediocre universal health care system offered by my country. Not only is it not free but it is also substandard, as our wait times, mortality rates, and medical professional attrition rates would indicate.

As far as paying for our own but not choosing too, perhaps you were unaware of a recent Canadian Supreme Court decision that actually overturned a Quebec law FORBIDDING Canadians from doing just that...You know forbidding us from choosing. This brings up two important thoughts. Why would provincial governments be restricting this choice, and how pre-tel did the Canadian Supreme Court get involved in an issue no one was choosing to do? Hmmmmmm.

I am tired of Canadians touting health care as a positive of our Country. Our health care fucking SUCKS.

There are many many many excellent qualities about Canada. In fact many social, political, environmental, and general quality of life aspects that far exceed just about anywhere else, that cess pool of social experimentation in Hongcouver, or Vangroovy being the exception of course, but health care unfortunately is not one of them.

-bear

Locobot · 12-14-2005, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaver

Yeah but they also still used Mule trains for transporting supplies.

And yet somehow it took the collective effort of most of the world to stop them.

Seaver · 12-14-2005, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Ohnoes! The bicycle cops are going to get us!

LMAO I just caught the picture of a Mountie in full red uniform riding a bike down an Iraqi street with an agry look on his face.

.. Come on I know you're smiling at that.

Charlatan · 12-14-2005, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j8ear

This is one of the most rediculous things I have read in quite a while.

Free. That's just absurd, and honestly the most conerning of all misconceptions about the mediocre universal health care system offered by my country. Not only is it not free but it is also substandard, as our wait times, mortality rates, and medical professional attrition rates would indicate.

Bear... I would suggest that feelgood doesn't actually think the healthcare is free. I am sure he understands that taxes pay for it.

As for it being substandard, this is hardly accurate. As has been pointed out to you many times in this forum... the mortality rates and general level of health in Canada vs. the USA is pretty much the same (with Canada posting numbers that are slightly better than the USA).

The difference is that we provide this health care to everyone and the US system does not. We do this while costing less per capita than the current US system.

If it "fucking SUCKS" why can we do as much or better than the US system for less and for all?

Quote:

Originally Posted by j8ear

As far as paying for our own but not choosing too, perhaps you were unaware of a recent Canadian Supreme Court decision that actually overturned a Quebec law FORBIDDING Canadians from doing just that...You know forbidding us from choosing. This brings up two important thoughts. Why would provincial governments be restricting this choice, and how pre-tel did the Canadian Supreme Court get involved in an issue no one was choosing to do? Hmmmmmm.

You are behind the times. The fact is, private clinics are a reality in Canada and there is no law preventing them from existing. The bone of contention comes when these private clinics try to tap into public funds. That shouldn't be permitted.

Charlatan · 12-14-2005, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaver

LMAO I just caught the picture of a Mountie in full red uniform riding a bike down an Iraqi street with an agry look on his face.

.. Come on I know you're smiling at that.

That is funny...

Ustwo · 12-14-2005, 12:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan

The bone of contention comes when these private clinics try to tap into public funds. That shouldn't be permitted.

Perhaps if enough Canadians get fed up with your system, enough will be willing to pay well over double (private from cash and public from their taxes), and your system will be saved from bankruptcy.

Edit:and....

Quote:

The Supreme Court of Canada ruled Thursday that the Quebec government cannot prevent people from paying for private insurance for health-care procedures covered under medicare..

In a 4-3 decision, the panel of seven justices said banning private insurance for a list of services ranging from MRI tests to cataract surgery was unconstitutional under the Quebec Charter of Rights, given that the public system has failed to guarantee patients access to those services in a timely way.

As a result of delays in receiving tests and surgeries, patients have suffered and even died in some cases, justices Beverley McLachlin, Jack Major, Michel Bastarache and Marie Deschamps found for the majority.

Oh and based on that you really missed with the bone of contention was.

Seaver · 12-14-2005, 12:20 PM

Yeah well... Just 2 years ago I had a back injury which litterally crippled me. For 4 months I couldnt walk on my own and my doctors were telling me it was a strained hamstring.

In reality it was a herniated disk in my back that pressed the ciatic (spelling?) nerve so hard against the spine that they couldnt even see it on an MRI. The doctor that saw it said it was the worst he's seen in 30 years.

It took 6 doctors 4 months to figure that one out... that's not exactly "on a timely basis" either. Those were also specialist doctors cause I have great insurance. I think both medical communities stick.

j8ear · 12-14-2005, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan

As has been pointed out to you many times in this forum...

