Recent orders
A Comparison of the U.S. Health and the Canadian Health System
A Comparison of the U.S. Health and the Canadian Health System
Name
Institution
Date
Every country has tried much to improve their health care services in the last forty years. In Canada and U.S. health care have been made a basic for everybody though accessing the services has not been fully achieved to date. In Canada, basic health care has been accomplished through provision of coverage through a government- sponsored system where each province administers her own system. By doing this, the Canadian government has made the health care a universal for all her citizens irrespective of the age, race, gender or occupation. There are no preexisting medical conditions that can prevent an individual from accessing the services. Insurance cover is for all unlike in U.S. where when an individual turn twenty six, the he or she is not legible for the insurance medical care for the family. In U.S. every individual pay about 17.4% of the gross domestic product to insurance in a single pay system compared to the relative cheaper pay in Canada where the individual pay just 11.4% of the GDP (Esmail & Walker, 2005). According to the last figures of 2009, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development shows that the U.S. health care expenditure per capita was $7,960 compared to $4,363 of the Canada (Szick, et al., 2009).
In Canada, the health care system can be offered privately and still be financed by the tax payers’ money and doctors are allowed to run their practices as private business. Physicians are allowed to bill patients separately for non covered services like cosmetic dermatology and laboratory studies. However, in U.S. such services cannot be offered freely in private capacity. A patient would be charged an additional cost of $40 when attending private health services (Szick, et al., 2009).
The Canadian system is fairly simple to operate since every individual is issued with a healthcare card that serves as the credit card to cover services and this has reduce the paper work hence saving time and promoting efficiency in the health sector. This has made the work of the Canadian physician simpler as they only need to submit the charges electronically and most of the offices run on a skeleton support staff. There is only one insurance plan in Canada that covers and deals with insurance rules and the cover is universal as compared to U.S where there are multiple insurance covers and the charges are rarely done electronically. The data from Health Affairs, the per-physician cost of dealing with payers was $82,975 in U.S. compared Canadian where the cost was relatively ranging at $22,205 a year (Esmail & Walker, 2005).
U.S. has separate lists of Medicare for example, Medicare advantage, the indemnities, Medicare advantage plans, the Blues and others while Canada has a single list of covered procedures and charges. In Canada, the submitted physician payment and charges are identical; it has a non-negotiable amount and is fixed for all the providers (Szick, et al., 2009).
The U.S. has a single payer system that has elicited fierce reactions from the Americans since the government is the sole source of financing of the whole healthcare system. The failure by the U.S. government to trim budgets during economic hardships has led to escalating cost of health care in the country and has affected the allocation of revenues to healthcare (Szick, et al., 2009). However, the situation is different in Canada that has well developed technology in the health sector. The development of technology in Canada has eased the distribution of drugs and has modest the charges and hospitalization expenses. Nevertheless, over the time the health cost have exploded in Canada and has led to inadequate access to timely and appropriate care.
In Canada, where the government control cost of health care, things are not better off and mostly stagnate in some occasions. There are tie-ups in the entire healthcare in Canada since government control costs. As the scholars say, by limiting access you limit costs, the Canadian government do limit health c are costs. Most patients are referred to local emergency rooms during weekends when there is doctors’ inadequacy where patients wait for days for inpatient beds (Esmail & Walker, 2005). Hospitals budgets are centralized and are closely regulated by the provincial health care authority. In contrary, U.S. has a different system where the Diagnostic Related Group drives discharge.
Doctors are widely respected in Canada as compared to U.S. even though, the internists and cognitivists in both countries earn the relatively the same salaries, there is a wide salary gap between the interventionalist in the two countries (Szick, et al., 2009). Those in Canada are paid a third of what their counterparts in U.S. get leaving Canadian graduates with fewer incentive to choose from. The Canadian medical charts are not audited compared to that of U.S. where thorough auditing is carried regularly to ascertain their effectiveness and efficiency.
References
Esmail N, & Walker, M. (2005). HYPERLINK “http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/admin/books/files/HowGoodIsCanHealthCare2005.pdf” How good is Canadian Healthcare?: 2005 Report. Fraser Institute, Vancouver BC.
