I was very disturbed by the recent article by
Jim Thompson in Northern Life about his support for some
privatized medicare.
If the federal government and the people in
this province let this happen, it means the very beginning of
the end of our health-care system as we know it.
A partly privatized system will mean the very
rich will not have to wait to get a necessary operation. It
will also mean the very rich will be able to pay a
donor for a life-saving organ, and they also
get preferential treatment in some hospitals.
I also think it will encourage our government
to spend less money on health care.
There is a realistic way to finance our
health-care system which is based on some of the European
systems. This system would take the responsibility of the
health care out of the hands of the government and place it
onto the responsibility of the Canadian people.
Canadians would pay a percentage of their
income taxes deducted from their pay cheques directly to the
health-care system. The government would not be responsible for
financing of health care. A government agent would look after
the financial status of the health-care money.
I am sick and tired of the present system
because for many years it has become an election issue and all
levels of government are waiting for financial handouts from
each other.
I do not want to be part of a system that
caters to the rich. It is a scary though to imagine that those
who we are blessed with riches will also have a longer life
someday.
Hans Zaddel
Sudbury
Editor's note: What about people who do not receive pay
cheques?