I wouldn't long for socialized medicine TOO hard. My friend up in Canada just had to pay for an MRI out of her own pocket. She was in debilitating pain, and can't work (for that matter, she can't walk.) Can't get aid without diagnosis. Needs to have an MRI for that. To get it at the socialized medicine rate - a four month wait. If you need it now - pay for it yourself. So she had to borrow the money and pay for it. Her livejournal has been an eye opener for me.

This is the same system who told another friend of mine who'd had cervical cancer that they wouldn't cover her for a pap test every year because: "those American doctors - they worry too much." She was driving into the US to see a doctor down here because she had more faith in US care.

Our system is deeply flawed, but I'll take it.