The Fear Factor

I have to admit that the partisanship in politics lately has left me without desire to blog for quite some time. This session passed however has had some interesting political shit storms.

Raj Sherman the MLA for Edmonton-Meadowlark, was suspended indefinitely from the Alberta Progressive Conservative caucus for various comments regarding the state of our AB Health. At first he assailed the premier, cabinet, and super board in which he was forgiven for speaking out. Lucky for us it didn't stop there. Dr. Sherman continued his attack on AHS and Energy Minister Ron Liepert (former health minister) calling Ron "rude and offensive" to medical workers.

Now I understand that the comments made to the premier etc.. were forgiven, but the attack on the fellow caucus member is a fair reason for discipline. Suspending him from caucus though is not the route I would have taken. Having a practicing Dr. as a parliamentary assistant is truly a blessing for any party, at least until the frustration level and knowledge that the current government can not fix it takes over. Then to add insult to injury your self professed friends call causing an investigation that may impact your medical licence. It simply stinks of a smear, intended or not, although I find it hard to believe the outcome was unknown. Still the soap opera in the ABLEG continued on with a record setting filibuster emergency health care debate, followed up by the firing of the cookie monster Duckett. Four others resigned from the board citing too much govt. interference.

While the AB PC's rolled out their 5 year plan, the Liberals and NDP were playing the fear card of privatization. Now let's get real...NO...I mean NO party would ever go to a completely privately delivered health care. I personally believe though, that it is not sustainable to keep running as we are. The NDP and Liberal plan of lets throw more money at it will not help. It is simply time to try something new and different, and a PUBLICLY FUNDED public and private health care delivery system is an excellent start. With newer technology we will be able to eliminate the wait times and reduce costs. I also believe that if we allowed private funded clinics it would also be a benefit. This could give our Dr.'s incentive and the ability to earn more $$. This would be easily done and you could legislate that they must practice a minimum of four days a week in the public sector. Yes the rich would use it, you know what...who cares! It opens that many more slots in the public system. We also may be able to attract business to Alberta to keep them busy, much the same as the Mayo Clinic in the US, after all how many AB's have already been there?

So if we are to ever have a sustainable health care system in our province, we have to get past using reforming health care to scare Albertans. We need fresh and new ideas, a government not scared to try them, and all parties to sit down and work together to make it better. Our elected MLA's were elected to represent Albertans, not play partisan politics in the ABLEG! The sooner they realize this the sooner we can make things better, after all we deserve it! For MLA's to play the fear factor is not cutting it.