Health Care Debate

 

To: President Barack Obama
From: Don Watt
Mr. PRESIDENT,The wild predictions of impending disaster surrounding this matter must have their basis in special interests, because they are not based on fact.  I will not speculate on those reasons, but rather choose to focus on our personal experiences, living in Canada and the United Sates, as well as working in the U.K. and Switzerland.  Incidentally, in the latter country, logic prevails, which is not always possible anywhere else.  In the '70s, Italian and Yugoslav workers came to help build major projects.  When their children entered Swiss schools, without having the educational standards, they slowed class performance across the country.  After much discussion, Swiss legislators initiated a referendum,which proposed sending all foreign workers home. This "Xenophobic Manifesto" received under 50% of the popular vote, but the Government believed the result was close enough to warrant canceling all foreigners' work visas.  My visa was restored within the week, as were others working for the company, but overnight, construction stopped, as laborers left the country.  If this would be tried here, racism accusations would erupt, but different rules apply in different countries.  The Swiss population felt the result was "reasonable". 

My first experience with Government health care came when I attended high school as a boarding student, in the western Province of Saskatchewan, in Canada.  When the CCF Government introduced their universal health care model, I recall the debates, with negative comments from doctors who resented becoming part of a government-controlled system.  As part of a school program, I interviewed Tommy Douglas, the Premier who had driven the launch of the program.  One of my questions to him was "What is the difference between socialism and communism?"  He smiled and explained that "Communism" was really a form of totalitarianism, with very limited freedoms, while "Socialism" sought to recognize the needs of all members in a society, regardless of social standing or income.  Although taxes were marginally higher, eventually every other Province recognized both the value and legitimacy of the idea.  As a second example, while traveling in southern England, we were involved in a serious automobile accident.  My wife was badly injured, and was rushed to a regional hospital.  Doctors performed two major operations, saving her life.  All of this was done at no charge to us, although I made a donation in recognition of their efforts.  As a third example, when a friend landed in Los angeles, he suffered a very serious gall bladder attack, which resulted in two operations, over a two week period.  Following this, he was airlifted home to Toronto,  after receiving a bill for over $500.000!  He could afford it, but most would not have been able to cope with the shock.  One other example.... Recently, my wife required a knee operation, where the decision was made, the operation scheduled and performed, without a delay, at a hospital in Toronto.  Only minimal charges were involved.  The system works!
The disinformation must originate from groups who see their "gravy train" leaving the station, without them aboard.  Over tIme, when I hear the statement, "It isn't the money, its the principle", it's always the money.  Exposing the facts may be the only way to cut through the wild rhetoric, to refute the disinformation.  It took some time for the doctors in Saskatchewan to admit the benefits were in the public interest, but today, they are "disciples".  Please don't let the voices of "NO", derail this great cause.  Inherent in the fear mongers' argument is a belief that government doesn't do anything well.  That hasn't proven to be the case where universal health care is concerned.
  
Don Watt
<donwatt1@mac.com>