I feel that there is a far greater chance of Texas seceding from the Union and returning to its former glory as the Republic of Texas, than for the USA to invade Canada, or Mexico either for that matter.

However, Mexico might be absorbed as the 51st state (or 51st-54th states) at some point in the near future.
I do not see why not. Since the vast majority of the citizens of Mexico who actually have funds to spend in Mexico, live and work (and have babies born there) in the USA anyway.

bombadil wrote:Not so much the crazy-train as the ego-train.

My view is the only valid view.  My lifestyle is the only valid lifestyle.  My needs are the only valid needs.  My opinions are the only valid opinions.  Ego-centrism at its worst.  No room for reason or discussion.  

What cracks me up in all of this is the notion that a global warming conspiracy could be perpetrated among a profession that is inherently skeptical (science) or that it could be a mechanism to riches and power for anyone.  Riches and power?  How about warfare.  That seems to be a preferred pathway to profit and power in this country.  And it's also a pretty damned good example of fear-based motivation, much more so than any supposed global warming conspiracy.

Plenty of room for reason or discussion if you want to have one. But as you say, your views are the only views, your opinion the only opinion, that is pretty much what you get from the global warming fanatics, since they say the science is done and it is just a fact.

Science should be all about skepticism, but scientists need to eat, need grants, want to be successful and publish paper and get tenure, and be accepted by their peers. Any study of the history of science shows that a good portion of scientists become dogmatized.

Your reply is partly reinforcing your own beliefs and partly standing up for one of your friends. You start with insults and complain that I don't want a discussion. It is like Obama's health care discussion. He wants to sit down at a table and wants to force his enemies to sit down with him, but he has ordered Chinese, and their only choice might be what kind of Chinese to eat, even if they'd like to suggest Italian or even some plain American hamburgers and hot dogs, it is his way or the highway, if they come they better like chinese.

In this discussion it is global warming is a fact, here are some second, third, fourth hand accounts of research whose methods are suspect and whose data is open to interpretation, but fine, I like Chinese, let's say that global warming is a fact and go from there.

I propose that if the USA is in dire straights due to climate change, and Canada is blessed with warmer weather the USA will, one way or another, push its border north. Hell, under those conditions it might even occur naturally with the population simply moving north and drowning out the Canadian population in illeagal immigration. But if it is in the USA's interests due to dire emergency to take over Canada the USA will do so.

Well no point in expecting any kind of reasonable reply. You've decided to take me to task and throw some insults around. Looks like we will not be friends.

I appreciate that I may be joining this discussion late, but just to add my thoughts as an archaeologist, the global warming/ice age circle is forever spinning around us.

Take it back over many, many years and there is evidence that the Earths axis moves by around 2.5 degrees, which in turn causes changes in temperature.

Worth considering, as there is some inevitability that another ice age will arrive, not in my lifetime, but certainly in the future. So although there is concern now over global warming, effectively 'hell' will freeze over one day again...

Of course, you could always read State of Fear for more vaguely interesting points.  

PaulKM wrote:
Our Health care system is functioning adequately, and has done for some time.  

Americans tend to forget that if one wishes to pay for a higher level of  health care in Canada, or your company covers it, you have more options at your disposal.

Health insurance companies flourish quite well here.  

The wealthy still get better, faster, more expansive services, as the wealthy always have and always will.

All the best,

Paul

I have a question about the Canadian health care system (or two...).

This is based on a conversation I had with a friend of mine who married and emmigrated to Canada to live with her husband.

How long does it take to get medical services performed?
When medical services are preformed, are they completely covered, or are certain expenses still out of pocket (i.e. you break your leg, do you pay for the cast and crutches)?
Do you have to pay for your own prescription medication, or is that provided as well (or is it based on the situation)?

Thanks

mbassoc2003 wrote:I gotta say I have much more respect for the US health care and welfare systems than I have for those in the UK. There is inevitably fraud and wastage in any freely available financial handout system, but the wastage and corruption is far lower in the US system, and there is an inbuilt belief that living freely off the state is somewhat shameful in the US. In the UK we don't have that and deperately need it. Our public health and welfare systems are crippling our nation.

