Thanks for this Deirdre. It is so sad that Smith's government has no sense of the greater good. These are cold, callous and unintelligent people, the bottom end of the Dunning Kruger spectrum.
Great article - For me, the whole construct of parent advocating for their child hinges on what's best for the child, not the parent.
Its all well and good for a parent to make the sterile selfish political argument of their "right" to exercise choice for a minor child, but in the context of a prophylaxis against communicable disease, the parent doesn't suffer the disease (and its side effects/complications), the child does.
In no world I can conceive does a child, whatever their age, consent to get infected, become ill, and suffer the consequences of an infection (up to and including death) when that occurrence could be easily forestalled by a vaccine.
In this way, I consider an adult caregiver who makes the decision to forego vaccination for a child is tantamount to committing child abuse - with malice and forethought.
Its too bad todays anti-vaxxers and vaxx hesitant parents don't have access to their great grandparents - folks who either intimately knew family members who died of communicable disease, or lost children to communicable disease - those "great-grands" would box ears and kick the asses of their brain-dead descendants.
Smiths government is all about performative cruelty, indifference and spite.
This would quickly pass by if it were just the small misinformed base that was behind this. But it's not the case. There is a much larger group leading the charge and leading Smith by the nose like a bull with a ring: the private insurers, the private health care providers, the private school and daycare operators, private security, for profit elder care to name a few- private entreprise that performs better for their shareholders when people are sicker and less informed.
Eroding public services, then outsourcing them to private for-profit interests is the common theme here. In exchange for a few undisclosed benefits to conservative politicians, their friends and family the public service, our common good is being wiped out under our feet. The angry base simply serves as a group of useful idiots to that other ends.
I don't know if you are being cynical or sincere. Healthcare and education are very profitable. Healthy, educated people make far more money for your economy than any other solution.
The only party in Alberta that supports universal healthcare is the NDP. Smith is too busy supporting oil and gas every minute of every day, Alberta taxpayers be damned. The covid,vaccine, eye exam and test fees, sky rocketing hime insurance costs due to Alberta’s severe and damaging weather events. Every time I turn around it is increases in services that fall under universal healthcare.. I wish the Federal Government would take healthcare out of the hands of the provinces. Not all Canadians have access to the same care.
Why are they holding up the anti's ahead of all other Albertans. Imo the same reason why after getting abreast of the situation, they think covid is a god send. Under the guise of manufactured heartfelt empathy for the low spectrum cognitive, it allows them to build creative cases for healthcare privatization.
Don't forget there are corporate lobbyists as we write and read who are telling the UCP, "look at Mraiche, he's shoveling out cash, you can get a taste of that".
More of the same. Thanks Deidre for your outrage but the elephant in the room is the people of Alberta. Like it or not she is supported by most Albertans. Confused, lazy or just stupid - it doesn’t matter. Let’s stop putting lipstick on a pig. Look in the mirror Alberta and you see this sweating hog looking back at you.
“Never blame the voter.” I heard it on a podcast :)
I’m always looking for the why; why is she still enjoying support? What is missing in the discourse? If I can bring that to a few kitchen tables, I’m doing *something*, in my mind.
Only for seniors in care, or residential facilities. The rest of us will be expected to pay the full cost (fixed incomes be damned), and also register online in August to book it and a flu shot along with everyone else. Which will no longer be available from pharmacies by the way. Only from AHS. Then I guess we will find out the price. She really would like us all to just leave her province (one way or another):))
It does seem to me that Smith is catering to a small group of people in Alberta… but then I also remember that her government was elected by a lot of people and her approval ratings within the party are quite high. All that makes me second guess my initial assessment, and wonder if I’m part of a small group of people who disapprove of much of what she does - and not the other way around. :(
It’s just a testament to the fact that people don’t pay attention to politics outside of an election. And Smith is masterful at spinning her way into not being accountable.
Don't forget why they call it a big tent party, it holds all the conservative sects. The reason for these minorities getting to speak louder, the party is supporting is to keep their votes.
Smith is what happens when misguided ideology attaches itself to a weak mind and becomes a destructive parasite. Smith and her gaggle of flat earthers have dedicated themselves to the destruction of the Alberta public healthcare system and Albertans appear onboard with that cause. What’s next the expulsion of ‘illegals’ who object to Smith’s insanity? Perhaps the mandatory posting of the 10 Commandments in all Alberta school classrooms? Such utter madness led by some spectacular Dunning Kruger specimens.
I got my Covid booster in a pharmacy today. The pharmacist explained to me that Pfizer ships it's vaccine in six dose vials. My dose was drawn from one such vial, the remaining 5 doses likely to be tossed at day's end.
I also received a pneumococcal vaccination. It came in a single dose kit including the needle & syringe. Imagine that...
Anyway, I went online earlier to AHS's website to see about booking a vaccination.
I hunted & pecked for a while. So based on my age, etc, I'm eligible for 4 vaccinations: Covid, Tetanus, RSV & Pneumococcal.