You've have tried unsuccessfully once or twice to convince me of this folly. Nothing more. I'm sure Feelgood appreciates your deciphering of the words he didn't write. I know I do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan

why can we do as much or better than the US system for less and for all?

You can't and you don't. As if saying it enough will make it a reality.

You keep on keeping on, Charlatan, and if you believe that similarities in various healthcare statistics are because of the quality of our healthcare system, please do so. The professionals, the POLITICIANS, and most Canadians know differently. They are proud of the attempt and ashamed of the results. Recent political campaigns speak to this. Of course Canadians are not prone to air dirty laundry publically. Substandard is probably harsh and I will give you that. I think a more apt description would be lackluster, or mediocre. Also, agree that Canada provides lackluster or mediocre healthcare to everyone, just like the US. Of course in the US, just ike in Canada, those of means, success, and privledge take their serious healthcare needs elsewhere. This is the only thing universal about Canada's health care....well this and exorbinant taxes, and lackluster or mediocre services.

Finally, as far as being behind the times, perhaps. It is a FACT however, that within the last 12 months, the Supreme Court ruled invalid a Quebec provision FORBIDDING the purchase of private health insurance. I realize that it is possible that the Supreme Court ruled a law which didn't exist invalid, and also took up the issue which no one was interested in exploring its invalidation.

-bear

silent_jay · 12-14-2005, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ustwo

Canada - The gay hippie pothead next door?

You wanted someone to take a shot? I'll give it a try.

america - The asshole of North America.

Good enough.

Charlatan · 12-14-2005, 12:57 PM

May I point you to some statistics:

http://www.who.int/whr/2005/en/index.html

Canada - http://www.who.int/whr/2005/annex/in...ountry_a-f.pdf
United States - http://www.who.int/whr/2005/annex/in...ountry_p-z.pdf

CANADA
2003
Life expectancy - Male: 78 Female: 82
2002
Total expenditure on health as % of gross domestic product: 9.6
General government expenditure on health as % of total expenditure on health: 69.9
Private expenditure on health as % of total expenditure on health: 30.1
General government expenditure on health as % of total government expenditure: 15.9

UNITED STATES
2003
Life expectancy - Male: 75 Female: 80
2002
Total expenditure on health as % of gross domestic product: 14.6
General government expenditure on health as % of total expenditure on health: 44.9
Private expenditure on health as % of total expenditure on health: 55.1
General government expenditure on health as % of total government expenditure: 23.1

Say what you like... we pay less and live longer and our coverage is universal. What galls you all is that it *is* working. And that's OK. You stick to your system and we will stick to ours.

Good luck with all that.

Charlatan · 12-14-2005, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j8ear

Finally, as far as being behind the times, perhaps. It is a FACT however, that within the last 12 months, the Supreme Court ruled invalid a Quebec provision FORBIDDING the purchase of private health insurance. I realize that it is possible that the Supreme Court ruled a law which didn't exist invalid, and also took up the issue which no one was interested in exploring its invalidation.

-bear

As for this, I misread your original response.

Quote:

Originally Posted by j8ear

As far as paying for our own but not choosing too, perhaps you were unaware of a recent Canadian Supreme Court decision that actually overturned a Quebec law FORBIDDING Canadians from doing just that...You know forbidding us from choosing. This brings up two important thoughts. Why would provincial governments be restricting this choice, and how pre-tel did the Canadian Supreme Court get involved in an issue no one was choosing to do? Hmmmmmm.

Provincial governments are the ones that set Health Care policy. This is why the Quebec govermenment chose to make the law they did. The fact is, as I pointed out above, private clinics are not forbidden under Canadian law. The Supreme Court up held this.

Again, the problem is that private clinics are trying to tap into public money. This should not be condoned.

Ustwo · 12-14-2005, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charlatan

Again, the problem is that private clinics are trying to tap into public money. This should not be condoned.

You mean people want to get out what THEY put into the piss poor health care system? *gasp*

I have to wonder if Canadians could opt out of the system, what % would.

Charlatan · 12-14-2005, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ustwo

You mean people want to get out what THEY put into the piss poor health care system? *gasp*

I have to wonder if Canadians could opt out of the system, what % would.

Keep saying it's a "piss poor" system... maybe one day it will be true.

BigBen · 12-14-2005, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seaver

Well, the irony is the Canadian Army has recently started employing bicycles to it's infantry (I kid you not).

They cant afford new Armored Personel Carriers, and some of the old ones date to WWII. To think, we caught flack for not having our Hummers armor plated... they're riding into battle like armed 12 year olds.

What the fuck are you talking about?