Szick, S, Angus, D.E, Nichol, G, Harrison, M.B, Page, J, & Moher, D. (2009). HYPERLINK “http://www.ices.on.ca/file/Health%20care%20delivery%20in%20Canada%20and%20the%20United%20States%20-%20Are%20there%20relevant%20differences%20in%20health%20care%20outcomes.pdf” Health Care Delivery in Canada and the United States: Are There Relevant Differences in Health Care Outcomes? Toronto: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, (Publication no. 99-04-TR.)
CRITICALLY ANALYZE MARXISM
CRITICALLY ANALYZE MARXISM
By
Date:
Critically analyze Marxism
Marxism is an ideology associated with Karl Marx, a primary theorist and historian who after examining social organization, perceived that human history consists of a series of struggles between classes that are, between the oppressing and the oppressed. According to Marx, historical materialism is the main driving force, the notion that involves the distribution of resources, production, gain and other related matters. Marx also theorized that when profits are not reinvested in workers but used to create more factories, workers grow poorer and poorer until there is no solution. Marx proposes that at a crisis point, only revolt can restructure the system. In regard to communism, Marx proposes that for a political system to be regarded as communist, the means of production should be owned by the under-classes rather than the government or the police force. As such, communism has not yet existed. Marx also proposed that religion is the opiate of the people (Kreis, 2008, p1). This paper will critically analyse Marxism on the ideas that the society is based on unequal class divisions and exploitation among others.
Marx and Engel’s communist manifesto suggested that historically, the society consisted of class struggles and that a slave and freeman, serf and lord, oppressed and oppressor were in a constant opposition. The two theorists also said that the ruling class and the wage-earning class of the current capitalist society would eventually have a class struggle resulting from the proletariat becoming the bourgeoisie (Kolak & Garrett, 2006, p8). This state would last until the formation of a communist state where there would be class equality. Marxism is very idealistic in that it addresses the injustices that are experienced in the world. It has a great appeal to equality. However, it fails to address important issues such as conformity and obedience. The idea that someone will ever agree to equality in society is overcome by the fact that people are greedy and selfish.
Marxism ideas are depicted in today’s society. The society is exploited by the ruling class. People have even agreed to class divisions and have let themselves be used by the structures which they believe support them (Callinicos, 2010, p99). For example, political leaders who the people believe in elect them end up doing nothing for the people instead they exploit societal resources during their time of tenure. To a large extent, some compromises have included some major socialist ideas into capitalism, for example, free national education and worker unions. This has not led to equality among the societal divisions. Rather, they have benefited the working class.
In some respects, humans are equal, but in others, they are desperately divided. In order to ensure equality, it will require heavy compromises and more work than is practicable. Without the full homogenization of the human race, equality will never be achieved. Many communist regimes have attempted to achieve equality. Contrary, this has led to dictatorships, genocide and restrictions on civil liberties. Class divisions and struggles will continue to be dominant in the human society until the psychology of humans evolves beyond its primitive and impulsive ideas. Until people stop environmental exploitation, which is the main thing that spearheaded their evolution, they cannot anticipate it to stop taking advantage of its population. Marx was a brilliant thinker of his time together with Engels. There socialistic and communistic ideas have been supported by many people. There are still socialist and Marxist thinkers today. Marxism is a seed planted in the society and is still yet to mature.
