In response to Doris Wrench Eisler's letter, "Socialism is the answer" (St. Albert Gazette, April 6):
To say the blame for the collapse of the Grenfell Tower in London lies with capitalism is quite a stretch, as many similar disasters have occurred in socialist regimes as well. I feel perhaps that the point she is trying to make is that socialism is preferable to capitalism; however, using the United States health care system is not a credible example. There remains a popular misconception that patients must have funds before they can be treated by U.S. health care providers. This is not the case, as it is illegal for any health care provider to refuse treatment on that basis. Furthermore, what is the relevance of the reference to the purported 80 million who earn only $30,000? What statistical evidence is there for that claim, anyway?
Socialism says, in effect, that we are all equal, and no one should have the right to seek better treatment for themselves. In addition, big brother government is the only and best way to provide health care. Capitalism, on the other hand, through ingenuity, inventiveness and, yes, the incentive to earn a profit, allows individuals to seek out the level of care and expediency that they may desire and are capable of obtaining. Why should any individual who has the means to obtain better care for themselves be restricted from doing so?
As Ms Eisler mentions, it is true that many European states provide public health care. What she neglects to mention is that many also allow cost sharing, using private providers to deliver public services and allowing doctors to practise in both systems. Numerous countries also have a parallel system of health care allowing people to pay for privately delivered services. Closer to home, in 2012, Saskatchewan began to allow private providers to deliver medical servies, and found it could be done for nearly 25 per cent less.
It's time for the fearmongering about privately provided healthcare services that is being perpetuated by one political party in particular, to stop.
Socialism – no thanks!
Steve Knobbe, St. Albert
