-
Essay / The influence of Tommy Douglas on the development of the health care system in Canada
In the early 1900s, Canada was in a state of despair. People were upset and anxious. Massive strikes affected many businesses and families. The economy continued its downward spiral until the Great Depression of the 1930s. Many people, especially in the West, were looking for something to clean out the dust bowls and give them a bright and prosperous future. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essayPeople's opinions about how things should be run in Canada were changing. It was almost imperative that they have someone in the federal government to represent them. In the story Mouseland, mice repeatedly elect cats to government to make laws and control their lands. Even if cats made good laws, they did not meet the needs of mice. Like mice in mouseland, Canadians needed a politician to represent the people and their ideas, not themselves and the government. Politicians have been inconsiderate in making and passing laws. Although these laws were good laws for some, they were not good laws for everyone. The government needed a politician with a new look for his countrymen. The problem was that at this point, government officials were not open to new ideas. Like the mouse in Mouseland, everyone saw no other possible way to deal with things than as they were at that moment. They needed someone they could count on and who wouldn't be afraid to confront those in power. They needed someone to act in their defense and work on their behalf. There were many obstacles to overcome before anyone could have enough capacity to make any significant change. The person, if they were to prevail, would have to take many small steps toward their goal of equal treatment for all in the health care system. Getting support from doctors would prove to be one of the biggest hurdles. Many did not like the idea of the government handling the financial management of their businesses and essentially only looked out for their interests. They believed that there was already private insurance available to the financially well-off, that those in destitute situations could count on financial assistance from welfare, and that everyone else should pay the necessary money. Agreeing on the terms of Medicare has also proven a difficult task for the provincial and federal governments. When the initial form of Medicare was introduced, doctors opposed everything about the plan. The following year, they decided to withdraw their services and go on strike. What initially appeared to be the end of all forms of Medicare was not. The government brought in a host of doctors from Britain and everything went according to plan. Many considered him the kind, caring and compassionate man he was. He touched many people with his ability to reach people and leave a lasting impression. Mary Matskevich had been in direct contact with him during his many visits to Windsor. He did a lot for people, Matskevich told a crowd of retired auto workers. He would put his arms around you and treat you like his own daughter. He was persistent in his goal of building a better health system for tomorrow. All this awareness started.