One of the most obscene things surrounding the conflict on the
question of social programs that has arisen between Jean Chretien's
Federal Liberal Government, and the premiers of nine provinces
(excluding Quebec) and the leaders of the two territories, is that
they are pretending that their dogfight has something to do with
the people's health. That is the farthest thing from the truth.
Instead of recognizing the immediate need to put an end to the
anti-social offensive, this conflict has arisen over who will
control the tax-dollars earmarked for "healthcare."
It is an obscene conflict because the real issue is not whether to
have Medicare or not. The real issue is also not whether the setting of
standards of health and other social programs should be in the hands of
the federal government or in the hands of the premiers and the leaders of
the territories. No, the real issue is the health of the people, which
must be in the hands of the people themselves. A genuinely national
government in the hands of the people will deal with the health standards for
its own benefit.
At this time, however, the Liberal government is neither
genuinely national nor is it in the hands of the people. This is
why a conflict has arisen between the federal government and the
premiers, who are interested for their own ends to have the full
control of the tax dollars collected from the people. They really
do not care about the health of the people, just as they do not
care whether a livelihood for all is guaranteed - a livelihood at
the highest standards possible according to the present level of
development of the productive forces.
This dogfight for control of the tax-dollars in the form of
setting standards also contains another dimension. The entire
system of Medicare is going bankrupt. Instead of going forward by
modernizing it, governments at all levels are "cutting back"
further endangering the health of the people. This fight between
the federal government and the provinces and territories is bound
to worsen. It has as well a diversionary aspect that the people
must avoid. The working class can only respond to it by presenting
its own pro-social program demanding free health care for all.
Shawgi Tell
University at Buffalo
Graduate School of Education
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
