No rationing! In Canada, if you need a CT scan, they dump in an alley with crack whores and murderers and dope fiends!

And of course you've gotta love that the incident in question took place in a predictably 'red' state.

Bob points this out all the time w/ respect to the public option....but I wonder how many insurance-lacking wingnuts took advantage of the free medical care because they can't afford to see a doctor.

Surely none, right?

All of the people that took advantage of the clinic probably could get insurance through their employer, but declined it. Or they were undocumented workers, illegal aliens, here for a free handout. Or they were too lazy to get a job and get insurance on their own. Or the organization that offered the clinic is just trying to embarrass Texas and the governor. Or blah blah blah blah New World Order conspiracy blah blah blah lie lie lie fucking blah.

This will be spun by the right. It's sad that we even have to point this issue out to people, however.

Man, you people astound me. As a Canadian who has had experience as a patient, numerous operations, and long stays in various hospitals, I never paid a cent for any of it. Not even for ambulance rides. I never had to wait for anything in 3 years. I showed my Care Card at the hospital door and was immediately shown to my bed. The nurses and doctors were always top-notch. My small federal tax burden paid it all. What's the matter with you?

DaveM said, "I never paid a cent for any of it. Not even for ambulance rides."

Meanwhile, back in the country with the "best healthcare system in the world," my uninsured and borderline-hypoglycemic girlfriend felt faint and took a precautionary ride to the hospital a couple years ago. The ambulance ride cost her....

NINE. HUNDRED. FUCKING. DOLLARS.

I've heard of people whose ride cost much more than that, well north of a grand. That means it can take an uninsured individual working a 40 hr/week minimum wage job approximately 1 month to pay off his ride to the hospital. Of course, that's assuming he doesn't have to spend any of that money on...you know, food or rent (or whatever it is those lazy poor people waste their money on).

Well, it's a combination of compassion and common sense. A double dose, eh?

Rogect8, I was mugged 5 years ago and had to spend the night in the ER with a busted up face missing teeth, a possible broken back, a messed up shoulder and alcohol poisoning (which actually was a plus as I never felt anything.) Luckily I had insurance at the time, something I haven't had in 3 years, because my bill was in excess of $25,000. The only thing that my insurance didn't cover was my cable bill. Yup, they tried charging me $80 for having cable in the room despite the fact that I couldn't even watch it. I kindly told the hospital to fuck off.

And then there was the dental bills. Luckily the dentist felt sorry for me and didn't charge me for his time but that charge is still technically sitting on my credit card and will be for awhile.