A concern

I worked in the building trades most of my life before retiring. I am a proud union member.

I hold my head in shame as I learn about Plumbers and Pipe-fitters holding a meeting at the Fortune Bay Casino and Resort in Tower, Minnesota.

Fortune Bay is a non-union operation.

Employees don't have the protection of state and federal labor laws enjoyed by all other workers; robbed of their rights by politicians and casino managements working in cahoots.

This is no place for unions to be holding conventions, conferences or any kind of meetings.

Shame on the plumbers and pipe-fitters.

Shame on the Minnesota Building and Construction Trades Council

A proud tin-knocker. But not so proud I will keep my mouth shut when our unions ignore the injustices other workers are subjected to.

Benny

Socialized health care the only solution

This cartoon pretty much sums it all up.

Here is one of the best articles I have ever read:

Racism kills when health care is denied as mobsters and corrupt politicians profit

http://thepodunkblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/racism-kills-when-health-care-is-denied.html



Then there is this article:

Americans Who've Used Canada's Health-Care System Respond to Current Big-Lie Media Campaign

Bill Mann
TV-Radio Critic www.dcweasels.com

Posted: June 13, 2009 05:48 PM

The scare ads and op-ed pieces featuring Canadians telling us American how terrible their government health-care systems have arrived - predictably.

There's another, factual view - by those of us Americans who've lived in Canada and used their system.

My wife and I did for years, and we've been incensed by the lies we've heard back here in the U.S. about Canada's supposedly broken system.

It's not broken - and what's more, Canadians like and fiercely defend it.

Example: Our son was born at Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital. My wife got excellent care. The total bill for three days in a semi-private room? $21.

My friend Art Finley is a West Virginia native who lives in Vancouver.

"I'm 82, and in excellent health," he told me this week. "It costs me all of $57 a month for health care, and it's excellent. I'm so tired of all the lies and bullshit I hear about the system up here in the U.S. media."
Finley, a well-known TV and radio host for years in San Francisco, adds,

"I now have 20/20 vision thanks to Canadian eye doctors. And I haven't had to wait for my surgeries, either."
A Canadian-born doctor wrote a hit piece for Wingnut Central (the Wall Street Journal op-ed page) this week David Gratzer claimed:

"Everyone in Canada is covered by a single payer -- the government. But Canadians wait for practically any procedure or diagnostic test or specialist consultation in the public system."
Vancouverite Finley: "That's sheer b.s."

I heard Gratzer say the same thing on Seattle radio station KIRO this week. Trouble is, it's nonsense.

We were always seen promptly by our doctors in Montreal, many of whom spoke both French and English.

Today, we live within sight of the Canadian border in Washington state, and still spend lots of time in Canada.

Five years ago, while we were on vacation in lovely Nova Scotia, the Canadian government released a long-awaited major report from a federal commission studying the Canadian single-payer system. We were listening to CBC Radio the day the big study came out.

The study's conclusion: While the system had flaws, none was so serious it couldn't be fixed.

Then the CBC opened the lines to callers across Canada.

Here it comes, I thought. The usual talk-show torrent of complaints and anger about the report's findings.

I wish Americans could have heard this revealing show.

For the next two hours, scores of Canadians called from across that vast country, from Newfoundland to British Columbia.

Not one said he or she would change the system. Every single one defended it vigorously.

The Greatest Canadian Ever

Further proof:

Not long ago, the CBC asked Canadians to nominate and then vote for The Greatest Canadian in history. Thousands responded.

The winner? Not Wayne Gretzky, as I expected (although the hockey great DID make the Top 10). Not even Alexander Graham Bell, another finalist.

The greatest Canadian ever?

Tommy Douglas.

Who? Tommy Douglas was a Canadian politician - and the father of Canadian universal health care.