So I'm sitting in front of my tv last night waiting to hear the President speak and talking to my husband. We wondered if the President would speak forcefully on what needs to be done to bring health care to every American, what details he would mention and whether we would agree with them or not. I ticked off the people I know who don't have health care. I thought of my brother, who recently became a Canadian citizen, and the many discussions I've had with him about their national health care system.
I said to my husband, "And to think, the most admired person in Canada is Tommy Douglas, the man who is responsible for national health care."
Who is Tommy Douglas? I never heard of him either before watching the movie "Sicko". While premier of Saskatchewan, Tommy Douglas started a province-wide health care system that was so successful, it was eventually adopted by the national government. (He's also Keifer Sutherland's grandfather.) Here's the wiki entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/...
To get back to my conversation last night, after I said, "And to think, the most admired person in Canada is Tommy Douglas, the man who is responsible for national health care." My husband turns to me and says, "That's what the Republicans are afraid of." That really hit me right between the eyes.
The GOP isn't entirely stupid even though some of their members aren't the sharpest knives in the drawer (I'm looking at you, Joe Wilson!) We've seen just a taste so far what they, and their corporate overlords, are willing to do to make sure the status quo continues. We've already seen the lies and brown shirt style tactics of intimidation to try to shut down real discussion. I believe they would be willing to do anything, even the shedding of (some else's) blood, to make sure Barack Obama and national health care reform is defeated.
We have to be willing to work twice as hard to combat them and make sure real reform takes place. I liked what I heard last night, but it's just the beginning. We have to force the President and our representatives in congress to do the right thing.
I am willing to fight for this because one day I want Barack Obama to be the most admired American citizen. The man who brought health care to all Americans.