Dan Drezner writes:
I've said repeatedly on this blog that health care policy puts me to sleep most of the time. I usually stay awake long enough, however, to hear many left-of-center colleagues praise the Canadian single-payer system to no end.
Finally, I thought, I'm going to find out who all these prominent leftists extolling the virtues of Canada's mediocre system are. I excitedly clicked on the link, only to find:
Loyal readers of danieldrezner.com are aware that while I'm aware that health care is important, I find it difficult to maintain focus when the issue comes up.
I am dimly aware, however, that Canada's single-payer system is frequently cited by liberals as their preferred form of health care reform.
So that's two posts where he mentions all the lefties giving tongue baths to CanadaCare, and two posts where he refuses to name any names. In the first, he's "dimly aware" of these advocates, in the second, they're so prevalent as to routinely impinge on his consciousness before he dozes off. Odd, no?
I've previously debunked the myth of Canada's superlative system, but for those who need a refresher course, go here. In short, no one who's serious about health care lauds Canada's approach. It's just not a very good system. Arguably, ours is worse (and it's definitely more expensive), but we're talking shades of black here.
The impetus for Drezner's post is the ascendancy of Brian Day, a Canadian physician who advocates a French-style public-private hybrid, to the head of the Canadian Medical Association. The CMA is like our AMA -- a physician association that fights for the interests of their members. In this case, they want higher pay, and have elevated someone who agrees with them (Canada is a pure monopsony system, and so easily limits physician salaries). This is a case of doctor's seeking their self-interest, not the Canadian system failing. Further, Day, a radical by Canada's standards, is advocating a move towards a European style system: Government guaranteed floor of care with the option to spend privately to achieve infinite heights. In other words, he advocates the exact same thing that I, and almost all liberals, do.