Marxism’ view about labor is that a labor, which is focused and divided into groups is dehumanizing. Labor puts people into one particular creative section of society. This creative power is supposed to be developed and expressed in the world. However, labor division crushes it. In Marx’s German ideology, he says “for as soon as labor is distributed, each man has a particular special sphere of action which is forced upon him and from which he cannot run away from. (Shagor, 2005, p9)” Work is seen as enslaving and binding. People do not have freedom to do whatever they want, and they are not even free to be whatever they want. Division of labor is the basic problem with capitalism. It is the basis of all problems connected with it. Division of labor results to promotion of ideology and class conflict. Marx is true when he says that work is limiting and binding. This does not mean that dissection of labor is bad. However, people should be free to choose occupations and freely bind themselves to them. The Communist Manifesto explains that “And here it becomes evident, that the bourgeoisie is unfit any longer to be the ruling class in society, and to impose its conditions of existence upon society as an over-riding law. It is unfit to rule because it is incompetent to assure an existence to its slave within his slavery because it cannot help letting him sink into such a state that it has to feed him, instead of being fed by him. Society can no longer live under this bourgeoisie” (McLellan, 2007, p19). Marx and Engels are true. Today, everyone in the society feels that their lives are dominated by forces that are beyond their control. Society is filled with a sense of uncertainty and fear. Mood of insecurity has spread through the whole society. Mass unemployment is now experienced which is worse than anything Karl Marx foresaw.
About religion, Marx says, “religion is the sigh of the oppressed creature” (Shagor, 2005. P4). In this quotation, Marx says that the purpose of religion is to create fantasies for the poor. Religion makes people see that things are alright since they will find true happiness in the next life. Distressed people find solace in religion. Religion helps people forget about their suffering and forces them to look towards their imaginary future. Religion does not solve or change people’s circumstances. This idea of religion is true in some aspect. His quote is not a criticism of religion. Marx depicts religion in a way that it becomes the heart of a heartless world. The today’s society is full of pain and distress. The religions that are present today are many compared to during the time of Marx. However, their ideas are the same, better afterlife. Religions make people ignore their problems and focus on imaginary life.
Though Marxist ideas are true, to some extent, they are false or half true. Many people have criticized its ideas. Marxism’s emphasis on historical materialism is a narrow base for understanding the variety and the complexity of power structures across places and time. The proposition that all power is grounded eventually in the control and ownership of the means of production, with the resulting class struggle, does not fit the times of civilization when property was owned by the state and when there was no class conflict. Another criticism is based on Marxism’s societies. His societies do not work. Also, rather than leading to equality, Marxist’s societies lead to totalitarian governments. The predictions of the theory of history are not fulfilled.
In Marxist regimes, the working class is pauperized. To oppose Marxist views, it can be said that wealth is created solely from innovation, creativity and new technologies among others rather than production of commodities and progressive creation of new markets. There are other conditions that arose during the 20th century and which Marxism did not foresee. For example, Marx and his friends did not foresee the rise of totalitarianism in Italy and Germany. They also did not account for future technologies such as nuclear energy and how such how political power would be restructured by such technologies. Just like Karl Popper stated, it can be said that Marx was a false prophet because his theory emphasized on changing the whole society. This was wrong since it was not scientific and that it could not be tested.
Marx was wrong about capitalism. Many people reflect on his theory on how capitalism can be replaced. Marx’s ideas are based on confronting capitalism, class conflict, taking power from the capitalist class, seizing the state and destroying capitalism, a venture which would involve violence. Contrary to Marx, change could be achieved through increasing capitalism provided that it’s coming difficulties will reveal its inability to provide for all. Also, Marxism did not take into account matters of ecological sustainability. Marx believed in industrial progress and development, rising living standards and economic growth. He thought that capitalism is responsible for all problems, and its elimination would release restricted power of the industry and eliminate waste to enrich all the people. He does not understand the concepts of “limits to growth” (McLellan, 2007, p23). Marxist ideas should acknowledge that it is not enough to get rid of capitalism there is a bigger problem caused by the commitment to growth, industrialism and affluence. He did not understand that there will come a time when the world would be faced with the problem of over-consumption.
Though Marxism has been criticized by many anarchists, its ideas are still applicable in today’s society. People are experiencing class struggle in almost all areas of life. Companies are exploiting their employees for their benefit while such employees are living poor. Marx’s description of religion has not yet changed because today, religion creates fantasies in people’s minds. Marxism is present today and continues to impact the future.
Bibliography
Callinicos, A. 2010. The Revolutionary Ideas of Karl Marx. Bloomsbury, London: Bookmarks.
Kolak, D. & Garrett T. 2006. The Longman Standard History of Modern Philosophy. New York: Pearson/Longman. Print.
