All Americans or US residents who have paid their taxes last year,(2007) have or will receive a check from Oncle Sam ranging between $600-$1200 called a "stimulus payment". People are supposed to use that money to "stimulate" the US economy by spending it wherever and whenever they feel like.
If you have received it, how did you used it ?

If you don't know what I,am talking about click here

I personally returned it as a down payment for my 2008 tax return. ( return to sender)

We used it to get some needed baby items snd to live on for a short time since I was between jobs at that time.

Like Mozart, we used it to make a payment on estimated tax for next year. BTW, has anyone noticed how stimulated the economy has become of late??? I guess we're all buying gasoline!

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Like Mozart, we used it to make a payment on estimated tax for next year.

You and Mozart are too kind and generous to the Feds, Frank. I'd bank it, collect the miniscule interest on it, and then maybe in the third quarter send it in.

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Originally posted by juanruiz:

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Like Mozart, we used it to make a payment on estimated tax for next year.

You and Mozart are too kind and generous to the Feds, Frank. I'd bank it, collect the miniscule interest on it, and then maybe in the third quarter send it in.

I've been doing that for lo these many years, but for 2007, as Geo Dubya would say "I misunderestimated" and they penalized me. I'm thinking of moving back to Canada. Sheesh!

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I'm thinking of moving back to Canada.

Then you'd have to send the government your entire income.

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I'm thinking of moving back to Canada.

Oh good! Party time!

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Originally posted by juanruiz:

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I'm thinking of moving back to Canada.

Then you'd have to send the government your entire income.

You mean as opposed to sending it to the government to support a futile war?

A futile war, a futile health care system, still means no money in the pocket.

I think you misunderstood. However, I agree with you, your health care system sucks. I'd much rather live here.

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I'd much rather live here.

Then hope you never get sick.

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Originally posted by juanruiz:

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I'd much rather live here.

Then hope you never get sick.

How can you possibly make a comment like that, after all I have posted on here regarding my family's personal circumstances in the last year?

Are you serious?

Go to cbc.com, search Health Canada for the situation people find themselves in when they end up in the "queue".

I am very familiar with the health care system in Canada. It isn't perfect, but I do know it's a lot better than care in the US for the average person.
So far as I'm aware, you have no experience of using the health care system here, but your comments were personal and disappointing.

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but your comments were personal and disappointing.

Well, I don't see how they were personal, since I was addressing Health Canada, not you. There are 15 Canadian doctors at the clinic I go to, they all left because of the Canadian health care system. What you should consider disappointing is that, not me.

You were addressing me, jr when you made the comment, "I hope you never get sick." And as you know, I did get injured over the last few weeks. I needed emergency room treatment, x-rays, an ultra sound and physiotherapy, as well as quite a range of drugs for the pain of a torn rotator cuff. I didn't have to pay anything for any of this this.
Yes, we pay for health care in our taxes, and I agree, wait times can be longer than in the US. However, everyone, regardless of their circumstances, is entitled to health care here. That's the way we do things in Canada (and also in the UK.) Those that can pay, do so. Perhaps it's too altruistic for you?

How did I tear my arm? Moving my son, but you already knew that. Your comments were unfair and insensitive. But as usual you never miss a chance to criticise Canada, whatever the issue.
Thank your lucky stars you are among the "haves," and not "have nots" in your country.

Regarding, the last year's experiences with Health Canada, I wouldn't have managed financially without the health care system we have here:

Please take a look at this thread.

Thanks, dg

Mortus est. Nihil dicere habeo.

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Originally posted by juanruiz:
Mortus est. Nihil dicere habeo.

S'ok. It's your decision, and probably the right one.

In my opinion, the difference between the Canadian, U.K., French, Netherlands, Italian and American health care systems is this: we don't have a system. We have a mish-mash fruit salad of a Chinese Fire Drill. I have family in Canada and I also listen (an un-American trait) to the experience os other people in other countries. Maybe they're on to something. Perhaps it's better to wait your turn, to have your skin rash diagnosed than to have your neighbor's chest pains go unattended. As Fred Puli reports, if he doesn't want to wait he can always go elsewhere and pay for prompt care from more highly paid practioners. Perhaps even Americans can learn from foreigners. Affluent Americans can have their cosmetic treatments while their poorer relatives can neglect their preventative care until it's too late. IMHO.

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Perhaps it's better to wait your turn, to have your skin rash diagnosed than to have your neighbor's chest pains go unattended.

The problem is, Frank, in some countries, the guy with chest pains has to wait too. Knee and hip replacements are considered optional, even though some poor sucker is in agony. And in some countries, even if you have the money to pay out of pocket, jumping the queue is bad form, and illegal. It's no coincidence that the US is a Mecca for foreigners who have the bucks to seek medical attention: the Mayo Clinic, Baylor, Johns Hopkins, Sloan-Kettering. I had a potential melanoma removed, wait time: 15 minutes. In other countries I would probably be pushing up daisies. As I said a long time ago, I have no desire for the people who gave us the social security mess, to be running health care.