Tuesday, June 14, 2022

Quality of Life

 Living in Canada, as one wag put it, is like living with a meth head as a tenant in your basement. A tenant who is so out of touch with reality that he keeps screaming in your face at every opportunity that he is the best tenant ever and he has all these friends who will tell you the same thing.

Well let's start with quality of life.

Canada is, guess? 1.

Followed by Denmark, Sweden, Norway. and way down the list at #20, is the USA.

And then you get healthcare. The U.S. healthcare system only extends to those with money. Lots of it. If you are barely surviving economically, serious health issues can result in bankruptcy.

"Medical bills are reported to be the number-one cause of U.S. bankruptcies. One study has claimed that 62.1% of bankruptcies were Caused by medical issues Another claims that over two million people are adversely affected by their medical expenses."

The U.S. ranks last overall on the health care outcomes domain (Exhibit 1). On nine of the 10 component measures, U.S. performance is lowest among the countries (Appendix 8), including having the highest infant mortality rate (5.7 deaths per 1,000 live births) and lowest life expectancy at age 60 (23.1 years).

Best healthcare systems in the world are:

  1. South Korea
  2. Taiwan
  3. Denmark
  4. Austria
  5. Japan
  6. Australia
  7. France
  8. Spain
  9. Belgium
  10. United Kingdom
And gun deaths, so far  in the US in 2022. Those red dots? Use your imagination.

And then we have this travel advisory/warning from the Canadian government on going to the USA, as if one is entering a "third world" country:

"Gun violence

The rate of firearm possession in the US is high. It’s legal in many states for US citizens to openly carry firearms in public.

Incidences of mass shootings occur, resulting most often in casualties. Although tourists are rarely involved, there is a risk of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. 

Familiarize yourself on how to respond to an active shooter situation."

No other country in the world shoots its children in schools as they hide under desks. And the solution? Arm teachers, reduce number of doors to schools.

The louder one screams about being the very best, the greater the lie.






20 comments:

  1. I live in Arizona and yes we have open carry. BUT if it is really so bad here why are we over run with Canadian snowbirds every winter??

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    1. Because "it's the best country in the world."
      XO
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  2. Yep, that's the American way...just keep telling yourself how great you and your country are as we circle the drain...okay maybe not that bad yet...my husband and I were just talking about how the former president just kept lying to himself and everyone around him, trying to make everyone believe he won the 2020 election. There are a whole bunch of delusionists in this country who still believe that lie. If you say it often enough, people will believe it.

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    1. It's quite terrifying, DKZ and getting worse with the more serious issue ever facing the planet - mass extinction. But let's distract ourselves with nonsense news. And jingoism has caused the downfall of many an empire in the world.
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  3. While we are not nearly as "bad" as the USA in gun control and healthcare, we would do better to compare ourselves with some of the best in Europe and Asia, to see our areas of "room for improvement". We are not in the top 10 for healthcare, and our lack of dental care and pharmacare is one downside to our system. Most countries with national healthcare systems also have pharmacare. Waitlists are atrocious, more so in some provinces than others. My son who is considering moving back has been warned by myself and others to think long and hard about the differences in healthcare between here and Ontario. As for Anonymous's comment, it's true, a lot of us do flock to southern USA states due to climate. I have been told that I would do a lot better with my illness if I lived in Texas (or possibly Arizona). Good thing I don't have school-age kids.

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    1. I agree Annie, our health care could use a massive overhaul and DoFo in Ontario is doing his best to destroy health care there. And speaking of snowbirds, I know at least four families who have sold their properties there in the past year. And that's just in my small circle.
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  4. Sigh. And I will be very surprised if anything of significance changes in your near neighbour.

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    1. Me too EC, with massive corporatocracy running their government I see no improvement. Ever.
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  5. I agree and wish I could live in your country but few countries take on persons with disabilities...US is circling the drain...

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    1. I do believe it's more difficult to get "in" here than in the US, E. Two Usian friends, in prime age and health - took 5 years to get citizenship. They saw the writing on the wall. And they are an enormous asset to Canada, both now federal employees.
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  6. It's not getting any better, either. The governor of my little midwestern state just signed a law legalizing teachers to carry guns.

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  7. Right there are the main reasons I will never, ever go to America.

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    1. I had a terrible experience in the USA when I was only travelling through there on my way to Ireland. It was one of the most terrifying of my life.
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  8. Interesting that the NHS, which has a reputation as the best in the world, is actually 10th behind nations like South Korea and Taiwan. The government simply doesn't care that the NHS is crumbling.

    It's so obvious to us Brits that much stricter gun control is needed in the US, but gun ownership has become a mindless cult that overrides all objections.

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    1. Our healthcare system here is crumbling too Nick so NHS not alone. Canada has slipped. Badly.
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  9. I so agree with you. USA is the pits. But, be of good cheer. I am still alive and enjoying life in Hawaii. Gigi Hawaii

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    1. I don't quite understand your comment, Gigi. Poverty affects everyone. Or should. None of us live in a bubble.
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  10. No place is perfect. As a very progressive Democrat, I find it hard sometimes to live where I do now - on the conservative side of a very liberal NW state. But I like the weather here, the wide open landscape and beautiful sunsets. I like the places I can help to try and make a difference - the wildlife refuge, the center that helps settle immigrants, the people who play folk music and the many different cultures that have moved here for work. Health care is good for us as we have Medicare and there are places in town which help those without insurance. I guess if you surround yourself with people of like minds, you can work together to try and make a difference. It's far from perfect but it's where I have landed.

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  11. It will be an interesting exercise to compare with a third world country!

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  12. On behalf of all the sane people in the U.S. (most of us) I offer apologies. This situation has been a great stress for me as well.

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