THE CONSERVATIVE HIPSTERS

Can I get a spine check, stat?

I know we as Conservatives are all scared to death of talking about private services in health care, but how much more evidence does Stephen Harper and the CPC need to realize that Canadians are further along in accepting the idea of integrating private services into the system than we all seem to be?

Allow me to present the following recent evidence, if I may:

1. Decima recently polled over 2,000 Canadians across the country to ask them for their opinions. The result? 23% said they would be "likely" or "very likely" to use pay into a plan that allowed them to screen for various diseases, in the hopes of catching them early. Imagine if 23% (or about 5 million people) had these preventative meausres taken without adding to the overburdened system. Amazing.
2. The Canadian Medical Association, the group that represents Canadian doctors recently voted --by a 2 to 1 margin-- that " patients should be able to go outside the public health-care plan and use private insurance if they can't get necessary medical care quickly enough".
3. As we all know, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that long wait lists are a violation of a person's guaranteed right to security and that Canadians should be able to puchase private health care services through insurance if they so desire.
4. Ispos Reid polled over 1,000 Canadians shortly after the SCC decision and found that 70% of Canadians fel they should be able to buy private services if they want. 60% think it will lead to shorter wait times, 54% feel it will improve the system.

So, let me get this straight. We're willing to go to the wall on Same Sex Marriage, which directly affects a small percentage of the country (I know, more on a national values paradigm, but work with me here), but not on an issue that affects everyone?

How much more proof does Harper and his caucus need to realize its the politicians that are afraid to incorproate private services into the healthcare system, not the public.

Aren't our leaders supposed to um, lead? What are they waiting for? Do I need to hit Harper and caucus with a 2 x 4 "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan style?

The public is way ahead of us on this issue. Let's get on it, people!