You always pay, one way or another. So Canada has a "socialized" health care system. Everyone pays, so that everyone gets medical coverage. The rich pay more, so that the poor get the same benefits. In the US, companies and workers pay huge amounts to get medical coverage. The well off have it, but many don't. The same with maternity leave. Sure we pay taxes. My income tax (federal and provincial) this year was 1/3 of my total income (not net). And I pay taxes without squacking so that others can benefit. No maternity leave, or ridiculous maternity leave, and you have less breastfeeding less exclusive breastfeeding, and more illness. To cite the us government report 3.2 billion just in otitis media, necrotizing enterocolitis and something else. So you pay for it, one way or another. Ya choose the way. You pay for social safety net, or you pay the consequences. One way or the other, you pay. Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html