Bicycles to our infantry? What regiment was that? I can see us buying bikes to help out in PT, something that the base would buy that would be stored at the gym. You want to ride a bike for PT? Here it is, bring it back when you are done.

I worked with the 10 mountain division (in the US) and they were VERY impressed with our LAV III fighting vehicles, and our Coyote recce kit.

I kid you not, your information is patently false. I admit that I selfishly want more money spent on the CF, and I look longingly at the kit the yanks get. I would not trade spaces with one of those poor fuckers for all the tea in China.

And we don't ride into battle. We provide humanitarian aid to the local population that has the unpleasant reality of living in a shitty war-torn country.

The saying is world-wide: What is the best army in the world?

American kit
German Officers
British NCO's
Canadian Troops.

Charlatan · 12-14-2005, 01:52 PM

Perhaps he was thinking of this:

Quote:

Private Tom Phelan, 1 Canadian Parachute battalion posed on a BSA airborne bicycle at their reinforcement camp in England. Pte. Phelan had been wounded at Le Mesnil, in Normandy on June 16. The photo looks dramatic, but he would have great trouble riding the bicycle this way, especially across country with one hand. National Archives of Canada photo PA 204971

http://bcoy1cpb.pacdat.net/bsa_historic.htm

It's a website about the historic use of the BSA Airbourne Bicycle.

silent_jay · 12-14-2005, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ustwo

You mean people want to get out what THEY put into the piss poor health care system? *gasp*

I have to wonder if Canadians could opt out of the system, what % would.

Like I've asked in two other threads ustwo, both of which you seem to leave shortly after I asked this question so I'm not really expecting an answer, what proof do you have its a piss poor system? Have you ever used it? Or are you just going by what you read and believing it? Or maybe you think it's 'piss poor' because it isn't the American way, we all know how much americans don't like things that aren't like them.

I've used it, my friends have used it, my family has used it and *gasp* we like it, you don't oh well, guess what, you aren't the one using it

If you haven't used it then I would say you aren't qualified to comment on wether the system is good or not, much like I'm unqualified to say if the american system is 'piss poor'.

I'm not a selfish person, I don't mind that my taxes go to pay for healthcare that many people use far more than I do. Even though I go the hospital once every 5 years or so, I'm glad I live in a country where everyone has access to health care.

I don't gripe and complain about how poor a system it is just because my money benefits my fellow canadians more than it does me. Canada isn't a country where everyone is looking out for number one

Seaver · 12-14-2005, 02:04 PM

It was in 1990, I was in Canada watching the news. Cant tell you which division it was, but they justified it saying the bikes were not detectable by radar and were cheap to produce. True it may have been stretching the truth saying it was "recent" but I do remember it quite vividly (my father was on transfer to the Canadian Air Force and couldn't believe they'd enact something like that).

Quote:

The saying is world-wide: What is the best army in the world?

American kit
German Officers
British NCO's
Canadian Troops.

Eh, I'd take a Jarhead Officer over a german one anyday. Our Major was sent to Iraq, got shot 4 times and refused to leave the battle. A general in D.C. had to call him over satellite phone to tell him to let someone else take over.

Leto · 12-14-2005, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j8ear

...

I am tired of Canadians touting health care as a positive of our Country. Our health care fucking SUCKS.

-bear

maybe. But given the options... there's not much better anywhere. I've had to compare experiences between here, the US, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Sri Lanka.

We've got a pretty darn good system for the end user, which would benefit VERY greatly from some improvements in efficiencies. There are a lot of improvements that could be provided....

(no it's not free. we all contribute, and in Ontario, we are back to the old system of paying a bit off of our paycheques.)

Leto · 12-14-2005, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBen

What the fuck are you talking about?

Bicycles to our infantry? What regiment was that? I can see us buying bikes to help out in PT, something that the base would buy that would be stored at the gym. You want to ride a bike for PT? Here it is, bring it back when you are done.

I worked with the 10 mountain division (in the US) and they were VERY impressed with our LAV III fighting vehicles, and our Coyote recce kit.

I kid you not, your information is patently false. I admit that I selfishly want more money spent on the CF, and I look longingly at the kit the yanks get. I would not trade spaces with one of those poor fuckers for all the tea in China.

And we don't ride into battle. We provide humanitarian aid to the local population that has the unpleasant reality of living in a shitty war-torn country.

The saying is world-wide: What is the best army in the world?

American kit
German Officers
British NCO's
Canadian Troops.

Thank you Big Ben, I was waiting for you to contribute. Well Done.

