Poverty, Health Care & Leo Glavine

Good day my friends out in Cyberspace! I hope that the day has found you well. Mine started abruptly this morning shortly after four when one of the residents in my domicile decided to cook some supper and make an international phone call. However, it has improved significantly. I start a little four day vacation later today so there is that to look forward to. Today I just want to share some thoughts I've been carrying around since reading and hearing about the remarks of the Provincial Health Minister, Leo Glavine, where he blames poor health on poor people; going so far as to single out those on income assistance. You can read it here.

If you took the time to read this, and unless you're an extreme right-wing conservative, you're probably somewhere between annoyed and 'I can't believe he said that'. The truth is, the Minister made a number of particularly disturbing and insulting statements in his release. While some have demanded an apology and few requested his resignation, I don't think either would really suffice. The problem isn't in the statements, it's that he believes in them and worse, they indicate much deeper, underlying and disturbing thoughts are lingering below the surface. 

"Years and hundreds of programs have tried to help people understand their part in the healthcare equation and everyone needs to put these teachings into practice."

When I read this what I'm actually hearing is: "You had your chance to do it your way and you didn't so watch out because it will soon be my way." Now, it could be that I'm biased in terms of politics or it could be that I'm swayed by statements like this because they're similar to other tyrannical statements I've read but I find that statement one of the scariest in the entire piece. Onto the next.

"As minister of health, it is my job to improve the health of all citizens. To do this, we need a population that looks after its own health."

It's all your fault.

"Do we need to take further drastic measures? Some have suggested looking at the banking model."

This is another extremely frightful statement. Treat Health Care like a banking system? Has Mr Glavine taken a recent look at financial state of the global economy? While he does go on to reference the Canadian banking system, I stand by my question. The banking systems of the world, even Canada, are flawed and based entirely on debt. I'm not going to get into a rant on economics, there are plenty of other posts available on that topic, but what I will say is that before we go trading out our current system that we don't trade it for one equally flawed and broken.

"They must prove that they practice a healthy financial lifestyle before being able to borrow money."

This is a terrible, terrible analogy of how good old Leo wants to run things. If you can't prove you meet a certain standard of health, you don't get to see a doctor? How discriminating is that? Who will determines these standards and guidelines? How long do I have to be "healthy" before I am applicable for Health Care? Are we just shutting the door on all senior citizens once they reach a certain age because the older we get, the more health care we need. 

And if we can "prove" our health Mr Glavine, then what? We get the same free health care services as before? And do those who are deemed too unhealthy for health care still continue to pay for it? Obviously this statement was not thought through.

"But, copying this approach would be archaic and inhumane, and it is not for me to judge those who are dependent on the system."

It's not for him to judge yet the entire article is nothing but judgment. Judging people who don't fall under his perception of healthy; or living a good life; or being a good citizen. This individual is sitting in an elected position of public office with near inscrutable power and he uses it to chastise the very citizens who elected him there. It really feels like Mr Glavine has an Iron Fist when it comes to who should be receiving Health Care.

"Then there are people who are cognizant abusers of the system. They accept government assistance, yet still have money to travel.  These people are abusing their neighbours’ hard-earned money. The goal of assistance programs is to help people out of a difficult time, not give people free money."

Where to begin....and end. I think I will try to be brief on this despite the fact that I could probably write an entire other blog post simply off those few sentences. The fact is that there are people abusing all systems, in all places, at all times. Not just the poor but the middle class and the upper class and the wealthy on top of them as well. There are bad seeds among any socially labelled group, class or organization you wish to name. It is, currently, an inescapable fact. To state that a small minority of individuals abusing the social assistance program are responsible for high costs in health care is absurd. One might point out the high costs of politician's pensions as a contributor to the high costs of health care and other social programs; but we won't.

"Proactive healthcare is the best way to restore long-term wealth to our province."

This is an accurate statement and claim. No argument that the best way to save money on health care is through preventative measures and proactive treatments. At least Mr Glavine had one intelligent statement to make.

That concludes thoughts about some of the things the Health Minister had to say in his op-ed piece. I now have a few general statements to make as well. Firstly Mr Glavine, I have been on social assistance and while I am unsure who you are speaking of, I can assure you that the only travelling I could afford was on a public bus to get to and from potential places of employment. The amount of money provided was barely sufficient enough to survive and had it not been for the services of local food banks, I most certainly would have had a much worse time.

As for poverty, have you ever tried it Mr Glavine? Have you tried to eat healthy food from a grocery store when you have to choose between rent or power? Do you know that corporations market unhealthy products towards those living in poverty and make those products MORE affordable then health food? Does Mr Glavine understand the difficulties in putting children in extra-curricular activities when you can barely afford their lunches? I doubt Mr Glavine has any real sense of the reality that those who live in poverty have to go through just to survive; let alone to live a life. 

We are all human and we all deserve to live a happy and healthy life. In order for that to happen yes, we all need to make a personal choice to lead better lives but it becomes a much more complicated affair when that personal choice is between leading a better life or surviving through the day. I worry about the possible day where I may find myself once again fighting for survival and needing to visit a hospital for health care; I may well not be welcomed. 