It suggested pharmacies within 10 km radius. I didn't book online, but simply called the pharmacy. After a short chat, they said I could come over anytime.
My little account of today's events is not medical advice from me.
However, if you're an older dude or gal, just talk to your pharmacist.
As a mother of two daughters who survived their life threatening childhood illnesses thanks in large part to vaccines I want to thank you and others here for calling out this irresponsible action by Smith and the UCP. I was the Mother of a 4 year old with leukaemia and, just after her two years of treatment ended, found myself facing another rare illness in my three year old called Aplastic Anemia (bone marrow failure disease). So I can relate to your fear for your grandchild and all children and others whose immune systems are compromised during infancy, during treatments for cancer and other auto immune disorders. I am so angry and disgusted at this move. And at a time when many young families are already struggling to get by. Also wondering how disillusioned the staff at the Stollery and other hospitals must feel at this. What will this mean for their emergency wards when respiratory season ramps up again? What a selfish ploy for the base of that party. This is beyond opportunism. It’s callous and it will undoubtedly lead to considerable harms suffered by Albertans.
Oh wow, Maureen! I'm so sorry to hear about your littles with big issues. That must've been so frightening and overwhelming for your whole family. I hope that you were supported throughout and everyone came out alright.
The staff in our hospitals are fed up, stressed and burned out already with blowing up AHS into multiple agencies. They are regularly working short-staffed. Staffing issues are compounded by disillusioned healthcare workers leaving for greener pastures (BC is benefitting) where governments support healthcare and don't complain about professionals costing so much/being overpaid.
Doctors and nurses and other healthcare workers are dreading the coming "flu season" since things are already suboptimal and will undoubtedly be made worse by a government who undermines public health strategies by not promoting vaccines, like last year, and now introduces a plan to make it even worse by limiting vaccine availability and removing AHC coverage which puts vaccines out of reach for Albertans who lack the means to pay for them.
TL;DR - it's not good and getting worse in Alberta's hospitals.
Thanks for this Deirdre. It is so sad that Smith's government has no sense of the greater good. These are cold, callous and unintelligent people, the bottom end of the Dunning Kruger spectrum.
She seems intent on proving that libertarians, or those who believe themselves to be such, have no business in government.
Great article - For me, the whole construct of parent advocating for their child hinges on what's best for the child, not the parent.
Its all well and good for a parent to make the sterile selfish political argument of their "right" to exercise choice for a minor child, but in the context of a prophylaxis against communicable disease, the parent doesn't suffer the disease (and its side effects/complications), the child does.
In no world I can conceive does a child, whatever their age, consent to get infected, become ill, and suffer the consequences of an infection (up to and including death) when that occurrence could be easily forestalled by a vaccine.
In this way, I consider an adult caregiver who makes the decision to forego vaccination for a child is tantamount to committing child abuse - with malice and forethought.
Its too bad todays anti-vaxxers and vaxx hesitant parents don't have access to their great grandparents - folks who either intimately knew family members who died of communicable disease, or lost children to communicable disease - those "great-grands" would box ears and kick the asses of their brain-dead descendants.
Smiths government is all about performative cruelty, indifference and spite.
This would quickly pass by if it were just the small misinformed base that was behind this. But it's not the case. There is a much larger group leading the charge and leading Smith by the nose like a bull with a ring: the private insurers, the private health care providers, the private school and daycare operators, private security, for profit elder care to name a few- private entreprise that performs better for their shareholders when people are sicker and less informed.
Eroding public services, then outsourcing them to private for-profit interests is the common theme here. In exchange for a few undisclosed benefits to conservative politicians, their friends and family the public service, our common good is being wiped out under our feet. The angry base simply serves as a group of useful idiots to that other ends.
Well said.
Health care and education are never priorities, they are profit-takers, not profit makers
I don't know if you are being cynical or sincere. Healthcare and education are very profitable. Healthy, educated people make far more money for your economy than any other solution.
The only party in Alberta that supports universal healthcare is the NDP. Smith is too busy supporting oil and gas every minute of every day, Alberta taxpayers be damned. The covid,vaccine, eye exam and test fees, sky rocketing hime insurance costs due to Alberta’s severe and damaging weather events. Every time I turn around it is increases in services that fall under universal healthcare.. I wish the Federal Government would take healthcare out of the hands of the provinces. Not all Canadians have access to the same care.
Why are they holding up the anti's ahead of all other Albertans. Imo the same reason why after getting abreast of the situation, they think covid is a god send. Under the guise of manufactured heartfelt empathy for the low spectrum cognitive, it allows them to build creative cases for healthcare privatization.
Don't forget there are corporate lobbyists as we write and read who are telling the UCP, "look at Mraiche, he's shoveling out cash, you can get a taste of that".
Hank
More of the same. Thanks Deidre for your outrage but the elephant in the room is the people of Alberta. Like it or not she is supported by most Albertans. Confused, lazy or just stupid - it doesn’t matter. Let’s stop putting lipstick on a pig. Look in the mirror Alberta and you see this sweating hog looking back at you.