That is changing fast in America.  Generations are being taught it is okay to live on the Public dole.  We are becoming a nation with not enough tax payers to fund all those with their hand out.  I do not mind helping out those in need for a set length of time (like unemployment insurance) but I have a problem with funding those that live off the system.

Martin

Our lawmakers cannot get voted in if they say they are going to change the system.  All those with their hands out still have the right to vote and will not vote for anyone who even mentions cutting Social Security or Medicare.  And now some are trying hard to add socialized medicine to the handouts being given.  With our deficit and the entitlement programs grabbing ever more of our money, I doubt we can survive it.  It's just a matter of how long.

Martin

Yes, but Obaminable pitched his campaign to the illegals and handouters.
Prufrock is right, and the amusing part is that no one in the U.S. seems to be able to even conceive of the country falling apart. There's a HUGE desert somewhere with many, many heads buried in it's sand.
Nations rise and fall. It's been happening since civilization was created. We WILL collapse, it is inevitable, and when we do, the world will suffer greatly. We are like a cow riddled with ticks, and the ticks have gotten to the point where the cow will be bled dry. When that happens, the ticks will starve.

Invincible Overlord wrote:How long does it take to get medical services performed?

Very difficult question, because it depends on the medical service.  In my experience wait times are low for urgent care.  Wait times for non-urgent care or specialists could be weeks or months.  

When medical services are preformed, are they completely covered, or are certain expenses still out of pocket (i.e. you break your leg, do you pay for the cast and crutches)?

Health care is handled on the provincial level, so I can only tell you what they do in Ontario.  Below is a summary of what OHIP covers:

http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/pub ... vices.html

Basically, they'll keep you alive for free but comfort/convenience costs extra.

mbassoc2003 wrote:I gotta say I have much more respect for the US health care and welfare systems than I have for those in the UK. There is inevitably fraud and wastage in any freely available financial handout system, but the wastage and corruption is far lower in the US system, and there is an inbuilt belief that living freely off the state is somewhat shameful in the US. In the UK we don't have that and deperately need it. Our public health and welfare systems are crippling our nation.

I am going to have to disagree with you Ian about the NHS (might agree with you about social security though ).  On the whole The NHS works really well and is relatively cost efficient.  

In its first year of operation (1949) the NHS cost the UK a total of 3.5% of GDP.  In the years since then - as the NHS has expanded to provide a much wider range of medical services, it cost 7.3% in 2006/7. It covers everyone in the country and treatment is provided with no charge, no insurance papers, no doubt about whether a particular condition is covered, or whether an payment plan limit has been reached, or need to deal with insurance staff.  In many other countries it costs more -

In 2005, the United States spent 15.2% of GDP
In 2005, Canada spent 9.8% of GDP
In 2005, France spent 11.2% of GDP
In 2005, Germany spent 10.7% of GDP

Now everyone can trot out personal anecdotes which work for or against a particular health care system.  So here is mine.  When I call the doctor's surgery I can get an appointment either on the day I call or the next day.  

- If I am worried they also run a daily drop in service  -- so I have sometimes been seen within 60 minutes of calling.  

- When my relatives have been to the hospital for more serious problems they stay in clean wards and if they have had to stay for more than a day or so they get private rooms.

- My niece has a very rare and very serious heart condition. Even though she is only three, she has had multiple complex operations from birth (open heart surgery last year) and currently receives 24 hour online monitoring from heart specialists.  To live an active life, she will need medication and close medical attention all her life. All is provided for free.

Now no system is perfect.  I have to pay a few pounds for a prescription for medication, for dental work and for eye tests. And there have been times when the NHS has let people down, with poor service.  But if we need to we could afford to pay a little more (at the moment we pay about the same %age of GDP as Cuba).  

And of course, if you still want to buy medical insurance in the UK you are completely free to do so.  You still get the NHS support, but you also get ambulances with carpets and ipods (or whatever it is you get when you go private in the UK )