It might become boring, but I think I am on a personal crusade, in regards to health care.

There are many who believe in Private Health versus National Health, versus Univeral Health. And there is a difference between National & Univeral Care, in case you were wondering.

Why?

I suppose the simplest answer is, that I am now 54 years old, and mother is 92 years old. And HER health is not getting better, so my inter action with our health services is growing. In other words, I am not a Doctor, nor a Nurse, and my involvement with our Health Care is from the perspecitive of one using it. 

Maybe that makes a difference, maybe not. The point is, at some point in everyone’s life, they are going to need health care. If you are young, just starting out, you may not think you will, but rest assured, YOU WILL.

For example did you know that Canada is ranked  THIRTY (30) in the world, and the giant to the south of us, the United States is ranked THIRTY SEVEN (37) ? ( source )

After spending some time just yesterday, in our emergency care system, I can honestly tell you, that growing old, is not something our health services knows how to deal with. And let us be honest, WE ARE ALL GOING TO REACH THAT STAGE OF LIFE.  The point is, we do not treat our Seniors with respect, with dignity. We treat them, and most other patients, BY THE NUMBERS.

To me, that somehow seems wrong.

I think that one of the major differences between Canada and the big bully south of us, the United States, is that we are a nation of diverse concepts, and ideals. We have many who believe in the total rights of the individual, while ignoring the benefits of business. Then we have some who believe the exact opposite, that business is the only thing that matters, that the individual needs are merely a luxury, granted by the largress of Business.

Then we have the Country that is more middle of the road, that wants a blend between what is good on both sides of the aisles. Whether it is protecting the rights of workers, to the need to have a diverse business infrastructure. At times we move closer to one than the other, but in the long haul this country has chosen the middle ground.

Are the Liberals the Middle Ground?

Stephane Dion believes that they are, and in so many ways he is right, but then again, one has to look at the team. I mean we have a Liberal Government in British Columbia, but let’s be honest, they are no more middle ground than Stephen Harper supports equal rights for all Canadians. And there too we have a great example of what happens when we go to the two party system, as they have in the United States.

Addressing a Liberal women’s meeting in Toronto, he said the Conservatives do not understand that the role of the government is to help people, while the New Democrats do not understand that the role of the private sector is to create jobs and wealth.

Conservative Leader Stephen Harper is an old-fashioned conservative, while NDP Leader Jack Layton is an old-fashioned socialist, he said. Dion described the Tories as having a “laissez-faire I don’t care” approach. (source - CBC News)

I am not a fan of big business, nor of big labor either. I see a lot of harm being done, in the name of business, of labor, and well, it seems to me we do need to try and stick to a more middle of the road policy. We need to protect the worker, from business that wants to prey on them, to shuffle off to foreign shores instead of paying the price of Canadian Labor. This is why the United States has such a huge illegal immigration problem.

While Stephen Harper and his Conservatives want to loosen our immigration policies, for cheap labor, the NDP want to toughen it. Even the Liberal Party & Green Party seem to be leaning towards the NDP position, which is fine with me. See, I don’t believe there is anything wrong or immoral about shopping Canadian First. Ever since George Bush became President, it seems that having some sense of pride in one’s nation has become a dirty word. The rise of Stephen Harper to Prime Minister continues that Bush goal of making Nationalism a dirty word.

Just what is so terrible about loving and supporting one’s own country?

I never understood that mantra, and until the advent of Brian Mulroney & Stephen Harper, even the previous Conservatives held a strong sense of Nationalism. Sure, we do indeed live in a Global Market, but we also live here, and so why shouldn’t our Government be focused on OUR NEEDS? I mean what is so wrong with expecting business to support the country in which they make their billions from? I mean take the FIFTY BILLION TAX CUTS & BENEFITS Stephen Harper has given to businesses in Canada during his short tenure as Prime Minister.

Have you seen prices go down?

Have you seen quality improve?

Have you seen employment go up?

Yet it is our tax dollars that Stephen Harper has given to these huge corporations, and in return what have we gotten?  BUBBKUS! Okay maybe not nothing. After all we did get a whole 2 per cent off the GST tax created by Conservative Brian Mulroney. And Harper did give us all a personal tax break of one per cent, despite refusing to support that same tax cut when first proposed by Paul Martin, so I guess we are lucky.

Maybe I am greedy, because frankly I don’t see any benefit coming to me from the BILLIONS GIVEN TO HARPER BUSINESS BUDDIES. I mean I am paying more for food, but the farmer isn’t getting more. I pay more for cheap shoddy goods from China, but don’t see any Canadian Brands being given help. I pay more for Gas, which comes from Canadian Wells.  So what have I gotten from those TENS OF BILLIONS OF TAXPAYER MONEY given to big business, by Stephen Harper?

KEEP CANADA CANADIAN

VOTE ANY PARTY BUT CONSERVATIVE