'father of universal health care' voted Greatest Canadian . . .

an interesting indication of what people really value . . . at least in Canada . . . and I can't help but think that the concept would be greatly valued here, if done correctly . . .

Tommy Douglas 'father of universal health care' voted Greatest Canadian
John Mckay
Canadian Press
November 30, 2004

http://www.canada.com/news/national/story.html?id=14b47624-84f3-4f4f-8832-5bfc319c5648

TORONTO (CP) - T.C. (Tommy) Douglas, former Saskatchewan premier, former leader of the federal New Democratic Party and touted as the father of the country's universal health-care system, has been voted The Greatest Canadian.

The late politician emerged victorious in the public contest initiated by CBC Television this fall and which climaxed in an hour-long prime-time special Monday night. "I feel that Tommy Douglas is getting the recognition he deserves," declared a jubilant George Stroumboulopoulos, the TV host designated as Douglas's official advocate. "When we started this campaign in the summer, folks had never even heard of Tommy Douglas."

Douglas's victory came at the end of a show in which the other advocates were asked to throw their support, political leadership convention style, to another candidate when theirs was voted off. But it was a moral support only, not affecting the public tally.

- more . . .

http://www.canada.com/news/national/story.html?id=14b47624-84f3-4f4f-8832-5bfc319c5648

Ive read about that guy, Douglas before, a baptist minister I think he was too, good man, I wish we could get that kind of health care here in the US, but its socialist so nooooo :eyes: stupid assholes.

Maybe America is ready for the Social Gospel.

Kiefer and his mum Shirley Douglas (the daughter of Tommy Douglas and Donald Sutherland's ex) are making a TV movie about his life as we speak, with Kiefer playing the lead.

None of this should really be of much interest to yanks except this: prior to the Great Depression/WW2, Canada had a strict two-party system throughout it's entire history, just like the States - Liberal and Conservative. It took a visionary guy, and a tumultuous moment in history (prairie dust bowls, farm foreclosures, starving WW2 war widows, etc.) for a viable third political party to emerge. (The New Democratic Party, or as I like to tell Americans: "commie pinko lefties" like me). The "catalyst", if you will...

Would you not agree a similar major "catalyst" would have to present itself in the US for a truly viable third party to emerge? The event-driven "kick" that Ross Perot or Ralph Nader never had?


added on edit: I'd like to point out: this movement was about WAY MORE than just universal health care (although that was it's major legacy). It was a movement, a state of mind, the entire political mindset became part of our culture. Even conservative governments can't fuck with something that's now this deep. Oh. And he was a minister, too. Secular humanist all the way. Another legacy.

... during the depths of the Depression, that convinced him government had to take a leading role.

Bush, on the other hand, seems to think that all you have to do is throw some money at the churches and everything will be okay.

US ranks pretty bad in that category.

They put Attlee, the PM who set up the National Health Service, ahead of Churchill.

"I don't mind being a symbol but I don't want to
become a monument. There are monuments all over
the Parliament Buildings and I've seen what the
pigeons do to them." - Tommy Douglas

http://www.slais.ubc.ca/COURSES/arst593b/02-03-wt1/Assignment2%5CBoylan%5Cpage1.html