As long as money exists, Doug, nothing will be free except the air you breathe...and people's advice. ;-)

No, universal health care such as is provided in Canada is not free...it's paid for by our taxes. However, we pay LESS tax per capita than Americans do for our health care, and we're ALL covered by it.

You pay MORE tax per capita than we do for government-guaranteed health coverage, many of you ALSO have to pay private health insurance companies big bucks on TOP of that, and many others are NOT covered at all.

And that's why you're way behind most of the developed world when it comes to health care.

Do you understand, Doug, that if 100,000 people all share in the support of each other's health care by paying an equal share through taxes...that ALL of them can afford it when a FEW of them actually need medical treatment? That's how the Canadian system works, and we can all easily afford our own share of the cost, BECAUSE we all take responsibility for EACH OTHER. We share the cost.

I pay less than $1,000 a year in my yearly taxes, Doug, to make my contribution to health care in Canada...and for that I get complete coverage by the Canadian system if I get sick and need medical help.

Match that.

No one ever said it was "free" here. We just said it was a fair and affordable system that leaves no citizen out in the cold when they are in need.