Read other letters about this article

• Friday, February 29, 2008 03:05 AM

  This is the sort of irresponsble reportage that has plagued America and ill-serves its citizens

  It is late night (Early morning) here in my remote corner of the Canadian northern hinterland ... I frequently scour the net for succour ... particularly in these times that seem fraught with danger for the species ... I come to Salon expecting to find a mix of journalistic honesty and perhaps an occasionally skewed point of view.

  I was appalled to come across the 'header' that jumped off of the page "Canadian healthcare: Not "universal" for single women" ... This sort of 'falsehood' and 'Big-lie' in a time when most working American citizens desperately need to see the introduction of a 'Universal' system of health care such as exists here in Canada is an evil thing that demands a more robust apology/denial ....

  I bemoan the ignorance of many employed in the American media and certainly the ignorance of those who definitely should know better if they are Salon writers/Bloggers ....

  From Saskatchewan ... the place where the first "Socialist" government in North America was ever elected (We take pride in that and have laughed for 64 years at some Americans fear of the "Socialist Bogeyman") ... Incidentally the likes of Pete Seeger and so many other intelligent Americans have never had that fear ...

  Saskatchewan is the "Birthplace" of "Universal Medicare" ... Where my family and friends expounded the 'necessity' and the 'right' of "all" people to have good health ... and where people I was blessed to have personal contact with in my youth brought the greatest piece of legislation to reality despite a total war on our government by all the power that the AMA and CMA could muster ...

  We succeeded in 'winning' that war and our federal government introduced the program nationally knowing that it had a moral obligation to do so ...

  I suggest you take some time to read up on Thomas Clement Douglas who was the key figure in laying groundwork PS: That's Kiefer Sutherlands Grandfather) ... and also on Woodrow Lloyd who was a friend and neighbour to our family ... You might learn something that would help all Americans in this era of FUD ...

  I send you all my best intentions ... Hillary or Obama should do some reading as well (They need a dose of reality) ... either of those candidates in your coming election will still need the blessing of providence to help America with the great crisis that likely lays ahead of you all ... If you continue to support the "Robber Baron" concept as expounded by the Republican right ... well then even the best of intentions will likely see the demise of what my late and blessed father (A Canadian with dual citizenship owing to his American parents) once told me was "the last best hope on earth" (I believe he was quoting Lincoln - but I could be mistaken) ... He passed away back in 99 ... He would have loved to see Barack as a candidate as he told me back in 1959 that if I was fortunate I might live to see a 'Black' President in my old age!

  Well Dad if you are listening … maybe I will get to see that great event … and maybe Americans will even get Medicare if miracles do happen … but alas with reportage such as we see that belittles a great example by claiming false inadequacies … it is still a subject of very, very long odds!

  From a Geezer ... who wishes well to all Americans ... Men, Women and Children ... who deserve better in life from their country ... Kennedy had it incomplete ....

  He should have included "Ask what you can do for your fellow Citizens" ....

  —The Canadian Geezer Read The Canadian Geezer's other letters
  Permalink
  Flag
  Click "Submit Flag" if you feel this post is inappropriate. Explain why below if you wish.

  Cancel