You guys from Canada are beating us.....Geeeez ! Look at this...

[3930dave]

Well, Big Insurance and Big Pharma/Med may appear to be quiet here (Ontario, Canada), but they are always busy behind the scenes.

HUGE money to be made in even a small market transition. Lobbyists, their friends, and the people that feed them stand to make out like bandits. Hey, I even chose a polite term today !

Here is a small (but still staggeringly expensive) example of the game being played here.

Ontario government had power over Ornge, ex-CEO says | Ontario | News | Toronto Sun

Aside from people lining their pockets at the Public/Private Transition Trough, what the government gets out of it is another layer of obfuscation between elected government, and any perceived responsibilities. Win/Win/Win for everybody except the taxpayers, and dead or dying patients.

As long as the Provincial Chief Coroner toes the political line, and does not call an Official Inquiry into ORNGE related fatalities, the gubmint here is betting they can minimize the damage from this one.

As bad a cluster **** as ORNGE is, my much bigger concern is this was just a trial balloon, thin edge of the wedge type of move towards privatization here. Sadly, if the governing party isn't kicked out over this issue (and a few others, any one of which justify the turfing, IMO), this trial balloon may be successful.

Vigilance is required. Here's hoping that people here turn off the "Reality Shows" long enough to notice the actual reality show going on in healthcare.

Rgds, D.

 

[tcartwri]

During the debate I always wondered where the Insurance companies and big health care companies stood on the issue. They were silent so far as I know. Don't know what it means but maybe some one else can chime in.

We have much stricter rules about political donations from corporate 'sponsors'. It's a lot tougher to get into peoples pockets who can influence legislation and policies. I don't know how you folks see it, but from our perspective it seems like your whole political system is driven by corporate America. The money you spend every four years is mind boggeling.

 

[chkntrktr]

We have much stricter rules about political donations from corporate 'sponsors'. It's a lot tougher to get into peoples pockets who can influence legislation and policies. I don't know how you folks see it, but from our perspective it seems like your whole political system is driven by corporate America. The money you spend every four years is mind boggeling.

It is driven by corporate America. Despite all the promises of campaign finance reform nothing ever gets done about it.

 

[brin]

So now I heard on the news today, Fox, that a Chinese company is buying a Canadian Oil company and the Chinese will now be buying all the Canadian Oil....so now we can continue to bow to Iran and all the other Muslim countries...So Canada proves they are smarter than us again...We could have built the pipeline...but no...Just too disgusting....

 

[IslandTractor]

It is driven by corporate America. Despite all the promises of campaign finance reform nothing ever gets done about it.

The Supreme Court has unfortunately concluded that money is speech so cannot be limited. Corporations, they tell us, are people too so their contributions cannot be limited either. Our political system has been badly distorted by these interpretations of the constitution.

 

[brin]

The Supreme Court has unfortunately concluded that money is speech so cannot be limited. Corporations, they tell us, are people too so their contributions cannot be limited either. Our political system has been badly distorted by these interpretations of the constitution.

Island...Miracles do happen....I can agree with you for a change...I think it is outrageous that we do not limit the amount of money spent on election campaigns and also require all money to come from the US govt. = taxpayers..I mean, how stupid are we to allow corporations, unions or the super wealthy to influence and corrupt all of our politicians....How can any of them remain honest when tempted with the huge amounts of lobbyist cash, campaign cash etc. Our whole system is corrupt from the top of the Federal system to the smallest town in the US...Campaigns should also be limited to no longer than 3 to 6 months...the way it is now , the politicians begin their new campaign the instant they win election....

That is all I have to say...we deserve this if we allow it....!

 

[300UGUY]

The Supreme Court has unfortunately concluded that money is speech so cannot be limited. Corporations, they tell us, are people too so their contributions cannot be limited either. Our political system has been badly distorted by these interpretations of the constitution.

As I read somewhere else: "Corporations will be people when they come home in a flag draped coffin."

 

[TCJatko]

"..I mean, how stupid are we to allow corporations, unions or the super wealthy to influence and corrupt all of our politicians....How can any of them remain honest when tempted with the huge amounts of lobbyist cash, campaign cash etc. "
At the risk of sounding abrasive, if a congressman or senator can be corrupted by cash, he or she is corruptible by nature and should not be in any position of responsibility or public trust. It's just a matter of price. I see that the Democrats' decades-long litany of class envy and corporate vilification has taken root in many posters' minds. Sad.

 

[IslandTractor]

"..I mean, how stupid are we to allow corporations, unions or the super wealthy to influence and corrupt all of our politicians....How can any of them remain honest when tempted with the huge amounts of lobbyist cash, campaign cash etc. "
At the risk of sounding abrasive, if a congressman or senator can be corrupted by cash, he or she is corruptible by nature and should not be in any position of responsibility or public trust. It's just a matter of price. I see that the Democrats' decades-long litany of class envy and corporate vilification has taken root in many posters' minds. Sad.

You reminded me of a story attributed to Winston Churchill:

A certain gentleman inquired of a lady whether she would be willing to sleep with him for 50,000 pounds. After some hesitation, the lady replied that she supposed she would, in consideration of the magnitude of the offer. Then he asked whether she would sleep with him for twopence.
"Certainly not," she responded with indignation. "Just what kind of lady do you think I am?"

"Madam, I believe we have already established that," he remarked calmly. "Now we are just haggling over the price."

One politicians price may be higher than another but don't fool yourself into believing that the vast majority couldn't be bought.

 

[TCJatko]

You reminded me of a story attributed to Winston Churchill:

A certain gentleman inquired of a lady whether she would be willing to sleep with him for 50,000 pounds. After some hesitation, the lady replied that she supposed she would, in consideration of the magnitude of the offer. Then he asked whether she would sleep with him for twopence.
"Certainly not," she responded with indignation. "Just what kind of lady do you think I am?"

"Madam, I believe we have already established that," he remarked calmly. "Now we are just haggling over the price."

One politicians price may be higher than another but don't fool yourself into believing that the vast majority couldn't be bought.

A great anecdote. Sir Winston is my all-time favorite politician and in my humble opinion, by far and away the greatest leader of the Twentieth Century. I never said I didn't believe a politician couldn't be bought. It's sad they place self-enrichment over principles.