Kreis, S. 2008. ‘Karl Marx, 1818-1883‘, [Online] Available: HYPERLINK “http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/marx.html%3E>” http://www.historyguide.org/intellect/marx.html>> [Accessed 05 august 2014]
McLellan, D. 2007. Marxism after Marx. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Shagor, H. 2005. Marx and religion: A brief study. The German Ideology, Marx-Engels Collected Works, Vol. 5.
A comparison of the methods Employed by Iago in the play; Othello and those used by Edmund in Lear in pursuit of power
Name
Course
Tutor
Date
A comparison of the methods Employed by Iago in the play; Othello and those used by Edmund in Lear in pursuit of power
Introduction
Lust for power, wealth and prestige makes people commit acts that are so inhuman. Led by the craving for recognition and esteem, people have betrayed their masters as they try to overthrow them to gain power. The following discussion will focus on two separate plays that demonstrate the last for power and the cruel means that people use to gain it. It will be comparing methods used by Iago in the play; Othello and those used by Edmund in the play; Lear to gain power.
Discussion
Iago happens to be a soldier who has been in the service for many years working for Othello. He also happens to be one of the most trusted people by Othello that whatever he says is believed to be true. As it always is, many of such individuals who have gained total trust of their masters tend to be the ones to turn against them.
He has a close friend who is also a colleague with whom he has served as a soldier named Cassio. Iago is not happy about the promotion that is given to him since he perceives it to be unfair and that it is he who deserved it. He however does not let Cassio to know the condition of his heart but it is apparent that he is planning to employ the use of some evil tactics to see to it that he has gained that glory which he feels he deserves and has been denied.
From the time of Cassio’s promotion through to the rest of the play, Iago is not a happy man and he is looking for every opportunity in order to ruin Cassio’s reputation and end up making Othello despise his credibility and make him Lieutenant instead. He plans to use his friend Rodelligo to help him in achieving his evil and cruel plans saying that after everything is okay he will be sharing with him the benefits that will come as a result. “Appetites promoted by cleverness, with the strongest and the shrewdest winning out.” The quote demonstrates the greediness in Iago to acquire the power. His behavior has also been compared to that of animals,’ Iago’s is explicitly reductive. For him “the herd” is no metaphor, and the view he expounds.’
‘If I can fasten but one cup upon him… with that which he has drunk already,’ (3.3.87) this was the first technique that Iago plotted in order to gain power thereby humiliating and making Cassio make fool of himself by getting himself extremely intoxicated. Iago pushes him to drinking even though he was already drunk. He knew that by getting him intoxicated he would lose his judgment and the control of himself and behavior. They were in their master’s court and any kind of misconduct arising was therefore going to be treated with very harsh punishment. This plot is a well calculated one as the venue of drinking is a place where misconduct must be punished.
After that, there erupts commotion between Cassio already drunk and Roderigo who is a friend of Iago’s. A fight ensues and the latter is severely injured in the process. Immediately Othello steps in seeking an explanation of what was going on. He was so furious when he learnt that his own respected man and the one he had just promoted was responsible for all that kind of mess. This event partly accomplishes Iago’s plans as the misconduct he expected takes place and Othello whom he targeted with the misconduct also happens to be timely in finding out what has taken place.
When Iago is called to explain what had ensued, he pretends to be protecting Cassio by telling Othello that his act as a result of drinking. He is however demoted as the Lieutenant which is a big blow for but great success for Iago.
He appears sarcastic when he comes to console him, ‘what, are you hurt Lieutenant?’ he pretends to care about the pain that Cassio is going through for losing his position. He however promises to tell him that he will be reinstated soon if only they convince Desdemona the wife of Othello to speak on his behalf.
This was however another opportunity that Iago was planning to utilize in order to finish him completely so that he would be left alone in the master’s court and maybe be awarded the highest position that he was lusting for.
The meetings between Cassio and Desmodema were used by Iago as another weapon to betray them. He went behind their back to report to Othello that the two were having an affair an accusation that made him so shocked since it had never occurred to him that his wife was capable of doing such an act. Iago was planning to ruin Othello by giving ill information to make him change his attitude about Cassio.
