Statistics - Week 66 - July 30-Aug 6

We'll start with two great bits of data.  First, this fantastic graph:

I love that the Olympics opening ceremony put public health care front and center.  It led me to this story on the Guardian.  It's very interesting.  Key points for me:

- The US spends far and away the most money on health care as a % of GDP (17.9%)...this works out to $8362 per person.  Of that money, almost half comes directly out of pocket of the individual - $4437.

- Canada spends about 11.3% of GDP on healthcare.  This works out to a total of $4404 per person and $3104 of that comes from the government.  So, our health care costs about half of what it does per person as it does in the US.  And we directly pay about 1/4 directly out of pocket as compared to the average American.

- Canada lines up quite nicely in % of GDP spending with most European nations...a bit more than Italy/Spain/UK, a bit less than France/Germany.  We all seem to be in the 9-11% of GDP range, and $3-4000 per person range

So.  What the hell?  Either the US is getting far better health coverage (I doubt it) or there's an incredible amount of waste.  And you look at the huuuuuuge disparity in what sort of coverage people have and you can only imagine what the bottom end of their spectrum looks like.

This stupid-assed headlined Globe and Mail article claims that "BC can be swayed on pipeline".  Lets see... one poll claims 35 percent agree with Adrian Dix's outright disapproval of the pipeline.  Another poll claims that 65 percent are outright opposed.  But the first poll also suggests that 43 percent agree with Christie Clark's strings-attached disapproval of the pipeline.  So, ya, really sounds like we're on the fence here and just need a little nudge in the right direction!  What a bunch of jackasses.

Speaking of pipelines, way to go David Anderson.  I think he summed up many people's feelings on Enbridge: "They should just go away."  Awesome stuff.  I'm certain Peter Kent will not be this interesting when he retires.

 Hundreds of women have come forward with complaints of sexual harassment within the RCMP.  Man.  This is going to take FOREVER for the various governments and RCMP brass to come up with justification based on them all being sluts and alcoholics.

Somebody in Jason Kenney's office made a formal complaint against an immigration lawyer who suggested they must have had something to do with Conrad Black coming back to Canada.  Great.  Professional threats against people that ask questions (well...against people that make accusations).

Stephen Harper, master of the Canadian economy.  Wasn't that his election promise?  What happened then?

Remember Attawapiskat a few months back?  A judge points out that it was a bad thing to foist a manager upon them.

Another Globe article claims that the Provinces need to stand together on bulk drug purchases.  Hmmm...lets see...a national strategy to reduce prescription drug prices....who could possibly oversee a program with National implications?

Separating from Reality - Week 61 - June 25-July 2

Remember when Stephen Harper suggested that the NDP and Liberals were evil and going to destroy the country when they suggested they might work with the Bloc Quebecois to unseat his minority government?  Well, now he's suggesting that he's going to work with the Parti Quebecois if they are voted in to power.  And I can hear his excuses:
1)  No, no.  That was the last government that said that stuff.  This is a different government.
2) Aaaaand...this is the Parti Quebecois we're talking about.  Not the Bloc.  Big difference.
And I'm in no way suggesting that this isn't what he should be saying.  I'm just pointing out that when you make ridiculous, hyperbolic statements you should be prepared to eat a lot of ass when you turn around and do a similar thing as to what you criticized.

Hey.  Enbridge can't handle their American pipelines either.  They tend to leak and they can't seem to respond in time.


One of the environmental groups that Stephen Harper is targeting have opened their books.  Good strategy.  Completely flummox Stephen Harper by using a tactic he's never even dreamed of: open sharing of information.

Oh.  Hey.  All those Robo-Calls.  Ya, the Conservatives are trying to make sure the election results aren't called in to question based on a technicality.  How does that make you feel?

And they've launched their latest (predictable) attack ads as well.  On Mulcair.  I actually watch those ads and it makes me think "Shit...that guy has some points".  "Make them pay now for what they are doing."  You know what...that makes sense.  You mean they aren't doing that now?  Holy cow.  Let's elect this guy.