The Communist Manifesto: Marx's Revolution on the Horizon?

Good day my friends out there in Cyberspace as well as those I am fortunate enough to see in person. Still trying to get back into the habit of writing regularly. Unfortunately inspiration has been lacking and thus my writing suffering. However, I have exciting news: I started reading books again! And with books come ideas and ideas are something worth writing about; even if they're only for my own self-reflection. The first book I started reading, this will be my second time reading it, is The Communist Manifesto.

The last time I read it, I was still a little young and didn't retain and cannot recall much of what I read. This time around I am older, have lived some life and gained some knowledge and wisdom. I am not completely finished, despite it being a rather short piece of writing, but I have been stricken with some thoughts so far that I'm going to share here now. Please enjoy and feel free to leave your own insights. Here we go:

Marx wasn't wrong about the proletariat eventually taking control of the means of production and replacing capitalism with socialism; he just had no way to realize the lengths that the bourgeois would go, or the amount they would part with, to keep the proletariat under control. Marx thought he might see the fall of capitalism but he was mistaken and did not realize this until later in life. He did not take into account that the bourgeois would evolve as the means of production also evolved. With new capital wealth, the bourgeois, over time, could easily part with old forms of capital and hand them down to the proletariat ensuring their happiness and staving off revolutionary change by convincing them of increased prosperity disguised only as alms. I think that now, today, in our present time, Marx would be more excited than ever to see what is happening. Capitalism is collapsing globally as the proletariat are becoming aware that the gifts they thought they were receiving were nothing but alms devised as a curtain to keep them veiled from the real destruction and appropriation being undertaken by the bourgeois. The proletariat is rising and the bourgeoisie should be afraid because the revolution Marx spoke of, wrote of and dreamed of could be just beyond tomorrow's horizon.

Democracy, suffrage and law are nothing more than mirages created to convince the proletariat that they have power when in fact they do not. By these means the people can be convinced that true change can be effected through non-revolutionary means. In these three social creations, the bourgeois have tamed the revolutionary spirit of the proletariat.

People will remain conservative until suffering forces them to break from the norm. As long as the bourgeois can maintain a balance of suffering versus reward in the eyes of the proletariat during the accumulation of wealth/capital, they will continue to retain their authority and power.

Communism is nothing more than a Democracy without the illusion of vote. A member of the bourgeois (upper class/wealthy) being the representative and ruler over the proletariat (working class) for the better of society.

Capitalism is de-evolving. During it's initial onset and subsequent growth over the last century it took in members of the lower class and spit them back out as the working class creating economic and social prosperity. However, capitalism has arrived near or past it's ability to continue being productive to the evolution of society. The evolution of technology has caused a shift in the means of production and the necessity of the proletariat. This is causing the forceful reduction of individuals from the working class to the poor class; reversing the initial and long term growth gained through Capitalism.*

Some interesting quotes from Marx & Engels:

"Higher wages are in fact not a contradiction of capitalism or a defeat of it. On the contrary, they protect capitalism and actually make it work better."

"In a great society, a few men will aspire to run things and the great majority will allow them to do it."

"The working class cannot simply lay hold the ready-made State machinery and wield it for its own purposes."

I hope you enjoyed some of the thoughts that came to exist while I was reading this interesting piece of political literature. While I may not hold true Communist nor Capitalist values, there are values and ideas from both I can support and agree with. There is definitely a sociological paradigm shift on the horizon and from it we may the rise of a new form of government and economic system; a lack thereof; or something we may not even recognize. The future is near and we should all be excited.

*some ideas borrowed and expanded upon by the author

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope that everyone has had themselves a good day today and for those of you with a significant other, I truly hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day. Unfortunately like many other people today, I find myself with no one to share my love with. While that is something that is alright for me, for many today is a day full of contempt or bitterness for being alone. It can be tough being single and alone any day of the year but even more so when love is everywhere you look, see and go. I was sifting through some old poems and I found one I wrote on Valentine's Day a decade ago for a sweet woman who was a little down because she was single on Valentine's. Needless to say, she got a smile and I hope you will too. Have an open heart and be ready for love will find you when you are least expecting it to and if you're heart is closed it may pass you by. 

Happy Valentine's Day

Alone at work you'll sit and stay

As others share this Valentine's Day.

There is no one to send you gifts

And give your day that special lift,

I have not flowers nor any sweets,

So I hope this poem will be a treat;

Cheer you up when you're feeling down,

To make you smile instead of frown.

A special day for lover's all,

Young and old, short and tall.

Do not be worried by love eluding,

But focus more upon the meaning:

It's not a flower, it's not a card

But how you feel inside your heart.

Happy Valentine's Day.

However you spent your day, I hope it was touched by love at least once. And if you're feeling bitter or resentful today because you feel scorned or betrayed, I feel you and I completely understand but your past scars will heal; don't let the wounds of yesterday stop you from finding a love a tomorrow. Stay safe and love one another.