I heard from my neighbour dad that the Germans feared the Canuck troops over all the others during both big ones. And the Allies refered to the US troops as Doughboys in WW1 (kneaded, but late to rise) and Johnny-come-lately's in WW2 because of the timeliness of their gov't involvement. Is this rumour or fact?

Seaver · 12-14-2005, 02:40 PM

Quote:

And the Allies refered to the US troops as Doughboys in WW1 (kneaded, but late to rise)

Actually it predates WWI. It was from the Mexican-American War. Because shining your buttons (brass) was a pain in the ass, the soldiers simply smeared them with Adobe which would easily flake off when needed and it saved the brass from oxidizing (going dull). Because of the color they looked like little balls of dough up their shirts and on their belt buckle. Hense dough-boy.

And in WWII the Brits had a great saying of us. "Over-Sexed, Over-Paid, and Over-Here"

j8ear · 12-14-2005, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leto

maybe. But given the options... there's not much better anywhere. I've had to compare experiences between here, the US, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Sri Lanka.

We've got a pretty darn good system for the end user, which would benefit VERY greatly from some improvements in efficiencies. There are a lot of improvements that could be provided....

(no it's not free. we all contribute, and in Ontario, we are back to the old system of paying a bit off of our paycheques.)

Thank you Leto for this well reasoned contribution. I submit that government involvement by design prevents any improvement of efficiency. As the two are the antithesis of each other. A free and unfettered market place is really the only solution. Of course, "pretty darn good" is still pretty darn good and better then nothing, especially for those who contribute little or nothing to society as a whole. It's all about priorities and trade offs, I guess.

I too have my samplings from Canada (somewhat extensively), the US (extensively), The Netherlands, and the UK. In my experience nothing even comes close to the US, but I was fortunate enough to have my 880 gram 25 week preemie with heart problems and my thyroid cancer handled by arguably the best hospital system in the entire world, that being Johns Hopkins. MY orthoscopic acl repair at McGill was mired with complications, and took almost 5 years to go from diagnosis to resolution. I could be biases...hell I am CLEARLY biased, but that is my perspective. No where else has even come close to the US.

Seriously though, I think, as it is the home of my people as far back as my French beaver trapping, Kahnawá:ke Mohawk , Irish potatoe famine surviving heritage goes, that few places on earth are as spectacular, wonderful, inspiring and uplifintg as Canada. Its places, its cultures, its values, and its people (Your calling the US "north america's asshole" classless Canadians not withstanding).

-bear

j8ear · 12-14-2005, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leto

And the Allies refered to the US troops as Doughboys in WW1 (kneaded, but late to rise) and Johnny-come-lately's in WW2 because of the timeliness of their gov't involvement. Is this rumour or fact?

I can't really speak to those terms, but it is a fact that the german's referred to the US Marines as Teufel-hunden during ww1 and why US Marines are are now affectionately known as "Devil-Dogs."

-bear

silent_jay · 12-14-2005, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j8ear

(Your calling the US "north america's asshole" classless Canadians not withstanding).

-bear

Hey, he said he wanted someone to take a shot at it and I did, don't like it oh well tough shit, you obviously need to go out and buy a sense of humor if you can't tell I was joking, it was meant in good fun much like him calling Canada "Canada - The gay hippie pothead next door?" was all in good fun. But I notice you don't make a comment about that.

Some people really need to quit taking themselves so seriously. I'm hardly classless, but of course you don't know me so just keep thinking that if it makes you feel better, I could care less what you think of me, at least I can laugh at jokes, unlike yourself, pull the coat hanger out of your shirt and loosen up.

Fine example though of why I stay out of the politics board for the most part, people take themselves far too seriously and get their panties in a bunch when someone cracks a joke, maybe you missed this at the end of my post

Yeah that means I was joking.

Seaver · 12-14-2005, 03:02 PM

Yeah... took them 100 Years but they finally got a decent nickname.

Leatherneck (mocking the funky early uniforms) and Jarhead just aren't that flattering are they?

j8ear · 12-14-2005, 03:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by silent_jay

Hey, he said he wanted someone to take a shot at it and I did, don't like it oh well tough shit, you obviously need to go out and buy a sense of humor if you can't tell I was joking, it was meant in good fun much like him calling Canada "Canada - The gay hippie pothead next door?" was all in good fun. But I notice you don't make a comment about that.

Some people really need to quit taking themselves so seriously. I'm hardly classless, but of course you don't know me so just keep thinking that if it makes you feel better, I could care less what you think of me, at least I can laugh at jokes, unlike yourself, pull the coat hanger out of your shirt and loosen up.

