By Mark Taliano
The problem with this world is that we really don’t see it. Or if we do, we don’t always see it the way it is.
Marshall McLuhan’s observation that “the media is the message” ties in with the notion that we see the world through “the wrong end of a telescope,” small, insular, and distant. I suppose it’s a human limitation that we have to deal with, but the more we’re aware of it, the more informed we’d be.
If I turn on my computer, I’m immediately confronted with the news that Justin Bieber cured his acne, or that Paris Hilton has a new boyfriend. That’s the message. Never mind the really important stuff. Focus on a tiny spec of meaningless pop culture, and the worlds’ pain will float away.
Less meaningless is what’s really happening. The Harper administration is currently stifling debate on Bill C-393, which would make it easier for Canada to export affordable, life-saving medicines to developing countries. Such medicines would alleviate some of humanity’s crushing misery, but the Harper administration doesn’t want to facilitate this process. I’m not entirely surprised, because it IS the Harper administration, but it gets back to the same old theme. We really don’t perceive the world in any way approaching what it is. If we did, we wouldn’t do what we do.
If Harper saw the dead and dying in Africa, if he saw the tears, and smelled the death, his policies would change. But he doesn’t.
Closer to home, if more politicians spent time in local hospitals, with local families, observing how people are dying, and listening to stories from grieving families, they wouldn’t ignore under funded, inequitable health care. Instead, they seem obsessed by the insular notion that economic theories and corporate tax cuts are the answer. But really, they’re seeing so little.
I’m reminded of a passage from Hot, Flat, and Crowded, where Thomas Freidman observes satellite pictures of Africa at night. The photos reveal vast swaths of pitch blackness, a contrast to photos over Europe, Asia, and the Americas, where there are myriad flickering lights. He describes it as Energy Poverty. Never mind Justin Bieber, these people don’t even have electricity, and they don’t have modern communications technology either. The less we see, the more they suffer.
Fortunately, we see more in Egypt. Strikes there are about young people, few jobs, and little freedom. But these people do have high tech communications devices. At least we see their plight. And maybe that fact will keep the government from massacring its own people. I hope so.
I also hope that our current government will put its glasses on, so that we can better help the world, and ourselves.
Mark Taliano is a Niagara resident and frequent contributor to Niagara At Large.
(Visit Niagara At Large at http://www.niagaraatlarge for more news and commentary on matters of interest and concern to residents in our greater Niagara region.)
Niagara At Large 
Very provacative comments. However I have to take slight issue with your mention of underfunded health care. I am not sure that is the problem, but rather misappropriated funding.
In 2005 the NHS had an annual budget of $270 million. In 2009 it was $370 million. This year it is between $400 to $406 million, depending on which NHS reports you believe.
What have they done with all this increased funding? Under the Hospital Improvement Plan (HIP) they have recommended cut, slashed and burn strategies to services in the southern tier.
We need a complete revamping of our hospital systems and cut out all the bureaucratic layers.
A lot of your other sage comments I agree with Mike.
LikeLike
Pat, I applaud your continued efforts , especially your presentation to Welland Council/Health Care committee.
So, we have increased funding, and the creation of an inefficient, inequitable system. Misappropriation of funds would be a better description.
LikeLike
Who has the power & the know-how & the expertise to get the job of restoring sanity and fairness in our right to have adequate and fair health care as promised by our constitution?????????????????????? St.Catharines can have all the “bells & whistles” we just need the minimum which is our ER’ s for our emergencies!!Billions are being spent and we have less than we started with…. its insane!! I liked the idea of going on our own and trying to repair what little is left …… it couldn’t be any worse than what we’re experiencing now. A friend told me that to take her relative from the Senior Residence to the Hospital ( a stones throw away) would cost $126. up front EACH WAY!!!
It was a harrowing experience because you are not allowed to do it on your own ….. what if you don’t have the $$ ….. you are at the mercy of people who are not putting people first….. they are adding to the already stressful situation of getting health care. SOMEONE OUT THERE MUST HAVE SOME ANSWERS & GUTS TO TAKE ON THIS CRITICAL SITUATION!!
LikeLike
We’re seeing some progress with the presentation to Welland Council etc. We need Regional Council on board. I have no idea why Fort Erie council isn’t . Maybe someone can explain that to me.
A related issue is privatization , P3 hospitals etc. There are countless examples to prove that privatized health care is expensive and inefficient. Your example of $126.00 for transport to a hospital would be an example, not to mention the private hospital that recently went bankrupt out west, with the taxpayer footing the bill. These banks with their slick PR campaigns also need to be held accountable. Down the road, parts of NAFTA need to be renegotiated too. One step at a time.
LikeLike
‘See no evil, hear no evil…” How apropos! Rather than seeing PM Harper fronting a band on the cover of a Macleans issue, I would rather see the headline ‘Bill C-393 passed!’ Is it not our responsibility to help the less fortunate? If not, then who? Then again, we do not even help those less fortunate in our OWN backyards much less the backyards of Third World Countries. For shame!
LikeLike