FEAR ITSELF.....some opinions from Canada

"For profit and many fears ago rich lobbyists bought votes across this continent a Blue Cross nation, conceived by HMO's and dedicated to the proposition that all maladies must be profitable."

The JPGETTYsburg Address

As a Canadian it is with a biased, bemused and perhaps puzzled gaze I observe the Health Care debate raging in the "Excited States of America". As a northern neighbour and resident of a country that has government administered "universal" health care, my southern stare causes both concern and trepidation. I can only thank God that health care remained a soviergn issue and kept off the table in past NAFTA negociations! Although industries like finance, publishing and communications were discussed and bartered over; Health Care and internal support for cultural programs remained sacrosanct. I shudder to think how Washington would "punish" our health care system as "subsidized" when you take into account the dramatic tariffs, duties and penalties they levied on our softwood lumber! Although these tariffs were eventually deemed unfair by both the WTO & NAFTA tribunals, the long, drawn-out affair cost our industry dearly leaving a lumber industry decimated and thousands losing their jobs. The US has yet to repay the full $5 BILLION it collected in unfair tariffs. I would suppose they can now ill afford it as they have been distracted lately "bailing out" failed banks, financial institutions and automobile manufacturers. I suppose throwing TRILLIONS of taxpayer dollars via government at those penultimate bastions of free enterprise is NOT subsidy?...But...I digress.

I have watched dumbfounded as legislators and politicians enriched by corporate contributors and lobbyists put the "Kibosh" on the Common Good. I have seen the "bogeyman" spectre of Big Government versus Free Enterprise paraded out with all the fervor and flag-wrapped jingoism of a country at war. Replace Big Government with "not-for-profit" and free enterprise with "corporate greed" and the "bottom line" and you have a more clear picture of the battlefield through this fog of fear. NOT that profit is a bad thing! However, it is galling to see a country that has included in its defining documents adages like "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness" and "All men are created Equal" be amended to " for those who can afford it!" After all, quality of life and happiness can certainly be equated with the Good Health of its citizens. I would also surmise that ALL citizens would have equal access to such amenities. Sadly, that is not the case as untold millions have no health care coverage and those that do have either been "cut off" insurance once ill or bancrupted by their inability to pay horrendous bills while vulnerable and suffering.

The same elected governments that are quite able to bafflegab and frog march their electorate into questionable wars both past and present through patriotic fear and jingoism, seem hell bent on bad-mouthing any progressive movement that could benefit the common good as some form of creeping "socialism" or foster paranoia citing the rise of a totalitarian state! As "deep throat" once told reporter Carl Woodward to "follow the money", I would suggest the forces behind the "scare " campaign have teeth hidden under a sheep's robe.

Does America not trust the will of its own democratic process? Or is it in reality a government that can be bought. OF..fOR..and BUY the People..the right people..you know..those in congress.

The "Excited States" with all its bluster, bravado and promise seems often an experiment gone wrong.The universality found in its original declaration has become the playground of those who can afford it. Celebrity becomes royalty; elected officials become either oligarchy or parlay their positions into personal power by selling out to the highest bidder. A marketplace democracy.

Americans seem to want change. After many years of manipulation and malfeasance, they have spent too much treasure and blood overseas while Wall Street failed dismally. Rome burned, Madoff's fiddled and officials obsfucated. Now the Barbarians (read: socialists!) are at the gate! The sky is falling! The bogeyman of a "public plan" health system is a Trojan Horse. When the gates close it will most likely let loose the same corporate army of bean-counters, carpet baggers and shareholders of the past. Change that returns the status quo is not change at all! Change demands courage and risk. Instead, there seems to be a clarion call for retreat on the banks of the Potomac played on a rusty bugle set to the same old tune.

FDRFDR had it right..nothing to fear but fear itself. And the fear-mongerers are winning! So sad America you cannot join other Western Democracies that enjoy inexpensive Universal health care. Your fear of your own Government has ensured it to be business as usual ( AND..the usual business!)

Good night...Good Luck.....and Good Health!

PS..please feel free to enjoy Kiefer SutherlandKiefer Sutherland reading a famous speech by his Grandfather (Tommy Douglas)- The "Founder" of Socialized Medicine in Canada..a wonderful cartoon/parable in the vid section