Othello is now a very worried man and he is so much disturbed. He trusts Iago so much but he tells him that such delicate allegations needed enough proof. He says that Cassio has been wooing Desmodema and that the two have been seen in private a number of days. In the real sense, he knew that the reason of their meeting had nothing to do with intimacy but an attempt to plead with her to see whether he could be reinstated.
Since he could not produce tangible evidence in his accusations, Iago plans to look for one so that he could convince him that actually the whole thing has been taking place. He reports that he overheard Cassio in a dream saying that he had made love to Desmodema. This makes Othello so sick that he develops an excruciating headache and his perception of his wife drastically changes. He becomes cold to her but does not explain the reason for that.
Desmedema drops her handkerchief accidentally outside their court and this is what will bring to climax the evil plans of Iago. It was a precious gift that her husband had bought for her and she was expected to keep and value it for the rest of her life as long as it was there. This was a happy moment for Iago who took the handkerchief and placed it in Cassio’s room so that it will appear that he had been given by Desmodema as a gift because of the tight relationship that the two were having.
Othello learns that the handkerchief is missing and seeks to know where it is. Already he had received the news that she had already given it to Cassio. Unfortunately, he appears carrying the handkerchief which he innocently planned to give to Desmodema. When Othello saw this, he was convinced beyond reasonable doubt that the two were having an affair.
Othello plans the murder of the two people. He tells his Iago to help him in killing Cassio while he would strangle his wife in bed. However, Iago is not ready to do this unless he is assured that there will be a reward for committing such a crime. His master assures him that after he does that, he would be made the lieutenant as a replacement for Cassio.
The plan does not however go as planned. Othello killed his wife but Iago did not succeed in killing Cassio, he just injures him in the leg. Fortunately, Iago’s wife steps in to explain to Othello that all that was happening was not the truth but propelled by the evil plans of Iago. He is therefore arrested and does not gain the power that he was seeking for.
Edmund’s story compares with that of Iago in the sense that he was also fighting to gain power from his father and brother. He happened to be the illegitimate son of Gloucester. His younger younger brother Edger was the real son and therefore he had the right to inherit from his father.
At the beginning of the play Edmund is very disturbed. This is because he nfeels himself being seen as inferior to his brother because he was a bastard ‘Lag of a brother? Why bastard? Wherefore base?’ (1.2.54). As it is indicated in Medieval England, “The bend . . . or baton sinister . . . were used as thestandard mark of illegitimacy.” He does not understand why he should be mistreated and to be discriminated just because he was not the real son. He does not see the base whatsoever for him to be denied the inheritance and bearing in mind that he was older than Edger. His evil plan is being driven by anger and as William Blake put it ‘Edmund had no reason to trust things would work out right if left to themselves and he had anger as an additional motivatingfactor.’ He was not justified to do what he was planning to just because of anger.
These thoughts are the, one’s that prompted him to plan to kill his father and brother in order to become the Earl himself getting all the inheritance and power. Just like Iago he plans on how to execute his evil plan but unlike him, he is fighting his own family.
He begins by faking an attack by Edgar. This instance infuriates Gloucester who was a peaceful man. He decides to give Edgar one of the most painful punishments in his life of being denied the right to inheritance. He must have reasoned that the reason why he was attacking Edmund is for him to gain all that belonged to his father. This also created a wide chasm between the two brothers.
The fact that Edgar was to be denied the inheritance was good news to Edmund who now knew that he stood a better chance of acquiring them.
The next thing was that Edmund decided to trick his father with a forged letter that claimed that Edger was planning to usurp him and take control of his father’s estate. He is so disturbed by the news and the relationship between the two deteriorates further. Finally he plans for the murder of their dad for is fortunately saved by Edger his real son.
Just like Iago, Edmund does not succeed in his plan of gaining power and wealth from his father and instead he faces the punishment.
Conclusion
Lust for power, wealth and prestige can make people do acts that are so inhuman. Led by the craving for recognition and esteem, people may betray their masters as they try to overthrow them to gain power.
References
William Shakespeare: Othello
King Lear: Edmund