“Never blame the voter.” I heard it on a podcast :)
I’m always looking for the why; why is she still enjoying support? What is missing in the discourse? If I can bring that to a few kitchen tables, I’m doing *something*, in my mind.
Love it when you get mad. Oops, righteously angry. Maybe this can be posted or published in some Seniors newsletters in South Alberta.
And thanks — it’s such a great outlet for “righteously angry” 😏
I do think they’re still covering the cost for 65+.
Only for seniors in care, or residential facilities. The rest of us will be expected to pay the full cost (fixed incomes be damned), and also register online in August to book it and a flu shot along with everyone else. Which will no longer be available from pharmacies by the way. Only from AHS. Then I guess we will find out the price. She really would like us all to just leave her province (one way or another):))
Holy sh*t Alberta = Louisiana?! That’s where these folks want to go?
https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/anti-science/citing-government-overreach-louisiana-wont-promote-vaccination-surgeons-general-say
It does seem to me that Smith is catering to a small group of people in Alberta… but then I also remember that her government was elected by a lot of people and her approval ratings within the party are quite high. All that makes me second guess my initial assessment, and wonder if I’m part of a small group of people who disapprove of much of what she does - and not the other way around. :(
It’s just a testament to the fact that people don’t pay attention to politics outside of an election. And Smith is masterful at spinning her way into not being accountable.
Don't forget why they call it a big tent party, it holds all the conservative sects. The reason for these minorities getting to speak louder, the party is supporting is to keep their votes.
Yes the angry tail continues to wag the confused dog that is this UCP government while the rest of Albertans are shaking their heads and thinking WTF!
You are so right. Thanks for this piece of excellent writing.
Smith is what happens when misguided ideology attaches itself to a weak mind and becomes a destructive parasite. Smith and her gaggle of flat earthers have dedicated themselves to the destruction of the Alberta public healthcare system and Albertans appear onboard with that cause. What’s next the expulsion of ‘illegals’ who object to Smith’s insanity? Perhaps the mandatory posting of the 10 Commandments in all Alberta school classrooms? Such utter madness led by some spectacular Dunning Kruger specimens.
Preston Manning is 108.
Malice is the point.
Her and her government, just like their MAGA cousins to the south, thrive on cruelty.
I've given up trying to rationalize it any other way.
I got my Covid booster in a pharmacy today. The pharmacist explained to me that Pfizer ships it's vaccine in six dose vials. My dose was drawn from one such vial, the remaining 5 doses likely to be tossed at day's end.
I also received a pneumococcal vaccination. It came in a single dose kit including the needle & syringe. Imagine that...
Anyway, I went online earlier to AHS's website to see about booking a vaccination.
I hunted & pecked for a while. So based on my age, etc, I'm eligible for 4 vaccinations: Covid, Tetanus, RSV & Pneumococcal.
It suggested pharmacies within 10 km radius. I didn't book online, but simply called the pharmacy. After a short chat, they said I could come over anytime.
My little account of today's events is not medical advice from me.
However, if you're an older dude or gal, just talk to your pharmacist.
Take care.
The UCP are reminiscent of the Social Credit Party of yesteryear. So backwards in their thinking, and following blind ideology.
They are descendants of the Social Credit Party. Preston Manning and Stephen Harper are very involved with influencing the UCP's goals.
If I were to take on a paid subscription for every fine read it would cost a small fortune…
I know right 😬
As a mother of two daughters who survived their life threatening childhood illnesses thanks in large part to vaccines I want to thank you and others here for calling out this irresponsible action by Smith and the UCP. I was the Mother of a 4 year old with leukaemia and, just after her two years of treatment ended, found myself facing another rare illness in my three year old called Aplastic Anemia (bone marrow failure disease). So I can relate to your fear for your grandchild and all children and others whose immune systems are compromised during infancy, during treatments for cancer and other auto immune disorders. I am so angry and disgusted at this move. And at a time when many young families are already struggling to get by. Also wondering how disillusioned the staff at the Stollery and other hospitals must feel at this. What will this mean for their emergency wards when respiratory season ramps up again? What a selfish ploy for the base of that party. This is beyond opportunism. It’s callous and it will undoubtedly lead to considerable harms suffered by Albertans.
Oh wow, Maureen! I'm so sorry to hear about your littles with big issues. That must've been so frightening and overwhelming for your whole family. I hope that you were supported throughout and everyone came out alright.
The staff in our hospitals are fed up, stressed and burned out already with blowing up AHS into multiple agencies. They are regularly working short-staffed. Staffing issues are compounded by disillusioned healthcare workers leaving for greener pastures (BC is benefitting) where governments support healthcare and don't complain about professionals costing so much/being overpaid.
Doctors and nurses and other healthcare workers are dreading the coming "flu season" since things are already suboptimal and will undoubtedly be made worse by a government who undermines public health strategies by not promoting vaccines, like last year, and now introduces a plan to make it even worse by limiting vaccine availability and removing AHC coverage which puts vaccines out of reach for Albertans who lack the means to pay for them.
TL;DR - it's not good and getting worse in Alberta's hospitals.