Barack Obama signing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act at the White House (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
What do you do when you want to bring health insurance to an entire nation? Call Canada of course. Canada, our friendly neighbor to the north, is the expert in bloated governmental bodies bringing health care to the masses, having had a publicly funded national health insurance system since 1984, coincidentally the same year for which George Orwell predicted a reign of post-apocalyptic social Darwinism. Our government, not wanting us to miss out on the same success the Canadians have had, hired CGI, Canada’s largest tech company, to build the Obama care website, apparently unphased that fellow Canadians in Ontario had just fired CGI last year for failing to deliver a different health-care IT project on time. Orwell, er oh well. Any minute now the website should be up and running again. In the meantime, let’s sing a tribute to Obama care.
(Sung to the tune of O Canada)
(Want the accompaniment? Click here.)
O Bamacare, health care for one and all.
Click on the link, and watch the website stall.
With anxiety, we sign in for free, to avoid the penalty.
Then we try to call, as our last hopes fall,
There’s no Obama care for me!
God keep us from, social anarchy,
O Bamacare, when will you ever be?
O Bamacare, when will you ever be?
© Huffygirl 2013
Related links:
- It’s easy to blame Canada
- Everything you wanted to know about Canadian Healthcare
- Denver to import oxygen from Canada (huffygirl.wordpress.com)
- US takes advantage of Canada’s cost cutting move (huffygirl.wordpress.com)
- Maple Leaf money (huffygirl.wordpress.com)
Huffygirl's Blog 
A classic, Huffy Girl. You have a future in writing lyrics!
Thanks Suzanne. It is fun once I have the inspiration.
You are so clever!
Thanks. Once I put Canadians with Obama, the rest was easy.
You’re hilarious. Canada’s population is much smaller to be a little bit fair– but hopefully the kinks will be worked out here.
Yes, plus they are not being “forced” to buy insurance, though no doubt must be paying for it in taxes somewhere.
Candian eh? It sounds very sweet lol
Most Canadians, from what I’ve heard, are baffled by the American public resistance to a national health plan. For the most part in Canada, we love our health care system. Sure there is some grumbling here and there, and some of the waiting lists for elective surgery or seeing specialists can be tiresome. But you adapt, especially if you would have to pay thousands of dollars otherwise. In Canada it is highly unlikely that anyone will be ruined financially because of severe health issues. People even get help with house care if they are unable to do it themselves.
Although you are quite right that the Canada Health Care Act was passed in 1984, it was actually a refinement of previous acts. As I recollect, we have had some kind of public health insurance since at least 1960. I remember taking my kids to the doctor before that and only having to pay $5 per visit. For hospital surgery and in-patient procedures, if you took a bed in a ward (4 beds per room), the public insurance covered most or all of it. If you wanted semi-private, you had to pay extra, but your own private insurance would cover that. Private beds were usually at the discretion of the attending doctor(s). This is all before 1984.
Nowadays, health care covers prescription drugs with some exceptions, some dental work (surgery for example), and some eyecare costs. This is along with no-charge doctor’s visits and hospital stays and procedures.
I remember the 1940s when health care was just a thought. It wasn’t easy to pay for it back then, So when public health care started becoming available. It was like heaven.
So, tell me, what’s up with Americans?
Thanks for the clarification of Canadian health care Sandra. I knew I could count on you.
As for American’s reticence, I’m not sure but I believe it is in part that people without insurance are being required to buy it. The only way the plan will work to improve health care costs is if all Americans have health insurance. Young healthy people believe that the government should not force them to buy insurace “they don’t need” just to help spread out the costs for all Americans. Less money to spend on cigarettes and alcohol I guess. Some people need a reality check, like, oh say, falling off their bike, breaking their face and getting stuck with a $60,000 bill. Then we’ll see who “needs” health care eh.
Good one, Aunt Huffy! 🙂
Thanks Judy. Once I knew it was Canadian, I could not hold back.