Tommy Douglas: Not Dead Enough

Well, where to start. I think our health care system today is not what Tommy Douglas envisioned when Medicare was first formed. So, what we have today is not "Tommy Douglas' fault", but rather the fault of Canadians who have become increasingly reliant on the government. Unheralded and unforeseen technological advances and population imbalances have contributed to factors stressing the current system.

Sorry, I can't secretly enjoy the "not dead enough" label. Sites like the referenced Facebook page just give more credence to the left leaning latte sippers who commisserate in comfort that the right wing is a bunch of nutbars.

The left is dumbed down enough, we don't need to go there.

Mouseland. Gawd what drivel. It kills me that this country rolled over in response to such an idiot as Tommy frickin' Douglass. Jeeze we were such rubes.

Uh, "...You can listed to Tommy tell this story in his own words ..."? (My emphasis) I am glad to see the NDP carefully proof reads their web pages.
Not that that is any indication of how they would run the government or anything like that.

Erik, the current state of Canada's health care system was entirely predictable when Tommy Douglas was out there rabble rousing, and indeed many people predicted it at the time.

Tommy knew what we were going to get, he just didn't give a sh1t. He wanted power, he hated doctors, and so when he got the power he wanted he punished the people he hated.

Nice guy, our Tommy.

Mouseland. So the mice formed a union, with the same result we've seen a thousand times... the mice then crept into our storerooms and pissed all over the grain.

*strange that I can't see how much "Mouseland" (or the poster of Tommy) is set to cost me, without becoming registered with the cause?

To this day Tommy the Commie's heirs and spawn live and thrive flogging the exact same world view, in the Canadian and American entertainment industry as a Douglas,a Sutherland or what ever.

I want all the money that the "government" has stolen from me in the name of this scumbags universal health-care BACK.

And while we are at it someone needs to dig him up and put a stake through his evil heart.

Tommy Douglas was one of the best premiers Saskatchewan has ever had. Without Tommy's vision of universal, accessible fully publicly funded health care, many people would have gone without and continue to go without proper health care as they would have been unable to afford it or afford proper insurance. We do not need a system whereby insurance companies dictate the coverage, the extent of the coverage and what preexisting conditions won't be covered all for the sake of profit. We need to fight tooth and nail to ensure that health care is universal, accessible and remains publicly funded. All attempts to erode medicare, no matter how seemingly small must be vigorously fought against.

many people would have gone without and continue to go without proper health care as they would have been unable to afford it or afford proper insurance. We do not need a system whereby insurance companies dictate the coverage, the extent of the coverage and what preexisting conditions won't be covered all for the sake of profit.

How many people?
Some/a few/none?

Do we need or want a system whereby faceless government bureaucrats dictate the coverage, the extent of the coverage and what health conditions will or won't be cared for in time or even at all for the sake of meeting budgetary concerns and the need to boost the wages of Leftist Union healthcare workers just to buy their votes?

So, what we have today is not "Tommy Douglas' fault", but rather the fault of Canadians who have become increasingly reliant on the government. ~ Erik Larsen

Sure, blame the victim.

Yes, T, our system is universally accessible by all, just make sure you don't have a condition where you have to wait 2 weeks to see your GP, then the months to get into the specialist.

Yeah, great system, equal treatment......equally bad!

And no, the solution is not "More Money", the system is a bottomless pit. People have been conditioned to go to the doctor for every little sniffle, or that little discomfort. Old people use the system, to go talk to somebody, and to get overmedicated.

The great socialist experiment has had the predictable outcome, sure everyone is covered, but, it is a money burning pit.

And it is all going to get even worse, with our aging demographic using up more and more resources in the next 2 decades.

And we allow elderly to be emigrated from other countries to siphon off our system, despite their lack of contribution to it.....but that's a whole other topic!

"Tommy Douglas was one of the best premiers Saskatchewan has ever had. Without Tommy's vision of universal, accessible fully publicly funded health care, many people would have gone without and continue to go without proper health care as they would have been unable to afford it or afford proper insurance. We do not need a system whereby insurance companies dictate the coverage, the extent of the coverage and what preexisting conditions won't be covered all for the sake of profit. We need to fight tooth and nail to ensure that health care is universal, accessible and remains publicly funded. All attempts to erode medicare, no matter how seemingly small must be vigorously fought against."

Just wondering here but does "T" stand for "twat"

"The story cleverly deals with the false assumption by some people that CCF'ers (NDP'ers) are Communists. The ending shows Tommy Douglas has faith that someday socialism, which recognizes human rights and dignity, will win over capitalism and the mere pursuit of wealth and power."

Socialism recognizes human rights and dignity,that is, the HR&D of the ruling classes,all the rest get herded in whatever direction is expedient at the moment and dissent is brutally crushed.

Waiting lists for an MRI in B.C. are now over a year, and my son just got bumped by a more urgent case, so went back to the end of the list and has now been waiting for over two years,though his condition is so bad he can't work and is bedridden half the day.

