On 28 Feb 2004 22:17:14 GMT, RKSPAM (ArnSaga) wrote:

Canada, for example, cannot forge an independent economic policy as
the immense economic power of the US overwhelms any attempt at
independence. This is the primary reason why the Canadian health care
system is under such pressure. BRBR
Peter Charles BRBR
Missed the connection on how that occurs. Not arguing, just trying to
understand the specific connection.
Thanks.

GKT


On health care?

It occurs at multiple levels. Without going into a great song and
dance -- here's the highlights:

Low US tax regimes and free trade prevent Canadian jurisdictions from
taxing corporations at a sufficient level that would ensure the
viability of the system. If we raise taxes, they leave.

The for-profit US medical system lobbies hard to open up the Canadian
market. There is a significant corporate interest in seeing our
health care system fail. With the increasing influence of the
corporate sector on government policy, it is only a matter of time
before their viewpoint prevails. This will be sold to the Canadian
public on the basis that we could no longer "afford universal health
care". How we will afford the more expensive for-profit version won't
be explained.

The best and the brightest are attracted to the US by the high
salaries of the for-profit system. As an example, US hospitals
regularly send teams to Toronto to hire away our nurses as they are
better trained than their US counterparts.

US right wing ideology influences Canadian right wing parties to adopt
free market solutions for social problems (e.g. Mike Harris style
approaches). The free markety ideologues first wreck the public
system by systematic underfunding and politically directed
bureaucratic interference, then introduce free market approaches to
"save" it. Standard tactics used on a wide range of public
institutions.

NAFTA provisions restrict Canadian governments in a variety of policy
areas, one of which being health care, so Canadian governments cannot
formulate a Canadian policy on the Canadian medical industry --
whatever it regulates must be subservient to NAFTA treaty provisions.

Candian governments have dificulty maintaining distinct policies
against heavy US pressure. The current drug pricing controversy being
the most recent example. In past years, the Canadian government caved
in to the US drug industry regarding patent protection.

Someone more versed in the industry than I can no doubt produce a
dozens more examples.



Peter

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