"But when Bush says "I don't want the federal government making decisions for doctors and customers," he neglects to point out that currently, private insurers are making decisions for doctors and customers, to the serious detriment of both."

As a current resident just two years into wielding my MD, I am pretty much horrified daily by the amount of control private insurance carries in the hospital setting. I have never felt more strongly regarding the need for a single-payer system than I do now, seeing how fully and completely the currently system has broken. Doctors want to be able to do their jobs without financial pressures dictating care -- I think patients would be pretty happy with that change as well.

All you have to do is spend a little time in Canada to find out that their system is much more flawed than ours. Wait times that almost make pediatricians obsolete, and being treated the same way you are at the DMV, you know, the "what are you going to do about it, we're the Government" attitude. In theory, I can see why people would think it sounds good, but in practice, it simply doesn't work. Health care needs are far too important to leave in the hands of civil servants. You know that if you are in the biz for anything but money.

Just because you didn't like Canada's system as much as you like what you have in the US doesn't mean government run healthcare doesn't work.

How bad are wait times in other countries with socialized medicine? What about at the VA or for medicare patients?

You don't say it, but it sounds like you have some pretty good coverage right now. Thats great, I'm glad your getting good quality coverage. Unfortunately most americans aren't. Coverage options are all too often limited by the insurance companies and the patients income. The uninsured are in even worse shape.

I think its hard to find a bigger flaw in a system than 47 million...and counting.....people not having healthcare..

The repubs say "let that 47 million eat cake"

Ha.....I like that Old Gaffer. I am just not sure if the republicans realize that you simply cant deprive 40 million people of basic care, all so you can fatten your wallet. Eventually, they will just take it.