Despotism Due North?

Our great neighbor to the north is in the midst of a rather interesting political situation. To avoid a vote of no confidence in his minority government, Prime Minister Stephen Harper has asked the Governor-General to dissolve Parliament -- and she has assented.

Having a parliamentary system of government instead of a presidential system like ours, Canadians vote for a Parliament, which then selects a government. There are sad and dangerous examples in the last few centuries where a despot has seized power by dissolving the legislature that placed him in power, thereby remaining perpetually in power.

I certainly do not believe that such a fate awaits Canada, but after seeing our great nation turn to torture, suspend civil liberties, and institute an alarming increase in presidential power, I believe we should all see democracy as a fragile thing that must be guarded jealously.

I hope the voters of Canada offer a swift and unabiguous repudiation to Harper for this move, because Canada is an example of democracy to the world that we can't afford to lose.

Medicare for Everyone (...Who Wants It)

Barack Obama has indicated that he will be encouraging people to host house parties where the subject of health care would be discussed. The consensus of these house parties would then be reported back to the government and would then presumably be used by Obama as a basis for (or at least input into) a new health care policy. I doubt if I would be able to host or attend one of these parties, so I will communicate my opinions via this blog.

I believe that the most effective approach to covering everyone in our country would be to open Medicare anyone who wants to opt into the system. The premiums and reasonable co-payments should be the only out-of-pocket costs for a patient. For example, a person with no insurance coverage who shows up at an emergency room should be provided whatever medical care they require and then be billed only for some back premiums (Obama has advocated this) and the co-payment -- never for the entire cost of their medical care. Most importantly, no one should ever be denied coverage by Medicare. Finally, I think that members of Congress and Federal employees should be switched to Medicare themselves so that they are in the same boat with those whose healthcare they will be regulating.

This would not inhibit people from purchasing private insurance -- either instead of Medicare or to supplement Medicare for a more gold-plated coverage.