| Rather than pursuing habits that put our health at risk, then trying to retread it ... ... how about carrying on a sensible lifestyle from early on, so preserving our good health, rather than letting it deteriorate, then having to patch it up? Our countries are having a major problem with obesity these days, including among children ... and there's a large increase in diabetes, especially junvenile-onset type. Looks like major increases in health-care costs ahead. Maintaining and retreading good health is specially important in your country, where many must carry health insurance or pay for health issues themselves. I got $37.22 of medicine the other day, and it cost me $4.11. When I go to see my doc, there's no cost to me, and I don't carry health insurance. I do pay about $600.00 per year added to provincial income tax to help pay for health care. Medical costs are growing rapidly. My old uncle had had three hip replacements, and they didn't do that 50 years ago. They didn't do heart by-passes, or replace them, years ago. They're finding more complicated procedures frequently, thus almost always making many of them hugely expensive. So I don't see health care costs going down, any time soon. I'm thankful that I can choose whatever doctor I chose (if I can find one that takes new patients). I haven't visited my doctor except for annual check-up, for many years, until the most recent year or so. When I see him, I get what treatment that I need, without fussing with a health insurance carrier as to whether they'll pay for it or not ... or whether I'll have to pay for it myself. Two cataract operations last year - no direct cost to me. The Canadian single-payer system is a non-profit system. And there isn't any advertising expense. Makes sense to me. By the way - a substantial reason to encourage manufacturers to locate plants in Canada. ole joyful | 