Fine example though of why I stay out of the politics board for the most part, people take themselves far too seriously and get their panties in a bunch when someone cracks a joke, maybe you missed this at the end of my post

Yeah that means I was joking.

Talk about taking one's self too seriously. I guess I should have added a little smiley after my snip as well.

At least you read my post

-bear

12-14-2005, 06:22 AM	#42 (permalink)
pan6467 Lennonite Priest Location: Mansfield, Ohio USA	Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, the Stratford Festival, Newfoundland all very beautiful, pretty clean and wonderful areas for summer visits. __________________ I just love people who use the excuse "I use/do this because I LOVE the feeling/joy/happiness it brings me" and expect you to be ok with that as you watch them destroy their life blindly following. My response is, "I like to put forks in an eletrical socket, just LOVE that feeling, can't ever get enough of it, so will you let me put this copper fork in that electric socket?"

12-14-2005, 12:57 PM	#65 (permalink)
Charlatan Getting it. Super Moderator Location: Lion City	May I point you to some statistics: http://www.who.int/whr/2005/en/index.html Canada - http://www.who.int/whr/2005/annex/in...ountry_a-f.pdf United States - http://www.who.int/whr/2005/annex/in...ountry_p-z.pdf CANADA 2003 Life expectancy - Male: 78 Female: 82 2002 Total expenditure on health as % of gross domestic product: 9.6 General government expenditure on health as % of total expenditure on health: 69.9 Private expenditure on health as % of total expenditure on health: 30.1 General government expenditure on health as % of total government expenditure: 15.9 UNITED STATES 2003 Life expectancy - Male: 75 Female: 80 2002 Total expenditure on health as % of gross domestic product: 14.6 General government expenditure on health as % of total expenditure on health: 44.9 Private expenditure on health as % of total expenditure on health: 55.1 General government expenditure on health as % of total government expenditure: 23.1 Say what you like... we pay less and live longer and our coverage is universal. What galls you all is that it is working. And that's OK. You stick to your system and we will stick to ours. Good luck with all that. __________________ "My hands are on fire. Hands are on fire. Ain't got no more time for all you charlatans and liars." - Old Man Luedecke Last edited by Charlatan; 12-14-2005 at 01:05 PM..

12-14-2005, 06:01 AM	#41 (permalink)
kulrblind plays well with others Location: Canada	Wait, wait...what makes Windsor only periodically-cool? Surely not its proximity to Detroit There's a lot to see in Canada. Unfortunately the "cool cities" aren't always easily accessible to the driving traveller.

12-14-2005, 07:15 AM	#46 (permalink)
raveneye Born Against	I lived in Vancouver for 5-6 years in the early 90s, and now it's hard for me to imagine a better place to live. Stunning natural beauty, diverse population, great music and arts, friendly fun people, just everything, it's unforgettable. It's all an unbelievable dream to me now, did that paradise actually exist, or am I imagining it? The healthcare was superb, I paid around $40 per month, and everything was covered 100%, no waiting. And yep there was pot, you could buy it from naked peddlers any time on Wreck beach, at least before the RCMP tried to clean it up. My colleagues would wink and nod and sneak up to the office rooftop to have a few tokes and check out the view. A lot of folks didn't like the GST though, and this was a time when everybody crossed down to the U.S. border towns all weekend long to buy gas and other stuff to save on the GST and other taxes and the exchange rate. There were lines and lines of gas stations all along the border on the U.S. side, filled to max all weekend, and customers were 90% Canadian there and in most stores on the U.S. side, all the way down to Bellingham WA. It was a funny economic culture. Gotta love those folks and that priceless natural beauty up there. It's often in my reveries

12-14-2005, 12:20 PM	#62 (permalink)
Seaver Junkie Location: Fort Worth, TX	Yeah well... Just 2 years ago I had a back injury which litterally crippled me. For 4 months I couldnt walk on my own and my doctors were telling me it was a strained hamstring. In reality it was a herniated disk in my back that pressed the ciatic (spelling?) nerve so hard against the spine that they couldnt even see it on an MRI. The doctor that saw it said it was the worst he's seen in 30 years. It took 6 doctors 4 months to figure that one out... that's not exactly "on a timely basis" either. Those were also specialist doctors cause I have great insurance. I think both medical communities stick.

12-14-2005, 03:02 PM	#79 (permalink)
Seaver Junkie Location: Fort Worth, TX	Yeah... took them 100 Years but they finally got a decent nickname. Leatherneck (mocking the funky early uniforms) and Jarhead just aren't that flattering are they?