Hugh Mackenzie
Huntsville Doppler
There is no lobby group in the United States that is stronger or more powerful than the National Rifle Association (NRA). They are unbending defenders of the Second Amendment, conveniently forgetting that at the time of its passing (asserting the right of individuals to bear arms), the most powerful personal weapon was only a musket.
The NRA effectively controls Congress, primarily by being influential donors to the political campaigns of many, if not most, of those who are elected to that august body. They oppose any restrictions on gun ownership. They resist background checks and they have no issue with teenagers having easy access to assault rifles and other weapons of mass destruction. Tragic gun-related incidents on an almost weekly basis in the U.S. means nothing to them. They stand firmly against gun control under any circumstances. Few people have stood against them and those that did, were not successful. But this past weekend, I began to see a crack in their armour.
As I watched the demonstrations, I could not help but think that this too could be a game-changing event. Watching those earnest young faces telling America to wake up when it comes to gun control was a powerful example of generational change that cannot, in the long run, be ignored. At some point, these people are going to make a difference whether the NRA likes it or not
After watching all of this on Saturday afternoon, I was struck with how important people power actually is. It is really the only effective tool for change. And it occurred to me that people power is exactly what we need to ensure two acute-care hospitals in Muskoka.
This week, Huntsville Council will consider a motion to ask the Provincial Government to fire the existing Board of Muskoka Algonquin Health Care (MAHC) and allow the two hospitals to revert to separate corporations. This is a Board that currently elects itself. Although Board members are from Muskoka, they do not represent the people of Muskoka, they represent the Board. In addition, there is a constant tug-of-war between Bracebridge and Huntsville members, each protecting their local turf. MAHC has had at least three years to listen to the community and they have not done so. It is time for the community to take the hospitals back.
The hospital issue in Muskoka has been front and centre for too long. We have had committee after committee, speeches and excuses, but no tangible results. Lately, however, there has been a light in the tunnel. People are speaking out. They did so clearly at a public meeting of the MAHC Task Force earlier this month. Mayor Scott Aitchison recently laid out a compelling case for two acute-care hospitals in Muskoka as have other community members who have the experience to know what they are talking about. It is important to keep this momentum going.
Is it fair to ask the Provincial Government to fire the existing MAHC Board? Some will say no. But to me it sends a serious signal and that is our community intends to be listened to and to be heard when it come to hospital services. The only way to succeed is to stand up and be counted. That is what people power is all about.
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Thanks, Bob. Excellent video that spells out the truth that gun control people would never want you to know. Every dictator who has ever risen to power has disarmed the citizenry before following their inclinations to genocide. One wonders why the mass media never points to the genocide committed by communist dictators. Tens of millions were killed by Mao and Stalin alone. While something of a piker in that regard, the Castro brothers (and Raul is worse than Fidel was) are responsible for at least 100,000 deaths of innocent protestors to their cruel regime. And the cruelty never seems to end. There have been verified reports of hundreds of women who were praying aloud on just this past Palm Sunday who were beaten and many were hauled off to jail.
Who does your hospital laundry?
I have resisted writing responses to the numerous comments about the hospital issue because most of what I would say has already been written. However yesterday brought for me just another reason for emphasizing the need for a local hospital.
After a minor procedure at the hospital on me in the morning, I took my wife to the hospital in the afternoon to be examined for the after effects of a fall on the ice Sunday evening. We arrived about 3.30, and were finished by about 8.30, making a total of about 6 hours spent in the hospital that day. Had we not had a hospital here, but instead in Bracebridge (or even Port Sydney) we could have added another 1 to 2 hours to our day. While neither was an “emergency”, if they had been this would have been totally unacceptable.
Scott Aitchison and I have had our differences over the years, but I certainly give him full marks for stepping up with his excellent article recently. He covered all the bases extremely well and thoroughly and made me (and many others) supporters of his policy on the hospital. Keep up the good work, Scott, and let’s make it happen.
My question to Hugh and Scott is: How can we in the public get involved to have this Board replaced and the hospitals de-amalgamated?
Look back a bit. We have had a hospital in Huntsville since the 1800’s. As the population grew so did the hospital. Each time it grew it got better and all this time it was administered by a group of local people, mostly volunteers at a very low salary cost. I think these administrators took the advice of the doctors and hospital staff very seriously.
Now we have more population to serve than ever in history. Also this population is older and as we all know, an aging population needs more medical care than a young one.
We also know that all these people pay taxes so we should have more money, relatively, than ever before as well.
