[selchie]

Ouch, Moggy! I'm glad your hand is healing up, and that emergency medical care in NZ is so user-friendly. Hopefully I won't complete the triad in cat-related emergencies. My youngest, Isabel, is a "pole dancer", and I have to shuffle to keep from tripping over her.

Duane, I really am in favor of public health care for all. I am also hoping that NZ's is better than I've been warned (by one couple). However (still using the transport analogy), if the bus can't get me near where I'm going in a timely manner, I'd like to have the option of alternate transport. Yes, lower ridership could cause the bus system to falter. But if it's not even serving one's needs, then what's the harm in using a different mode?

I was thinking of this analogy while we were in Montreal last week. We got everywhere by walking, taking the Metro or a bus. I loved it, and appreciated how efficient the service was, and how thorough the coverage was. But is it the best way to go if one is doing a lot of shopping, going beyond the service, or needs to get somewhere even more quickly? That's how I am thinking of the health care issue. I'm considering private health care for major medical needs which might be stalled in the public system.