Digging back to the same incident, Michelle Jean (well....her advisor) is now speaking out about her part in the whole prorogue fiasco.  Turns out she didn't think it was a great idea but couldn't do much about it.  The second part is obvious, but it's interesting to hear that she actually thought about not doing it.

Who do all these former ministers think they are, speaking out against cuts?  What do they think, that just because they ran an organization for a long period of time they know something about how it runs and what it takes to keep it going?  Balderdash.  Parks Canada this time.  More on the Freshwater Research Facility as well.

More on Copyright.  Not sure if I linked last week about the Cracker frontman speaking out about people "stealing" his music.  Honestly, it was a newish point of view for me and it made me think.  But, now, a whole pile of industry folk are speaking out against that opinion.  Pointing things out like:
- Major labels taught us how to steal from musicians in the first place (Steve Albini)
- More musicians are actually making a living these days (Jeff Price)
- The labels are just as to blame for this fiasco as anybody else (Ethan Kaplan

I'm not an overly political human being.  In that I don't really like or know how to play politics.  But, I do know that when presented with your questionable attendance record in the Senate, you probably shouldn't suggest that the journalist pointing it out is a bitch.  And then apologize a few hours later.  It should be apparent that this will end badly for you.

I think that when a poll is written about they should actually reference the poll question.  "Majority supports mixed health care model."  Well...what did you ask them?  I would imagine that if I went around and asked a bunch of people something like "Do you want to enjoy government provided health care yet still have the option to pay for medical treatment as well?" most people would say yes.

Meh.  Globe and Mail.  Obama hates Canada.  Wah.

I was thinking the other day about why there are so many wealthy Chinese buying things in Canada.  Where does the money come from?  Well, This might explain it?  Sounds kind of awful.

Radically Incorrect - Week 37 - Jan 9-16

I like this photo.  Two of my favourite people, sharing a moment.  Steve-O looks like he's made out of plasticene.  Is that even a real photo?  The National Post is using the same photo as well...with the same story.

Turns out the West is starting to get angry about the Conservatives plan for health care financing as well.  Christy Clark detaches her lips and speaks out against Steve-O.

This week gay marriage did what Conservatives have said gay marriage will do: confused everybody and wreaked havoc with the justice system.  First there was an uproar that people weren't actually married (or something) and then it was all fine and the fault of the Liberals.  Neat tactic.  Say something that pisses everybody off and then blame it all on your enemy.

Stupid "radicals", concerned about boats filled with oil driving around a stormy, rocky coastline of pristine wilderness.  I heard some of them are foreign as well.

An ex-Bloc MP has decided to sue the government for pulling out of Kyoto...and proves what Gilles Duceppe never could - that the Bloc Quebecois isn't completely useless.

I know it's early, but as Lise St-Denis breaks ranks with the NDP and joins the Liberals, I think this could be a candidate for political quote of the year.  "They voted for Jack Layton.  Jack Layton is dead."  Indeed.

I think the Globe and Mail recently wrote a similar article, but I like the Puck Daddy take on the posturing of Stephen Harper as a hockey lover in order to create a populist persona and score votes.

I know that this is an amazing concept for reporters to grasp, but tax cuts generally have a cost.  Namely, reduced government revenue.  Surprisingly, this is what has come to pass with some recent Conservative tax breaks.


I thought Real Estate was supposed to be smooth sailing.  Forever.  A bubble?

Here they come!  Backbench Conservative MP is talking about his "duty" to the unborn.

I think there must be some research somewhere suggesting that election night blackouts are actually hurting the Conservatives because they've decided to do away with the process.  Perhaps they figure they can get rid of those pesky 1 or 2 Alberta Liberal seats if they can show everybody in Alberta that they've already won? 


Blah blah...Liberal vs. Conservative donation gap...blah.

Irwin Cotler!  Still working and now writing stuff for the Huffington Post!  What, I'm not sure.  I didn't read it.