So why is it I wonder that we now have a professional management, some of whom make that good old “sunshine list”, a management that is not actually elected and they are telling us that we cannot afford to have the hospitals we currently have? Somehow it is cheaper and better to relegate our existing hospitals to the trash heap and build a sparkling new, very much larger one somewhere in the forest between the two towns. If this is not the actual case then one must assume that one town or the other will get a hospital and the other will be left without.
Regardless, either way it is a giant step backward for our population, our medical professionals and it will be a giant cost and inconvenience to many workers and pretty much most of the patients as well (except for those fortunate few who will end up living adjacent to the new hospital, wherever that may be).
This is not “scientific” of course, it is merely an observation of the situation but until the people making decisions start to take these observations and many others that have been noted by many more knowledgeable people, seriously one has to wonder if we are actually moving forward to better care or backward to less accessible care in the future?
You can not ignore the facts that the US people who are supposed to protect them … all failed miserably in this case. And I agree it is a people problem and sick minds that are very hard to control and determine what they are going to do.
Some facts to listen too and consider .. in the gun control debate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVPJU4ElLjk&feature=em-uploademail
North Bay has a stunning hospital! Unfortunately it is 1 1/2 hours away from Huntsville. I have a wonderful doctor in Huntsville. I cannot imagine not having a hospital in Huntsville. Algonquin Park is very big and in the summer it is inundated with visitors from all around. What is wrong with the health system! While I lived in Huntsville for 10 years the hospital has served our family well. Where are the politicians who will step up for this cause? An election is coming up! It could be their important platform! Save small town hospitals!
I agree. I have watched with dismay as the gun violence in the U.S. has spiraled out of control in certain metropolitan areas. The U.S. has a murderer problem,–mad bombers, stabbings, vehicle homicides, etc. will be unaffected by any kind of a rifle ban. The number of homicides committed using a rifle are extremely small–even in the U.S. Historically, Canada has had more guns (specifically rifles and shotguns) than people, yet has a very low rate of gun violence (it was practically non-existent in the past). The number of rifle or shotgun homicides is practically non-existent. There are unseen causes that no one wants to talk about down there.
Psychotropic drugs are a HUGE part of the problem. Nearly every mass shooter has had a history of being on psychiatric drugs or has suddenly gone off of them just prior to their rampage. Police officers know this but are unable to talk about it. The pharmaceutical houses have known, for some time, that approximately FIVE PERCENT of those taking SSRI (Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitor) antidepressants will, at some point, have a “psychotic break”. When women have psychotic breaks, they are most apt to harm themselves (and sometimes their children). When young, aggressive males have a psychotic break, they could go on a rampage. Think about it–were there many mass shootings before Prozac (the first of the SSRI antidepressants) was introduced in 1987? There have always been some severely disturbed individuals–but never so many. In addition, “bi-polar disorder” (it used to be called “manic-depression”) is suddenly a VERY popular diagnosis and it used to be quite rare. It is likely NOT a coincidence that some studies have shown that the longer one is on an SSRI the more likely he or she will be diagnosed as having bi-polar disorder.
The second problem is that children are increasingly socially isolated–particularly boys. They are spending inordinate amount of time in front of electronic screens and the content is also at fault. They are watching pornography and playing violent video games. Pornography is depressing and it is increasingly violent. I spoke to a police officer a few years back and he said that what young boys are watching now is likely warping their minds–and that virtually ALL of them have seen some amount of pornography. When they are occupying their time in this way, they are not learning the bedrock values of our culture and interacting in positive, constructive ways with their families and others. Is it any wonder that depression is the number one complaint of teens today?
And these are the kinds of environments that, without proper intervention, will produce murderers among a few young men who have no social supports.
As a four month resident of Hunstville, I strongly support the two hospital model, if for no other reason than access. Time to treatment is critical. It is comforting to know it is close by when needed. Also a local hospital is a major contributor to the economic health of the town. I applaud mayor Aitchison’s initative to take back control of the Huntsvile Hospital.
Regarding the gun violence in the States, as a former muliple gun owner and U.S. Citizen, there are things that legislation can reduce. However, more laws are not the only solution as many seem to think. Five of the largest metro areas in the country, account for a significant portion of country’s gun violence. These same five cities also have some of the toughest gun laws on the books. In Chicago and surrounding Cook County, it is almost impossible to own or legally buy a gun. Yet Chicago has the highest gun violence rate in the nation. Why? Because of a lack of policing resulting from political interference in the department. And when arrested, there is generally a lack of enforcement of the laws by the judiciary. Houston, has fewer gun laws, and it is much easier to buy and own a gun. The gun violence rate there is significantly lower than Chicago’s. Why, much tougher policing and law enforcement. Yes, the gun violence rate in the U.S. is an embarrassment.