Despite the ceaseless spin, Vermont lawmakers last May demonstrated they could not be bought nor intimidated when they became the first in the nation to pass a bill that will probably establish a single-payer beachhead in the U.S.

Caroline's story is not unique. Tragedies like her's occur so often, in fact, that they rarely make the news anymore. But it is precisely because they are an everyday occurrence that health care reform was so urgently needed.

Had Sarah Burke's accident occurred in Canada, her family would not be having to come up with more than half a million dollars to pay for her care. Her care would have been covered because, unlike the U.S., Canada has a system of universal coverage.

While Canadians might face slightly longer waits for breast cancer treatment than wealthy Americans, the least well-off Americans receive no treatment at all.

Kiefer Sutherland, who plays a rogue intelligence agent in 24, is the grandson of Tommy Douglas, who is credited with creating the modern Canadian universal health-care system.

How long before Americans realize that the pay-or-die option so generously offered by the medical and drug industry really does not represent the best care in the world?

Some Canadian politicians, Canada's press, and my Canadian friends are not amused by the GOP's predictable attacks, distortions, and outright lies about Canada's popular, government-run health system.

The rant about rationing is designed to make consumers feel that no one will be able to get in to see a doctor under a public plan and make efforts at real health care reform fail.

If certain wingnuts and Republicans don't want affordable, guaranteed health insurance, then they don't have to sign up. They're welcome to continue to defiantly roll the dice with their private plans.

An advertisement outlining Canadian dissatisfaction with government run health care is met with disagreement from Canadians.

The Obama plan can only be a centrist compromise once it allows single-payer advocates to come to the table.

Medicare Expansion would establish a system of national health care in the United States, which would both control costs and provide quality basic health care to all Americans.