Canada should break it's lockstep with two of the worst dictatorships in the world,Cuba and North Korea, and allow a private HC option.

But fear of exposure of the corruption in the system at the highest managerial levels dictates otherwise.

Who needs Animal Farm when there's Mouseland?

Oh please everyone don't put off T from popping in, its always so funny. Best laugh all day.

DSV, I've seen better. That one was a cut-and-paste its been using lately. No originality among trolls these days, such a shame.

I always contend that, if the amount of Income Tax/GST/PST/Excise/Import/Health Care etc. taxes I've paid over my 48 years of working and contributing to the health care system was never levied and left to me, I could have afforded one hell of a gold plated health care insurance policy.

When Tommy Douglas introduced Medicare in Saskatchewan the gov't picked up 85% of the tab and you were responsible for the other 15% on your own, although most doctors couldn't be bothered trying to collect. It was the Pearson gov't that introduced full coverage Medicare.

There is no question that the Canadian Medicare system beats the US medical insurance system, hands down. That doesn't mean it can't use improvements. One of those improvements would have been to retain the Tommy Douglas User-Pay portion. He wasn't that dumb, after all.

dmorris:

Raised the waiting lists & MRIs with PMO and every other notable other in the government chain of command way back in 1998, in respect of my ailing mother.

The govt is deaf, dumb and blind and it hasn't gotten better with time as you indicate...

The 'system' thought it was a good idea to wait nine months for an MRI to even begin a diagnosis.

I did a "DEFCON5 number" with my fax blizzard of the government, packed up my mother the following day with copies of said faxes in hand, and told admitting whatever other problem they had my mother's was getting solved today! The next letter was going to include the term "supervised neglect" and them getting their sorry asses sued. Voila, the doors open...

Sometimes you have to kick some backsides...

Cheers

Hans-Christian Georg Rupprecht, Commander in Chief

1st Saint Nicolaas Army
Army Group “True North"

dmorris @ 2:31 sums it up to a T, especially the part about a private HC option. Next to no wait lists in Europe. In Russia and Ukraine you can get government health care or go after hours and get private care. It must be gratifying to some to be on par with Cuba and North Korea.

If Canadian Medicare system beats the US system, why do Canadians who can afford to do so, go south to get health care. BTW, all Commies are blood sucking dumb and hangers-on are half dumb.

It may miss the normal talking Points, but Obama care will be a Bonanza for the Insurance Companies.

They get a portfolio reduction, no reduced cost/risk policies, and sell only their most expensive no pre-existing (yes you can buy it now) to every policyholder...The Gov't does the selling/marketing, guarantees compliance; and is the insurer of last resort.

The Democrats are the friends of BIG Insurance, must be the Chicago way.

The Canadian Medicare system beats the US medical insurance system, hands down. Canadians who can afford to do so, go south to get health care on a one shot deal and come home again, They don't have to live with the US system. I don't think any Canadian has ever been bankrupted by Medicare or been refused employment because he has been unable to get health care coverage

Again, I said improve the Canadian system, but never think about abandoning it for that mess south of the border.

That 'T' person has a bright future in comedy. Ah yes, the Universal Health Care system of Canada...where I have had to pay insurance + extra fees to private doctors to get proper health care. In the last few months alone, I have spent over $2000 on our 'free' health care system. And I can't afford anymore (for MRIs and futher tests that are required).

As I tell my American friends...our health care system is free, as long as you can afford it.

Tommy Douglas was one of the best premiers Saskatchewan has ever had. Without Tommy's vision of universal (meaning Sex changes are covered 1st Priority) , accessible (meaning the emergency wards are full of drug adicts) fully publicly funded (Meaning We, the middle class pay for every welfare queen out there) health care, many people would have gone without (Never happened) and continue to go without (How can this be if it is universal and fully publically funded? Need More money?) proper health care as they would have been unable to afford it or afford proper insurance. We do not need a system whereby insurance companies dictate the coverage, (Instead the government determines the coverage) the extent of the coverage (Again, the government determines this) and what preexisting conditions won't be covered all (Havn't you heard of 'death panels? Allowing the elderly to die?) for the sake of profit (What the hell is wrong with Profit? Without profit we wouldn't have Xray machines, MRIs, Vacines, Heart monitors, etc, none of which were invented by Government). We need to fight tooth and nail to ensure that health care is universal, accessible and remains publicly funded. All attempts to erode medicare, no matter how seemingly small must be vigorously fought against. (That's a lot of MY money you have your eye on bub, and it is WE who will fight tooth and nail to keep your hands off it. I am an adult and I will determine my OWN health care needs and that of my family with the need of nanny-state intervention).

Churchill once said that under Democracy there is an unequal division of wealth, but under socialism there is an equal division of misery.

Everywhere socialism has been tried it leads to bankrupsy, misery and death.

p.s I don't want to 'erode' health care as it is, I want to eliminate it.

It's been interesting reading the real opinions of actual Conservatives about the Canadian health care system.