This morning I received an email from an advocacy group I support, asking me to sign a petition about the truth of health care in Canada.  The intention is for the petition to be released in the US media and given to US Senators before they cast their votes on President Obama’s health care reform bill.

 Of course I signed the petition.  I have, in fact, been watching the circus that this health care debate has become with growing incredulity.  President Obama being compared with Hitler?  Individuals coming to town hall meetings carrying semi-automatic weapons slung over their shoulders?  The distortion of the facts around this issue is beyond staggering.

 From where I sit, I can’t see why anyone, other than the corporations who profit from the status quo, would oppose an initiative that proposes to improve a medical system  that is the most costly in the world, while 40 million Americans have no health care and overall the system is  ranked 37^th,  behind countries that Americans consider to be part of the third world.

On numerous occasions, President Obama has talked about the importance of America returning to its values.  This is the country founded on the principal of equality.  How is the value of equality reflected in the current medical system?     The value I see reflected is profit and only for a select few. 

 The values espoused in the Canadian constitution are tolerance, fairness, justice and mutual respect.   While we certainly have a way to go to really achieve these values within our society, socialized or not, our medical system is fair and equal.

 For those of you in the lower 48, here is my experience with the system.  For years my premiums have been less than $100.00 per month for my family.  I can see any doctor I want, go to any hospital I want.  When my late husband was diagnosed with cancer, he was seen and treated within 3 days of the discovery of his tumor.  

 The Canadian system is not perfect.  From my perspective, our socialized medicine does not go far enough. It does not cover dental, or prescription drugs for the majority of Canadians, although, as I learned through my husband’s illness, once your drug bill exceeds a certain reasonable amount, government assistance kicks in.  

 It does, however, reflect the values of Canadian society.  It reflects our commitment to the promotion of justice, human rights and human dignity.  It reflects values of compassion, empathy and community.  It makes me proud to be a Canadian and is one of the reasons I choose to live here. 

 The Universal   Declaration of Human Rights states that all of us, simply by virtue of the fact that we are members of the human family, deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.  And in my mind, that means that when we are sick, whoever we are and wherever we live, we should be able to get help.  

 I can only hope that the petition I signed will help to make that happen for  the members of our human family who are also citizens of the United States of America.