Ralphs Weird Way

As my original province begins their discussion on health care, and the "third way" there are a few things I'd like to mention.

First, what the heck is "third" about this "way"?

I mean, hell, I'm not sure I want to opt for a third choice when it comes to my health care. But I digress.

You can check out King Ralph's latest brainchild here. For deep thinkers and non-ADD affected net users, the Tolstoy version is here.

It's really not as nutty on the surface as the MSM have made it out to be.

But there is the troublesome private service purchasing thing.

Innocuously enough the document suggests it would only be for hip replacements, cataract surgery, and spaying your cat or your neighbour.

The driver for renewal appears to be cost. Health care currently amputates one-third of the Alberta government's pin-money each year. And the cost-cancer is spreading. Alberta will soon not be able to afford it. So allowing Albertans to buy private services will decrease the cost....

Hang on a minute...

The province with the biggest surplus in Confederation, and the lowest taxes, and more wealth than Croesus is crying poor? I'm not sure I buy that....

A mixed system would be more accessible and allow more choice? Really?

Wow, did I miss the good old days before Saint Tommy of Douglas came along.

There must have been so much choice then, and so much cheap health care, I bet doctors were giving it away like prom dates ...

Oh, for the good old days, when health care was really accessible, and research moved ahead so quickly, and diagnostic technology was in every small town and hamlet...

I think we should all be very careful here. If ideology sneaks its head in the door, look out, the health care debate will be decided by something that looks like a high school debate club.

There isn't much on training new doctors (not filching them from underdeveloped countries either) and nurses. Nothing on the impact of insurance rates as we re-define the roles of doctors and other health care practioners. Nothing on the impact of health care professionals working in both public and private systems. That needs to change.

Ralph is doing the right thing by consulting and trying to have an open discussion, but the question is will he listen to the ideologues and the lobbies, or will he take a careful look at all of his options?